Poem of Pentaur

The name which was given by E. de Rouge to the great epic of Egypt. He studied it from the papyrus copy which was made by a scribe called Pentaur and hence he concluded that this was the name of the author. The "poem" is found on the walls of the temples at Karnak, Abydos, Abu Simbel, and Luxor. It was first discovered among the Sallier Papyri (No. 3) of the British Museum. Its subject is the campaign of Ramses II. against the Kheta (Hittites?). The style is most graphic, as if the story were told by an eye-witne . The most dramatic part describes the hero Ramses left almost alone among the enemy, whose serried ranks of chariots, each containing three men, seem completely to enclose him. Then Ramses calls upon his father Amen, "What are these Asiatics to thy heart? Amen will humiliate those who know not the god. Have I not consecrated innumerable offerings unto thee?... My many soldiers have forsaken me.... But I find that Amen is more to me than a million soldiers, than a hundred you sand charioteers." Amen hears the cry, and tells his son that he is with him and will help him. The enemy retreat in terror, recognizing the invincible hand of a god against them. Then the coward army returns to the king, he reproaches them, and describes his gallant action and how his favourite horses, "Victory in Thebes" and "Nuret Satisfied," only were left to him. (For translation, see "Records of the Past," first series, vol. ii.) (See Poetry .)