Scarabs Amenhotepiii

The Five Amenhotep III Commemorative Scarabs
A-Mariage Scarab

anx Hr: kA nxt xa m mAat nbty: smnw hpw sgrH tAwy Hr nbw: aA xpS Hw sTyw nsw-bity: (nb-mAat-ra) sA ra (imn-Htp HqA wAst) di anx Hmt nsw wrt (tiy) anx.ti rn n it·s ywiA rn n mwt·s TwiA Hmt pw nt nsw nxt tAS·f rsy r kAry mHty·f r nhArynA

Living Horus: Strong Bull, Appearing in Thebes, Two Ladies: He who established laws, whopacifies the two lands, Golden Horus: Great of strength, smiter of Asiatics, King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Neb-Maat-Re, Son of Re: Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, given life. Great royal wife Tiy, may she live. The name of her father is Yuya, the name of her mother is Thuya. She is the wife of a strong king, whose southern border stretches to Karoi (Nubia) and whose northern one to Naharina (Mitannikingdom).

(B-Bull Hunt Scarab—Year 2)

(Cleveland Museum of Art)

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HAt-sp 2 xr Hm n Hr: kA nxt xa m mAat nbty: smnw hpw sgrH tAwy Hr nbw: aA xpS Hw sTyw nsw-bity: (nb-mAat-ra) sA ra (imn-Htp HqA wAst) di anx Hmt nsw wrt (tiy) anx.ti biyt xprt n Hm·f iw·tw r Dd n Hm·f iw wn smA Hr xAst nt w n Stp nat Hm·f m xd m wiA-nsw xa-m-mAat Hr tr n xAwy Ssp tp wAt nfrt spr m Htp r w n Stp Hr tr n dwAwxat Hm·f Hr ssmt mSa·f tm m-xt·f sHnt srw mSa anxw nw mSa r Dr·f mi qd·f xrdw n kAp r irt rsw Hr nA n smAw ist wD·n Hm·f rdt itH·tw nn smAw m sbty Hna Sdy wDA·in Hm·f r nn smAw r-Aw·sn rxt iry smA 170 rxt in·n Hm·f bHs m hrw pn smA 56 wAH·in Hm·f hrw-4 m wS rdt srf n ssmt·f xat Hm·f Hr ssmt rxt nn smAw in·n·f m bHs smA-40 dmD smA 96
Year 2 of the majesty of Horus: Strong Bull, Appearing inThebes, Two Ladies: He who established laws, who pacifies the two lands, Golden Horus: Great of strength, smiter of Asiatics, King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Neb-Maat-Re, Son of Re: Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, given life. Great royal wife Tiy, may she live. A marvel that happened to his majesty: One came to say to his majesty: “There are wild bulls in the hills of the region of Shetep*.” His majestysailed downstream in the royal barge called “Appearing in Truth” in the time of night, made a good start to the journey, and arrived safely in the region of Shetep at the time of dawn. His majesty appeared on a chariot (span of horses) with his entire army behind him. The officers of the army, all the private soldiers of the army, all the children of the Kap** were instructed to keep watch for thewild bulls. Then his majesty commanded that one drive the bulls into a walled enclosure with a ditch. As a result, his mjesty went forth to all the bulls. The number thereof of bulls is 170. The number taken by his majesty in hunting on this day was 56 bulls. His majesty passed four days idled, giving rest

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to his horses. His majesty (then) appeared in a chariot. Number of wild bulls takenin hunting: 40 bulls, total wild bulls: 96.
* Probably in the oasis of Wadi Natrun. (See R. Ritner, “The Site of the Wild Bull Hunt of Amenhotep III.” JEA 72 (1986): 193-4) ** The children of the kap or nursery were young men raised with the king’s sons. Often the kap contained the children of foreign rulers, to ensure the allegiance of these rulers to Egypt and, in a sense, Egyptianize the futureleaders of Egypt’s neighboring lands.

(C-Lion Hunt Scarab—Year 10)

(Portland Art Museum)

anx Hr: kA nxt xa m mAat nbty: smnw hpw sgrH tAwy Hr nbw: aA xpS Hw sTyw nswbity: (nb-mAat-ra) sA ra (imn-Htp HqA wAst) di anx Hmt nsw wrt (tiy) anx.ti rxt mAw in·n Hm·f m stt·f Ds·f SAa-m HAt-sp 1 nfryt HAt-sp 10 mA hsA 102
Living Horus: Strong Bull, Appearing in Thebes, Two Ladies: He whoestablished laws, who pacifies the two lands, Golden Horus: Great of strength, smiter of Asiatics, King of Upper and Lower Egypt: Neb-Maat-Re, Son of Re: Amenhotep, ruler of Thebes, given life. Great royal wife Tiy, may she live. Number of lions taken by his majesty by his own shooting, beginning in regnal year one to regnal year 10, 102 fierce lions.

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(D-Arrival of Gilukhipa Scarab—Year 10)...