Ivan Bogdanov

The subject matter is lexeme ẖr-ˁ underlying notions, connected with the procedure aspects of the activities of the Old Kingdom Egyptian officials. This article consist of two parts. 1. The object ẖrjt-ˁ and the origins of the notion «authorities». On the «frises dobjets» the word ẖrjt-ˁ / ẖr(j)-ˁ - is used in two meanings: «scribes equipment» and «razor case». In some spells of the Coffin Texts (CT VII, 26m; CT I, 198f) the word ẖrjt-ˁ means «under the guidance». The notion in the active form (with a plural ending) ẖr(jw)-ˁ means «sth carrying a hand / sth leading»; the notion in the passive form (with a feminine ending) ẖrjt-ˁ means «sth carried by a hand / led, regulated, guided». The notion ẖr(jw)-ˁ «authorities», known from the Testament of N(j)-kȝ(.j)-ˁnḫ(.j), literally means «container, etui». The word ẖrjw-ˁ in the object meaning «decor, template» is used in the inscription of Nj-ˁnḫ(.j)-Sḫmt (and others). The word ẖr(j)ˁ «template», which was applied to the signs engraved on the seal, was included in some titles as the bureaucratic term «the certifying mark». 2. Peculiarities of the use of the term ẖr(jw)-ˁ «control» in various documents. a) The documents with formulae: A ẖr(jw)-ˁ B «A - subordinate to B», and A B ẖr(jw)-ˁ «A, and B (in his) subordination», were studied. b) The author also studied the documents with the formulae A ẖr(jw)-ˁ B «A: supervision (over) B», and so on; Abusir X 69Aa (similarly: ASP 82); some papyri from the Gebelein archive; the inscriptions on the mummy shroud from the tomb of Hkrt-nbtj (Abusir); an inscription from the tomb of Nb-kȝw(.j)-Нr (Saqqara); O. Leiden J 426, J 427, J 428 (certificates of the sailors death). The control mark ẖr(j)-ˁ «marked, testified, certified» is found on many cylinder seals and their impressions, which are to be analysed separately.