Through the Eras

Philosophyteaching. Thus it is the standard of comparison. The framestory depicts the prime minister, Ptahhotep, requestingand receiving the king’s permission to share his wisdom.In the course of the request Ptahhotep speaks of old ageand its frailties. But attaining old age also allows Ptahhotepto attain wisdom. He then states 37 maxims thatsummarize his understanding of maat. He stresses theproper conduct needed for success. He also enumeratesthe qualities a successful man needs: honesty, judiciousness,respect for superiors, and moderation. Then Ptahhotepspeaks of the good son, one who is obedient. Hisobedience leads him to imitate his father and eventuallybecome a wise man himself.TEACHINGS OF ANY. Any’s teachings date to eitherthe Eighteenth or Nineteenth Dynasty. Any’s title is notincluded in the text and he concentrates more on personallife than official life. He gives his son, Khonshotep,advice on marriage, managing a household, and living avirtuous life. In an unusual twist, Khonshotep answershis father at the end of the text and suggests he mightnot be able to reach his father’s high standards.THE TEACHINGS OF AMENEMOPE. In his teachings,Amenemope identifies himself as a high official of thedepartment of agriculture. He addresses his words to hisyoungest son Horem-maakheru. Amenemope groundshis description of living a life according to maat in religiousbelief, making his reasoning seem familiar to modernreaders. He emphasizes that his son should followthe “way of truth” as he pursues his career. He also closelyexamines the differences between the “silent man” andthe “heated man,” or the controlled man versus theemotional man.THE TEACHINGS FOR MERYKARE. Merykare wasa king of the Tenth Dynasty (2130–1980 B.C.E.) andhis teaching is set in his father’s reign in the town ofHerakleopolis where the family lived. This family was amajor opponent of the Theban family that eventuallyreunited Egypt during the Eleventh Dynasty (2008 and1980 B.C.E.). Surprisingly, the text was recopied duringthe New Kingdom when another Theban family ruledEgypt after reuniting and establishing a central government.Only the New Kingdom copies of the text remain.The text includes advice on good government, historicalspeculation, and a testament where the king describeshis own life to his son. It ends with a hymn to the creatorgod Atum. It is unclear whether this text is trulyuseful for constructing a history and philosophy of theTenth Dynasty. It is also unclear why later Egyptianstook an interest in Merykare’s father’s advice.THE TEACHINGS OF AMENEMHET. The narratorof The Teachings of Amenemhet is Amenemhet I(1938–1909 B.C.E.). Yet he speaks after his own deathto his son Senwosret I (1919–1875 B.C.E.). Amenemhetgives Senwosret advice on ruling Egypt, especially in viewof his own difficulties. Amenemhet was assassinated, probablyby his own courtiers. Amenemhet tells Senwosretnot to trust anyone. He also justifies his own policies.In the end Amenemhet reassures Senwosret that his spiritwill help his son rule.THE TEACHINGS OF SEHETEPIBRE. The Teachings ofSehetepibre survives in several versions from the Twelfthand Eighteenth Dynasties. As a whole it is also knownas the Loyalist Teachings, though one early stele namesthe speaker as Sehetepibre. The narrator tells his childrento be loyal to the king and heaps praises upon him.The second part provides advice on managing servants.Together, the two parts of the text discuss giving and receivingloyalty.THE TEACHINGS OF KHETY. From the EighteenthDynasty, The Teachings of Khety is a defense of educationnarrated by Khety for the benefit of his son Pepi. Khetydescribes the occupations that people without educationperform and stresses their discomforts. He contrasts thefate of the uneducated with scribes who have an education.The scribe, Khety points out to Pepi, is everyone’sboss. Thus, Pepi should study hard at scribe school, be asuccess, and follow the wisdom of the ancestors.THE ADMONITIONS OF IPUWER. The Admonitionsof Ipuwer laments the chaos the narrator sees around him.The setting is most likely the First Intermediate Period(2130–2008 B.C.E.), though most modern commentatorsbelieve the author composed it in the Twelfth Dynasty(1939–1759 B.C.E.). Ipuwer speaks at length ofchaotic social conditions, especially that the formerlypoor have replaced the rich in power. Since the text lacksboth a beginning and an ending, it is difficult to knowIpuwer’s predictions or conclusions.THE ELOQUENT PEASANT. The Eloquent Peasanttells a story but also contains a treatise on the nature ofmaat. The story concerns the unjust arrest of a farmertraveling to market with his goods. The evil official whoarrests him for trespassing allows the farmer to appear incourt nine times to defend himself. The nine orationsthat the farmer makes are eloquent discussions of thenature of maat. They are both rhetorically complex andelegant in their language. In the end, the king rewardsthe farmer for his eloquence with full restitution of hisgoods.THE COMPLAINTS OF KHAKHEPERRE-SONB. Thenarrator of The Complaints of Khakheperre-sonb findssocial conditions intolerable. Yet he spends nearly half192 Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.)