The testament of Wah (or Uah), composed of two leaves of papyrus with hieratic text in red and black ink. This is a legal document regarding the wills of the two brothers, Ankhreni and Wah, both also referred to as Ihyseneb. This papyrus is a copy of the property transfer made by Ankhreni for his brother Wah, followed by Wah’s own will in favor of his wife Sheftu, also called Teti. As with all inheritance documents, it concludes with a list of witnesses. Wah stipulates that his wife should inherit all the possessions, including becoming the legal owner of their house, and have the ownership of the heritage and its distribution. Among the possessions mentioned in the will of Wah, four servants may be inherited by any of Sheftu’s children. UC32167 records this transaction. He clearly states that no one should expel her from their home and that she should be buried with him upon their death. Finally, he entrusts another male, perhaps a close friend, as ‘guardian’ of his son.
Recto: text in three divisions, recording two deeds of conveyance, names of witnesses at top of second page. Verso: Endorsement on right hand edge. Found vertically folded, sealed with impression of scroll.
Text has been translated:
'Property Transfer Document for the Priest in charge of the Temple Staff team, Wah.
Copy of the Property Transfer Document made by the Trusted Solicitor of the Director of Works, Ankhreni.
Year 44, month 2 of the season of harvest, day 13
Property transfer document made by the Trusted Solicitor of the Director of Works, Shepset’s son Ihyseneb, also called Ankhreni, of the Northern district:
I give all my possessions in country and town to my brother, Shepset’s son Ihyseneb, also called Wah, the Priest in charge of the Temple Staff team of Sopdu, Lord of the East. I give all my households to my brother. This document was placed as a copy in the office of the second Reporter of the south in year 44, month 2 of the season of harvest, day 13.
Year 2, month 2 of the season of flood, day 18
Property transfer document made by Wah, the Priest in charge of the Temple Staff team of Sopdu, Lord of the East: I am making a property transfer document for my wife, a woman of the Eastern district, Sopdu’s daughter Sheftu, also called Teti.
I give her everything that my brother, the Trusted Solicitor of the Director of Works, Ankhreni, gave to me, with all its goods. She herself shall give it to any of her children that she shall bear me. I also give her the four servants which my brother, the Trusted Solicitor of the Director of Works, Ankhreni, gave to me. She shall give them to any children that she wishes.
As for my tomb, I shall be buried in it with my wife, without letting anyone interfere with it.
Now, as for the rooms that my brother, the Trusted Solicitor Ankhreni, built for me, my wife shall live there and no one shall expel her out of it.
The Deputy Gebu will act as guardian to my son.
This was done in the presence of the following people:
The Scribe of the pillars, Kemnu
The Temple Door-keeper, Ankhtifi’s son Ipu
The Temple Door-keeper, Seneb’s son Seneb'.
Collection Place
Lahun
Collection Place Notes
Kahun, Workmens'Town.
Publications
- Montserrat, Dominic, Ancient Egypt: Digging for Dreams, p.18 - Garnett, Anna, There and (eventually) back again: a tale of three papyri [UCL Culture blog]
