The Great Abydos Stela
1Year 2, under the majesty of King Neferhotep, born of the royal mother, Kemi, who is given life, stability, satisfaction, like Re, forever. His majesty appeared upon the throne of Horus in the palace, “Structure-of-Beauty.” His majesty spoke to the nobles and companions who were in his suite, the real scribes of the hieroglyphs, the masters of all secrets: “My heart has desired to see the ancient writings of Atum; open for me for a great investigation; let the god know concerning his creation, and the gods concerning their fashioning, their offerings and their oblations .... (Let) me know the god in his form, that I may fashion him as he was formerly, when they made the statues in their council, in order to establish their monuments upon earth. They have given to me the inheritance of Re as far as the circuit of the sun .... I will increase that which I shall have investigated, and they shall increase love for me ... to do according to that which they command.” These companions said: “That which your ka has commanded is that which happens, O sovereign and lord. Let your majesty proceed to the libraries, and let your majesty see every hieroglyph.” His majesty proceeded to the library. His majesty opened the rolls together with these companions. Lo, his majesty found the rolls of the House of Osiris, First of the Westerners, lord of Abydos. His majesty said to these companions: “My majesty hails my father Osiris, First of the Westerners, lord of Abydos. I will fashion him, his limbs ... his face, his fingers according to that which my majesty has seen in the rolls ... his form as King of Upper and Lower Egypt, at his coming forth from the body of Nut.” His majesty had the king's-confidant, who was in his majesty's suite, called to him; his majesty said [to] him: “Betake yourself southward ... [together with] troops and marines. Do not sleep night or day until you arrive at Abydos; cause the First of the Westerners (Osiris) to proceed (forth). May I make his monuments according to the beginning.” These companions said: “That which you command [is that which happens, O sovereign] and lord; you do all ... in Abydos for your father, First of the Westerners.” This official went southward [to do] that which his majesty commanded him. He arrived at [Abydos] .... The majesty of this god came to the sacred barge of the lord of eternity ...; the banks of the river were flooded [with his fragrance and with] the odors of Punt. [The majesty of this god] arrived in the midst .... One came to inform his majesty, saying: “This god has proceeded in peace.” His majesty proceeded [in] the sacred ship ... together with this god, causing that sacred offerings be presented to his father, the First of the Westerners: myrrh ... and sacred things for Osiris, First of the Westerners, in all his names .... ... those hostile to the sacred barge were overthrown. Lo, the majesty of this god appeared in procession, his ennead united [with him]. Upwawet was before him, he opened the ways .... Lo, his majesty caused that this god should proceed to ... that he should rest [on] his throne in the house of gold; in order to fashion the beauty of his majesty and his ennead, his oblation-tables of every splendid, costly stone of God's-Land. Behold, [the king] himself led the work on them ... gold, (for) his majesty was pure with the purity of a god .... ... “Be vigilant for the temple, look to the monuments which I have made. I put the eternal plan before me, I sought that which was useful for the future by putting this example in your hearts, which is about to occur in this place, which the god made, because of my desire to establish my monuments in his temple, to perpetuate my contracts in his house. His majesty loves that which I have done for him, he rejoices over that which I have decreed to do, (for) triumph has been given to him. I am his son, his protector, he gives to me the inheritance of the earth. [I] am the king, great in strength, excellent in commandment. He shall not live who is hostile to me; he shall not breathe the air who revolts against me; his name shall not be among the living; his ka shall be seized before the officials; he shall be cast out for this god, [together with] him who shall disregard the command of my majesty and those who shall not do according to this command of my majesty, who shall not exalt me to this august god, who shall not honor that which I have done concerning his offerings, [who shall not] give to me praise at every feast of this temple, of the entire [lay priesthood] of the sanctuary of this temple, and every office of Abydos. Behold, my majesty has made these monuments for my father, Osiris, First of the Westerners, Lord of Abydos, because I so much loved him, more than all gods; that he might give to me a reward for this [which I have done], ... consisting of millions of years ....”
The Boundary Stela
2He made (it) as his monument for his father Upwawet, lord of Tazoser. Year 4. My majesty, L. P. H., decrees that the cemetery (Tazoser) south of Abydos shall be protected and defended for his father Upwawet, lord of Tazoser, as Horus did for his father Osiris-Wennofer; not permitting any persons to set foot in this cemetery (Tazoser). Two stelae are set up at its south and at its north, engraved with the great name of my majesty, L. P. H. The southern (stela) is made in addition to these stelae, which are as far as the south, and the northern (stela) in addition to these stelae, which are as far as the north. As for him whom anyone shall find within these stelae, whether a craftsman or a priest at his business, he shall be branded. As for any official who shall have a tomb made for himself within this cemetery, he shall be reported, and the law shall be executed upon him, and the necropolis-custodian as on this day. Now, as for any addition to this cemetery, (in) the place where the people make tombs for themselves, there shall they be buried. May he (the king) be thereby given life, stability, satisfaction, health; may his heart be glad together with his ka, upon the throne of Horus, like Re, forever.