Quack the Interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic Literature 2011

8/17/2019 Quack the Interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic Literature 2011

1/27

he

nteraction

of

gyptian and ramaic Literature

JO HIM

F R I E D R I C H

Q U A C K

nstitut of

Egyptology University

of

Heidelberg

While

t h e r e

h a s

b e e n

c o n s i d e r a b l e

d i s c u s s i o n

o n

t h e

q u e s t i o n

of

Egyptian

i n f l u e n c e

o n

O ld

T e s t a m e n t

l i t e r a t u r e ,

e s p e c i a l l y

w i s d o m

texts

s u c h a s t h e Teaching of menemope H u m b e r t 1929; B r u y c e 1979;

Romheld

1989; L a i s n e y 2007 a n d C a n t i c l e s e.g. , Fox 1985 , t h e r e l a -

tion b e t w e e n nonb i b l i c a l J e w i s h l i t e r a t u r e a n d E g y p t i a n c omp o s i t i o n s

has

b e e n

m u c h

l e s s

in

t h e

f o c u s .

T h e

r e l e v a n t

c om p o s i t i o n s

I

i n t e n d

to

d i s c u s s a r e w r i t t e n in A r am a i c , a n d t h i s e n t a i l s t h e me t h o d o l o g i c a l

problem t o w h i c h e x t e n t t h e y c a n b e c l a s s i f i e d a s J e w i s h — o r J e h u -

dite—literature

a n d t h u s l e g i t im a t e l y b e b r o u g h t i n t o t h e s c o p e of t h i s

volume

I

c a n

p o i n t

o u t

t h a t

a t

l e a s t

hiqar

is

a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y

a s c e r -

ta ined t o c om e f r o m t h e g r o u p o n E l e p h a n t i n e I s l a n d t h a t s t y l i z e d i tse lf

as

J e w s . O b v i o u s l y ,

t h i s

w i l l

l e a d

t o

t h e

w i d e r

q u e s t i o n

of

w h a t

it

meant

t o

b e

a

J e w d u r i n g

t h e

A c h a e m e n i d

p e r i o d .

As

a p o i n t of c om p a r i s o n , E g y p t i a n l i t e r a r y t e x t s of t h e La t e p e r i o d

will

b e u s e d . I r e s t r i c t myse l f t o t h o s e w r i t t e n in t h e v e r n a c u l a r d e m o t i c

language

b e c a u s e t h e r e is n o e v i d e n c e t h a t l i t e r a r y t e x t s in c l a s s i c a l

Middle

E g y p t i a n l a n g u a g e w e r e c r e a t e d a n e w d u r i n g t h e La t e p e r i o d .

As

a

m a t t e r

of

f a c t ,

t h e y

e v e n

s e em

t o

h a v e

d i e d

o u t

d u r i n g

t h a t

p e r i o d ;

there

is

n o

s i n g l e

m a n u s c r i p t

of

a

M i d d l e

E g y p t i a n

l i t e r a r y

c omp o s i t i o n

later

t h a n t h e Sai tic p e r i o d ( 26 th Dy n a s t y ; Q u a c k 2003a ) . T h i s r e s t r i c -

tion s t i l l l e a v e s u s w i t h a f a i r l y l a r g e E g y p t i a n c o r p u s ( Q u a c k 2005a ) .

In o r d e r t o u s e t h i s c o r p u s t o t h e f u l l , w e h a v e t o k e e p in m i n d t h e

chronological

q u e s t i o n . A t f i r s t , i t s e e m s a p p r o p r i a t e t o l im i t o u r s e l v e s

to

c a s e s of E g y p t i a n t e x t s f r o m t h e A c h a e m e n i d p e r i o d , i n k e e p i n g

with

t h e f o c u s of t h i s v o l u m e . H ow e v e r , w i t h a c lo s e r l o o k , t h i s r a i s e s

an

i m p o r t a n t

me t h o d o l o g i c a l

i s s u e :

w h a t

e x a c t l y

i s

a n

E g y p t i a n

t e x t

f rom

t h e

A c h a e m e n i d

p e r i o d ?

M a n y

E g y p t o l o g i s t s

t e n d

t o

b a s e

t h e i r

text

c h r o n o l o g y ma i n l y o n a c t u a l a t t e s t a t i o n s of ma n u s c r i p t s . T h u s ,

while

a v o i d i n g t h e p i t f a l l of f a n c i f u l e a r l y d a t i n g t h a t h a s s o m e t i m e s

plagued E g y p t o l o g y , t h e y i n c u r t h e e v e n g r e a t e r r i s k of m i s t a k i n g t h e

r andom p r e s e r v a t i o n f o r a s t r u c t u r e of d e v e l o pm e n t ( v o n L i e v e n 2007 :

75

Originalveröffentlichung in: Oded Lipschits/Gary N. Knoppers/ Manfred Oeming (Hg.),

Judah and the Judeans in the Achaemenid Age. Negotiating Identity in an International

Context, Winona Lake 2011, S. 375-401


2/27

376

JOACHIM

F R I E D R I C H Q U C K

223 54 .

S p e c i f i c a l l y f o r t h e d e m o t i c l i t e r a t u r e w e h a v e t o r e c k o n w i t h

t he f a c t t h a t t h e r e a r e h a r d l y a n y p r e s e r v e d d e m o t i c l i t e r a r y m a n u -

scripts

f r o m t h e P e r s i a n p e r i o d a c t u a l l y k n o w n n o w a d a y s .

1

By f a r , t h e

greates t n u m b e r of d e m o t i c l i t e r a r y f r a g m e n t s d a t e f r o m t h e R o m a n

per iod . H o w e v e r , i n m a n y c a s e s t h e r e a r e i n h e r e n t a r g u m e n t s f o r a t -

t r i bu t ing t h e o r i g i n a l d a t e of c o m p o s i t i o n t o p r e - P t o l e m a i c t im e s .

2

Thus

I f e e l j u s t i f i e d i n u s i n g c o m p o s i t i o n s w h o s e a c t u a l m a n u s c r i p t s

are p o s t - A c h a e m e n i d a s l o n g a s t h e r e a r e g o o d r e a s o n s f o r c o n n e c t i n g

t h em w i t h I m p e r i a l A r a m a i c t e x t s .

The b e s t - k n o w n c a s e of a t r a n s l a t i o n f r o m A r a m a i c t o E g y p t i a n is t h e

tory and Wisdom of Ahiqar S e t a t t h e N e o - A s s y r i a n c o u r t a n d t h o u g h t

by

s e v e r a l

s c h o l a r s

a c t u a l l y

t o

r e f l e c t

A s s y r i a n

c o u r t

m i l i e u

Fa l e s

1994 ;

Koch-Wes tenho lz 1995 : 63; D a l l e y 2001 : 1 5 3 - 5 4 ; P a r p o l a 2005 ; W e i g l

2010: 6 9 1 - 7 0 3 , t h e o l d e s t p r e s e r v e d m a n u s c r i p t , w r i t t e n i n I m p e r i a l

Aramaic w a s f o u n d a t E l e p h a n t i n e a n d d a t e s f r o m t h e 5 t h c e n t u r y

B.C.E.

