by Tammyjo Eckhart

Created on: April 21, 2009

In order to understand the literature of ancient Egypt, scholars expand what we today might consider literature to include all written texts. I want to briefly describe several types of the literature that survives from the earliest period through "The Late Period" or an expanse of about 3000 years. If you want to read the literature of ancient Egypt in English translation, Miriam Lichtheim's three volume collection is the most accessible to the layperson. Many of my categories below reflect standard scholarship in the field.

During the Old and Middle Kingdom, three general styles of literature were used in Egypt. The first was a prose composition, the second was poetry, while I third combined elements of each genre. Beyond these basic categories literature from ancient Egypt can also be divided into several other categories.

"Prayer Offerings" that list what the dead and worshippers bring to the god were the first literature. This is interesting because in most other human cultures, writing first appears as an economic method, keeping track of possessions and tracking taxes, or political texts that promote the power of one person or family. Soon after these texts, "Autobiographies" start to appear in tombs as well both for royals and their courtiers. Courtiers developed their own literature often called "Instructions" because they gave advice on how to be a good scribe or a good priest or a simply a good man. As the "Old Kingdom" fade, an array of "religious texts" appeared in tombs suggesting a developed theology and burial practice that was coming into its own.

In the "Middle Kingdom", the "Instructions" turned to Royal subjects as kings and princes seem to have become another audience for them. At the same time, autobiographies start to be inscribed outside of tombs and start to serve as propaganda for living pharaohs and their descendants. Religious text continue but the hymn or musical composition seems to have become increasingly popular at this time. Finally the beginning of fiction as fiction seems to start that does not serve a political or instructional purpose.

The "New Kingdom's" literature continued the previous patterns though changes in society, religion, and political beliefs are apparent when you read. There were some new developments. Poetry becomes both epic in nature, telling stories that had previously been reserved for prose, and romantic with a flood of lyrical works praising love and being in love. Religious hymns become focused on specific

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>