Sebayt
Encyclopedia
Sebayt is the ancient Egyptian term for a genre of pharaonic literature
. The word literally means 'teachings' or 'instructions' and refers to formally written ethical teachings focused on the "way of living truly".
, the Insinger Papyrus
and the Canarvon Tablet 1 in Cairo. This genre has much in common with sapiential literature in other cultures, and is for example comparable with the Old Testament Book of Proverbs
which has in part been connected to the Instructions of Amenemopet
.
Many of the earliest Sebayt claim to have been written in the third millennium BC, during the Old Kingdom
, but it is now generally agreed that they were actually composed later, beginning in the Middle Kingdom
(c.1991-1786 BC). This fictitious attribution to authors of a more distant past was intended to give the texts greater authority.
Sebayt were a long lived genre, with new compositions continuously appearing well into the Roman
era. Some individual teachings, such as the 'Teaching of Amenemhat I
' (written c. 1950 BC) were continuously copied and transmitted for over 1500 years.
Perhaps the best-known sebayt is the one which claims to have been written by Ptahhotep
, the vizier
to the Fifth Dynasty monarch Djedkare Isesi
who ruled from 2388-2356 BC. Ptahhotep's sebayt is often called "The Teaching of Ptahhotep
", or the "Maxims of Good Discourse" (the latter being a phrase used as a self-description in the sebayt itself). The teaching appears on the 12th-dynasty Prisse Papyrus along with the ending of the Instructions of Kagemni
. Another well known sebayt was attributed to the Fourth dynasty of Egypt
ethicist
named Hardjedef. Only a few fragments survive of his Instruction
.
Two sebayt are attributed to Egyptian rulers themselves. The first of these is entitled the Teaching for King Merykare, who lived during the troubled First Intermediate Period (2150-2040 BC). The document claims to be written by Merykare's father, the preceding monarch. However, since Merykare and his father were kings of the unstable periods of the Ninth through Tenth Dynasties, almost nothing else is known of them, and it is quite likely that the text was composed at a later period.
The other royal teaching is the Instructions of Amenemhat
. This sebayt was reputedly authored by Amenemhat I
, the founder of the Twelfth dynasty of Egypt
who ruled from 1991-1962 BC, but was probably composed after his death. Although not attributed to a pharaoh, the Loyalist Teachings stress the virtues of remaining obedient and respectful to the ruler of Egypt.
Ancient Egyptian literature
Ancient Egyptian literature was written in the Egyptian language from Ancient Egypt's pharaonic period until the end of Roman domination. It represents the oldest corpus of Egyptian literature...
. The word literally means 'teachings' or 'instructions' and refers to formally written ethical teachings focused on the "way of living truly".
Examples
Most Sebayt are preserved on papyrus scrolls that are copies of earlier works. Four important examples of sebayt are preserved in the Papyrus Prisse, two papyrus scrolls in the British MuseumBritish Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, the Insinger Papyrus
Insinger Papyrus
Insinger Papyrus is a papyrus find from Ancient Egypt and contains one of the oldest extant writings about Egyptian wisdom teachings...
and the Canarvon Tablet 1 in Cairo. This genre has much in common with sapiential literature in other cultures, and is for example comparable with the Old Testament Book of Proverbs
Book of Proverbs
The Book of Proverbs , commonly referred to simply as Proverbs, is a book of the Hebrew Bible.The original Hebrew title of the book of Proverbs is "Míshlê Shlomoh" . When translated into Greek and Latin, the title took on different forms. In the Greek Septuagint the title became "paroimai paroimiae"...
which has in part been connected to the Instructions of Amenemopet
Instructions of Amenemopet
Instruction of Amenemope is a literary work composed in Ancient Egypt, most likely during the Ramesside Period ; it contains thirty chapters of advice for successful living, ostensibly written by the scribe Amenemope son of Kanakht as a legacy for his son...
.
Many of the earliest Sebayt claim to have been written in the third millennium BC, during the Old Kingdom
Old Kingdom
Old Kingdom is the name given to the period in the 3rd millennium BC when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization in complexity and achievement – the first of three so-called "Kingdom" periods, which mark the high points of civilization in the lower Nile Valley .The term itself was...
