The teachings of ptahhotep the oldest book in the world free download as pdf file. Having reached the great age of 110 he decided to pass egyptologist, essayist and novelist, christian jacq is one of the most widely read authors in the world. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I found this little book to be more than i expected. His treatise the maxims of ptahhotep, probably the earliest large piece of egyptian wisdom literature available to modern scholars, was written primarily for young men of influential families who would soon assume one of the higher civil offices.
The text was discovered in thebes in 1847 by egyptologist m. Ptahhotep was a philosopher and leading statesman in. What does ptahhotep say about conduct as a guest at table. Le decor est riche en scenes originales, alliant precision et grande finesse dexecution. Authorship is attributed to ptahhotep, a vizier under king isesi of the egyptian fifth 2016 reprint of 1909 edition.
Prisse davennes 1807 1879, a french engineer, painter and master draughtsman who lived in luxor. This world oldest work of philosophy known to us is the instructions of ptahhotep, apparently goes back to 2880 b. Or, the instruction of ptahhotep and the teachings of ptahhotep. The oldest book in the world the instruction of ptahhotep. Ptahhotep sometimes known as ptahhotep i or ptahhotpe, was an ancient egyptian vizier. Originally published as the instruction of ptahhotep and also as the maxims of ptahhotep, the work is believed by some scholars to be the oldest book in the world.
Akhethotep was chief justice and vizier, and overseer of the pyramid towns and inspector of priests of the pyramid of niuserre, menkauhor and djedkareisesi. The teachings of ptahhotep the oldest book in the world. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The instructions of the nobles ptahhotep and of kegemni were composed about 4. This joint mastaba for akhethotep and his son ptahhotep has two burial chambers, two chapels and a pillared hall. The instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of kegemni.
The oldest book in the world paperback january 18, 2012. The tomb figure2 is dated to the end of the 5 thdynasty using inscriptions on the east and south walls of ptahhoteps chapel and. The instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of kegemni the oldest book in the world the oldest book in the world 1912 hardcover ptahhotep ptahhotep, battiscombe gunn isbn 10. This is a double tomb situated among a group of mastabas on the west side of the step pyramid at saqqara. The maxims of ptahhotep work by ptahhotep britannica. Gunn and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The wisdom of ptahhotep meet your next favorite book. He is considered the demiurge who existed before all things, and by his willfulness, thought the world. The oldest book in the world is the filled with wisdom quotes and teachings on how one is to conduct ones life and how to treat his fellow man. No, the oldest surviving manuscript of it is middle kingdom, but writing style and so forth all imply it is an old kingdom writing in origin. The instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of ke. If you are a guest at the table of one who is greater than you, take what he offers as it is set before you. Instructions in living, from ancient egypt the gold scales.
Full facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with optical recognition software. It has been well styled the oldest book in the world chabas, 1858. The maxims of ptahhotep or instruction of ptahhotep is an ancient egyptian literary composition based on the vizier ptahhoteps wisdom and experiences. Ptahhotep, flourished 2400 bce, vizier of ancient egypt who attained high repute in wisdom literature. One of the oldest books in the world the translator brian brown goes into the history of the texts, and the following is extracted. Other articles where the maxims of ptahhotep is discussed. Teaching african american males to fully know thy self. Le mastaba d64 dakhethotep et ptahhotep ii osirisnet. The name ptahhotep was a title rather than a proper name, and it was carried by successive viziers of the memphite and elephantine governments. Hotep deals with the commemoration of the ancestors, some of whom are great figures that stand out in history, such as imhotep, the world s first known multigenius and true father of medicine. This free downloadable e book can be read on your computer or ereader. Ptahhotep was a philosopher and leading statesman in the egypt of 2400 bc. Teachings of the prefect of the city, dja ptahhotep.
Hilliard lll, larry williams and nia damali editors a man with wisdom is better off than a stupid man with any amount of charm. The publication presents detailed recordings of the old kingdom tomb of ptahhotep i, a tomb noted to be the most beautiful in saqqara by one of its early excavators. The instruction of ptahhotep to his son survives in papyrus copies. Instruction of ptahhotep zaba p created on 20091018 by markjan nederhof and robert myers. Mastaba double, realise pour akhethotep et son fils ptahotep ii. Ancient egypt and archaeology web site tomb of ptah.
Fix your gaze upon what is before you, and pierce not your host with many glances, for it is an abomination to force your attention upon him. Authorship is attributed to ptahhotep, a vizier under king isesi of the egyptian fifth dynasty ca. The maxims do not cover all aspects of egyptian life. It is rendered in hieroglyphs as an altaroffering table gardiner sign r4. Gunn this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
The longlived ptahhotep was already a mature man during the reign of userkaf, in the twenty. Also called the maxims of ptahhotep this was a teaching containing ethics and codes of conduct forboys and young men on how to best behave in the society of that time. However, their oldest surviving copies are written in middle egyptian dating to the late first. Ptahhotep, the author or the world s oldest book of instruction. Get 2 free audible books this is the third volume of the 15volume series of the world s story. Hotep is a word associated with recognizing that there is a creative force eminent in all things.
The instruction of ptah hotep and the instruction of kegemni the oldest books in the world translated. Page 29 of 29there follows an endnote confirming the unity of the composition papyrus prisse, column 19,line 9. The oldest book in the world first published around 2388 b. The sepulcher contained ptahhotep ii and his son akhtihotep. Watch the curse of ptahhotep season 4, episode 20 of quantum leap or get episode details on. The teachings of ptahhotep 1987 edition open library. Mobi files can be read on kindles, epub files can be read on other e book readers, and zip files can be downloaded and read on your computer. Full text of the instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of kegemni the oldest books in the world see other formats the project gutenberg ebook of the instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of kegemni, by battiscombe g. The oldest book in the world by hilliard iii, professor asa g, asa g, hilliard iii, williams, larry, damali, nia isbn. The contents of this oldest book may direct us to joseph and to the later teachings of israel. For a long time it was proclaimed to be the oldest book in the world. Notice what this ptahhotep the second in command in egypt had to say of his life on earth.
Originally published as the instruction of ptahhotep and also as the maxims of ptahhotep, the work is believed by some scholars to be the oldest book in the. Ptahhoteps proverbial sayings upheld obedience to a father and. It is a collection of maxims not all are given here dealing with human relations. The oldest book in the world andchoose the format of the ebook to download pdf, epub, kindle, txt, and doc. The instruction of ptahhotep and the instruction of kegemni by kagemna et al. Egyptologist, essayist and novelist, christian jacq is one of the most widely read authors in the world. The oldest book in the world paperback february 8, 2016. For the most part, they touch on the peaceful virtues of kindness, justice. Ptahhotep, sometimes known as ptahhotep i or ptahhotpe, was an ancient egyptian vizier during the late 25th century bc and early 24th century bc fifth dynasty of egypt. Tomb of akhethotep and ptahhotep egyptian monuments. The instructions were composed by the vizier ptahhotep around 23752350 bc, during the rule of king djedkare isesi of the fifth dynasty. Ptahhotep, instruction of zaba p created on 20091018 by markjan nederhof and robert myers. The word also refers to an offering ritually presented to a deity or a dead person, hence be pleased, be gracious, be at peace. The painted reliefs in ptahhoteps section of the tomb are particularly beautiful, and portray a wide range of animals, from lions to hedgehogs to the domesticated cattle and fowl that were brought as offerings to the deceased.