Egyptian Story of Sinuhe

8/10/2019 Egyptian Story of Sinuhe

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Story of Sinuhe

A raised-relief depiction of Amenemhat I accompanied by deities; the death of

Amenemhat I is reported by his son Senusret I in the Story of Sinuhe .

"The Story of Sinuhe " is considered one of the finest works of Ancient Egyptianliterature . It is a narrative set in the aftermath of the death of haraoh Amenemhat I !founder of the #th dynasty of Egypt ! in the early #$th century %&. It is likely that itwas composed only shortly after this date! albeit the earliest e'tant manuscript is fromthe reign of Amenemhat III ! c. ($$ %&. ) * +here is an ongoing debate amongEgyptologists as to whether or not the tale is based on actual events involving anindividual named Sinuhe! )#* with the consensus being that it is most likely a work offiction. ),*) * ue to the universal nature of the themes e'plored in "Sinuhe"! includingdivine providence and mercy! its anonymous author has been described as the "EgyptianShakespeare " whose ideas have parallels in biblical te'ts. "Sinuhe" is considered to be awork written in verse and it may also have been performed .)/* +he great popularity of thework is witnessed by the numerous surviving fragments. )0*

Contents

)hide * Synopsis # Interpretations , Influences on modern culture 1eferences / 2iterature 0 E'ternal links

Synopsis[ edit ]

Sinuhe is an official who accompanies prince Senwosret I to 2ibya . 3e overhears aconversation connected with the death of 4ing Amenemhet I and as a result flees to5pper 1et6enu 7&anaan 8! leaving Egypt behind. 3e becomes the son-in-law of &hiefAmmunenshi and in time his sons grow to become chiefs in their own right. Sinuhe

fights rebellious tribes on behalf of Ammunenshi. As an old man! in the aftermath ofdefeating a powerful opponent in single combat ! he prays for a return to his homeland 9)/*

"May god pity me..may he hearken to the prayer of one far away!..may the King havemercy on me..may I be conducted to the city of eternity!" .)0* 3e then receives aninvitation from 4ing Senwosret I of Egypt to return! which he accepts in highly movingterms. 2iving out the rest of his life in royal favour he is finally laid to rest in thenecropolis in a beautiful tomb. )/*

Interpretations[ edit ]

+he story of Sinuhe has spawned a great deal of literature which e'plores the themescontained in the work from many perspectives. +he scope and variety of this material
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senusret_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaohhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaohhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_dynasty_of_Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptologistshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senwosret_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhet_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retjenuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_combathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necropolishttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senusret_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharaohhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_dynasty_of_Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhat_IIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptologistshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblicalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senwosret_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Libyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amenemhet_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retjenuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaanhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_combathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homelandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necropolishttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=2


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has been likened to the analysis of 3amlet and other notable works of literature. )/* Scholars debate the reason why Sinuhe flees Egypt! with the ma6ority seeing a panicresponse to a perceived fear .)/* +he tale is full of symbolic allusions. Sinuhe:s name7 * associated with 3athor ! 7the

?oddess of fertility! rebirth and patroness of foreign countries8! who features throughoutthe work. )/*

Sinuhe comes under the protective orbit of divine powers! in the form of the 4ing! fromwhom he first tries to run away! and that of the @ueen! a manifestation of 3athor. nfleeing Egypt! Sinuhe crosses a waterway associated with the ?oddess Baat ! theAncient Egyptian principle of truth! order and 6ustice! in the vicinity of a sycamore tree.)/*

+he Ancient Egyptians believed in free-will! implicit in the code of Baat! but this stillallowed divine grace to work in and through the individual! and an overarching divine

providence is seen in Sinuhe:s flight and return to his homeland. 5nable to escape theorbit of ?od:s power and mercy! Sinuhe e'claims9 "Chether I am in the 1esidence! orwhether I am in this place! it is you who cover this horiDon". )/*

arallels have been made with the biblical narrative of oseph . In what is seen as divine providence! the Syro-&anaanite oseph is taken to Egypt where he becomes part of theruling elite! acFuires a wife and family! before being reunited with his Syro-&anaanitefamily. In what is seen as divine providence! Sinuhe the Egyptian flees to Syro-&anaanand becomes a member of the ruling elite! acFuires a wife and family! before beingreunited with his Egyptian family .)/* arallels have also been drawn with other biblicalte'ts9 Sinuhe:s frustrated flight from the orbit of god:s power 7 4ing8 is likened to the3ebrew prophet onah :s similar attempt! )(* his fight with a mighty challenger! whom heslays with a single blow! is compared to the battle between avid and ?oliath and hisreturn home likened to the parable of the rodigal Son .)G*

