This chalice in the form of a lotus is decorated with a whorl of circles and sepals in low relief.
The handle is a lotus flower and bud supporting the symbol of eternal life.
The cup bears the names and titles of King Tutankhamun.
The text around the rim expresses wishes for the king to live millions of years and to enjoy great happiness.
On each side of the cup there are two birds.
(via The Global Egyptian Museum | JE 62125)
Translation:
“May he live, Horus ‘Strong Bull fair of births,’ the Two Goddesses 'Beautiful of ordinances, quelling the Two Lands,’ Horus of Gold 'Wearing the diadems and propitiating the Gods,’ the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands, Neb Kheperu Re, granted life.”
“Live, thy Ka, and mayst thou spend millions of years, thou lover of Thebes, sitting with thy face to the north wind, and thy eyes beholding felicity.”
Adapting to more contemporary English than Gardiner’s, I think the wish might read:
“May your ka live, and may you achieve millions of years, you who love Thebes, sitting with your face to the north wind, and your eyes seeing happiness.”
Because of this wish for Tutankhamun’s eternal life, Carter dubbed this chalice the king’s wishing-cup. In 1995 part of the cup’s inscription was placed on a new headstone for Carter in London.
The transluscent white drinking cup takes the form of a white lotus. Lotus buds with stems form a handle on two sides. On top of the buds the god Heh sits holding the hieroglyphs for years and life in each hand, above the signs for 100,000 and eternity, all together symbolizing eternal life. The hieroglyph for Heh stands for millions, seen above in the wish inscription.
The hieroglyph for the heavens surmounts a square on the front of the chalice’s bowl. Three columns give the king’s names and titles. Beginning with the middle column containing a cartouche, the hieroglyphs read from top to bottom:
“King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Neb Kheperu Re, given life.”
The left column and cartouche read:
“Son of Re, living image of Amun, ruler of Thebes forever and ever.”
The right column says:
“Beloved of Amun-Re lord of thrones, and of the two lands, lord of heaven.”
Innumerable photographs of Tutankhamun’s wishing cup can be found online and in print. …
Translation & accompanying commentary via NileMuse.com