3

I t h a s b e e n l o n g k n o w n t h a t t h i s c o m p o s i t i o n w a s , b e s i d e s r e n -

der ings i n m a n y o t h e r l a n g u a g e s ,

4

a l s o t r a n s l a t e d i n t o d e m o t i c E g y p -

tian.

5

U p

t o

n o w ,

o n l y

t w o

d e m o t i c

E g y p t i a n

f r a g m e n t s

of

t h e

n a r r a t i v e

f r ame m a n u s c r i p t s d a t i n g f r o m t h e R o m a n i m p e r i a l p e r i o d h a v e b e e n

pub l i shed ; s e v e r a l m o r e i n t h e s a m e h a n d a n d p r o b a b l y f r o m t h e s a m e

scroll

r e m a i n u n p u b l i s h e d , a s w e l l a s s e v e r a l f r a g m e n t s f r o m w i s d o m

ins t ruct ions i n t h e s a m e h a n d t h a t a r e l i k e l y t o c o n s t i t u t e t h e m a x i m s of

hiqar i n d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n f o r m . T h e u n p u b l i s h e d f r a g m e n t s of n a r r a -

t ive p a s s a g e s a s w e l l a s t h e b y - f a r l a r g e s t f r a g m e n t of t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s

P.Berlin 15658 a r e n o w a d a y s a t Be r l i n , a n d s m a l l e r f r a g m e n t s of t h e

wi sdom

s a y i n g s a r e a t V i e n n a .

6

T h e p r o v e n a n c e i s n o t c e r t a i n , b u t f r o m

t he s t y l e of t h e h a n d i t i s l i k e l y t o b e S o k n o p a i o u N e s o s .

T h e r e

e x i s t s

a

v e r y

s m a l l

f r a g m e n t

o f

c e r t a i n l y

l i t e r a r y

p r o b a b l y

n a r r a t i v e

nature n o w i n B e r l i n P .Ber l i n 2 3 5 0 4 ; s e e J a s n o w 1 9 9 2 : 4 0 n . 63 .

2

I

h a v e

a r g u e d

o n

t h i s

l i n e

in

s e v e r a l

c a s e s

Q u a c k

2 0 0 5 a .

For

t h e

e a r l y

h i s t o r y

of d e m o t i c l i t e r a t u r e , s e e f u r t h e r H o f f m a n n 2 0 0 9 .

3

La s t ,

s e e

L i n d e n b e r g e r

1 9 8 5 ;

K o t t s i e p e r

1 9 9 1 ;

P o r t e n

a n d

Y a r d e n i

1 9 9 3 :

2 3 - 5 3 ;

Cont in i 2 0 0 5 ; N i e h r 2 0 0 7 ; W e i g l 2 0 1 0 . T h e r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l f r a g -

m e n t s

c a n

n o w

b e

a s s u r e d

b y

t h e

t r a c e s

o f

t h e

t a x

a c c o u n t

t h a t

w a s

f i r s t

w r i t t e n

i n

the

s c r o l l .

T h e

s t a n d a r d

e d i t i o n

s t i l l

r e m a i n s

C o n y b e a r e ,

Ha r r i s ,

a n d

L e w i s

1 9 1 3 ;

f o r

a

m o r e r e c e n t t r e a t m e n t , s e e C o n t i n i a n d Gro t t a n e l l i 2 0 0 5 ; a n d t h e o v e r v i e w o f t h e

textual

h i s t o r y

in

B r i c q u e l - C h a t o n n e t

2 0 0 5 .

5 Z a u z i c h 1 9 7 6 ; B e t r o 2 0 0 5 . S e e f u r t h e r K u c h l e r 1 9 7 9 : 3 3 3 - 3 7 , w h e r e a l s o

translations o f s o m e e x c e r p t s o f t h e w i s d o m s a y i n g s b a s e d o n a p r o v i s i o n a l t r a n s l a -

t ion

b y

Z a u z i c h a r e

g i v e n ;

R y h o l t

2 0 0 4 :

4 9 7 - 9 9 .

6 Berlin R e l e v a n t n u m b e r s o f f r a g m e n t s p o s s i b l y b e l o n g i n g t o A h i q a r a r e

P Berlin

2 3 7 3 0 ,

2 3 8 2 9 ,

2 3 8 3 0 ,

a n d

2 3 8 3 1 .

Vienna A c t u a l l y

u n d e r

P .V i e n n a

A e g

n u m -

bers 6 3 3 2 a n d 6 6 5 9 .


3/27

h Interaction

of

gyptian

and

ramaic

Literature

377

In

o rde r

to

give

an

objective

impress ion

of

th e

fac tua l

basis ,

I

wil l

present

th e

tw o

publ i shed

f r a gmen t s

of

th e

nar ra t ive

section

in

English

translation,

rega rd le s s

of

the i r

b ad

prese rva t ion .

a F r a g m e n t

Ca i r o

7

x + 1 . . . ] Eg y p t ( ? )

8

[ . . .

x

+

2

. . . ] t h e

f a t h e r

[ . . .

x

+

3

. . . ]

a l l

[ . . . ]

w h i c h

t h e y

. [ . . .

x

+

4

. . . ]

m i s e r y

. . . [ . . .

x

+

5

. . . ]

wh om ( ? ) ?

1 0

1

wi l l

g i v e

y o u

a

p a l m - b r a n c h ( ? )

[ . . .

x

+ 6 . . . ] t h e . . . w h i c h is m e n t i o n e d a b o v e t o t a l l y ,

1 1

so t h a t it h a p p e n s t h a t

she

[ . . .

x

+ 7 . . . ] . c o u n c i l a m o n g t h em ( ? ) .

1 2

T h e y s a i d : L e t [ . . . ] g i v e [ . . .

x

+

8

. . . ]

w e

[ . . . ] ,

w e

f a i l e d ,

w e

w e r e

s t u p i d

. [ . . .

x

+ 9 . . . ] t h e a r m y w h i c h h a d r e b e l l e d i s i t w h i c h h a s g o n e t o N i [ n i v e h ( ? )

1 3

x

+ 10 . . . ] i n it [ . . . ] H e f o u n d A k h i q a r a t t h e p l a c e [ . . .

x

+

11

. . . ] .

G o

a w a y

t o

y o u r

d i s t r i c t s

1 4

a n d

y o u r

1 5

c [ i t i e s ( ? ) . . .

x

+ 12 . . . ] . t o t h e a r m y w h i c h t h e ch i e f Ak h i q [ a r . . .

x

+

13

. . .

t h o u j g h t

a b o u t

t h e

e v i l

t h i n g

w h i c h

h a d

h a p p e n e d

[ . . .

7.

Or i g i n a l

pub l i c a t i o n

b y

Sob h y

(1930:

p i .

VII ,

2:

w i t h o u t

c lo se r

s t u d y ) ,

i d e n t i -

fied

a s

a

f r a g m e n t

of

t h e

Ah i q a r

t r ad i t i o n

b y

Sp i eg e l b e r g

(1930).

Ph i lo log i ca l

ed i t i o n

by

Z a u z i c h (1976 :182 -83 ) .

8.

Re a d i n g

n o t

s e c u r e ,

u n f o r t u n a t e l y .

