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| Ancient Egyptian Literature | Artefacts | Books on Ancient Egypt |
Ancient Egyptian Literature
Ancient Egyptian literature takes a variety of forms and was written in hieratic, demotic and hieroglyphic text for different occassions and purposes. Stelae were inscribed with hieroglyphs and generally used for proclamations and for recording successes (or re-casting a defeat as a success). Similarly, the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the walls of their temples were a useful propaganda tool of the pharaoh and the priests. As a result, they tend to give the most positive view of the current pharaoh or make implications regarding the percieved quality of a previous pharaoh which may have been prompted more by political motivations than a desire to record the "truth". Inscriptions in tombs (also in hieroglyphs) are similarly careful to paint a positive picture, but are likely to include some of the events of the deceased´s life and so can provide useful facts about the period as well as illustrating the prevailing religious environment.
Many of the Ancient Egyptian myths are incomplete while others have numerous versions in different locations or times. This makes their already complex mythology very confusing in places, with the characters and attributes of gods reinforced or contradicted by other texts.
| Stelae |
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The Stele of the Rameside Family Established in Tanis during the reign of Ramesses II. |
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The Israel Stele Established during the reign of Merenptah, the stele refers to the state of Israel being laid waste by the Egyptian army. |
| Records and Correspondence |
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Papyrus Anastasi V The report of two runaway slaves during the time of Seti II who may have followed the route of the fleeing Israelites. |
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The Armarna Letters Correpondence between the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Akhenaten to the rulers and vassals of the Middle East. |
| Biographies |
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Biography of Ahmose son of Ebana Ahmose was a career soldier who served the pharaohs Seqenenre Tao II, Kamose, Ahmose I and Tuthmosis I. |
| Myths and Stories |
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"Story of Sinuhe" The Story of Sinuhe (Sanakht) was possibly the first historical novel. |
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"Princess of Bekheten" The story of how Khonsu healed a foreign princess |
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"Khufu and the Magicians" The story of Reddjedet (or Raddjedet) and the triplets |
| Religious Texts |
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Pyramid Texts The oldest religious texts in the world. |
Artefacts
Books on Ancient Egypt
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