Influences on modern culture[ edit ]

Haguib BahfouD ! the Hobel riDe -winning Egyptian writer! published in G a storyentitled "Awdat Sinuhi" translated by 1aymond Stock in #$$, as "+he 1eturn ofSinuhe" in the collection of BahfouD:s short stories entitled Voices from the Otheror d . +he story is based directly on the "Story of Sinuhe"! although adding details of alovers: triangle romance that does not appear in the original.

+he story also formed part of the inspiration for the G / novel by Bika Caltari ! andthe G/ 3ollywood film epic! both titled he #gyptian ! which although set during thereign of (th dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten ! features a lead character named Sinuhe7played by Edmund urdom 8 who flees Egypt in disgrace! to return after achievingmaterial success and personal redemption in foreign lands.

EliDabeth eters made reference to the tale in her novel he $a con at the %orta .

&uban song writer and singer Silvio 1odrigueD composed a song title Sinuhe 7#$$,8included in his album "A ate with the Angels" 7&ita con los Angeles original Spanish8.+he lyrics used the figure of Sinuhe as a metaphor of the past intelectual greatness of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_sycomorushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_sycomorushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_(Hebrew_Bible)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Goliathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Goliathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_Sonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naguib_Mahfouzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_for_Literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Stockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_trianglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_trianglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mika_Waltarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighteenth_dynasty_of_Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenatenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Purdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Petershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Falcon_at_the_Portalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_sycomorushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_of_Lifehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hathorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_(Hebrew_Bible)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonahhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_and_Goliathhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigal_Sonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naguib_Mahfouzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize_for_Literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Stockhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_trianglehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mika_Waltarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywoodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Egyptianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighteenth_dynasty_of_Egypthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akhenatenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Purdomhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Petershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Falcon_at_the_Portal


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the Biddle East and portraits a contrast with the contemporary conflicts and wars in theregion.

References[ edit ]

. Jump up ^ 1. %. arkinson! he a e of Sinuhe and Other &ncient #gyptian %oems . 'ford Corld:s &lassics! GGG! p. #

#. Jump up ^ ames 4arl 3offmeier! &ncient Israe In Sinai' he #vidence for the &uthenticity of the i derness radition ! 'ford 5niversity ress #$$/! p.#/0

,. Jump up ^ ames eter Allen ! Midd e #gyptian' &n Introduction to the (anguage and )u ture of *ierog yphs ! &ambridge 5niversity ress #$$$! p.#(

. Jump up ^ +he best tale begins with the death of 4ing Amenemhat! whowas the first king of the #th dynasty. In the :Instructions of Amenemhat : theking describes! from beyond the grave! how he was the victim of an

assassination.7" +e igion in ancient #gypt " %yron Esely Shafer! ohn b.! 2eonard3. 2esko! avid . Silverman! p 0$! +aylor Jrancis! GG IS%H $- /-$>$,$-G 8

/. K ump up to9 a b c d e f g h i Edmund S. BeltDer! In search of Sinuhe'" hat,s in a -ame " aper presented at +he /(th Annual Beeting of theAmerican 1esearch &enter in Egypt! Cyndham +oledo 3otel! +oledo! hio! Apr #$! #$$>

0. K ump up to9 a b B. 2ichtheim ! &ncient #gyptian (iterature ! Lolume I9+he ld and Biddle 4ingdoms! G>,! p.###! IS%H $/#$$#(GG0

>. Jump up ^ " eath and salvation in ancient Egypt"! an Assmann! avid2orton! +ranslated by avid 2orton! p > ! &ornell 5niversity ress! #$$/! IS%H

