Recently an interesting fragment of papyrus was discovered in Eleusis near Alexandria. Dubbed the Palin Papyrus, it contains the partial text of a comedic play written during the reign of Ptolemy V (205-180 BCE). The group of actors who apparently staged the play was mentioned on an ostricon found nearby. They went under the curious name of Monti Cobra's Flying Sed Festival. Following is the text of the papyrus:
Bes-her and Tuftiti, stonemasons of the royal court, work upon a stele with a hammer and chisel. Enter the foreman Sekpepi.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: Osiris [the king] has gone west. Long live Horus [the new king]!
Stonemasons exchange glances.
Words spoken [by] Bes-her: Declare his name to us.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: Iwaennetjerwymerwiytu-setepptah-userkara-sekhemankhamun-entynehem-sibastet-snedjemibre-merwyitu-irmaat.
Words spoken [by] Tuftiti: Iterate his name I beg.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: Iwaennetjerwymerwiytu-setepptah-userkara-sekhemankhamun-entynehem-sibastet-snedjemibre-merwyitu-irmaat.
Words spoken [by] Bes-her: Aye.
Bes-her sighs noisily and drops his hammer.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: His name honors him. It pleases [him] to hear it, it pleases [him] to see it.
Sekpepi indicates stele.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: Inscribe his name repeatedly.
Words spoken [by] Bes-her: But we have just inscribed the name of the [prior] pharaoh, the name of Hakor.
Words spoken [by] Tuftiti: In six locations!
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: Great Geb, good fellow, then cover the [prior] name with the name of the king!
Stonemasons exchange glances.
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: The king also desires to usurp the granite stele of that (lousy) Libyan Pami.
Words spoken [by] Bes-her: What, that little stone? He desires us to cover the name of Pami with Iwaennetjer-wymer-wiytu-setepptah-userkara-sekhemankhamun-entynehem-sibastet-snedjemibre-merwyitu-irmaat?
Words spoken [by] Sekpepi: YOU are the artisans, men! Make due! Write small or . . . whatever. The king desires to see his name in all places! You will be two busy gents, you will!
Words spoken [by] Tuftiti: We beseech you, accept our petition for abundant chisels.
Here the text ends
© Copyright 1998 by Larry Orcutt.