“ Teachings of Kagemni” (“ Teachings for Kagemni” ) is an ancient Egyptian literary work of the genre of “teachings” (sb 3 jt) [1] , created in the era of the Old Kingdom , but which has come down to us in copies of the Middle Kingdom [2] [3] . Outlines the rules of good manners in the form of adult instruction to the younger generation.
| Kagemni teachings | |
|---|---|
| Author | Kagemni's father |
| Genre | didactic literature |
| Original language | Middle Egyptian |
| Original published | Ancient kingdom ; Middle Kingdom ( Papyrus Prissa ) |
| Translators | Batiskomb Gann (1918), Adolph Ehrmann (1927), Frantisek Lex (1928), Alan H. Gardiner (1946), William C. Simpson (1972), Miriam Lichtheim (1973), Helmut Brunner (1988) |
| Release | 1847 |
Content
- 1 manuscript
- 1.1 Source
- 1.2 Translations
- 1.3 Author
- 2 Contents
- 3 Analysis
- 4 notes
- 5 Literature
- 5.1 Foreign language
Manuscript
Source
The work was not fully preserved on the “ Papyrus Prissa ” [4] and was not copied in the New Kingdom , as, for example, “The Teachings of Ptahhotep ” [5] . “Teachings for Kagemni” refers to the VI dynasty [6] , while the “Papyrus of Prissus” was compiled during the XII dynasty (circa 1991–1783 BC). The lecture occupies two pages in it before the full text of “The Teachings of Ptahhotep” [7] and contains 4 instructions , a short conclusion and colophon [5] . The manuscript refers to the XI - XII dynasties , when hieratic writing passed from vertical to horizontal writing [8] . The “Papyrus of Prissus” was found by the French orientalist Emile Priss in Thebes in 1857 and has since been stored in the French National Library in Paris (No. 183-194) [9] .
There is an assumption that the work was invented and recorded in the period of the Middle Kingdom, and artificial aging is designed to give greater impact [5] .
Translations
The facsimile copy was first published in 1847 [4] , then in 1911 [10] . The first translation was made by the English Egyptologist Batiskomb Gann in 1918 [11] . Adolf Ehrmann (1927), Frantisek Lexa (1928), Alan H. Gardiner (1946) [12] , William C. Simpson (1972) [13] , Miriam Lichtheim (1973) [6] , and Helmut Brunner (also) 1988) [3] .
Author
Kagemni’s teaching ends with the name of Kagemni, the future vizier of Pharaoh Snofru from the IV dynasty (c. 2575 BC) [5] [14] or Pharaoh Huni from the III dynasty [12] . The work itself says that the pharaoh Huni died, and Snofra ascended the throne [15] .
The author and father of Kagemni, for whom the teaching was compiled, according to Egyptologists, may be Cairo'su (Caieres) [3] , whose name is mentioned among other prominent sages in Chester Beatty's Papyrus (IV verso) [16] [3] . Other scholars consider Kagemni himself to be the author of the teachings [17] [18] .
Contents
The wise chati, whose name remains unknown, addresses with instructions that he himself followed to “children”, which can also be translated as “disciples” [3] . Among them is named Kagemni, by whose name the work has got its name today.
“The modest will remain happy ” [5] [19] .
In the form of a conversation some norms of behavior for a free person are stated, how to behave at a common table - you need to restrain your appetite, but not offend with contempt not following this rule; try not to be talkative and arrogant, " for it is not known what God will do when he punishes ." The conclusion also refers to the fate of Kagemni, who rose to the post of Vizier Chati under Pharaoh Snofru [15] .
Analysis
The work, among other examples of the “Teachings,” is a source of information about the ethical and moral principles of the ancient Egyptians [5] .
Ancient Egyptian works of the genre have correspondences in the biblical writing, bearing the names of Solomon and Sirahid [15] .
Notes
- ↑ Institute of Oriental Studies (USSR Academy of Sciences), Institute of Africa (USSR Academy of Sciences). East // Science. - 1994. - No. 1-3 . - S. 112-117 .
- ↑ Korostovtsev M. A. "Teachings" Ancient Egyptian . Soviet historical encyclopedia . enc.biblioclub.ru. Date of treatment September 2, 2017.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Brunner Hellmut. Altägyptische Erziehung. - Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 1991 .-- S. 34, 154. - 200 p.
