Amenemope (son of Kanacht)

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Amenemope, son of Kanacht in hieroglyphics
M17 Y5
N35 		G17 M17 Q3 X1
O45

Imenemipat
(Imen em ipat)
Jmn m jp3.t
Amun is in the Luxor Temple

Amenemope, son of Kanacht, was probably an ancient Egyptian high official of the 19th Dynasty ( New Kingdom ). The little information about his person comes from the prologue of the "Doctrine for Life", which names him as the author. Its identity and existence are questioned and even questioned by various researchers.

The teaching of Amenemope

Amenemope became famous for his work "Doctrine for Life", which is completely preserved on the London papyrus BM  10474 (from the 26th dynasty ) and of which the title or individual sections on another papyrus ( Stockholm MM 18416) Writing boards from a school context (today in Turin , Paris and Moscow ), a grafitto (in Medinet Habu ) and an ostracon from the 10th century BC. BC (today in Cairo ) are attested. As the oldest textual witness, the ostracon is important for dating.

The teaching of Amenemope is directed to his youngest son, Hor-em-maa-cheru ("Horus is confirmed"), who was appointed priest of Min in Panopolis and now has high-ranking titles such as "Pourer of the Libations of Min-Kamutef " as well "Overseer of the black cattle on the terrace of the Min" leads.

In exactly 30 chapters, which are unusually divided by numbers (instead of rubra ), Amenemope teaches his son how to live and how to work so that he becomes "good person before everyone else". The teachings are characterized by profundity, subtlety and morality and contain sophisticated metaphors , some of which are difficult to understand today. Among other things, Amenemope advises in Chapter 4 not to cheat other people, not to behave arrogantly towards them and / or to discriminate against them. In chapter 25 he also calls for people not to tease the crippled , the stunted or the blind and / or to laugh at the mentally handicapped and to encourage others to be tolerant : “Do not laugh at a blind man or mock a dwarf! Do not make a cripple more difficult! Do not mock the person who is in the hand of God (mentally handicapped) ! ” . This reveals social and societal values ​​in the doctrine of Amenemope, which perhaps were no longer self-evident for his time. The teaching of Amenemope is now considered a masterpiece of written prose and philosophy .

Particular interest has the close relationship with a portion of the biblical proverbs drawn -Buches up. Contrary to earlier assumptions, it is now clear from the dating of the oldest text witnesses that Prov. 22.17-23.11 depends on the teaching of Amenemope and not the other way around.

questions about the person

According to the prologue to the "Doctrine of Amenemope" in the London Papyrus, Amenemope was a senior administrative officer. He describes himself as "Overseer of the grain", "Food steward", "Justified in Ta-Wer " and "Justified in Ipu ". He said he was married to a lady named Tausret . She was " Sistrum player of the Shu and the Tefnut " and "Voringerin of Horus ". He seems to have had several sons, since he calls Hor-em-maa-cheru his "youngest son".

In the course of research into Amenemope's person, the question was repeatedly raised whether he actually existed, or whether his name was a pseudonym for one or more authors who could not, would or were not allowed to reveal their identity. The background to the assumption is the naming of an author in an ancient Egyptian document. Usually literary works were anonymous , so that in most cases today no conclusions about any authorship can be drawn. A vivid example of anonymous works is the Papyrus Westcar (probably 13th Dynasty ), which contains fine literature, but the author has not signed it. The presumption of the fictional identity of Amenemope is reinforced by the fact that "Amenemope" was a very common name in the New Kingdom and was not noticed. The name of Amenemope's alleged father, Kanacht ("Strong Bull") was also very common. In addition, Amenemopes grave complex cannot be found . According to the papyrus, Amenemope is said to have owned a grave in Senut , the necropolis of Panopolis, but to date no grave has been found that belongs to an owner named "Amenemope, son of Kanacht".

See also

literature

  • Ivar Lissner, Gerhard Rauchwetter: Man and his images of God . Walter, Freiburg im Breisgau 1982, ISBN 3530527092 , pp. 37-53.
  • Irene Shirun-Grumach, The Teaching of Amenemope , in: Wisdom Texts, Myths and Epics. Wisdom Texts II ( TUAT 3,2), Gütersloh 1991, pp. 222-250.
  • Molefi Kete Asante, Abu Shardow Abarry: African Intellectual Heritage: A Book of Sources . Temple University Press, Philadelphia PA 1996, ISBN 1566394031 , pp. 312-316.
  • James Roger Black: The Instruction of Amenemope: A Critical Edition and Commentary Prolegomenon and Prologue . Dissertation, University of Wisconsin-Madison 2002.
  • William K. Simpson, "The" Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry . Yale University Press, Yale 2003, ISBN 0300099207 , pp. 225 & 238.
  • Miriam Lichtheim : Ancient Egyptian Literature: A Book Of Readings: The New Kingdom (= Ancient Egyptian Literature , 2nd volume). 2nd reprint, University of California Press, Berkeley CA 2006, ISBN 0520248430 . Pp. 146-152.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ James Roger Black: The Instruction of Amenemope . Pp. 226-227, 274-276, 396-400.
  2. ↑ James Roger Black: The Instruction of Amenemope . Pp. 266-270.
  3. ↑ James Roger Black: The Instruction of Amenemope . Pp. 294-396.
  4. ↑ James Roger Black: The Instruction of Amenemope . Pp. 274-293.
personal data
SURNAME Amenemope
BRIEF DESCRIPTION ancient Egyptian official
DATE OF BIRTH 13th century BC Chr.
DATE OF DEATH 13th century BC Chr.