Literature of Ancient Egypt

Writing in ancient Egypt first appeared in the late 4th millennium BC during the late phase of predynastic Egypt. By the Old Kingdom, literary works included funerary texts, epistles and letters, hymns and poems, and commemorative autobiographical texts recounting the careers of prominent administrative officials. Ancient Egyptian literature has been preserved on a wide variety of media. This includes papyrus scrolls and packets, limestone or ceramic ostraca, wooden writing boards, monumental stone edifices and coffins. This book is intended to serve as an elementary introduction to the study of Egyptian Literature. Its object is to present a short series of specimens of Egyptian compositions, which represent all the great periods of literary activity in Egypt under the Pharaohs. Contents:The Pyramid TextsStories of Magicians who Lived under the Ancient EmpireThe Book of the DeadBooks of the Dead of the Gr co-Roman PeriodThe Egyptian Story of the CreationLegends of the GodsHistorical LiteratureAutobiographical LiteratureTales of Travel and AdventureFairy TalesEgyptian Hymns to the GodsMoral and Philosophical LiteratureMiscellaneous LiteratureThe Book of the DeadPapyrus of AniHymn to the NileGreat Hymn to AtenHymn to Osiris-Sokar Tale of the Doomed PrinceThe Magic BookThe Dialogue of a Misanthrope with His Own SoulAncient Egyptian Love Poems