Re a d

a s

.

.

.

nt i

b y

Z a u z i c h ,

b u t

i n

sp i t e

of

t h e d a m a g e to t h e p a p y r u s , t h e b e s t vis ib le s ign s e em s t o be r a t h e r a n m w i t h a

horizontal

l ine

above .

I

p r o p o s e

to

r e a d

r

Kmy \

9.

Ac c o r d i n g t o t h e d e t e rm i n a t i v e , a f o r e i g n n am e .

10.

I

wo u l d

r e a d

n[m]e

r a t h e r

t h a n

ntm

ag r eeab l e , p r opo sed

b y

Z a u z i c h .

Be t r o

2005:

188

n o t e

b )

h a s

a l r e a d y

a r g u e d

co r rec t ly

t h a t

t h e

wo r d

ncm

ag reeab le , i s

written

d i f f e r e n t l y in t h e P.Berlin 15658, b u t h e r ow n r e a d i n g nmh fa i l s to c o n v i n c e

me.

11.

I

r e a d

on ly

r= f

wh e r e

Z a u z i c h

h a d

p r o p o s e d

tr=s iw gm=f.

S imi l a r l y

c omp l i -

cated

g r o u p s

fo r

cr

a r e

a t t e s t e d

a l so

in

o t h e r

ma n u s c r i p t s

f r om

Sok n o p a i o u

Neso s ;

see e.g. ,

t h e

f o rm

in

P.Vienna

12006

r e c t o

(S t ad l e r

2004:

329).

12.

I

p r o p o s e

iwt=w

i n s t e a d

of

Zau z i c h s

ni.w sm=w;

see

t h e

s o m ew h a t

s im i l a r

form

in

P.Vienna

D.

12006

r e c t o

(S t ad l e r

2004:

281).

13.

T h e

a l t e r n a t i v e

t r an s l a t i o n

N[ a d i n ]

c am e p r o p o s e d

b y

Be t r o

(2005:

188 -89

note

f )

is

e x c l u d ed

b y

t h e

wo r d

o r d e r

t h a t

wo u l d

h a v e

to

b e

fcffj

N[..]

iyi

n o t

v.iri

iy i

[ .].

14.

I

p r o p o s e

to

r e a d

nty=tn ts.[w]

a s

is

a l r e a d y

h e l d

to

b e

poss ib l e

b y

Z a u z i c h .

15.

T h e

n=tn

is

l ikely

to

b e

a n

u n e t ymo l o g i c a l

wr i t i n g

fo r

niy-tn.

I

s u p p o s e

t h a t

the f o rmu l a t i o n w a s a n a l o g o u s to , e.g., P.Krall 8, 18 a n d e v e n mo r e 9, 21. T h e t r a c e s

at

t h e

e n d

of

t h e

l i n e

wo u l d

f it

wi t h

t h e

f o rm

of

tmy

c i ty , a t t e s t ed

in

l ine

x

+

3

of

the

Berl in

f r a gm e n t .


4/27

378

JOACHIM FR IEDRICH Q U A C K

b

F r a g m e n t B e r l i n P . 2 3 7 2 9 ) , c o l u m n l

1 6

x

+ 1 . . . a m a n l ] i k e

1 7

m y f a t h e r . . .

x + 2 . . . w h i c h ] y o u h a v e s o u g h t f o r u s . Y o u h a v e n o t s o u g h t s o r r o w

1 8

x

+

3

. . . ]

o u t

o f

o n e

c i t y

o r

t h e

o t h e r ,

[ . . . ] . . .

x

+

4

. . . ]

c h i e f .

N o b o d y

o n

e a r t h

c o u l d

d i s c o v e r

w h a t

h a p p e n e d

t o

h i m .

x + 5 . . . ] m a n l i k e A k h i q a r w h o h a s

x + 6 . . . ] h a s t e n e d t o t h e p l a c e w h e r e A k h i q a r

x + 7 . . . ] a l l [ . . . ] . H a s t e n t o t h e c h i e f w h e n h e s e e k s

x + 8 . . . ] t h e A s s y r i a n

x + 9 . . . ] t o h e r [ . . . ]

In s p i t e of t h e v e r y u n s a t i s f a c t o r y s t a t e of p r e s e r v a t i o n , w e c a n m a k e

some

g u e s s e s

a b o u t

t h e

o r i g i n a l

s e t t i n g .

A s

a l r e a d y

p r o p o s e d

b y

Z a u -

zich

1976)

a n d

Be t r o

2005 :

178) ,

t h e y

w o u l d

f i t

v e r y

we l l

w i t h

t h e

situation

w h e n

As s y r i a

w a s

c h a l l e n g e d

b y

t h e

k i n g

of

E g y p t

t o

a

d u e l

of

r i d d l e s ,

a n d

t h e

A s s y r i a n

k i n g

w a s

l o o k i n g

f o r

a

c o m p e t e n t

a d v i -

sor

t o

d e a l

w i t h

t h e m .

A l t e r n a t i v e l y ,

Ryh o l t

2004 :

4 9 8 - 9 9 h a s

b r o u g h t

for th

t h e e q u a l l y p o s s i b l e p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e y a r e f r o m t h e s e c t i o n

where A h i q a r w a s t r i c k e d i n t o s e e m i n g l y r e v o l t i n g a g a i n s t t h e k i n g

and

w h e r e h e w a s s a v e d f r o m e x e c u t i o n . I t i s of s o m e i m p o r t a n c e f o r

my f u r t h e r d i s c u s s i o n t h a t t h e s e c t i o n s a b o u t t h e d u e l of r i d d l e s a r e

not

a t t e s t e d

a m o n g

t h e

i m p e r i a l

A r a m a i c

f r a g m e n t s

f r o m

E l e p h a n t i n e ,

even

t h o u g h

w e

c a n n o t

b a s e

t o o

m u c h

o n

t h i s

f a c t ,

g i v e n

t h a t

t h o s e

f r agmen t s

a r e

o n l y

v e r y

p a r t i a l l y

p r e s e r v e d ,

w i t h

s e v e r a l

p a g e s

b e i n g

completely los t .

20

I w i l l g o i n t o f e w e r d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e f r a g m e n t s f r o m t h e s e c t i o n of

teachings

b e c a u s e

t h e y

a r e

n o t

y e t

p u b l i s h e d .

A t

t h e

o u t s e t ,

I

s h o u l d

stress

t h a t

t h e

a t t r i b u t i o n

of

t h e

w i s d o m

f r a g m e n t s

t o

a

d e m o t i c

E g y p -

t ian

t r a n s l a t i o n

of

Ahiqar

c a n n o t

b e

s t r i c t l y

p r o v e n

a t

t h e

m o m e n t .

A n

initial

s u s p i c i o n

is

b a s e d

o n

t h e

s im i l a r i t y

of

t h e

h a n d s ,

w h i c h

p o i n t s

to

t h e

w o r k

of

a

s i n g l e

s c r i b e

f o r

t h e

w i s d o m

f r a g m e n t s

a n d

f o r

t h e

narrat ive

s e c t i o n s

m e n t i o n i n g

Ah i q a r .