- ↑ 1 2 Buzov Emil. Ancient Egyptian didactic literature III-II chil. pr. R. Chr. (Bulgarian.) // New Bulgarian University: dissertation. - Sofia, 2008.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 James P. Allen. The Instructions of Kagemni's Father and Ptahhotep . - Middle Egyptian Literature: Eight Literary Works of the Middle Kingdom. - Cambridge University Press, 2014 .-- 458 p.
- ↑ 1 2 Lichtheim, Miriam. Didactic literature "in Ancient Egyptian Literature: History & Forms / Antonio Loprieno. - Leiden: EJ Brill, 1996.
- ↑ Egypt, the Trunk of the Tree. - Algora Publishing, 2003. - T. 2: A Modern Survey of and Ancient Land. - 244 p.
- ↑ Burkard, Günter; Thissen, Heinz-Josef. 1 // Einführung in die altägyptische Literaturgeschichte. - Einführungen und Quellentexte zur Ägyptologie. - LIT Verlag Münster, 2003 .-- S. 96. - 247 p.
- ↑ The Maxims of Ptahhotpe / Simpson, WK. - Las Vegas, Nevada: Evan Blythin, 1986.
- ↑ JEQUIER, Gustave. Le Papyrus Prisse et ses variantes . - Paris, 1911.
- ↑ Gunn, Battiscombe. The Instruction of Ptah- Hotep and the Instruction of Ke'Gemni . - Echo Library, 2010 .-- 56 p.
- ↑ 1 2 Gardiner, Alan H. The Instruction to Kagemni and his brethren (Eng.) // Journal of Egyptian Archeology. - London, 1946. - No. 32 . - S. 71–74 .
- ↑ Simpson, William Kelly. The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry / RO Faulkner, Edward F. Wente, Jr .. - New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 1972.
- ↑ Budge, Wallis. Gods of the Egyptians. The kingdom of light, or the Secrets of the underworld. - Litres, 2017.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Turaev B.A. Wisdom of Kagemni, Ptakhotep and others . - Egyptian literature. - M .: M. and S. Sabashnikovs, 1920 .-- 285 p.
- ↑ [1] // Journal of ancient history. - M .: Science, 1969.
- ↑ Katznelson I.S. Culture of Ancient Egypt. - M .: Fiction, 1973. - S. 321.
- ↑ Frankfort, H. Ancient Egyptian Religion: an Interpretation. - NY, 1948 .-- S. 60.
- ↑ Questions of philosophy (Russian) // Questions of philosophy. - True, 1997. - No. 5-8 . - S. 79 .
Literature
- Weigall A. History of the Pharaohs: The ruling dynasties of the Early, Ancient and Middle kingdoms of Egypt, 3000-1800. BC e. = A History Of The Pharaohs. The First Eleven Dynasties / Translator: I. B. Kulikova. - M .: Centerpolygraph, 2015 (orig. 1925). - S. 178-179.
- Korostovtsev MA Scribes of Ancient Egypt. - M .: IVL, 1962 .-- 174 p.
- Korostovtsev MA Scribes of Ancient Egypt / Ed. A. S. Chetverukhin. - 2nd ed., Additional .. - St. Petersburg. : Magazine "Neva"; Summer Garden, 2001 .-- 368 p.
- . Turaev B.A. Kagemni // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
- Turaev B.A. Wisdom of Kagemni, Ptakhotep, Shotepibra and others. - Egyptian literature. - M .: Publishing House M. and S. Sabashnikovs , 1920. - T. 1: Historical outline of ancient Egyptian literature. - S. 78-82. (Kagemni: S. 79).
- Turaev B.A. Wisdom of Kagemni, Ptakhotep, Shotepibra and others. - Egyptian literature: [Historical outline of ancient Egyptian literature]. - SPb. : The Neva Magazine, Summer Garden, 2000.
Foreign Language
- Allen JP The Instructions of Kagemni's Father and Ptahhotep / James P. Allen. - Middle Egyptian Literature: Eight Literary Works of the Middle Kingdom. - Cambridge University Press , 2014 .-- 458 p.
- Gardiner AH The Instruction to Kagemni and his brethren (English) // Journal of Egyptian Archeology. - London, 1946. - No. 32 . - P. 71-74 .
- Gunn, Battiscombe. The Instruction of Ptah- Hotep and the Instruction of Ke'Gemni . - Echo Library, 2010 .-- S. 56.
- Gustave Jequier. Le Papyrus Prisse et ses variantes (Fr.) . - Paris, 1911.