The Maxims of Ptahhotep: Difference between revisions

'''''The Maxims of Ptahhotep''''' or '''''Instruction of Ptahhotep''''' is an [[Ancient Egyptian literature|ancient Egyptian literary composition]] based on the [[Vizier (Ancient Egypt)|Vizier]] Ptahhotep’sPtahhotep's wisdom and experiences. The Instructions were composed by the Vizier [[Ptahhotep]], during the rule of King [[Djedkare Isesi|Izezi]] of the Fifth Dynasty.<ref>Fontaine, Carole R. "A Modern Look at Ancient Wisdom: The Instruction of Ptahhotep Revisited." The Biblical Archaeologist 44, no. 3 (1981): 155-60. doi:10.2307/3209606.

</ref> The text was discovered in [[Thebes, Egypt|Thebes]] in 1847 by Egyptologist M. [[Émile Prisse d'Avennes|Prisse d’Avennesd'Avennes]].<ref name="Simpson1986">Simpson, W. K., ed. The Maxims of PtahhotpePtahhotep. Las Vegas, Nevada: Evan Blythin, 1986.

</ref> The Instructions of Ptahhotep are called [[wisdom literature]], specifically under the genre of Instructions that teach something.<ref>Lichtheim, Miriam 1996. Didactic literature. In Loprieno, Antonio (ed.), Ancient Egyptian Literature, 243- 262. Leiden; New York; Köln: E. J. Brill

</ref> They are four copies of the Instructions, and the only complete version, Papyrus Prisse, is located in the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France|Bibliothèque Nationale]] in Paris.<ref name=Simpson>Simpson, William Kelly. The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry. New Haven, US: Yale University Press, 2003. Accessed January 28, 2017. ProQuest ebrary.

</ref> According to [[William Kelly Simpson]], some scholars debate that the Instructions of Ptahhotep were written during the twelfth dynasty, [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]]. The earlier copies of the text were altered to make them understandable for the Egyptians of the [[New Kingdom of Egypt|New Kingdom]].<ref> name=Simpson/> It is not only directed for the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt|Old Kingdom]] thought and morality, Williamit is beneficial for anyone that reads Kellyit. The Literaturetext ofpresents Ancienta Egypt:very Angood Anthologypicture of Stories,the Instructions,general Stelae,attitudes Autobiographies,of andthat Poetryperiod.<ref Newname=Simpson/> Haven,The US:Instructions Yaleof UniversityPtahhotep Press,addresses 2003.various Accessedvirtues Januarythat 28are necessary to live a good life and how to live accordingly to [[Maat]], 2017.which was an important part of the ProQuestEgyptian ebraryculture.

According to Simpson, the Vizier Ptahhotep was an elderly man of 110 years, ready to retire and was ready to pass down his position.<ref name="Simpson1986"/>Simpson The king approved of Ptahhotep's son succeeding him as vizier, W.but Knoted that the young cannot be born with wisdom and that they need the experience given by advanced age.<ref name="Quirke2004">Quirke, edStephen 2004. TheEgyptian Maximsliterature of1800 PtahhotepBC: questions and readings. LasEgyptology Vegas,2. NevadaLondon: EvanGolden Blythin,House. 1986.

The Instructions consisted of various themes, one of which was leadership. For example, prose numbered 9,1: <blockquote>"If you are a leader, Take responsibility in/ the matters entrusted to you, And you will accomplish things of note..."</blockquote>Prose 9,5 states: <blockquote>"If you are a man of authority, Be patient when you are listening to the words of a petitioner; Do not dismiss him until he has completely unburdened himself Of what he had planned / to say to you."<ref> name=Simpson,/> William</blockquote>This Kelly.demonstrated Thethe Literaturesignificance of Ancientgrowing Egypt:old Anin Anthologyancient Egyptian society and the importance of Stories,having Instructions,the Stelae,wisdom Autobiographies,to andmake Poetrythe right decisions. NewThe Haven,Instructions US:of YalePtahhotep Universitywere Press,texts 2003.that Accessedwere Januaryconstantly 28read and copied by students, 2017.scribes, and men that held a ProQuesthigher ebraryposition.

The purpose of Instruction texts was to teach the youth how to live well and were usually written by elders. The main themes Ptahhotep focuses on are silence, timing, truthfulness, relationships, and manners.<ref name="Simpson1986"/>Simpson, W.The Ktext helps to reconstruct the social context of that time by describing the cultural space in which the writings were influential.<ref name="Hagen2012">Hagen, ed.Fredrik The2012 MaximsAn ancient Egyptian literary text in context: the instruction of PtahhotpePtahhotep. LasOrientalia VegasLovaniensia Analecta 218. Leuven; Paris; Walpole, NevadaMA: EvanPeeters; Blythin,Department 1986of Oriental Studies.

Parkinson argued that ancient texts should be broken apart to properly understand the meaning of the text and to discern if any of it is accurate.<ref name="Parkinson1991">Parkinson, R. B. 1991. Teachings, discourses and tales from the Middle Kingdom. In Quirke, Stephen (ed.), Middle Kingdom studies, 91-122. New Malden: SIA

</ref> Since most of the wisdom literature was written like poetry, some parts may be true and others fictional to attract the reader. Most of the wisdom writings were accepted by the readers for their choice of words, for the author's elite position held in society, and also based on the author's personal experiences.<ref name="Parkinson1991"/>Parkinson, R. B. 1991. Teachings, discourses and tales from the Middle Kingdom. In Quirke, Stephen (ed.), Middle Kingdom studies, 91-122. New Malden: SIA

There are four known copies of The Instructions of Ptahhotep, the first copy was written in the Old Kingdom and other copies were considered part of the Middle Kingdom. The Instructions from the original text were considered to originate from the Old Kingdom because it matched the social and intellectual thinking of that time period.<ref name="Parkinson1991"/>Parkinson, R.The B.copy 1991.on Papyrus TeachingsPrisse, discourseswhich andis talesdated fromin the Middletwelfth Kingdom.dynasty Inis Quirke,considered Stephenas (edthe original source.) However, Middlethere are other [[Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt|Twelfth Dynasty]] versions and New Kingdom studiesversions that omit some phrases, 91-122add phrases, and sometimes change the sequence of the words.<ref Newname="Quirke2004"/> Malden:Papyrus SIAPrisse contained three literary texts which were titled as "Instruction" or "Teaching", and the only complete text within this papyrus was the Instruction of Ptahhotep.<ref name="Hagen2012"/>

The Instruction of Ptahhotep was recognized by most Egyptologists as one of the most difficult Egyptian literary texts to translate.<ref>Hagen, Fredrik 2012 An ancient Egyptian literary text in context: the instruction of Ptahhotep. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 218. Leuven; Paris; Warpole, MA: Peeters; Department of Oriental Studies.<name="Hagen2012"/ref> For example:<blockquote>"One knows a wise one because of his wisdom, An official is at his good deed (?): his heart is in balance (?) with his tongue, his lips are accurate when he speaks..."<ref name="Hagen2012"/>Hagen, Fredrik</blockquote>The 2012question Anmarks ancientare Egyptianleft literaryfor textinterpretation inand context:different thefor instruction ofeach Ptahhoteptranslator. OrientaliaThe Lovaniensiateachings Analectaserved 218.its Leuven;purpose Paris;to Warpoleeducate and give wisdom to the young adult, MA:to Peeters;live Departmenta ofgood Orientallife Studies.and it taught men how to be fair and just in the world.