Semna Despatches

The Semna Despatches are now part of the British Museums collection; after being gifted by Alan Gardiner who had acquired them around 1900 in return for his financial help with preservation and publishing the papyri.

[5] Unfortunately, two of the Despatches suffered significant damage from the use of cellulose nitrate film with both of the papyri being seriously damaged[4] During the reign of Senusret I the Egyptians started to push further south into lower Nubia and by the reign of Senusret III it became necessary to build forts around Semna Gorge; this area would provide a defensive position in case of attack by Nubia, who were still a powerful enemy.

[7] To accomplish the task of keeping the Nubians out the Egyptians would send patrols into the desert to find people who may be trying to cross the border clandestinely and report those movements to the other forts as well as to officials in Thebes which is the main reason the Semna Despatches were created.

[6] The Egyptians saw the outside world as one being of disorder which must be controlled to preserve Maat (or order) with this extending to outside country's particularly Nubia.

[7] We can see in the Semna Despatches the Egyptians upholding Maat by keeping the Nubians out.

[3] The Semna Despatches were found in a Theban tomb which was below the Mortuary Temple of Ramesses II by J.E.Quibell in 1895–1896.

[4] The Despatches suffered another mishap as when they were being hoisted out of the tomb they fell from the basket back down the shaft potentially damaging more of the already fragile papyri.

[4] After Quibell got them back to England they sat on a shelf in the Edwards Library at University College, London until they were given to the esteemed Egyptologist Alan Gardiner to preserve and publish around 1900.

[4] The Job of translating the Semna Despatches fell to Paul C. Smithers who worked on them in early 1940 until his death in 1943.

Unfortunately, because it was war time, and because Smithers died in September 1943 from a lingering illness he was unable to consult the original plates containing the Semna Despatches so instead he worked from photographs.

[3] Because of the difficulty in working from photographs, Smithers encountered some errors in translation resolved by Bryan Kraemer and Dr Kate Liszka in 2016.

[1] Unlike the Semna Despatches which dealt with monitoring the movements of people around the Semna Gorge these papyri dealt with administration and talk about the inspection of officials in the fort of Elephantine.

in year] 3, (8) month 4 of prõyet, day 7, [at] the time of ev[ening,] to do trade.

(They) sailed up-stream to the place whence they had come, bread and beer having been Given to them like… in year 3, month 4 of prõyet, day 8, at the time of morning.

Medjay-people (10) who went following that track in month 4 of prõyet, day 4, came to report to me on this day (11) at the time of evening, having brought three Medjay-men, ...four.., (12) saying, “We found them on the south of the desert-edge, below the Inscription of Shōmu, (13) likewise three women(??

the desert-edge... the fortress Khesef-Medja’ew in year 3, month 3 of prōyet, last day, (14) have come to report to me, saying, We have found the track of 32 men and three asses, (which?)

(7) Be informed, if you please, of the fact that two Medjay-men, three Medjay-women, and two ... (8) came down from the desert in year 3, month 3 of Prōyet, day 27; they said, ‘We have come To serve (9) the Great House, l.p.h.

[of the] ...reported... (4) in [year 3, month 4 of] prōyet, day 8, at the time [of] morning, Saying, ... (5) ....is (or are) going to see me.

to…] (x+8) Copy of a document sent to the Ꜣtw-[(n)-niw.t, Amen]y who is in the fortress opposing-[the-lunu (Uronarti)] (x+9) It is a communication to the master, l.

[p.h., that] 4 Nehesy-women arrived at [the fortress Khakaure-true-of]-voice-[is-mighty (Semna West)] (x+10) in regnal year 3, month 4 of Peret, day [ 6 at the time of] morning.

They went south [to the place] that they came from (x+12) [on] day 7 at the time of [evening], after bread and beer were [given to] Them according [to the rule].

(x+13) The servant-there had the High [steward] Senmeri who is in the fortress Repelling-the-bows (Kumma) bring [it.]

Unfortunately, the use of celluloid nitrate film can be very unstable and in the case of two of the papyri burning has been caused because of its use.

To stop further damage the British Museum started in 2006 to remove the frames and the gelatin film then remount the papyrus to fine tissue paper to ensure their continued preservation.