Of

c o u r s e ,

o n e

s c r i b e

c o u l d

h a v e

16 .

E d i t e d b y Z a u z i c h 1 9 7 6 : 1 8 3 - 8 4 . T h e p i t i f u l f r a g m e n t s o f c o l u m n 2 d o n o t

me r i t a t r a n s l a t i o n .

17 . H e r e a n d i n x + 5 , 1 w o u l d r e a d

m

y

i n s t e a d of t h e r e a d i n g

s y

p r o p o s e d b y

Zau z i c h ; a l r e a d y B e t r o 2 0 0 5 : 1 9 0 n o t e a a d m i t s t h a t t h e s i g n i s m o r e l i k e l y t o b e

m

t h a n

s . F o r t h e m e a n i n g , I t a k e t h i s t o b e a v a r i a n t o f t h e e x p r e s s i o n

m

s e e Q u a c k

1996 .

18 .

Z a u z i c h s

r e a d i n g

th

i s

c l e a r l y

c o r r e c t

a g a i n s t

t h e

p r o p o s a l

iv

b y

B e t r o

2005 :190 n o t e b .

19 .

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e d e t e r m i n a t i v e , t h e n a m e of a f o r e i g n p e r s o n .

20. P o r t e n a n d Y a r d e n i 1 9 9 3 : 2 3 . S e e S t r u g n e l l 1 9 9 9 , w h o a r g u e s f o r t h e o r i g i -

na l i t y o f t h i s e p i s o d e , p o i n t i n g o u t a l s o t h a t m o r e l e a v e s t h a n o n l y t h o s e w i t h t h e

t a x - a c c o un t c o u l d h a v e b e e n g l u e d t o g e t h e r .


5/27

h

Interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic Literature

9

copied

d i f f e r e n t m a n u s c r i p t s T h e r e is e v e n o n e n o t e w o r t h y d i f f e r e n c e :

al l f r a g m e n t s of t h e n a r r a t i v e s e c t i o n s h a v e a n u n i n s c r i b e d v e r s o w h i l e

the

f r a g m e n t s w i t h w i s d o m s a y i n g s h a v e o n t h e v e r s o a h i e r a t i c c o p y of

the

Book

of

th e

Temple

21

B u t

i t

w o u l d

n o t

b e

t o o

s u r p r i s i n g

if

o n l y

a

p o r -

t ion of t h e v e r s o w a s e v e r u s e d f o r w r i t i n g Ryho l t 2005 : 27) . I n a n y c a s e ,

one

i n t e r e s t i n g

f o r m a l

a s p e c t

s h o u l d

b e

n o t e d .

I n

a l l

of

t h e

l a t e r

Ahiqar

traditions

b u t n o t in t h e i m p e r i a l A r a m a i c f r a g m e n t s , e a c h s a y i n g i s

in t roduced i n a r a t h e r d u l l w a y , w i t h m y s o n . T h e d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n

f r agments

i n

q u e s t i o n

d o

n o t

s h o w

a n y

s t r u c t u r i n g

of

t h i s

s o r t ,

e v e n

t hough

t h e y c o n t a i n s e v e r a l p r o b a b l e b e g i n n i n g s of n e w s a y i n g s .

Unfor tuna te ly

t h e i n c om p l e t e p r e s e r v a t i o n of p h r a s e s t y p i c a l l y h a s

a

g r e a t e r

i m p a c t

o n

t h e

u n d e r s t a n d a b i l i t y

of

w i s d o m

d i s c o u r s e

t h a n

o n

a

s t r a i g h t n a r r a t i v e ; a n d in t h e a c t u a l l y k n o w n p a r t s of t h e m a n u s c r i p t ,

the re is h a r d l y a n y c om p l e t e s e n t e n c e . Sti l l , i t s e e m s u s e f u l t o m e n t i o n

some p h r a s e s t h a t w e r e q u o t e d b y K i i c h l e r 1979: 3 3 6 - 3 7 ) f r o m a p r e -

l iminary

t r a n s l a t i o n b y Z a u z i c h b e c a u s e t h e y s e r v e d t o s u p p o r t t h e i d e a

that t h e s e w e r e p r e c e p t s h o w s u b j e c t s s h o u l d b e h a v e t o w a r d a p r i n c e .

The

p r o b l e m

is

t h a t

i n

a

l a r g e

m e a s u r e

t h i s

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

s e e m s

d u e

t o

an

e l e m e n t a r y m i s r e a d i n g . W h a t is r e a l l y w r i t t e n a s pty=k y o u r w a s

misread a s pi wr t h e p r i n c e . T h e r e m a i n i n g c a s e s , m a i n l y i n v o l v i n g

the

w o r d

hri c h i e f ,

s u p e r i o r , a r e

h a r d l y

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c

f o r

a

p r i n c e

a n d

could

a s w e l l r e f e r t o b e h a v i o r w i t h i n a n y h i e r a r c h i c a l s i t u a t i o n a t t h e

adminis t ra t ive

l e ve l ; a s a m a t t e r of f a c t , a d v i c e f o r s i t u a t i o n s of t h i s s o r t

is

q u i t e c o m m o n in E g y p t i a n w i s d o m t e x t s Q u a c k 1 9 9 4 : 1 5 2 a n d 184) .

One s p e c i f i c p a s s a g e c e r t a i n l y m e r i t s d i s c u s s i o n b e c a u s e i t g o e s s o m e

way t o w a r d e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e a t t r i b u t i o n of t h e f r a g m e n t s t o Ahiqar W e

have

t h e t e x t I h a v e e a t e n ga l l 2 , x + 2) f o l l o w e d b y a l a c u n a . I n s p i t e

of

t h e s h o r t n e s s , I c a n n o t e t h a t t h i s i s a f a i r l y u n u s u a l f o r m u l a t i o n f o r

a

w i s d o m

t e x t .

H ow e v e r ,

it

h a s

a

v e r y

g o o d

a t t e s t a t i o n

i n

t h e

Ahiqar

t radi t ion

N o l d e k e

1913:

41) .

A l r e a d y ,

t h e

I m p e r i a l

A r a m a i c

p a p y r u s

has

a s a y i n g t h a t P o r t e n t r a n s l a t e s a s I h a v e t a s t e d t h e b i t t e r m e d l a r

and t h e [ t a s t e ] is s t r o n g b u t t h e r e i s n o t a n y t h i n g ) w h i c h is m o r e b i t t e r

t han

p o v e r t y , w h e r e a s

Ko t t s i e p e r

u n d e r s t a n d s

i t

a s

I

h a v e

t a s t e d

t h e

medlar

a n d t h e ga l l , a n d t h e t a s t e w a s s t r o n g , b u t t h e r e is n o t a n y t h i n g

which is m o r e b i t t e r t h a n p o v e r t y c o l . 6 , 1 1 = S a c h a u p i . 45 , l l ) .

2 2

L i n -

denberger 1985: 501 ) , o n t h e b a s i s of a s l i g h t l y d i f f e r e n t r e s t o r a t i o n of

a

l a c u n a , e v e n u n d e r s t a n d s i t a s I h a v e t a s t e d e v e n t h e b i t t e r m e d l a r ,

and h a v e e a t e n e n d i v e s , b u t t h e r e is n o t h i n g m o r e b i t t e r t h a n pov e r t y .

