manuscripts (object)

Fragmentary sheet with hieratic letter in black, in thick, large, clear signs, in one 'page' of one vertical and 22 horizontal lines on recto, endorsement on verso. Torn along some fold marks, with numerous insect-holes, but most of each intact. Petrie lot no. I.7. On the verso is the address: 'The lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, the overseer of the temple Ptahpuwah / From Iyemiatib, / Day 15 of the 1st month of Spring / Brought by the field-worker Neni' and the full letter is on the recto. The letter deals with the arrangements for moving an important member of staff and making sure that he is in the right place at the right time. The frequent mentions of commands and orders and fear of reprimand seems to indicate that Iyemiatib, the writer of this letter, has been in trouble for inefficiency before. The letter has been translated as: 'The servant of the personal estate Iyemiatib says: This is a message for the lord may he live long, prosper and thrive All the concerns of the Lord may he live long, prosper and thrive are safe and sound and everything is as it should be thanks to Atum lord of On with his Ennead, Re-horakhty and Sopdu, lord of the East with his Ennead and your local god who loves you day in, day out [……] until today and all the gods, just as yours-truly would wish. This is a message for the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, about getting somebody to write to yours truly about how the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, is doing because the mind of yours-truly is happy when he has heard how the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, is doing. This is a message to the effect that yours-truly has done everything that the lord commanded, namely what was ordered of yours-truly; bringing the head of the servants, just as was ordered, in case the lord should say “He is doing nothing about what I said to him”. When yours-truly comes back for the corvée in the second month of spring he can come back with me on [………………...] because that is the day after when yours-truly [………………] This is a message about it. Also, greet the children and the whole estate This is a message for the lord and it is good that the lord, may he live long, prosper and thrive, listens'.

Lahun

Kahun Workmens' Town

late Middle Kingdom

LDUCE-UC32198

Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology