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Brief Overview
History of the Egyptian Religion, part III
_______________________________________________________________

III - The Wisdom Literature

[6]Instructions of Ptahotep - [7]Instructions to Kagemni -
[8]Instructions of Duauf

It may seem that religion in ancient Egypt was mainly concerned with
preserving the status of kingship and of a powerful priesthood.
However, at all levels of society relationship with a deity through
prayers and offerings on a daily basis was of great importance. At
this period, there were already texts, which were believed to be
issued from the deities themselves, showing us that morale codes and
ethical behavior was taught to young people, and that one's behavior
in this life had a direct influence on life in the hereafter.

These sources are called the _Instructions_, or _Wisdom Literature_.
They usually take the form of an elder teaching a young son or future
king how to behave and conduct himself in order to be successful and
gain esteem in society. The origins of these 'Instructions' dates back
to the Old Kingdom although many of them exist on papyrii from the New
Kingdom. They were frequently copied by schoolboys on ostraca for
several reasons, partly for the instructions themselves, partly for
the exercise of style and writing. And so these schoolboy copies have
been preserved to our days.

The values taught to young people was to live a life in accordance
with [9]MaŽat and to interact with other people on all levels of
society while taking into consideration experience, so that
continuity, safety and success would be ensured. Individuals should
listen and pay attention to each other and to temper their speech so
that violence can be avoided. Thus right living can be achieved and
MaŽat upheld, which ensures life after death.

There are three main sources that stem from the Old Kingdom; the
'Instructions of Ptah-Hotep', the 'Instructions to Kagemni', and the
'Instructions of Duauf', also called the 'Instructions of Kehety' or
the 'Satire on Trades':

The Instructions of Ptahotep

Ptahotep is known to have existed, he was the vizier to king Isesi in
the 5th Dynasty. There has been found a tomb at Saqqara for one
Ptahotep, but if this would be the same person has not been proven.
These rather long teachings exist in four copies, three on papyrus
scrolls and the fourth one, which is only a beginning has survived on
a wooden tablet. The copies are from the Middle and the New Kingdom
but the originals are dated to the Old Kingdom.

Ptahotep instructs his young pupil in how to make achievements in the
world, how to moderate his speech and behavior, how to treat superiors
and inferiors and warns him against covetousness, which was strongly
frowned upon.

_If a man's son accepts his father's words
_
No plan of his will go wrong

Teach your son to be a hearer,

One who will be valued by the nobles

One who guides his speech by what he was told,

One regarded as a hearer.

(Ptahotep 564, Papyrus Prisse)

Instructions to Kagemni

Kagemni was the son of king Huni in Dynasty 3. It is copied on the
Papyrus Prisse, before the Instructions of Ptahotep. The nature of the
teachings are the same; discretion and moderation in speech and
behavior, restraint at food and greed will bring success:

_Let your name go forth
_
While your mouth is silent.

When you are summoned, don't boast of strength

Among those your age, lest you be opposed.

One knows not what may happen,

What God does when he punishes

Instructions of Duauf

These are also called the 'Instructions of Khety' or 'The Satire on
Trades'. Supposedly these are written by Duauf, son of Khety and a man
of low birth. He advises his son Pepi who has had the good luck to be
placed in school along with children of the magistrates and therefore
his father tries to ensure that the boy will take advantage of the
teachings and become a scribe so he doesn't have to work in the
various trades. Therefore Duauf describes the various trades and their
toils, and glorifies the scribe's profession to make Pepy pursue this
career.

Ethical conduct and moderation, respect for authority and kindness for
those who are lower than oneself brings about personal attainment,
which in its turn leads to contentment. The standards for 'right
living' were thus already set as a way to uphold the balance and
justice of all things, high and low. Maybe these standards were high
and can be called an 'ideal'. Nevertheless the Wisdom Texts prevailed
through time, and today they give us opportunity to gain an insight
into what the ancient Egyptians considered as the most important
values in life, and what still today has not lost itsŽ value.
________________________________________________________

Other articles in this series:

[10]1: Predynastic - Early Dynastic Period (ca 5000 - 2686 BC)

[11]2: The Old Kingdom (ca 2686-2181 BC)

[12]3: The Wisdom Literature

[13]4: First Intermediate - Middle Kingdom (ca 2181 -1786 BC)

[14]5: The New Kingdom (ca 1580 -1085 BC)

[15]6: The Cult of Aten (ca 1350 - 1335 BC)

[16]7: The End of The New Kingdom - Third Intermediate

[17]8: The Late Period - Graeco-Roman Period
________________________________________________________

Sources:
The Literature of Ancient Egypt - William Kelly Simpson
Egyptian Myths - George Hart
Conceptions of God in Ancient Egypt - Erik Hornung
The Ancient Egyptians - A. Rosalie David
Chronicles of the Pharaohs - Peter A. Clayton
Egypt, The World of the Pharaohs - Hartwig Altenmueller et al

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