21 For preliminary reports of this text see Quack 2000; 2004; 2005b; 2007).

22 Porten and Yardeni 1993: 36-37); similar also are Contini 2005:123-24) and

Niehr

2007: 43); se e also Kottsieper 1990: 20) and the discussion of this saying by

Yona 2007: 37-39); Weigl 2010: 157-60).


6/27

38

JOACHIM

FR IEDRICH Q U A C K

These

s l i g h t

d i s a g r e e m e n t s

o n

t h e

p r e c i s e

ph i l o l o g i c a l

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n

of

the m a n u s c r i p t d o n o t h a v e a n y r e p e r c u s s i o n s o n i t s s im i l a r i t y w i t h t h e

demotic

E g y p t i a n

p h r a s e .

A m o n g

t h e

l a t e r

Ahiqar

t r a d i t i o n s ,

o n e

of

t h e

Syriac m a n u s c r i p t s h a s it a s I h a v e e a t e n b i t t e r t h i n g s a n d s w a l l o w e d

viscous

m a t t e r b u t I d i d n o t f i n d a n y t h i n g m o r e b i t t e r t h a n p o v e r t y

Nau

1919:

153

a n d

159 ,

s a y i n g

42 .

I n

t h e

S l a von i c

v e r s i o n ,

w e

h a v e

I

have

t a s t e d ga l l a n d b i t t e r n e s s , a n d i t w a s n o t m o r e b i t t e r t h a n p o v -

er ty ;

i n

t h e

A r m e n i a n

w e

h a v e

I

h a v e

e a t e n

e n d i v e

a n d

I

h a v e

d r u n k

gall, a n d i t w a s n o t m o r e b i t t e r t h a n p o v e r t y . T h e A r a b i c v e r s i o n h a s I

have e a t e n a c o l o c y n t h , a n d s w a l l o w e d a l o e s , a n d I h a v e f o u n d n o t h i n g

more b i t t e r t h a n p o v e r t y a n d s c a r c i t y ( C o n y b e a r e , H a r r i s , a n d L e w i s

1913:

6 ,

s a y i n g

54;

32 ,

s a y i n g

69;

63 ,

s a y i n g

72;

136 ,

s a y i n g

40) .

I

w i l l f u r t h e r m e n t i o n o n e p o i n t t h a t h a s b e e n b r o u g h t u p p r e v i o u s l y

Quack

2002 :

340 ;

Be t r o

2 0 0 5 : 1 8 0 - 8 1 ) .

T h e r e

is

o n e

p a s s a g e

t h a t

i n v i t e s

a r e s t o r a t i o n i n l i n e w i t h t h e l a t e r Sy r i a c t r a d i t i o n . T h e p r e s e r v e d d e -

motic t e x t g i v e s : D o n o t l o v e t o g i r d

2 3

t o [ . . . ] o c c u r . If b e a t i n g

2 4

[ . . . ] . I t

is a t l e a s t t e m p t i n g t o r e s t o r e t h e t e x t a s D o n o t l o v e t o g i r d t o s [ t r i f e

If

s t r i f e o c c u r s , b e a t i n g wi l l ] o c c u r . If b e a t i n g [ o c c u r s , k i l l i n g w i l l o c -

cur]. T h i s

is ,

o n

t h e

o n e

h a n d ,

a t t e s t e d

s im i l a r l y

a s

a

s a y i n g

i n

t h e

Syriac

Ahiqar

t r a d i t i o n

( b u t

n o t

i n

t h e

p r e s e r v e d

f r a g m e n t s

of

t h e

i m -

perial A r a m a i c v e r s i o n ) . T h e r e a r e s l i g h t d i f f e r e n c e s in f o r m u l a t i o n .

One

m a n u s c r i p t h a s D o n o t s t a n d a m o n g t h o s e w h o q u a r r e l . Fo r f r o m

laughter

t h e r e

c o m e s

q u a r r e l ,

a n d

f r o m

q u a r r e l

t h e r e

c o m e s

f i g h t i n g ,

and

f r o m

f i g h t i n g

c o m e s

k i l l i n g ( N a u

1 9 1 9 : 1 5 4

a n d

159) .

A n o t h e r

h a s

Do

n o t

s t a n d

in

t h e

h o u s e

of

t h o s e

w h o

a r e

o n

s t r i f e .

Fo r

f r o m

a

w o r d

there

c o m e s

a

q u a r r e l ,

a n d

f r o m

a

q u a r r e l

i s

s t i r r e d

u p

v e x a t i o n ,

a n d

f r om

v e x a t i o n

c o m e s

k i l l i ng .

2 5

On t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e h a v e a v e r y s im i l a r f o r m u l a t i o n i n a n -

other

d e m o t i c

E g y p t i a n

w i s d o m

c om p o s i t i o n ,

n a m e l y ,

t h e

Teachings

of

h sheshonqy ( n o rm a l l y b u t w r o n g l y c a l l e d O n k h s h e s h o n q y i n m o d -

ern

s c ho l a r s h i p ) .

2 6

T h e r e i t r u n s a s D o n o t i n s u l t t h e c o m m o n m a n . If

insult

o c c u r s ,

b e a t i n g

w i l l

o c c u r .

If

b e a t i n g

o c c u r s ,

k i l l i n g

w i l l

o c c u r

22,

21 - 23 ) . T h e Khasheshonqy s a y i n g h a s b e e n c o n n e c t e d w i t h Ahiqar

23.

Ag a i n s t t h e t r an s l a t i o n a m a r e la d i s p u t a mr mlh) of Be t r o (2005: 180), it

should

b e

s t r e s s ed

t h a t

t h e

o r t h o g r a p h y

of

t h e

m a n u s c r i p t

s h o w s

mr{

ml.

24.

T h e

r e a d i n g

hp r

mhy

g i v en

b y

Be t r o

(2005:

180

n .

3)

is

in

n e e d

of

co r r e c t i o n .

The

a c t u a l r e a d i n g of t h e m a n u s c r i p t is hp r in- nV.w mhy [...].

25. Co n y b e a r e , Ha r r i s , a n d Lew i s (1913: 35 a n d 100, s a y i n g 8). For t h e r am i f i -

cations

of

t h i s

mo t i v e

f r om

t h e

t h i r d

mi l l e n n i um

C E .

o n w a r d ,

see

Q u a c k

(1994:

215-17).

26.

For

t h e

t ex t ,

f i r s t

e d i t e d

b y

Glanv i l l e

(1955),

s e e

Q u a c k

(2005a:

111-19) ;

a

complete G e r m a n t r an s l a t i o n is H o f f m a n n a n d Q u a c k (2007: 273 -99 , 365 -68 ) .


7/27

h

Interaction

of

Egyptian

and

Aramaic

Literature

38

already

b y L i c h t h e i m 1983: 14 - 17 , e v e n w i t h o u t k n o w l e d g e of t h e

Papyrus

Be r l i n

15658 . 1

wi l l

t a k e

u p

t h e

t r i c k y

q u e s t i o n

of

t h e

r e l a t i o n

be tween

Ahiqar

a n d

Khasheshonqy

l a t e r

o n .

