INSCRIPTION ON THE STELA OF THE PHARAOH TAHARQO (KAWA V)

Purpose. This article deals with the hieroglyphic inscription on the pharaoh Taharqo’s stela (Kawa V) recounting natural phenomena and wonders that happened in his sixth regnal year (685/4 BCE). The central events are a remarkably high inundation of the Nile that was attested by the historical evidence on the Karnak quay, and the rainfall in Nubia. A rich harvest and great prosperity of the country were derived from those events. The paper aims to present the text of the stela in Russian and review the previous discussions of the record. Methodology. The inscription collated with the photo of the stela kept in Copenhagen. Results. The first Russian translation based on all existing versions of the text is provided. Commentary includes a number of improvements for the earlier copies and its translation. Discussion of the key problems is emphasized: the phenomena considered by the earlier researchers as wonders, the dynastic features, and the circumstances of Taharqo’s coronation in Memphis. Scope of application of the results. The article is intended for professionals in political history and source studies of the ancient world