Ancient Egyptian Literature in the New Kingdom
Ancient Egyptians wrote using symbols known today as hieroglyphs on papyrus and
stone stelae. Literacy was low and so most writing is by the elite middle and upper class
citizens of Egypt, this indicates that the texts had the potential to be very biased and so
can not be taken at face value.
The New Kingdom Dynasty 18 was very similar in the area of literature to the other
Dynasties. It had all the major areas of literature; Biographies, monumental inscriptions,
hymns, prayers, wisdom texts and love poems.
Biographies were common during the New Kingdom, these were depicted mainly on the
walls of mortuary temples as a guide to the afterlife and for certain people of the general
public to view. The biography of Ahmose, Son of Ebana was, according to Breasted, an
‘especially important source’1 from the eighteenth dynasty. Ahmose was a navel officer
who served under three successive Pharaohs; Ahmose I, Amenhotep I and Thutmose I.
Biographies such as these are an important source as they provide modern scholars with a
background to the different dynastic periods, what certain jobs entitled and the social
standing of these positions. The biography of Ahmose, Son of Ebana was also important
as it was the ‘only contemporary source for the expulsion of the Hyksos’2 and as all the
royal documentation and records from the eighteenth dynasty have perished this
biography is the only source from which historians can deduce the different war
campaigns held during the period of Ahmose’s period of servitude.
Biographies are sometimes classified as monumental inscriptions; monumental
inscriptions are durable records of ‘donations made to various temples, lists of statues and
buildings, reports of both military and trading expeditions, and royal activities such as
hunting.’3. The genre of Monumental inscriptions include one of the most important
points in Egyptian Literature; the Annals of Thutmose III . A document ‘containing no
less that 223 lines, is the longest and most important historical inscription in Egypt’4
1
Breasted, James Henry Ancient Records of Egypt vol.2 University of Illinois Press, 2001. pp.3
Ibid
3
Shaw, Ian The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt Oxford University Press, 2000. pp.163
4
Ibid pp.163
2
Vivienne Moxham-Hall
Ancient History 2006 – Mr Slow
The Annals of Thutmose III depicts his crossing of the Euphrates and the booty they
gained from this expedition. This long inscription disconfirmed the theory that Egyptians
could not write a ‘clear and succinct account of a military campaign’5 as this was exactly
that. The longest historical inscription containing the most accurate and detailed account
of the military campaigns and achievements during the reign on Thutmose III.
Hymns and prayers were a religious genre of Egyptian Literature. Although only 1% of
the Egyptian population, were believed to be literate, it is thought that the other 99%
learnt these hymns and prayers by ‘word of mouth’ just like many other important texts
within the late New Kingdom. Instructions were also seen to have passed around by
‘word of mouth’ and are classified as ‘wisdom texts’. This was so because instructions
imparted to others the wisdom of the writer. Instructions were mainly a series of points
on how to live. Instructions follow the traditional didactic form of Egyptian literature
listing the numerous teachings of life before concluding with a urge for compliance to the
‘rules’ set out.
The Instructions of Any are dated to the 18th Dynasty, New Kingdom and follow the
traditional rules of Instructions, deferring only at the conclusion that involves a boy
saying how difficult it would be to abide by all the instructions. This adds a more realistic
perspective to the document ‘showing an awareness that the efficiency of teaching could
be questioned and has its limitations’6
Instructions were also found on how to write, these were titled’ Be A Scribe’ and were
found in schools on Papyri and ostraca which helps historians date the works. Students
learning how to be a scribe learnt through copying out generic documents so that they
became familiar with the different formats of documents such as letters, hymns and
prayers.
Instructions for letter writing were one of the few forms of historical evidence of
schooling within Ancient Egypt during the New Kingdom.
Most of these generic documents ‘revolved around three main themes: 1. The teacher’s
advise to the student, exhorting him to diligence and warning against dissipation. 2. The
5
Breasted, James Henry Ancient Records of Egypt vol.2 University of Illinois Press, 2001. pp163
Lichteim, Miriam; Ancient Egypt Literature Volume II:The New Kingdom, University press, 1976 pp. 167
Be A Scribe
6
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Ancient History 2006 – Mr Slow
praise of the scribe’s profession as one superior to all others. 3. The grateful replies of the
student who lauds his teacher and wishes him wealth and happiness.”7
Papyrus Lansing is a late New Kingdom example of ‘Be a Scribe’, beginning with the
persuasion of diligence ‘Apply yourself to this noble profession… You will find it
useful.’8 And follows with the teacher scolding his pupil for lack of diligence; ‘But
though I beat you with every kind of stick, you do not listen.’9 These types of letters
between teacher and pupil helped the aspiring scribe associate closely with the letter
writing format, and became a very popular method during the Late New Kingdom as
many such documents have been recorded in ‘schools’.
‘Love writing, shun dancing; then you will become a worthy official’10 Although men
were not often depicted as dancing, there is evidence of a substantial amount of love
poetry written in the New Kingdom, providing an insight to ‘The daily life – personal,
unofficial, secular – which these songs preserve dates from the New Kingdom of
pharaonic Egypt… and the last great flourishing of Egyptian civilization.’11
Love poetry or ‘Love writing’ was a genre of Egyptian literature that was written in
spare time, although Tremper Longman states that the ‘purpose of these songs was
entertainment, probably at banquets’12 which leads speculation to if the writing of love
songs was not only a private occupation.
The love poetry of the late New Kingdom was mainly sung, hence the often use of the
title ‘Love Songs.’ Many love poems also begin with ‘Beginning of the sayings of great
happiness.’13 From ‘La A Cycle of Seven Stanzas’ from the Papyrus Chester Beatty I.
Although this is a poem, it’s title refers to it as a saying, this is just another title for this
genre of writing.
Egyptian poetry is written in first person as an internal monologue and refers to the
object of their affection as brother or sister. ‘My brother torments my heart with his
7
Lichteim, Miriam; Ancient Egypt Literature Volume II:The New Kingdom, University press, 1976 pp. 168
Papyrus Lansing http://nefertiti.iwebland.com/texts/nebmarenakht.htm 8/8/06
9
Ibid
10
ibid
11
Egyptian Love Poetry and Songs,
12
Longman, Tremper; Song Of Songs, Wm.B.Eerdmans Publishing Co. 2002
13
Lichteim, Miriam; Ancient Egypt Literature Volume II:The New Kingdom, University press, 1976 pp.
169, La A Cycle of Seven Stanzas
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Ancient History 2006 – Mr Slow
voice’14 This was an accepted term of endearment branching from the common practice
of Pharaohs marrying their brother or sister and so was an accepted cultural tradition.
The separate lines of Egyptian poetry was depicted by using ‘verse points’ which were
drawn in an alternate colour to the one being used to write the poetry, this was generally
red ink for the verse points as opposed to black.
Egyptian Literature during the eighteenth dynasty was crucial to understanding the
historical events of this time. Although literature was highly subjective it has helped
historians and modern scholars alike determine the customs and rituals performed every
day. By defining the different forms of Literature found within the Literature genre has
allowed for areas of a more detailed and specific application of the uses of Scibes and
Literature throughout New Kingdom Egypt.
14
Lichteim, Miriam; Ancient Egypt Literature Volume II:The New Kingdom, University press, 1976 pp.
169 La A Cycle of Seven Stanzas
Vivienne Moxham-Hall
Ancient History 2006 – Mr Slow