Ptahhotep

Author: * Neseret Sekhmet - 21 Posts on this thread out of 21 Posts sitewide.
Date: Nov 20, 2006 - 22:48

Nilaja Amenhotep wrote: "What was Ptahhotep's real contribution to Pre-dynastic Egypt? Also, who were his brothers? What is the real story of 'The Sons of God' and 'The Watchers'? Are these just myths or actual entities?"

For one, I am aware of no "contribution to Pre-dynastic Egypt" by Ptahhotep. In fact, the main Ptahhotep of which I am aware was a vizier of the Fifth Dynasty during the pharaonic period, who is supposedly the author of various maxims for how to live a proper life as a noble, and particularly as a civil servant.

As for your other query, you will have to explain the source of these myths for me to respond, as I am not aware of either term from Egyptian texts.

Translations of the Maxims of Ptahhotep can be found in

Foster, J. L. 2001. Ancient Egyptian Literature: An Anthology. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Lichtheim, M. 1975. Ancient Egyptian Literature: The Old and Middle Kingdoms. Vol. I. Berkeley: University of California.

Simpson, W. K., Ed. 1976. The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, and Poetry. New Haven: Yale University Press.

I hope this assisted.

Katherine Griffis-Greenberg