In

s u m m a r y ,

f r o m

w h a t

c a n

b e

a s c e r t a i n e d

a t

t h e

m o m e n t ,

t h e

con ten t

of t h e d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n f r a g m e n t s of Ahiqar i s c l o s e r i n

con ten t

t o

t h e

m a i n s t r e a m

r e d a c t i o n

of

Ahiqar

a s

a t t e s t e d ,

e . g . ,

i n

Syriac

t h a n

t o

t h e

I m p e r i a l

A r a m a i c

v e r s i o n ,

a

f a c t

t h a t

e n t a i l s

c o m -

plex

q u e s t i o n s of t h e a c t u a l h i s t o r y of r e d a c t i o n a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n a s

wel l

a s

t h e

d a t e

of

t h e

d e m o t i c

t r a n s l a t i o n .

S e v e r a l

q u i t e - d i f f e r e n t

possibi l i t ies

r i s e u p . F i r s t , t h e E g y p t i a n v e r s i o n c o u l d b e b a s e d o n

some

l a t e r , c o n s i d e r a b l y r e w o r k e d v e r s i o n of Ahiqar I n t h a t c a s e , w e

would

l o s e

t h e

r e l a t i o n

t o

t h e

A c h a e m e n i d

p e r i o d .

T h e

o t h e r

o p t i o n

is

that ,

in

t h e

e a r l y

t i m e s ,

s e v e r a l

q u i t e - d i v e r g e n t

v e r s i o n s

of

Ahiqar

w e r e

in

c i r c u l a t i o n , a n d t h e E g y p t i a n t r a n s l a t i o n is b a s e d o n o n e t h a t w a s

ra ther

d i f f e r e n t

f r o m

t h e

o n l y

p r e s e r v e d

i m p e r i a l

A r a m a i c

c o p y

f r om

Elephantine

w i t h o u t n e c e s s a r i l y b e i n g c h r o n o l o g i c a l l y y o u n g e r .

2 7

O n e

point

in

f a v o r

of

t h i s

s u p p o s i t i o n

is

t h a t

t h e

d em o t i c

f r a g m e n t s

of

t h e

teachings,

e v e n if t a k i n g i n t o a c c o u n t po s s i b l e f u r t h e r a d v a n c e s i n

read ing

a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g , a r e a l s o c e r t a i n l y m o r e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e

mains t ream

r e d a c t i o n

of

Ahiqar

t h a n

t h e

o r d i n a r y

d i v e r g e n c e s

w i t h i n

that

g r o u p e.g. , b e t w e e n t h e Sy r i a c a n d t h e A r m e n i a n v e r s i o n s ) . T h u s ,

I

w o u l d

p r o p o s e

t o

i n t e r p r e t

t h e

d e m o t i c

E g y p t i a n


a s

t e s -

t imony

of

a

s e c o n d

f r e e

a n d

u n c a n o n i c a l e a r l y

r e d a c t i o n

of

Ahiqar

even

if

i t

is

p e r h a p s

c l o s e r

t o

t h e

l a t e r

Sy r i a c

v e r s i o n

i n

s o m e

r e s p e c t s

especially

t h e

f r a m e

s t o r y )

t h a n

t o

t h e

I m p e r i a l

A r a m a i c

one .

2 8

The

o p t i o n s

c a n

p e r h a p s

b e

n a r r o w e d

d o w n

a

b i t

if

w e

t a k e

t h e

Greek

Life

of

Aesop

29

i n t o

c o n s i d e r a t i o n ,

b e c a u s e

t h e

s e c t i o n s

i t

t o o k

o v e r

f r om

t h e

Ahiqar

t r a d i t i o n

c h a p s .

101 - 23 )

a l r e a d y

c o n t a i n

t h e

n a r r a t i v e

element

of

t h e

r i d d l e

d u e l

w i t h

t h e

E g y p t i a n

k i n g .

T h u s ,

it

p r e s u p p o s e s

a

s t a t e

of

t h e

f r a m e

s t o r y

s im i l a r

t o

t h e

Sy r i a c

t r a d i t i o n .

T h e

G r e e k

t e x t

is

n o r m a l l y

c o n s i d e r e d

t o

d a t e

f r o m

t h e

R o m a n

i m p e r i a l

t i m e ,

e v e n

if

27

Fales

1994:

51 -60 has

stressed

the

d i f f e r ence s

b e tw e e n

th e

Elephant ine

version

and

the

later

tradit ions ,

but

h is

argumen t s

have

to

be

taken

wi th

caut ion ,

given

the

i n comp le t e

preservat ion

of

the

Elephant ine

manuscr ip t

and

espec ia l ly

th e

proof

by

Porten

and

Yardeni

that

severa l

page s

from

it

are

comp le t e l y

lacking.

See

Bricquel Chatonnet

2005: 28; 2007 .

28

Unfor tuna te ly ,

the

w i s d o m

s ay ings

publ i shed

by

Eshel

et

al.

2007 are

to o

short

and

f ragmen tary

to

a l l ow

a

j udgmen t

regard ing

whe th e r

they

migh t

be

con -

sidered

still

another

early

uncanon ica l

tradit ion

of

Ahiqar

29.

Edited

by

Perry

1962:

1-208 ;

Papathomopou lo s

1990 .

Engl i sh

translation

in

Daly 1961: 29-90 ; German translation by G. Poethke in Miil ler 1974 ; Italian

translation

of

th e

section

taken

over

from

Ahiqar

by

Grottanel l i

and

Dettori

2005:

167 75 .


8/27

8

JOACHIM

FR IEDRICH

Q U A C K

there h a s n o t b e e n m u c h i n - d e p t h d i s c u s s i o n H o l z b e r g 2003 . A f r a g -

ment of a G r e e k p a p y r u s f r o m t h e l a t e s e c o n d o r e a r l y t h i r d c e n t u r y C.E.

P.Berlin

11628 c o n t a i n i n g

p a r t s

of

t h e

t e x t

p r o v i d e s

a

s e c u r e

t e r m i n u s

ante

q u e r n .

Be s i d e s ,

i n

i t s

c o n t e n t

i t

g i v e s

a n

a d d i t i o n a l

t e r m i n u s

a n t e

quern n o n . By n a m i n g t h e E g y p t i a n k i n g N e c t a n e b o a s t h e o p p o n e n t in

the d u e l of r i d d l e s , it c a n n o t b e e a r l i e r t h a n h i s r e i g n 360 - 3 4 2 B . C . E . .

