The Fifth Stage Enigma, or The First Pilot in the History of Egypt (On a Hypothesis of Oleg D. Berlev)

Abstract

2023 marks the 90th anniversary of the eminent Russian Egyptologist O. D. Berlev (1933-2023). This scientist is in a league of his own in Russian Egyptology. He had left no apprentices, but his fundamental knowledge and erudition made it possible to see the life of Ancient Egyptians literally on the inside. Therefore, this article is not just a tribute to the memory of our distinguished compatriot; rather it seeks to show that his ideas remain relevant and sometimes set a completely unexpected direction of scientific research. For example, while analyzing the biographical texts of the official named Uni (Sixth Dynasty), Prof. Berlev suggested that King Pepi I had established a special position for him: “the head of the fifth phyle of palace gardeners Khentiushe”. The fact is that a typical organization of labor force in Old Kingdom Egypt required the participation of only four phyles (i.e., 4 contingents of detachments), who replaced one another in course of a four-months season. Work gangs took shifts for rest or were redistributed for various types of work. Obviously, the purpose of establishing a non-typical position was the official’s certain duties which distinguished him from other participants of the work process. Prof. Berlev concluded that in this position Uni headed five victorious military campaigns in Asia. However, in this case a question arises: how could a high economic official lead the army and navy? Elaborating the hypothesis of Prof. Berlev, the author concludes that the real duty of Uni in these campaigns were not his military talents, but rather his ability to guide warships with infantry through waterways and channels towards the Mediterranean and Levantine coasts. In other words, Uni was not a military strategist, but rather a talented navigator to whom the command of the army passed for the entire time of venturesome crossings through the Nile Delta. Therefore, this function is consistent with his duties as the “head of the palace gardeners”, i.e. workers responsible for the water-engineering sector as a whole.