, but it is now generally agreed that they were actually composed later, beginning in the Middle Kingdom
Middle Kingdom of Egypt
The Middle Kingdom of Egypt is the period in the history of ancient Egypt stretching from the establishment of the Eleventh Dynasty to the end of the Fourteenth Dynasty, between 2055 BC and 1650 BC, although some writers include the Thirteenth and Fourteenth dynasties in the Second Intermediate...
(c.1991-1786 BC). This fictitious attribution to authors of a more distant past was intended to give the texts greater authority.
Sebayt were a long lived genre, with new compositions continuously appearing well into the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
era. Some individual teachings, such as the 'Teaching of Amenemhat I
Amenemhat I
Amenemhat I, also Amenemhet I, was the first ruler of the Twelfth Dynasty . He ruled from 1991 BC to 1962 BC...
' (written c. 1950 BC) were continuously copied and transmitted for over 1500 years.
Perhaps the best-known sebayt is the one which claims to have been written by Ptahhotep
Ptahhotep
Ptahhotep, sometimes known as Ptahhotpe or Ptah-Hotep, was an ancient Egyptian official during the late 25th century BC and early 24th century BC.-Life:...
, the vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
to the Fifth Dynasty monarch Djedkare Isesi
Djedkare Isesi
Djedkare Isesi in Greek known as Tancheres from Manetho's Aegyptiaca, was a Pharaoh of Egypt during the Fifth dynasty. He is assigned a reign of twenty-eight years by the Turin Canon although some Egyptologists believe this is an error and should rather be thirty-eight years...
who ruled from 2388-2356 BC. Ptahhotep's sebayt is often called "The Teaching of Ptahhotep
The Maxims of Ptahhotep
The Maxims of Ptahhotep or Instruction of Ptahhotep is an ancient literary work attributed to Ptahhotep, a vizier under King Isesi of the Egyptian Fifth Dynasty . It is a collection of maxims and advice in the sebayt genre on human relations, that are directed to his son...
", or the "Maxims of Good Discourse" (the latter being a phrase used as a self-description in the sebayt itself). The teaching appears on the 12th-dynasty Prisse Papyrus along with the ending of the Instructions of Kagemni
Instructions of Kagemni
The Instructions of Kagemni is an ancient Egyptian instructional text of wisdom literature which belongs to the sebayt genre. Although the earliest evidence of its compilation dates to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, its authorship has traditionally yet dubiously been attributed to Kagemni, a vizier...
. Another well known sebayt was attributed to the Fourth dynasty of Egypt
Fourth dynasty of Egypt
The fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom. Dynasty IV lasted from ca. 2613 to 2494 BC...
ethicist
Ethicist
An ethicist is one whose judgment on ethics and ethical codes has come to be trusted by a specific community, and is expressed in some way that makes it possible for others to mimic or approximate that judgement...
named Hardjedef. Only a few fragments survive of his Instruction
Instruction of Hardjedef
The Instruction of Hardjedef, also known as the Teaching of Hordedef and Teaching of Djedefhor, belongs to the didactic literature of the Egyptian Old Kingdom. It is possibly the oldest of all known Instructions, composed during the 5th Dynasty according to Miriam Lichtheim, predating The...
.
Two sebayt are attributed to Egyptian rulers themselves. The first of these is entitled the Teaching for King Merykare, who lived during the troubled First Intermediate Period (2150-2040 BC). The document claims to be written by Merykare's father, the preceding monarch. However, since Merykare and his father were kings of the unstable periods of the Ninth through Tenth Dynasties, almost nothing else is known of them, and it is quite likely that the text was composed at a later period.
The other royal teaching is the Instructions of Amenemhat
Instructions of Amenemhat
Instructions of Amenemhat is a short ancient Egyptian poem of the sebayt genre written during the early Middle Kingdom. The poem takes the form of an intensely dramatic monologue delivered by the ghost of the murdered 12th Dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat I to his son Senusret I...
. This sebayt was reputedly authored by Amenemhat I
Amenemhat I
Amenemhat I, also Amenemhet I, was the first ruler of the Twelfth Dynasty . He ruled from 1991 BC to 1962 BC...
, the founder of the Twelfth dynasty of Egypt
Twelfth dynasty of Egypt
The twelfth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties XI, XIII and XIV under the group title Middle Kingdom.-Rulers:Known rulers of the twelfth dynasty are as follows :...
who ruled from 1991-1962 BC, but was probably composed after his death. Although not attributed to a pharaoh, the Loyalist Teachings stress the virtues of remaining obedient and respectful to the ruler of Egypt.