Ancient Egyptian Literature

by Miriam Lichtheim (Editor)

First published in 1973, this anthology has assumed classic status in the field of Egyptology and portrays the remarkable evolution of the literary forms of one of the world’s earliest civilizations. Beginning with the early and gradual evolution of Egyptian genres, it includes biographical and historical inscriptions carved on stone, the various classes of works written with pen on papyrus, and the mortuary literature that focuses on life after death. It then shows the culmination of these literary genres within the single period known as the New Kingdom (1550–1080 B.C.) and ends in the last millennium of Pharaonic civilization, from the tenth century B.C. to the beginning of the Christian era. An introduction written in three parts by Antonio Loprieno, Hans-W. Fischer-Elfert, and Joseph G. Manning completes this classic anthology.

Genres: History, Historical

872 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

Miriam Lichtheim was an Israeli translator of ancient Egyptian texts whose translations are still widely used.

In 1973 she published the first volume of the Ancient Egyptian Literature (abbr. AEL), annotated translations of Old and Middle Kingdom texts. In 1976 the second volume of AEL containing New Kingdom texts appeared, followed in 1980 by the third dealing with the first millennium BCE literature.

Reviews

[Santiago González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antologia ideal y muy completa, para reseñas concretas me remito a la de los tomos que agrupa este tomo más grande, especialmente al del primero. Me ha parecido muy interesante la literatura egipcia, recomiendo leer por lo menos lo más afamado.

[Arthur Colunga · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful composite of well-selected AE writings across time periods and spanning an array of culturally relevant topics.

[Oakley C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

wow…quite boring…