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Lot Essay
The vessel is inscribed with hieroglyphic inscriptions including: on one side of the rim, namely the flat surface of the cartouche base, with a pair of cartouches each surmounted by two feathers and horns; on the flat cartouche-shaped surface of the base, a column of hieroglyphs including one cartouche; and around the remainder of the rim, extending symmetrically from the middle of the top, proceeding in both directions to the edges of the flat base of the cartouche.
The two cartouches read left: “User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re”; right: “Ramesses ”. These are the Prenomen and Nomen of Ramesses II.
The column on the cartouche-shaped base reads: “(I) have given many horses, Ptah Divine of Strength, endowed with life; the King User-Maat-Re Tit-Re.”
The band of text around the rim extends around the side of the cartouche-shaped vessel. It begins with an “ankh” sign which is read at the beginning of both symmetrical sections. The section from center of top to right reads: “May he live! The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands User-Maat-Re Tit-Netjer, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Men-kheper-Re. (I) have given many, divine/god.” The section from center of top to left reads: “May he live! The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Men-kheper-Re, endowed with life like Re forever.”
There are apparently two kings named on this object, Ramesses II in the first and second texts, and Men-kheper-Re in the third. The second king named on this object has a Prenomen apparently shared with Ramesses II – User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re/Tit-Netjer – and a different Nomen, Men-kheper-Re. If this king assumed the same Prenomen as his famous predecessor Ramesses II, it is very understandable that Ramesses II is memorialized on the same object. The title nsw “King” as sole title before a royal name is often used to designate a deceased king.
There is an attested king whose Nomen was Men-kheper-Re; he was one of the High Priests of Amun at Thebes who assumed royal titles in the early generations of the Third Intermediate Period after the breakdown of the New Kingdom, and who flourished in 1045-992 B.C., cf. P. Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, London, 1994, p. 174). His most frequently attested and typically cited Prenomen, however, is his priestly title, “Hem-Netjer-Tepy-en-Amun,” “First Prophet of Amun” (i.e. high priest).
The two cartouches read left: “User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re”; right: “Ramesses ”. These are the Prenomen and Nomen of Ramesses II.
The column on the cartouche-shaped base reads: “(I) have given many horses, Ptah Divine of Strength, endowed with life; the King User-Maat-Re Tit-Re.”
The band of text around the rim extends around the side of the cartouche-shaped vessel. It begins with an “ankh” sign which is read at the beginning of both symmetrical sections. The section from center of top to right reads: “May he live! The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands User-Maat-Re Tit-Netjer, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Men-kheper-Re. (I) have given many, divine/god.” The section from center of top to left reads: “May he live! The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re, Son of Re, Lord of Crowns, Men-kheper-Re, endowed with life like Re forever.”
There are apparently two kings named on this object, Ramesses II in the first and second texts, and Men-kheper-Re in the third. The second king named on this object has a Prenomen apparently shared with Ramesses II – User-Maat-Re Setep-en-Re/Tit-Netjer – and a different Nomen, Men-kheper-Re. If this king assumed the same Prenomen as his famous predecessor Ramesses II, it is very understandable that Ramesses II is memorialized on the same object. The title nsw “King” as sole title before a royal name is often used to designate a deceased king.
There is an attested king whose Nomen was Men-kheper-Re; he was one of the High Priests of Amun at Thebes who assumed royal titles in the early generations of the Third Intermediate Period after the breakdown of the New Kingdom, and who flourished in 1045-992 B.C., cf. P. Clayton, Chronicle of the Pharaohs, London, 1994, p. 174). His most frequently attested and typically cited Prenomen, however, is his priestly title, “Hem-Netjer-Tepy-en-Amun,” “First Prophet of Amun” (i.e. high priest).