3 0

In

a n y c a s e , t h e r e n d e r i n g of t h e n a m e of t h e E g y p t i a n k i n g is i n

favor of a m i l i e u t h a t w a s k n o w l e d g e a b l e of E g y p t if n o t a c t u a l l y b e -

ing in Egyp t ;

3 1

a t a k e o v e r d i r e c t l y f r o m A r a m a i c w i t h o u t a n y E g y p t i a n

participation

w o u l d h a v e p r o d u c e d a m o r e g a r b l e d r e n d e r i n g . To s o m e

degree t h i s m i g h t e v e n b r i n g u p t h e q u e s t i o n w h e t h e r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r

section

of

t h e

Life

of

Aesop

w a s

t a k e n

o v e r

f r o m

a n

A r a m a i c

v e r s i o n

of

hiq r

a t a l l a n d n o t v ia t h e i n t e r m e d i a r y of a d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n o n e . I

cannot e l a b o r a t e t h i s p o i n t h e r e , g i v e n i t s c o m p l e x i t y a n d t h e f a c t t h a t

nobody u p t o n o w h a s e v e r e x p l o r e d a po s s i b i l i t y s u c h a s t h i s . B u t in

Egypt

d u r i n g t h e R o m a n p e r i o d , a d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n t e x t w o u l d h a v e

had

a m u c h w i d e r c i r c u l a t i o n a n d t h u s b e e n a m o r e l o g i c a l c a n d i d a t e

for

i n f l u e n c e t h a n a n A r a m a i c one .

3 2

Some

e v i d e n c e c o n c e r n i n g t h e d i r e c t i o n a n d s o m e t i m e s e v e n t i m e of

loans

c a n b e g a i n e d f r o m t h e p h o n e t i c f o r m of t h e n a m e s . T h e n a m e of

the

p r o t a g o n i s t

a p p e a r s

a s

Ihykl

o r

ihygl

in

t h e

d e m o t i c

E g y p t i a n

v e r -

sion.

W i t h

t h e

l a r y n g e a l

h a

f o r m

of

t h i s

s o r t

g o e s

b a c k

t o

a

S em i t i c

prototype e x c l u d i n g

t h e

po s s i b i l i t y

of

a

G r e e k

i n t e r m e d i a r y .

Be s i d e s ,

i t

should

h a v e c o m e a b o u t a t a t i m e w h e n t h e d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e t w o

sounds

h

a n d

h

i n

A r a m a i c ,

a l t h o u g h

n o t

i n d i c a t e d

in

t h e

w r i t i n g ,

w a s

still

m a i n t a i n e d in s p e e c h .

3 3

F u r t h e r m o r e , w e h a v e t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of

an

o r i g i n a l S e m i t i c v e l a r

k

t o a d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n

k

o r

g

T h i s s p e l l i n g is

typically u s e d w h e n a n E g y p t i a n s o u n d w a s r e a l i z e d w i t h a p r o n u n c i a -

tion

l i k e

t h e

C op t i c

6

Q u a c k

2005c :

323 - 2 4 .

T h e

s o u n d

s h i f t

f r o m

a /c

t o

30. B r i c q u e l - C h a t o n n e t 2 0 0 6 h a s p o i n t e d o u t p a r a l l e l s f o r o n e e p i s o d e of t h e

r i d d l e d u e l i n v o l v i n g t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of a c a s t l e i n t h e a i r t h a t w o u l d a l s o i n d i c a t e

t ha t t h i s p a s s a g e w a s k n o w n a t l e a s t b y t h e e a r l y t h i r d c e n t u r y c E

31. A l r e a d y , P e r r y 1 9 6 2 : 2 h a s a r g u e d t h a t t h e G r e e k Life of Aesop w a s c o m -

po s e d b y s o m e o n e l i v i n g i n E g y p t a n d a d d u c e d , b e s i d e s t h e n a m e of t h e k i n g , a l s o

t h e

i m p o r t a n t r o l e of I s i s a s a h e l p e r of A e s o p ; M u l l e r 1 9 7 4 : 8 a l s o p o i n t s o u t t h e

ro le of s t r a t e g e s a n d n o m a r q u e s , w h i c h a r e e l e m e n t s o f t h e H e l l e n i s t i c E g y p t i a n

a dm i n i s t r a t i v e

s t r u c t u r e .

I

c o u l d

a d d

t h a t

i n

t h e

e p i s o d e

of

t h e

w h i p p e d

c a t

t h e

esop

romance

c h a p .

1 1 7 g o e s

b e y o n d

a n y

o f

t h e

a t t e s t e d

Ahiqar

v e r s i o n s

b y

m a k i n g

t h e t h e o l o g i c a l l y c o r r e c t i d e n t i f i c a t i o n of t h e c a t a s s a c r e d a n i m a l of t h e g o d d e s s

of B u b a s t i s .

32.

T h e J e w i s h c o m m u n i t y i n E g y p t w a s l a r g e l y u s i n g G r e e k a s t h e i r l a n g u a g e

d u r i n g t h i s t i m e .

33. O n t h e d a t e o f t h e c o a l e s c e n c e o f t h e s o u n d s , s e e , e . g . , B e y e r 1 9 8 4 : 1 0 1 - 1 1 ,

w h o d a t e s t h e c o a l e s c e n c e of t h e t w o s o u n d s t o a b o u t t h e s e c o n d c e n t u r y

E


9/27

The

Interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic Literature 383

a 6 i s q u i t e r e g u l a r f o r e a r l i e r l o a n s f r o m S em i t i c l a n g u a g e s P e u s t 1999 :

1 7 109 a . 112 -13 ; 3 0 7 - 1 0 b u t s e e m s t o h a v e c e a s e d a t s o m e t i m e d u r -

ing t h e L a t e P e r i o d . Bo t h p o i n t s s p e a k a g a i n s t a v e r y l a t e i .e., R o m a n

period d a t e

of

t h e

E g y p t i a n

v e r s i o n .

In

p r i n c i p l e ,

i t

is

m u c h

m o r e

l i k e l y

that a n A r a m a i c t e x t w a s t a k e n o v e r b y t h e E g y p t i a n s a t a t i m e w h e n

Aramaic w a s r e l a t i v e l y p r o m i n e n t b y b e i n g a n o f f i c i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

language.

T h u s , g i v e n t h e p h o n e t i c e v i d e n c e a s we l l a s t h e i n h e r e n t

likelihood I w o u l d s t i l l s u p p o s e a n e a r l y , p r o b a b l y A c h a e m e n i d , d a t e

for t h e a d o p t i o n of t h e Ahiqar t e x t b y t h e E g y p t i a n s .

One f u r t h e r i s s u e m u s t a r i s e : in t h e m a i n s t r e a m r e d a c t i o n , Ahiqar r e -

gains t h e f a v o r of t h e A s s y r i a n k i n g b y b e i n g ab l e t o t h w a r t a n i n t r i g u e

of

t h e

E g y p t i a n

k i n g

a n d

t r i u m p h a n t l y

o v e r c o m e

t h e

E g y p t i a n s

in

a

duel

of w i s d o m / t r i c k e r y , b r i n g i n g t h e i r t r i b u t e f o r t h r e e y e a r s b a c k t o

Assyria. W h i l e t h e r e i s a c l e a r t r a d i t i o n of d u e l s of s o r c e r y i n d e m o t i c

Egypt ian

t a l e s , e .g . , i n S e t n e II o r t h e t a l e of D j o s e r a n d I m h o t e p a g a i n s t

the

A s s y r i a n s Q u a c k 2005a : 2 7 a n d 3 9 - 4 0 , i t is h a r d t o i m a g i n e t h a t

the E g y p t i a n s w o u l d h a v e l i k e d a s t o r y t e l l i n g of t h e i r o w n d e f e a t ,

3 4

s o

we m u s t a s k w h e t h e r t h e y m a d e s o m e d r a s t i c a l t e r a t i o n s t o t h e p l o t l i n e

to b r i n g i t i n t o c o n f o r m i t y w i t h t h e i r o w n p r e d i l e c t i o n s . B u t o n e p o i n t

to

c o n s i d e r i s t h a t i n t h e a d a p t a t i o n of t h i s s e c t i o n w i t h i n t h e G r e e k

ife

of

Aesop t h e

E g y p t i a n

k i n g

is

N e c t a n e b o .

