As we mentioned last week, the tale of Sanehat (or Senohy) took place at the time of king Amenemhat I, the founder of the 12th dynasty, Middle Kingdom. After the king’s death, Sanehat was concerned that his elder brother Senusert might see him as a rival and try to slay him, so Sanehat fled to Syria where he was always longing to return to Egypt. He then applied a petition to the King and got his permission to return to Egypt to live at the palace with his children who loved him to the extent that they made a song to support him in front of the King. The renowned Egyptologist Flinders Pitrie translates the lyrics of this song in the following text:
“Then they (the princesses) brought their collars, and their wands, and their sistra in their hands, and displayed them before his majesty; and they sang_
‘May thy hands prosper, O King; May the ornaments of the Lady of Heaven continue. May the goddess Nub give life to thy nostril; May the mistress of the stars favour thee, when thou sailest south and north.
All wisdom is in the mouth of thy majesty; Thy uraeus is on thy forehead, thou drivest away the miserable.
Thou art pacified, O Ra, lord of the lands; they call on thee as on thee as on the mistress of all.
Strong is thy horn, Thou lettest fly thine arrow.
Grant the breath to him who is without it; grant good things to this traveler, Samehit the Pedti, born in the land of Egypt, Who fled away from fear of thee, and fled this land from thy terrors. Does not the face grow pale, of him who beholds thy countenance; Does not the eye fear, which looks upon thee.’
This song of the princesses has a clear structure in parallel phrases. First are four wishes for the king and queen, in four lines. Second, an ascription of wisdom and power, in two lines. Third, a comparison of the King to Ra, and of the queen to the great goddess, in two lines. Fourth, an ascription of righting power. Fifth, a petition for Sanehat, winding up with the statement of fear inspired by the king, as explaining Sanehat’s abasement.”
After the king heard the song he answered: “Let him not fear, let him be freed from terror. He shall be a royal friend amongst the nobles; he shall be put within the circle of the courtiers. Go ye to the chamber of praise to seek wealth for him.” His life in the palace will be the subject of our next talk.
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