Difference between revisions of "Amentaris and Kallikrates"

Latest revision as of 16:55, 25 May 2013

Bought from Bab al-Nasr by the Following Alexander Party. Written in Greek on papyrus.

    I, Amenartis, of the Royal House of the Pharaohs of Egypt, wife of Kallikrates (Beautiful
    in Strength), a Priestess of Isis whom the gods cherish and the demons obey, being about
    to die, to my little son Tisisthene (the Mighty Avenger). I fled with thy father from
    Egypt in the days of Nectanebis, causing him through love to break the vows that he had
    vowed. We fled southward, across the waters, and we wandered for twice twelve moons on the
    coast of Libya (Africa) that looks towards the rising sun, where by a river is a great
    rock carven like the head of an Ethiopian. Nine days on the water from the mouth of a
    mighty river were we cast away on the great depths, and some were drowned and some died of
    sickness. But us wild men took through wastes and marshes, where the sea fowl hid the sky,
    bearing us ten day's journey till we came to a hollow mountain, where a great city had
    been and fallen, and where there are caves of which no man hath seen the end; and they
    brought us to the Queen of the people who place pots upon the heads of strangers, who is a
    magician having a knowledge of all things, and life and loveliness that does not die. And
    she cast eyes of love upon thy father, Kallikrates, and would have slain me, and taken him
    to husband, but he loved me and feared her, and would not. Then did she take us, and lead
    us by terrible ways, by means of dark magic, to where the great pit is, in the mouth of
    which the old philosopher lay dead, and showed to us the rolling Pillar of Life that dies
    not, whereof the voice is as the voice of thunder; and she did stand in the flames, and
    come forth unharmed, and yet more beautiful. Then did she swear to make thy father undying
    even as she is, if he would but slay me, and give himself to her, for me she could not
    slay because of the magic of my own people that I have, and that prevailed thus far
    against her. And he held his hand before his eyes to hide her beauty, and would not. Then
    in her rage did she smite him by her magic, and he died; but she wept over him, and bore
    him thence with lamentations: and being afraid, me she sent to the mouth of the great
    river where the ships come, and I was carried far away on the ships where I gave thee
    birth, and hither to Athens I came at last after many wanderings. Now I say to thee, my
    son, Tisisthene, seek out the woman, and learn the secret of Life, and if thou mayest find
    a way slay her, because of thy father Kallikrates; and if thou dost fear or fail, this I
    say to all of thy seed who come after thee, till at last a brave man be found among them
    who shall bathe in the fire and sit in the place of the Pharaohs. I speak of those things,
    that though they be past belief, yet I have known, and I lie not.