Ancient Egypt and Archaeology Web Site - Stela of Menni who lived during the reign of Pepy II in the 6th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt (c.2345-2181 BC)

Stela of Menni who lived during the reign of Pepy II in the 6th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom period of Ancient Egypt (c.2345-2181 BC). This slab is his memorial and he would have hoped that priests, family, and visitors would have read his name and titles which would have helped to support his existence in the after-life.

He held different high offices and the inscription on the Stela includes two of his titles; 'Seal-Bearer of the King' and 'Sole-companion. Menni was also the Director of the pyramid temples of King Pepy I (Pepy II’s grandfather) and King Merenra (Pepy II’s father). The Pyramids were less than a kilometre apart at South Saqqara; Pepy I’s was originally 258 feet high but is now reduced to a mere 39 feet high.

The full inscription of Menni’s Stela says “An offering which the king gives to Anubis, A Voice-offering for Seal-Bearer of the King, Sole-companion, the Revered with Hathor Lord of Denderah, Pepy enduring life, the good Menni”.

Transliteration
Line 1 - Htp di nsw inpw
Line 2 - prt xrw n xtmty-bity smr waty
Line 3 - imAxw xr Hwt Hr nb iwnt
Line 4 - ppy mn anx nfr mn-ni

The text follows a standard formula but with his name, the gods that he prayed-to, and his titles added. Funerary Stela, like Menni’s, were often placed in-front of tombs and this was most likely placed in a niche outside of his Mastaba tomb, possibly at Denderah which is 50 kilometres north of Luxor on the west bank of the Nile.

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Egyptology and Archaeology through Images: Last updated on 17-December-2023