Literature of ancient Egypt, recorded in inscriptions or written on papyrus.
Ancient Egyptian literature is characterized by its wide diversity of types and subjects treated. It uses literary resources such as simile, metaphor, alliteration and misunderstanding.
The religious literature of ancient Egypt includes hymns to the gods, magical and mythological writings, and an extensive collection of funerary texts. The field of secular literature includes stories, instructional literature known as "instructional texts", poems, biographical and historical writings, and scientific treatises. Also noteworthy are numerous legal, administrative and economic texts, as well as private documents in the form of letters.
Ancient Empire
The oldest literature that is conserved comes from the Old Empire. The funerary inscriptions on the pyramids are hymns to the gods and reveal ritual offerings. Many autobiographical inscriptions from private tombs recall the deceased's participation in historical events.
First Intermediate Period
It develops between the years 2255 and 2035 BC. Several lamentations date from this period, among them, The dialogue of a man with his Ba ("soul"), is a debate on suicide; and another, the earliest example of the songs sung by harpers at funeral feasts, advises:"Eat, drink and be happy, before it is too late!"
Middle Empire
In addition to the sarcophagus texts, Middle Kingdom religious literature comprises numerous hymns to the king and various deities—including a long hymn to the Nile—and ritual texts. A satire of crafts underlining positive aspects of the scribe's easy life. Among the narratives, the following stand out:Adventures of Sinuhe, The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant, A Castaway's Tale and The Story of King Khufu and the Magi.
New Empire
Among the funerary texts of the New Kingdom, the Book of the Dead stands out in particular. The writing of hymns and royal historical inscriptions increased so much that autobiographical texts evolved into religious ones. There are many stories of mythological characters such as The Dispute of Oros and Seth, The Destruction of Humanity, The Tale of the Two Brothers and The Voyage of Unamon. In this period, there are also several collections of love poems.
From the Greco-Roman era, new religious compositions, private and real historical accounts, instructions, histories and scientific treaties are known. In addition to the teachings of Anjsesongy and The teachings of the Insinger papyrus, the famous Rosetta stone stands out, whose inscription in hieroglyphic, demotic and Greek characters was the key to deciphering Egyptian writing and, therefore, to the foundation of modern Egyptology.
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