In The Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian Literature
A Reconstruction
|
In The Twelfth Dynasty Egyptian Literature
|
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
|
At the royal tent in Libya where Sinuhe had overheard that the king had been killed, he knew that for his part, he was to have killed to co-regent, his half-brother Sesostris.
He recalled his trembling, his fear. He recalled how the young king had loved him and looked up to him, how he had no part of Sidiptu’s machinations. Sinuhe loved his younger half-brother back, and faltered in his own plan to take over the throne. The plot seemed to be a reasonable and not uncommon method in deciding succession, but Sinuhe could not bring himself to dispatch his innocent brother, no matter how much he despised his half-brother’s father. Sinuhe always hated the dead king despite his benevolent adoption that maintained Sinuhe’s safety and royal status. The plotter knew that the people would see him as not only a regicide, but also a parricide. Nevertheless the murder of the old king satisfied Sinuhe. The death quenched Sinuhe’s thirst for justice. The blood of his innocent brother, Sesostris, no matter the original coup plot, no longer seemed to be required. Sinuhe chose to not kill the young king. Somehow these two men, who would never see each other again, had each spared the other. Sesostris had not seized Sinuhe despite his early suspicions, and Sinuhe did not slay the young king despite his original intentions. The new king would rule alone, wisely, protecting his people for more than 35 more years. Sinuhe, still in the adjacent royal tent in Libya, pretended surprise that the young king had departed without notice. He nonchalantly wandered out into the morning desert, being the highest-ranking person among the camp. “The king has departed?” he asked the tent attendant who looked bitterly at the tall general. Rudely the attendant turned back ignoring the question, into the royal tent to continue packing the trappings. Nearby a strange commotion lured a crowd of spectators. Sinuhe approached to find two lieutenants wrestling in the dust. The crowd seemed quiet and nervous. None of the usual raucous cheering for the combatants greeted those approaching. “Here, here, stop fighting, save it for the Libyans,” Sinuhe ordered while using his imposing body to separate the pair. “Who appointed you our leader? What will you do? Kill us like you killed the king?” They continued the brawl in front of the skittish crowd as Sinuhe eyes bugged in horror. “They know!” he thought. With long fearful strides he parted through the scowling group and returned to his tent allowing the soldiers to stare at him. He heard a few hawking spits as he passed by them. Back at his striped colorful royal tent, he gathered a few days’ provisions, dried fish, hard bread, some water, a blanket, and walked out. He knew the territory and needed no map. He stopped, looked back at his fellows, and began those long strides north . . . to the Great Green, the sea. Secretly a few sympathetic henchmen gathered, geared up and followed him from afar. The main army, without orders, regrouped and planned an orderly retreat back to the palace. The Libyan spies watched from the dunes. After a few days, the Sea appeared, and a new life for Sinuhe. Apparently the fighting pair had learned about the coup plot, and surmised that Sinuhe would certainly be the main suspect. Rumors about his despoiled sister’s death became common knowledge. But the fighters disagreed, perhaps on a decision to follow and capture Sinuhe. A few loyal henchmen decided to follow him protectively and abandon their beloved Egypt. They considered in their hearts and in whispers, why Sinuhe had not killed the young king as planned. Why did he not set him up in a Libyan clash in which he would have died? Why did he depart from the takeover plan? The walkers followed the coast eastward, joined a ship and sailed past Egypt to Byblos on the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. The competent executive general and ambassador, the royal son, Sinuhe had held many crown commissions. As a general, he led raids on Ethiopia. Along the way he picked up a few minor wives, among them the beauty Tharbis, favorite daughter of the Ethiopian king. She bore him a few tall black sons with his shocking blue eyes and orange curly hair. But she stayed with her father, knowing Sinuhe’s job required extensive travel. She chose not to live alone in his foreign home among strangers. Their marriage alignment secured her international place as most favored Ethiopian, a guarantee of Egyptian support against the sometimes unruly outsider tribes. Among the nations Sinuhe’s diplomatic stature and natural ability reassured the foreigners who fawned over him knowing the great favors he could bestow on them. Sinuhe had also administered the king’s holdings among the Asiatics. He had traveled to Byblos before. He knew the languages of the Asiatics and the bedwy. His ancestors had lived in the Delta where many of the “strange bird” Asiatics had settled when times were hard in their desert hills, when famine dogged the nations. His royal liberal arts education included not only literacy about the foreign nations, but also many of the world’s esoteric realms as well as their useful fields. Somehow his family’s abilities had brought an intermingling of their blood with the Egyptian royal family. The foreigners, even those on the ship, recognized the six foot six colorful Egyptian who allowed his shockingly red-orange hair and beard to grow Asiatic style when he visited among them. He adopted the striped colorful robes and head