Ancient Egyptian Literature: Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms (Ancient Egyptian Literature, a Book of Readings)

251 Pages·1975·11.43 MB·English

by  Miriam Lichtheim

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
LITERATURE
Volume I: The Old and Middle Kingdoms
MIRIAM LICHTHEIM
Contents
Chronological Table xii
Abbreviations and Symbols xiv
Introduction
Literary Genres and Literary Styles 3
PART ONE: The Old Kingdom
I. Monumental Inscriptions from Private Tombs IS
Inscriptions of Princess Ni-sedjer-kai 15
Inscription of Hetep-her-akhet 16
Inscription of Nefer-seshem-re called Sheshi 17
Stela of Ni-hebsed-Pepi from Naqada 17
The Autobiography of Weni 18
The Autobiography of Harkhuf 23
II. A Royal Decree 28
Charter of King Pepi I for the Chapel of his mother 28
III. From the Pyramid Texts 29
Unas Pyramid Texts: Utterances 217, 239, 245, 253, 263,
270,273-274,304,309,317 30
Teti Pyramid Texts: Utterances 337, 350, 373, 4Oz, 403,
406,407 40
Pepi I Pyramid Texts: Utterances 432, 440, 442, 4f6, 454.
+86. 517. 573 44
IV. A Theological Treatise 51
"The Memphite Theology" 5]
V. Didactic Literature S8
The Instruction of Prince Hardjedef 58
The Instruction Addressed to Kagemni 59
The Instruction of Ptahhotep 6]
is
x CONTENTS
PART TWO: The Transition to the Middle Kingdom
I. Monumental Inscriptions from Private Tombs 83
Stela of Count Indi of This 84
The First Part of the Autobiography of Ankhtifi 85
Stela of the Butler Merer of Edfu 87
Stela of the Treasurer Iti of Imyotru 88
Stela of the Steward Seneni of Coptus 8g
Stela of the Soldier Qedes from Gebelein 90
Stela of the Treasurer Tjetji 90
II. The Prayers of a Theban King 94
A Stela of King Wahankh Intef II 94
III. The Testament of a Heracleopolitan King 97
The Instruction Addressed to King Merikare 97
PART THREE: The Middle Kingdom
I. Monumental Inscriptions 113
Rock Stela of Mentuhotep IV 113
Building Inscription of Sesostris I 115
Boundary Stela of Sesostris III 118
Stela of Intef Son of Sent 120
Stela of Ikhernofret 123
Stela of Sehetep-ib-re 125
Stela of Horemkhauf 129
II. A Spell from the Coffin Texts 131
CT Il30 and 1031 131
III. Didactic Literature 134
The Instruction of King Amenemhet I for His Son
Sesostris I 135
The Prophecies of Neferti 139
The Complaints of Khakheperre-sonb 145
The Admonitions of Ipuwer 149
The Dispute between a Man and His Ba 163
The Eloquent Peasant 169
The Satire of the Trades 184
IV. Songs and Hymns 193
Three Harpers' Songs 193
CONTENTS xi
A Cycle of Hymns to King Sesostris III 198
A Hymn to the Red Crown 201
A Hymn to Osiris and a Hymn to Min 202
The Hymn to Hapy 204
V. Prose Tales
211
The Tale of the Shipwrecked Sailor 211
Three Tales of Wonder 215
The Story of Sinuhe 222
Indexes 237
I. Divinities 239
II. Kings and Queens 240
III. Personal Names 241
IV. Geographical and Ethnical Tenns 242
V. Egyptian Words 243
VI. Some Major Concepts 245
Chronological Table
The Archaic Period: Dynasties 1-2 ca. 3000-2650 B.C.
The Old Kingdom: Dynasties 3-8 ca. 265°-2135
Third Dynasty ca. 265°-2600
Djoser
Huni
Fourth Dynasty ca. 2600-2450
Snefru
Khufu
Fifth Dynasty ca. 245°-2300
Userkaf
Sahure
Neferirkare
Isesi
Unas
Sixth Dynasty ca. 2300-21 So
Teti
Merire Pepi I
Mernere
Neferkare Pepi II
SeventhfEighth Dynasty ca. 215°-2135
The Transition to the Middle Kingdom ca. 2135-2040
Ninth/Tenth Dynasty (Heracleopolitan)
Khety (several kings of that name)
Merikare
Eleventh Dynasty (Theban), first half
Wahankh Intef II
Nekht-neb-tep-nefer Intef III
Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II
The Middle Kingdom: Dynasties 11-14 ca. 2040-1650
Eleventh Dynasty, second half
Nebtawyre Mentuhotep IV
xii
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE xiii
Twelfth Dynasty
Sehetepibre Amenemhet I
Kheperkare Sesostris I
Khakheperre Sesostris II
Khakaure Sesostris III
Nimaatre Amenemhet III
The Hyksos Period: Dynasties 15-17 ca. 1650-1550
The New Kingdom: Dynasties 18-20 ca. 1550-1080
Eighteenth Dynasty ca. 1550-1305
Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties ca. 1305-1080
(Ramesside)
The Late Period: Dynasties 21-31 1080-332
The Ptolemaic Period 323-30
The Roman Period 30 B.C.-A.D. 395
Note: Only kings mentioned in the texts have been listed here.
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