Maxims of Ptahhotep – Moral Lessons From Ancient Egypt
The “Maxims of Ptahhotep”, also known as the “Instructions of Ptahhotep”, is an ancient Egyptian literary piece that was written down by Ptahhotep, the Vizier for Djedkare Isesi (fith dynasty) and an ancient philosopher. The writings date back to 2375-2350 BC. Other Egyptologists believe that the texts may be falsely attributed to him and may have been written by someone else.
The only complete copy of his work (the Papyurs Prisse) sits located in the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, France. Ptahhotep is generally considered to be a wise and profound author, and many of the instructions he gives are seen as valuable lessons in morality.
There are four copies of The Instructions of Ptahhotep known to us; the oldest copy available was written in the Old Kingdom, with other versions from the Middle Kingdom and the New Kingdom. The original text is thought to date back to the Old Kingdom because they match what was socially and intellectually accepted during that period of Egyptian history. However, it should be noted that the manuscript of Papyrus Prisse, which is dated to the twelfth dynasty (the Middle Kingdom), is considered by some Egyptologist to be the original source text. The texts that were discovered seem to have been designed to teach and provide real insights into Egyptians’ moralistic principles.
The Maxims of Ptahhotep are considered literature designed to instruct moral understanding of the world and how to behave, and belong to the genre of Sebyat (Sebyat is a genre of litrature which is focused on ethical teachings). Students, scribes, and those in high positions were required to study and copy the text.
Sebyat texts, like the “Maxims of Ptahhotep”, were used to teach people of all ages about living a good and ethically based life. They were typically written by seniors, like Ptahhotep who is thought to have been around 96 yers old when he wrote or dictated the text. Sebyat texts give the idea that the elderly, more experienced members of society, are passing down the lessons from their own lives to the more inexperienced ones just starting out in life. So that they can have a headstart, and to help with the continuation of society and order.
In the maxims, Ptahhotep addresses topics such as silence, timing, truthfulness, relationships within the family setting and within the civil social setting, and how to behave in civil society.
The Social context is described by the narrative in this text. The text describes the cultural space and time in which the writings were written for. This text can help a historian look back at what was going on during the time it was written, and understand more about the people and culture.
To have a complete understanding of the maxims and how they fit in with Ancient Egyptian life you need to understand Ma’at. It is important to note that the ideas of Egyptian wisdom literature centres on understanding of Ma’at. Ma’at is what symbolizes both cosmic order and social harmony. In other words, Ma’at is the force involved in order, justice, and truth in human affairs.
Ma’at also highlights that moral acts of an individual can have far-reaching consequences on the cosmos, it is imperative that an individual, especially a ruler or an individual in charge of people, understood this concept and the result that the actions can have.
An example of this can be found in the 6th maxim which starts off with: “Do not cause fear among men; for this the God punishes likewise.” Another example is found at the start of the 17th maxim which sates: “if you are a leader, be gracious when you listen to the speech of a the person pleading to you,” and finishes with “a well-taught heart listens readily.”
But let’s let Ptahhotep have the final say:“If you obey these things that I have said to you, all your behaviour will be of the best; for, truly, the quality of truth is among their excellences. Set the memory of them in the mouths of the people; for their proverbs are good. Nor will any word that has here been set down cease out of this land for ever, but will be made a pattern so that princes will speak well. They, my words, will instruct a man; how he should speak, after he has heard them; yes, he will become as one skilful in obeying, excellent in speaking, after he has heard them. Good fortune will come to him, for he will be of the highest rank. He will be gracious to the end of his life; he will always be content.”
Selected Verses: On having knowledge and dealing with those who argue
He said to his son:
1. Do not be arrogant because you are learned ; but converse with the ignorant man, as with the one who is profoundly wise. For no limit can be set to [a] skill, neither is there any craftsman that has achieved the full level [of his craft]. Fine speech is more rare than the emerald that is found by maidens at the grindstone.
2. If you find a person engaged in an argument talking, [ and he is ] one that is well disposed and wiser than you, let your arms fall, bend your back, don’t be angry with him if he doesn’t agree with you. Refrain from speaking evilly; don’t argue with him when he speaks. If he talks to you as a person who is ignorant of the matter, your humbleness will carry away his hostility.
3. If you find a person engaged in an argument talking, from the same level as you, one that is equal to you, do not keep silent when he says anything at all that is evil; for you will be wiser than he. Great will be the applause on the part of the listeners, and your name will be good in the knowledge of princes.
4. If you find a person engaged in an argument talking, a poor man, who is not your equal, do not be mocking him because he is lower than you. Let him be; then he will only confound himself. Do not question him for your own entertainment, nor be angry with him; it is shameful to confuse a mean mind. If you are about to do what you please, resist it as a thing that is rejected by princes.
Watson, A (2022) Maxims of Ptahhotep-Revised Translation (To Be Published)
Bibliography:
Battiscombe G. Gunn, “The Instruction of Ptah-Hotep and the Instruction of Ke’Gemni The Oldest Books in the World”, London, John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1906,
Fontaine, C. R. (1981). A Modern Look at Ancient Wisdom: The Instruction of Ptahhotep Revisited. The Biblical Archaeologist, 44(3), 155–160. https://doi.org/10.2307/3209606
Lichtheim, M. (Ed.). (2006). Ancient egyptian literature, volume i : The old and middle kingdoms. University of California Press.
Simpson, W. K. (2003). The literature of ancient egypt : An anthology of stories, instructions, and poetry. Yale University Press.
Teaching of Ptahhotep. (2022). Retrieved 17 January 2022, from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums-static/digitalegypt/literature/ptahhotep.html
Watson, A (2022) Maxims of Ptahhotep-Revised Translation (To Be Published)
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