Lichtheim Miriam - Ancient Egyptian literature: a book of readings volume 2

Ancient Egyptian Literature

VOLUME II: THE NEW KINGDOM

Ancient Egyptian Literature
A Book of Readings

by
Miriam Lichtheim

VOLUME II: THE NEW KINGDOM

With a New Foreword by
Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Berkeley Los Angeles London

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University of California Press
Berkeley and Los Angeles, California

University of California Press, Ltd.
London, England

1976, 2006 by The Regents of the University of California
First paperback edition published 1980.

Lichtheim, Miriam, 1914

Ancient Egyptian literature : a book of readings /
by Miriam Lichtheim.[2006 ed.].

p. cm.

Previous ed.: 1973.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: v. 1. The Old and Middle Kingdoms /

with a new foreword by Antonio Loprieno
v. 2. The New Kingdom / with a new foreword
by Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert v. 3. The late period /
with a new foreword by Joseph G. Manning.
ISBN 0-520-24842-2 (v. 1 : pbk.) ISBN 0-520-24843-0 (v. 2 : pbk.)
ISBN 0-520-24844-9 (v. 3 : pbk.)
1. Egyptian literatureTranslations into English. I. Title.

PJ1943.L5 2006

893.108dc22 2005046681

Manufactured in the United States of America

15 14 13 12

10 9 8 7 6 5 4

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (R 1997)
(Permanence of Paper ).

This second volume of new translations is designed along the lines of the preceding one. In keeping with the ancient view, it defines literature broadly so as to include monumental inscriptions carved on stone and literary texts written on papyrus. Where the first volume outlined the gradual creation of Egyptian literary genres in the course of many centuries, the present one shows the elaboration of the genres within a single cultural period and in a relatively short span of time.

The literary production of the New Kingdom was much larger than that of the earlier periods. Hence even a whole volume devoted to it can do no more than focus on the highlights. Moreover, in the New Kingdom both the monumental inscriptions and the papyrus texts usually ran to greater length than their Middle Kingdom counter-parts. The selection made from the vast quantity of stone-carved inscriptions contains famous pieces along with some less-renowned ones. Together they illustrate the principal topics that were deemed appropriate to the always functional monumental context. Similarly, the works written on papyrus have been selected to show the variety of themes and forms, and to single out those compositions that were outstanding in their day and have retained a timeless interest. Tales marred by major lacunae have been excluded; hence the absence, among others, of The Capture of Joppa.

M. L.

Santa Monica, California
June 17, 1974

The Later Boundary Stelae of Amenhotep IV
Akhenaten

Note: Only kings named in the texts or notes of this volume are listed here, and only a few regnal dates are given to serve as guideposts.