Ancient Egyptian Literature

by Lichtheim, Miriam

• ISBN13: 9780520248434
• ISBN10: 0520248430
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-03-03
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

First published in 1973 - and followed by Volume II in 1976 and Volume III in 1980 - this anthology has assumed classic status in the field of Egyptology and portrays the remarkable evolution of the literary forms of one of the world's earliest civilizations. Volume I outlines the early and gradual evolution of Egyptian literary genres, including biographical and historical inscriptions carved on stone, the various classes of literary works written with pen on papyrus, and the mortuary literature that focuses on life after death. Introduced with a new foreword by Antonio Loprieno. Volume II shows the culmination of these literary genres within the single period known as the New Kingdom (1550-1080 B.C.). With a new foreword by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert. Volume III spans the last millennium of Pharaonic civilization, from the tenth century B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era. With a new foreword by Joseph G. Manning.

Table of Contents

Brief Chronology of the New Kingdom	x
Abbreviations and Symbols	xi
Foreword by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert	xv
Introduction Continuity and Change	3	(8)
PART ONE: Monumental Inscriptions
I. Inscriptions from Private Tombs	11	(14)
The Autobiography of Ahmose Son of Abana	12	(3)
The Prayers of Paheri	15	(6)
The Installation of the Vizier Rekhmire	21	(4)
II. Inscriptions from Royal Monuments	25	(56)
Obelisk Inscriptions of Queen Hatshepsut	25	(4)
From the Annals of Thutmose III	29	(6)
The Poetical Stela of Thutmose III	35	(4)
'Me Great Sphinx Stela of Amenhotep II at Giza	39	(4)
Stela of Amenhotep III	43	(5)
The Later Boundary Stelae of Amenhotep IV Akhenaten	48	(4)
Dedication Inscriptions of Seti I	52	(5)
The Kadesh Battle Inscriptions of Ramses II	57	(16)
The Poetical Stela of Merneptah (Israel Stela)	73	(8)
PART TWO: Hymns, Prayers, and a Harper's Song
The Great Hymn to Osiris	81	(5)
Two Hymns to the Sun-God	86	(3)
Hymns and Prayers from El-Amarna	89	(11)
The Short Hymn to the Aten	90	(2)
Two Hymns and a Prayer in the Tomb of Ay	92	(4)
The Great Hymn to the Aten	96	(4)
A Prayer and a Hymn of General Haremhab	100	(4)
Three Penitential Hymns from Deir el-Medina	104	(6)
Votive Stela of Nebre with Hymn to Amen-Re	105	(2)
Votive Stela of Neferabu with Hymn to Mertseger	107	(2)
Votive Stela of Neferabu with Hymn to Ptah	109	(1)
Prayers Used as School Texts	110	(5)
Praise of Amen-Re	111	(1)
Prayer to Amun	111	(1)
Prayer to Amun	112	(1)
Prayer to Thoth	113	(1)
Prayer to Thoth	114	(1)
A Harper's Song from the Tomb of Neferhotep	115	(4)
PART THREE: From the Book of the Dead	119	(16)
Chapters 23, 30B, 43, 59, 77, 105, 109	120	(4)
Chapter 125	124	(11)
PART FOUR: Instructions
The Instruction of Any	135	(11)
The Instruction of Amenemope	146	(21)
PART FIVE: Be a Scribe	167	(14)
Papyrus Lansing: A Schoolbook	168	(7)
The Immortality of Writers	175	(6)
PART SIX: Love Poems	181	(16)
From Papyrus Chester Beatty I	182	(7)
From Papyrus Harris 500	189	(4)
From the Cairo Vase 1266 + 25218	193	(4)
PART SEVEN: Tales
The Destruction of Mankind	197	(3)
The Doomed Prince	200	(3)
The Two Brothers	203	(8)
Truth and Falsehood	211	(3)
Horus and Seth	214	(10)
The Report of Wenamun	224	(9)
Indexes
I. Divinities	233	(1)
II. Kings and Queens	234	(1)
III. Personal Names	235	(1)
IV. Geographical and Ethnical Terms	236	(2)
V. Egyptian Words	238	(1)
VI. Some Major Concepts	239