Amherst Papyrus - Content

Content

The actual content of the papyrus is concerned with the confessions of the perpetrators on the crime committed as well as the punishment handed out to them. The tomb that was robbed belonged to Sobekemsaf I and the crimes dated to Year 13 of Ramesses IX. Amenpnufer is shown as the main player in the robbery, and in his trial we are told that the amount of gold found in the pyramid came to 32 lbs. The robbery was not just limited to Sobekemsaf; “we also found the royal wife and collected all that we found on her. We took objects of gold, silver, bronze, and divided them amongst us.” Whilst the perpetrators admitted to committing the crimes, we know that crime and punishment during the time was not so fair or comfortable: “the robbers brought before investigators of the Twentieth Dynasty were questioned about their activities and witnesses were called to confirm or contradict their stories. Both the accused and the witnesses were beaten as an aid to their memories.” Knowing this, it becomes harder to really judge whether those accused really were responsible for committing the crimes, although the description of the event would point towards the guilt of the accused: “We stripped off the gold, which we found on the august mummy of this god, and its amulets and ornaments which were at its throat, and the coverings wherein it rested.” The punishment we are given as listed is that of impalement, a punishment used for the most serious of crimes: “the punishment for violating a royal tomb: impalement.”