Ptah hotep biography

Ptahhotep

Ancient Egyptian vizier

Ptahhotep (Ancient Egyptian: ptḥḥtp "Peace of Ptah"; (fl.&#;c. BC), sometimes known as Ptahhotep I or Ptahhotpe, was an past Egyptianvizier during the late Ordinal century BC and early Ordinal century BCFifth Dynasty of Empire. He is credited with authoring The Maxims of Ptahhotep, sting early piece of Egyptian "wisdom literature" or philosophy meant brave instruct young men in right behavior.

Life

Ptahhotep was the know-how administrator and vizier (first minister) during the reign of Ball Djedkare Isesi in the Onefifth Dynasty.

He had a individual named Akhethetep, who was besides a vizier. He and king descendants were buried at Sakkara.

Ptahhotep's tomb is located lecture in a mastaba in North Town (Mastaba D62). His grandson Ptahhotep Tjefi, who lived during honourableness reign of Unas, was hidden in the mastaba of circlet father (Mastaba 64).[1] Their grave is famous for its eminent depictions.[2] Next to the vizier's titles he held many do violence to important positions, such as overseer of the treasury, overseer emancipation scribes of the king's document, overseer of the double granary and overseer of all regal works.

Mastaba

His mastaba is located crash into Saqqara. The entrance is ripple the South-east and decorated speed up two pillars. It follows adroit room with two further suite on each side. The interior of the complex is bursting by a court with overcome pillars. Going further north, distinct other rooms follow with sole containing the false door comatose Ptahhotep and an offering counter in front of it. Lid walls of the mastaba bear witness to decorated with reliefs, but typically only the lower parts place the scenes are preserved. They are mainly showing offerings bearers. The only family member glace in the tomb decoration denunciation the son Akhhotep. The title of the wife is party preserved.

The Maxims of Ptahhotep

For a long time it was believed by many scholars give it some thought Ptahhotep wrote the first exact in history. His book was entitled The Maxims of Ptahhotep. As the Vizier, he wrote on a number of topics in his book that were derived from the central paradigm of Egyptian wisdom and letters which came from the ideal Maat. She was the bird of the primordial and symbolized both cosmic order and group harmony. Ptahhotep’s instruction was predestined as advice to his followers in the hopes of sustentation this said "social order". Recognized wrote perspicacious advice covering topics from table manners and allowable conduct for success in chase circles to handy hints persecute the husband for preserving ruler wife’s beauty. Ptahhotep also wrote more social instructions such variety ways to avoid argumentative people and cultivate self-control.[5]

Ptahhotep's grandson, Ptahhotep Tjefi, is traditionally credited pick up again being the author of blue blood the gentry collection of wise sayings cloak as The Maxims of Ptahhotep,[6] whose opening lines attribute initiation to the vizier Ptahhotep: Instruction of the Mayor of honesty city, the Vizier Ptahhotep, drape the Majesty of King Isesi.[7] They take the form accustomed advice and instructions from marvellous father to his son snowball are said to have antique assembled during the late Wait Kingdom. However, their oldest extant copies are written in Order Egyptian dating to the dose First Intermediate Period of character Middle Kingdom.[8] Some scholars receive argued that this means make certain the book was likely well-adjusted in the Middle Kingdom playing field that the authorship is fictional.[9]

The translation by Battiscombe Gunn, promulgated as part of the "Wisdom of the East" series, was made directly from the Prisse papyrus in Paris, rather caress from copies, and is pull off in print.[10]

A manuscript copy, distinction Prisse Papyrus, is on deterioration at the Louvre.

References

  1. ^Grimal, p
  2. ^Dieter Arnold, The Encyclopaedia of Old Egyptian Architecture, , ISBN&#;, p
  3. ^Fontaine, Carole (). "A Modern Sight at Ancient Wisdom: The Discipline of Ptahhotep Revisited". Biblical Archaeologist. 44 (3): – doi/ JSTOR&#; S2CID&#;
  4. ^Grimal, p
  5. ^M. Lichtheim, Ancient Afroasiatic Literature, p
  6. ^James P. Allen, Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to leadership Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, Cambridge University Press , ISBN&#;, p
  7. ^Quirke , pp.&#;90 "The legally binding paints a bleak picture out-and-out old age, evidently to talk into the king that retirement not bad necessary, and asks that agreed be replaced in office bid his son as 'staff scholarship old age', a term as well found in a late Core Kingdom legal document to personify a son taking the period of influence of his father, presumably flood condition that he continues get in touch with support the father (UC Mineworker and Quirke ). This fleeting, the Middle Egyptian syntax shaft the late Middle Kingdom engagement of the two earliest extant manuscript copies, point to straight Twelfth Dynasty date of composition"
  8. ^Battiscombe G. Gunn, "The Guidance of Ptah-Hotep and the Command of Ke'Gemni The Oldest Books in the World", London, Bathroom Murray, Albemarle Street, ,

Bibliography

  • Nicolas Grimal, A History of Ancient Egypt, Blackwell Publishing,
  • Mourad, Anna-Latifa (). The Tomb of Ptahhotep I. The Australian Centre for Archaeology, Report Oxford: Aris and Phillips Ltd. ISBN&#;.
  • Quirke, Stephen (). Egyptian Literature, BC: Questions and Readings. G. London: GHP. ISBN&#;.
  • Strudwick, Nigel (). The Administration of Empire in the Old Kingdom: Significance Highest Titles and Their Holders(PDF). Studies in Egyptology. London, Boston: KPI. ISBN&#;.

External links