wraps of the desert dwellers. His red hair proclaimed him a man of the red lands, the mountains and deserts. The ship captain bowed to the famous royal Egyptian, and who had become and even now more infamous celebrity. They all knew Sinuhe. He was the Egyptian king’s son who visited them. He spoke their language and knew their leaders. When Sinuhe removed his Egyptian headpiece and his garment, the ship’s captain quickly supplied him with his most luxurious one, at least, the cleanest Asiatic clothing that he could find. The outfit despite being too short somehow did not look ridiculous, but a bit jaunty and stylish. The captain knew he could keep the expensive Egyptian cloth and sell it for much more than any fare he could have collected from any ordinary traveler. The sailors tried to sneak glances as the general’s red hair, usually seen only among the royal families. Many Asiatics also knew the Egyptian language, which they learned during their travel and trade among the wealthy Egyptians. But they also subsidized their own royals with education in many fields, especially astronomy. The wily traders feigned humble bumbling shepherd attitudes in their extreme hospitality. They would make any visitor comfortable in order to jockey for position. They knew they were the equal of Egypt but feigned elaborate praise to the great country that considered itself the only place of importance. Upon disembarking in Byblos, the Asiatics quickly vied to serve the general with his usual requirements. Sinuhe visited his foreign friends and enjoyed their hospitality. They truly loved him because he appeared to be one of them, despite his unusual huge size. The cousins quickly arrived at the dock with the expensive sedan carriers. They could not stop the children and ladies from running and singing despite the unhappy nature of his visit. “He returns,” the children sang, “He is ours now! He is back home! We love you! Sinuhe ! Sinuhe!” they chanted as the flower sellers gave up their crop to the cheering crowd to toss for him to cross. The cousins would try to reimburse for the flowers but the dealers would happily refuse any reimbursement. They would get access to the lavish parties instead, a much greater payment. “Thank you, thank you. Please let us pass. We will talk tomorrow!” Sinuhe graciously acknowledged the crowds who by then knew what had happened, that the great Egyptian king, Amenemhet I, had been assassinated, and that Sinuhe had emerged as the chief suspect. The Asiatics despised the Nubians as extremely foreign, exotic and strange. And the murdered Egyptian king had been visibly Nubian. And he had raped a child, Sinuhe’s sister. This crime certainly deserved death, in Asiatic eyes. So Sinuhe enjoyed the celebrity of a hero, despite the huge reward offered for his big red head. The Asiatics vied for any conference with the executive and for any military services of the renowned Egyptian prince. At the cousins’ palace, Sinuhe rested and enjoyed the attentions of his extended family. The well-covered populace showed little skin, choosing veils and multi layered coverings, unlike the bald sparsely covered Egyptians who allowed the children and youngsters to run naked. “Please ask the traders to get word to my mother and father that I am well. Write nothing down but pass the word in the usual veiled manner. Tell them not to write any reply, a nod will be sufficient. Sinuhe knew he could expect that by now his parents had already forgiven him.” It took several months for Sinuhe to make the rounds of the ruling families in the various Asiatic capitals, finally, Sinuhe arrived in Midian, the land east of the Sinai. The tribal priest-leader-astronomer, Amuneschi, welcomed him. Amuneschi, the wisest among the tribes, consulted with all the leaders who humbly deferred to his heritage. His family had been the librarians, the protectors of the ancient legends. Their knowledge went back thousands of years. Many believed that the records were absolutely true, sacrosanct. Others secretly doubted some of the legends as too unbelievable for the rational person. But none denied the ancient tribe it’s due of respect. The Midians had continued gathering and recording the movements of the planets. Part rational and part mystical most of the Asiatics granted them the status of holiness. Not many from the far countries made it into the difficult schools for the initiates. Few emerged that had passed through the entire series of subject matter. But those who had made even partial studies among those Midians, rose to high rank among the nations. “So tell me what has been happening at the palace?” Ammuneneschi slyly inquired of Sinuhe, already knowing all the facts. Sinuhe replied, recognizing that the shepherd already knew all, “The great god flew up to heaven, and I feared a revolt and chaos that I could not control. Besides the country remains in good hands with the competent young god, Sesostris. I trained him myself.” He replied disingenuously. “How goes it with you? Do you need any help doing the great job you are already doing so well now?” Sinuhe countered. “Why sir, how kind of you to ask. I have a daughter, my treasure of my heart, and no man yet worthy of her. And there are a few irritating neighbors that could be conquered as a nice gift for my girl,” he coyly enjoyed. They cackled their pleasure with each other and plotted big plans with delight. The tents of colorful silk and embroidered with pineapple patterns vibrated as the singers and strummers backgrounded for the bells of the belly dancers. Aromatic foods, perfume, wine and pillows enhanced the delights for those happily invited. |
[Main]
[Order]
[Contact] |
 |
 |
|