Description

A piece of a granite inscription from a Middle Kingdom temple at Armant, probably reused in the later  Ptolemaic and Roman constructions.

The block can still be read in part; it was a royal inscription.

On the left is a king's nomen, or personal name. The cartouche is clearly visible, and the royal name, Sobek-hotep, can be read inside. Above this name is the title, s3 r' - Son of Re.  Immediately to the right, above a circular depression of later date, can be seen the title, n-sw-bit which precedes the king's praenomen, or throne name. This name is unfortunately completely lost, so we cannot identify which of at least eight kings namedSobek-hotep dedicated this piece. Facing the sedge and bee of n-sw-bit is the image of a crocodile on top of a shrine. This is the name of th crocodile god, Sobek. Behind him, reading from left to right is the epithet, mry, "beloved."  The epithet tells us that the king was beloved of the god Sobek.

The middle line on the right side is a standard blessing: Di ankh djed was - May he be given life, endurance, and power.

Under these four signs there is a damaged area which may have read mi R' - like the Sun - and three glyphs that make up the word djet - Forever. 

The inscription begins in the centre of the block, and reads right to left on the left half of the block, and left to right on the right side: 

Left side: King of Upper and Lower Egypt [name missing] Son of Re, Sobekhotep.

Right side:  Beloved of Sobek, may he be given (or he has been granted) life,endurancee and power, [like the sun] forever.

The piece may have originally formed part of a dedicatory stele.