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English translation of the 'Maxims of Good Discourse', an ancient Egyptian text written over 4000 years ago by a wise vizier called Ptahhotep. It is in the format of a deliberate instruction given by a father to his (spiritual) son, enabling the latter, by way of right speech, to live the good life, the outcome of not interrupting the moment of the heart, offending one's vital energy (Ka). In 'The Egyptian Gentleman' (2017), a commentary on this extraordinary text is available.
This book offers a commentary on the 'Maxims of Good Discourse', an exceptional text from Ancient Egypt's Old Kingdom (ca. 2670 - 2205 BCE), written over 4000 years ago by a man called Ptahhotep. By way of a deliberate instruction given by a father to his (spiritual) son, it enables the latter, by way of good discourse, to live the good life, the outcome of not interrupting the moment of the heart, offending one's vital energy (Ka). Such an excellent son, an Egyptian gentleman during life, will be a justified deceased in the afterlife. To the British, a 'Gentleman' is modest, well-mannered, self-deprecating, quietly intelligent, considerate of other people's feeling, well-informed, and never vulgar, inflated, vain, boastful, noisily ignorant, sleazy or common. So too in Egypt. The 'Maxims' describe a special kind of discourse, one leading to a happy life. This by engaging in proper thoughts, speech and actions. Morality is rooted in thought (heart) and speech (the right or wrong use of the tongue).
2016 Reprint of 1909 Edition. Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Originally published as "The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep" and also as "The Maxims of Ptahhotep," the work is believed by some scholars to be the oldest book in the world. Authorship is attributed to Ptahhotep, a vizier under King Isesi of the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty (ca. 2414-2375 BC). It is a collection of maxims and advice in the sebayt ("teaching") genre on human relations and are provided as instruction for his son. The work survives today in papyrus copies, including the Prisse Papyrus which dates from the Middle Kingdom and is on display at the Bibliotheque Nationale in ...
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
A beautifully translated collection sampling all the major genres of ancient Egyptian literature. Poetry, stories, hymns, prayers, and wisdom texts found exquisite written expression in ancient Egypt while their literary counterparts were still being recited around hearth fires in ancient Greece and Israel. Yet, because of its very antiquity and the centuries during which the language was forgotten, ancient Egyptian literature is a newly discovered country for modern readers. This anthology offers an extensive sampling of all the major genres of ancient Egyptian literature. It includes all the texts from John Foster’s previous book Echoes of Egyptian Voices, along with selections from his ...