Through the Eras

LiteratureSOURCE: “Teachings of Ptahhotep,” in Voices from AncientEgypt: An Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings. Ed. R. B.Parkinson (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1991):65–70.THE DOOMED PRINCE. The author composed thisstory early in the Nineteenth Dynasty. One papyrus,now in London, preserves it. In the story, a fictionalprince is fated at birth to die either through an attackby a snake, a dog, or a crocodile. The prince grows toadulthood in a protected palace. He then travels to westernAsia and marries a princess. One day his dog tries toattack him, but he escapes. Then a crocodile carries theprince away to witness a fight with a demon. The papyrusbreaks off with the crocodile requesting help fromthe prince in his fight with the demon. The ending isunknown.THE TEACHINGS OF AMENEMHET. The author ofthis text composed it during the reign of Senwosret I(1919–1875 B.C.E.) but after 1909 B.C.E. The narratoris the deceased King Amenemhet I (1938–1909 B.C.E.),speaking from beyond the grave. Some scholars believethe author was a certain Akhtoy. All the manuscripts dateto the New Kingdom (1539–1075 B.C.E.). The primarymanuscripts are long papyri in the Egyptian Museum inArts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.) 145