Papyrus from the
Instruction of
Ankhsheshonqy
From Egypt
Late Ptolemaic
period, perhaps 100-30 BC
A 'wisdom' or instructional
text
The Instruction of
Ankhsheshonqy was written in the
'wisdom'
tradition. It has a fictional narrative prologue, which gives a
context for the main part of the document. The text is damaged in
places but the sense is mostly
clear.
Ankhsheshonqy is
visiting a friend in Memphis called Harsiese who tells him about a
plot to kill the king. Ankhsheshonqy tries unsuccessfully to
dissuade his friend from carrying out his plans. Their discussion
is overheard and reported to the king, who orders both men to be
brought to him and interrogated. Harsiese and the other
conspirators are burnt to death, while Ankhsheshonqy is cast into
prison. On the anniversary of the king's accession, an
amnesty is declared for all except Ankhsheshonqy. His heart sinks
at this, and he writes down pieces of advice for his son on
potsherds.
Ankhsheshonqy's
advice comprises a series of one-line proverb-like maxims; this
tradition of short wise sayings goes back to the Middle Kingdom
(2040-1750 BC). They are self-contained and one does not
necessarily relate to the next. The moral tone is straightforward
and down-to-earth. For
example:
Do not pamper your
body, lest you become weak.
May the floodwater
never fail to come.
Do not open your heart to
your wife; what you tell her goes into the
street.
Do not laugh at a
cat.
A snake that is eating has no
poison.
M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian literature: a, 3 vols. (University of California Press, 1973-1980)