$-($ - # -G(. Jump up ^ "?od:s Cord for ur Corld9 +heological and cultural studies

in honor of Simon ohn e Lries"! Simon ohn e Lries! Edmund S. BeltDer! .3arold Ellens ! eborah 2. Ellens! 1olf . 4nierim! Isaac 4alimi! p>G!&ontinuum International ublishing ?roup! #$$ IS%H $-(#0 -0G>/-#

G. Jump up ^ "+ales Jrom Ancient Egypt"! oyce +yldesley ! p((!1utherford! #$$ ! IS%H $-G/ >0##-$->

Literature[ edit ]

%arta! B. #$$, Sinuhe! the %ible and the atriarchs! &Dech Institute ofEgyptologyM avid %rown %ook &ompany. ?reig! ?. S. GG$. "+he s m f and s m n f in the Story of Sinuhe and the

+heory of the Hominal 7Emphatic8 Lerbs"! in9 Israelit-?roll! I. 7ed.8! Studies inEgyptology. resented to Biriam 2ichtheim! Lol. I. erusalem9 BagnesressM3ebrew 5.! #0 N, (.

4itchen! 4. A. GG0. ! //N0,.

BahfouD! Haguib. "+he 1eturn of Sinuhe" in Voices from the Other or d 7translated by 1obert Stock8! 1andom 3ouse! #$$,

BeltDer! E. S. #$$ . "Sinuhe! onah and oseph9 Ancient OJar +ravellers: and the

ower of ?od"! in9 Ellens! . 3. et al. 7eds.8! ?od:s Cord for ur Corld! vol. II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Peter_Allenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Egyptian:_An_Introduction_to_the_Language_and_Culture_of_Hieroglyphshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Egyptian:_An_Introduction_to_the_Language_and_Culture_of_Hieroglyphshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructions_of_Amenemhathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructions_of_Amenemhathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0415070309http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0415070309http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0415070309https://web.archive.org/web/20111007013806/http://www.ceae.unlugar.com/meltzer.htmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20111007013806/http://www.ceae.unlugar.com/meltzer.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Lichtheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Lichtheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520028996http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0801442419http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0801442419http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0826469752http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Tyldesleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Tyldesleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0954762207http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Peter_Allenhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Egyptian:_An_Introduction_to_the_Language_and_Culture_of_Hieroglyphshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Egyptian:_An_Introduction_to_the_Language_and_Culture_of_Hieroglyphshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instructions_of_Amenemhathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0415070309http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0415070309https://web.archive.org/web/20111007013806/http://www.ceae.unlugar.com/meltzer.htmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20111007013806/http://www.ceae.unlugar.com/meltzer.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Lichtheimhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0520028996http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0801442419http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0801442419http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0826469752http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joyce_Tyldesleyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0954762207http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Harold_Ellens


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+heological and &ultural Studies in 3onor of Simon ohn e Lries 72ondon- Hew Pork9 &larkM&ontinuum8! >>N( .

Borschauser! S. #$$$. "Chat Bade Sinuhe 1un9 Sinuhe:s 1easoned Jlight"A1&E ,>! (>NG(

arkinson! 1. %. GG>. he a e of Sinuhe and Other &ncient #gyptian %oems

/0123/412 5) 7 'ford Corld &lassics8. 'ford9 'ford 5. ress. @uirke! Stephen. #$$ . #gyptian (iterature /6225)' 7uestions and +eadings !

2ondon! /(N>$ IS%H $-G/ ># (-0- 7translation and transcription8 +obin! L. A. GG/. "+he Secret of Sinuhe" A1&E ,#! 0 N>(.

External links[ edit ] +ranslation which includes details on the sources for the translations!

transcriptions from the original hieratic into Egyptian hieroglyphs .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0954721861http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=6http://jennycarrington.tripod.com/JJSinuhe/http://jennycarrington.tripod.com/JJSinuhe/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieratichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_hieroglyphshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0954721861http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Story_of_Sinuhe&action=edit&section=6http://jennycarrington.tripod.com/JJSinuhe/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieratichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_hieroglyphs

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Egyptian Story of Sinuhe