The Complaints of Ipuwer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part 1

[. .] The door [keepers] say: “Let us go and plunder.” The confectioners [. . .]. The washerman refuses to carry his load [. . .] The bird [catchers] have drawn up in line of battle [. . . the inhabitants] of the Delta carry shields. The brewers [. . .] sad. A man regards his son as his enemy. Confusion [. . .] another. Come and conquer; judge [. . .] what was ordained for you in the time of Horus, in the age [of the Ennead . . .]. The virtuous man goes in mourning because of what has happened in the land [. . .] goes [. . .] the tribes of the desert have become Egyptians everywhere. the face is pale; [. . .] what the ancestors foretold has arrived at [fruition . . .] the land is full of confederates, and a man goes to plough with his shield. the meek say: [“He who is . . . of] face is as a well-born man.” [the face] is pale; the bowman is ready, wrongdoing is everywhere, and there is no man of yesterday. the plunderer [. . .] everywhere, and the servant takes what he finds. the Nile overflows, yet none plough for it. Everyone says: “We do not know what will happen throughout the land.” the women are barren and none conceive. Khnum fashions (men) no more because of the condition of the land. -the Nile overflows, yet none plough for it: The collapse of the Old Kingdom civilisation is generally attributed to a repeated failure of the Nile to inundate the flood plain. A few consecutive crop failures can result in many subsequent years of suffering, as all the grain that is grown and which is to serve as seed, will be consumed as food.

The Complaints of Ipuwer

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Part 7

Behold, the fire has gone up on high, and its burning goes forth against the enemies of the land. Behold, things have been done which have not happened for a long time past; the king has been deposed by the rabble. Behold, he who was buried as a falcon [is devoid] of biers, and what the pyramid concealed has become empty. Behold, it has befallen that the land has been deprived of the kingship by a few lawless men. Behold, men have fallen into rebellion against the Uraeus, the [. . .] of Re, even she who makes the Two Lands content. Behold, the secret of the land whose limits were unknown is divulged, and the Residence is thrown down in a moment. Behold, Egypt is fallen to pouring of water, and he who poured water on the ground has carried off the strong man in misery. Behold, the Serpent is taken from its hole, and the secrets of the Kings of Upper and Lower Egypt are divulged. Behold, the Residence is afraid because of want, and [men go about] unopposed to stir up strife. Behold, the land has knotted itself up with confederacies, and the coward takes the brave man’s property. Behold, the Serpent [. . .] the dead: he who could not make a sarcophagus for himself is now the possessor of a tomb. Behold, the possessors of tombs are ejected on to the high ground, while he who could not make a coffin for himself is now [the possessor] of a treasury. Behold, this has happened [to] men; he who could not build a room for himself is now a possessor of walls. Behold, the magistrates of the land are driven out throughout the land: [. . .] are driven out from the palaces. -deposed by the rabble: Lichtheim: robbed by beggars -Falcon: the pharaoh, son of Horus -pyramid: pyramids were built from the third dynasty to the Middle Kingdom. -lawless men: Lichtheim: people who ignore custom. Essentially, Egyptian law was customary law. -Uraeus: The snake symbol of the ruler, worn on pharaonic headdresses. -the [. . .] of Re: Lichtheim: Stolen] is the crown of Re -Serpent: Wilson: (guardian-)serpent -he who could not build a room for himself is now a possessor of walls: Lichtheim: He who did not build a hut is an owner of coffers. Behold, noble ladies are now on rafts, and magnates are in the labor establishment, while he who could not sleep even on walls is now the possessor of a bed. Behold, the possessor of wealth now spends the night thirsty, while he who once begged his dregs for himself is now the possessor of overflowing bowls. Behold, the possessors of robes are now in rags, while he who could not weave for himself is now a possessor of fine linen. Behold, he who could not build a boat for himself is now the possessor of a fleet; their erstwhile owner looks at them, but they are not his. Behold, he who had no shade is now the possessor of shade, while the erstwhile possessors of shade are now in the full blast of the storm. Behold, he who was ignorant of the lyre is now the possessor of a harp, while he who never sang for himself now vaunts the Songstress-goddess. Behold, those who possessed vessel-stands of copper [. . .] not one of the jars thereof has been adorned. -Behold, noble ladies are now on rafts, and magnates are in the labor establishment, while he who could not sleep even on walls is now the possessor of a bed: Wilson: Behold, nobles’ ladies are (now) gleaners, and nobles are in the workhouse. (But) he who never (even) slept on a plank is (now) the owner of a bed. Bedsteads were expensive furniture. Most people would have slept on the floor. -shade: Lichtheim: shelter -Songstress-goddess: goddess of music (Wilson) -vessel-stands: Most vessels had rounded bottoms and were placed on circular vessel-stands to prevent them from falling over. Lichtheim:offering-tables

Egyptian Sources on Superphysics

The Complaints of Ipuwer

Part 1

The Complaints of Ipuwer

Part 7