The capture of Joppa story
General Information

The great pharaoh Thutmoses III secured the vassalage of the prince of Joppa during his campaign into Syria-Palestine. The story of capture of Joppa concerns the subjugation of the rebellion town by Djehuty, a prominent general and commander under Thutmoses III. The story is recorded on Papyrus Harris 500. The beginning of the tale is lost and only the end of the tale is preserved.

Number 10060
Storing Place The British Museum - London - United Kingdom
Material Papyrus
Type Papyrus
Type of Script Hieratic
Height 19.5 cm
Historical Period The Eighteenth Dynasty – The New Kingdom
General Comments

Joppa, modern Jaffa, is the well-known port in southern Palestine, on the road to the north.

Inscriptions on the Monument
Translation

[...]220+ Mary an-warriors [...] them like baskets [... replied] to Djehuty, "Let him be [given] 100+ [soldiers] (from) the garrison of Pharaoh, l.p.h." [...] their faces. Now after a time they were intoxicated, and Djehuty said to [the Rebel of Joppa, "I shall deliver] myself along with (my) wife and children (unto) your city for yourself personally. Let the / gro[oms] drive in [the chariot horses a]nd have fodder [giv]en to them; otherwise an Apir may pass by [and steal one of] them." So the chariot horses were secured and given fodder. And [... the great baton of] King Menkheperre, l.p.h., and someone came and made report to Djehuty. Now [when the Rebel of Jo]ppa said to Djehuty, "It is my wish to see the great baton of King Menkheperre, l.p.h. [There is a woman here] by the name of Tiutnofre. By the Ka of King Menkheperre, l.p.h., she shall be yours today / [if you will be so] kind as to bring it (to) me," he acquiesced and brought the baton of King Menkheperre, I.[p.h., concealed in] his apron. And he stood straight up and said, "Look at me, O Rebel of [Joppa! Here is] King Menkheperre, l.p.h., the fierce lion, Sakhmet's son, to whom Amon has given his [strength." And he] lifted his hand and smote upon the Rebel of Joppa's temple so that he fell / [sprawling] before him. And he put him in manacles [...] the leather. And he [said], "Tet [there be brought to me] a clamp of copper. [We shall make a] restraint for this Rebel of Joppa." So the clamp of copper of four nemset-weight was attached to his feet. And he caused the two hundred baskets, which he had had fabricated, to be brought and caused two hundred soldiers to descend / into them. And their arms were filled (with) ropes and manacles, and they were sealed shut. And they were given their sandals along with their carrying-poles and . . . and every fine soldier was assigned to carry them, totaling five hundred men. They were told, "As soon as you enter the city, you shall release your companions and seize hold of all persons who are in the city and put them in rope-bonds / straightaway. And someone came out to tell the charioteer of the Rebel of Joppa, "Thus says your lord, 'Go tell your mistress, "Be of good cheer! It is (to) us that Seth has delivered Djehuty along with his wife and his children. Here are the first fruits of their servitude," so (you) shall say to her regarding these two hundred baskets,' " which were (actually) filled with men and manacles and ropes. Then he went in advance of them in order to impart the good news to his mistress saying, "We have captured Djehuty!" And the defenses of the city were opened up for the arrival of the soldiers, and they entered the town [and] released their companions. And they captured [the] towns-people, both young and old, and put them in rope-bonds and manacles straightaway. So the energetic arm of Pharaoh, l.p.h., captured the town. In the evening Djehuty sent a message to Egypt to King Menkheperre, l.p.h., his lord, saying, "Be of good cheer! Amon, your good father, has delivered to you the Rebel of [Jo]ppa and all his people as well as his city. Send men to take them away captive that you may fill the Estate of your father Amon-Re, King of the Gods, with male and female slaves, who have fallen beneath your feet forever and ever." Thus it concludes happily.

Scientific Publishing

A. Erman, The Ancient Egyptians: A Sourcebook Of Their Writings, (New York, 1966), 167-169
W.K. Simpson, The Literature Of Ancient Egypt, (Cairo, 2003), 72-74
سليم حسن، مصر القديمة، موسوعة الأدب المصري، ج17(القاهرة، 2000)، 109 -112