Ancient Egyptian Literature

Ancient Egyptian Literature

Ancient Egyptian literature is characterized by a wide diversity of types and subject matter; it dates from the Old Kingdom (c. 2755-2255 BC) into the Greco-Roman period (after 332 BC). Such literary devices as simile, metaphor, alliteration , and punning are found.

                              Range of Literary Forms

The religious literature of ancient Egypt includes hymns to the gods, mythological and magical texts, and an extensive collection of mortuary texts. The range of secular literature includes stories; instructive literature, known as wisdom texts, poems, biographical and historical texts; and scientific treatises, including mathematical and medical texts. Notable also are the many legal, administrative, and economic texts and private documents such as letters, although not actually literature. The individual authors of several compositions dating from the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom (2134- 1668 BC) were revered in later periods. They came from the educated class of upper-level government officials, and their audience was largely educated people like themselves. Indeed, many literary compositions of the Middle Kingdom were composed as political propaganda, to teach students who learned to read and write by copying them (on tablets and ostraca) to be loyal to the ruling dynasty. Many of these same wisdom texts were still copied by New Kingdom (1570-1070 BC) schoolchildren more than 500 years later, along with more contemporary texts designed to undermine the glamor of the new military profession. Some of the stories include elements of mythology and may owe much to an oral storytelling tradition.

Among with the oldest book in Egypt is the Book of the Dead. It is best known from texts and citations placed in mummy cases as advice or protection to the spirit of the man and women who was awaiting judgement. One of the most famous examples is the Egyptian Final Judgement of Ani, a scribe who was just died.

References:

http://www.mysteries-in-stone.co.uk/ancient.htm

The outline of knowledge as edited by James A. Richards

Published by J.A Richards, Inc. New York

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