Th i s

l a s t

k i n g

of

t h e

3 0 t h

Dynas ty e v e n t u a l l y l o s t h i s k i n g d o m t o t h e P e r s i a n s . T h e r e is a t l e a s t

one d e m o t i c E g y p t i a n n a r r a t i v e t e x t d e a l i n g w i t h h i m , t h e Dream of

ectanebo Ryho l t 2002 ; Q u a c k 2005a : 6 4 - 6 5 . E v e n t h o u g h t h e e n d of

that c o m p o s i t i o n is n o t p r e s e r v e d , i t c a n h a r d l y h a v e c o n c l u d e d w i t h

anyth ing

o t h e r t h a n t h e d o w n f a l l a n d f l i g h t of t h e k i n g p e r h a p s c o u -

pled

w i t h a p r o m i s e of r e t u r n b y o n e of h i s s o n s . I t is p o s s i b l e t h a t h e

was c h o s e n b y t h e E g y p t i a n s a s t h e o n e u n d e r w h o m a d e f e a t a g a i n s t

superior

f o r e i g n

w i s d o m

w a s

a n

o p t i o n .

To c o n f o u n d m a t t e r s e v e n f u r t h e r , s o m e s c h o l a r s h a v e s p e c u l a t e d

about

p o s s i b l e E g y p t i a n i n f l u e n c e s i n t h e Story of Ahiqar A l r e a d y , Da l -

ley 2001 : 1 5 5 h a d s e e n a m i x i n g of E g y p t i a n a n d A k k a d i a n l i t e r a r y

elements i n t h e t e x t . H e r m a i n p o i n t w a s t h a t t h e n a r r a t i v e w a s a u t o -

biographical a n d t h u s i n a g e n r e m u c h e n v o g u e i n E g y p t . S h e p o i n t e d

out t h e Tale of Wenamun i n w h i c h , a c c o r d i n g t o h e r , t h i s b e c a m e a l i t -

erary f o r m . By c o n t r a s t , in M e s o p o t a m i a f u n c t i o n a r i e s w e r e n o t u s e d

to w r i t i n g a u t o b i o g r a p h i c a l t e x t s , a n d t h u s t h e r e a r e n o l i t e r a r y p r e -

decessors f o r Ahiqar i n t h i s r e s p e c t .

3 5

I m u s t a d m i t t h a t I d o n o t f e e l

4 It took convers ion to Christ ianity to have Egyp t ian s take pleasure in the

drowning of Pharaoh and h is army in the Red Sea Heinen 2007: 203-4 .

5

The

ques t ion

of

autob iograph ies

in

Akkad ian

texts

w a s

also

taken

up

by

Fales 1993: 144 , w h o used it s absence in cune i form texts as on e argumen t agains t


10/27

8

JOACHIM

F R I E D R I C H Q U A C K

very

c o n f i d e n t

a b o u t

a n

a r g u m e n t

s u c h

a s

t h i s F i r s t o u r

k n o w l e d g e

of

l i terary

t r a d i t i o n s

in

N o r t h w e s t

S e m i t i c

l a n g u a g e s

f o r

t h e

f i r s t

m i l l e n -

n ium

B.C.E.

is

so

l im i t e d

t h a t

i d e a s

a b o u t

w h a t

is

u n u s u a l a n d

t h u s

in n e e d of e x p l a n a t i o n b y f o r e i g n i n f l u e n c e s a r e q u i t e r i s k y ; a n d t h e r e

actually

s e e m s

t o

b e

s u f f i c i e n t

e v i d e n c e

t h a t ,

i n

f i r s t

m i l l e n n i u m

Sy r i a ,

high- ranking

p e r s o n s

o t h e r

t h a n

t h e

k i n g

c o u l d

a l so

u s e

t h e

f o r m a t

of

f irs t-person

b i o g r a p h i e s

N i e h r

2007 : 12 ) .

S e c o n d ,

e v e n

i n

E g y p t

i t

is

f a r

f rom

n o r m a l

t o

h a v e

a

f i r s t - p e r s o n

n a r r a t i v e

i n

a

l i t e r a r y

t a l e .

Wenamun

using

t h e

o u t w a r d

f o r m

of

a n

a dm i n i s t r a t i v e

r e p o r t ,

n o t

a n

a u t o b i o g -

raphy )

is

a s

m u c h

a n

e x c e p t i o n

i n

t h i s

a s

t h e

M i d d l e

E g y p t i a n

Tale

of

inuhe

u s i n g

t h e

o u t w a r d

f o r m

of

a

f u n e r a r y

a u t o b i o g r a p h y ) .

A ll

t a l e s

f r om

E g y p t

a t t e s t e d

d u r i n g

t h e

f i r s t

m i l l e n n i u m

B.C.E.

a r e

t h i r d - p e r s o n

narrat ives.

Besides,

e v e n

f o r

a

w i s d o m

t e x t

Ahiqar

w o u l d

n o t

q u i t e

c o n f o r m

t o

an E g y p t i a n mo d e l . W h e r e a s i t i s n o r m a l t o g i v e a spe c i f i c n a m e a n d

si tuat ion

t o

a

w i s d o m

t e a c h e r

i n

E g y p t i a n

t e a c h i n g s

as

we l l

a s

in

Near E a s t e r n t ex t s ) ,

3 6

a n d w i t h i n t h e t e a c h i n g h e c a n s p e a k i n t h e f i r s t

person,

37

t h e r e

is

n o

s i n g l e

a t t e s t a t i o n

t h a t

t h e

f r a m e

s t o r y

is

c o u c h e d

a s

an

a u t o b i o g r a p h y .

N o rm a l l y ,

a n

E g y p t i a n

w i s d o m

t e x t

d o e s

n o t

h a v e

a

long

n a r r a t i v e

i n t r o d u c t i o n ,

a n d

t h e

b e s t

c a s e

i n

w h i c h

i t

d o e s

h a v e

o n e

the

Teachings

of

Khasheshonqy is

s t y l i z e d

i n

t h e

t h i r d

p e r s o n .

So

I

a m

reluctant

t o

s e e

i n

t h i s

f o r m a l

t r a i t

a n y

e v i d e n c e

of

E g y p t i a n

i n f l u e n c e .

Others ,

e s p e c i a l l y

Be t r o

2000:

2 8 - 3 1 ;

2005 :

184 - 87 )

a n d

C o n t i n i

and

G r o t t a n e l l i

2005:

84—88),

h a v e

a l so

p o i n t e d

o u t

spe c i f i c

mo t i v e s

in

the

n a r r a t i v e

t h a t

t h e y

s a w

a s

E g y p t i a n

a n d

p r o p o s e d

t h a t

t h e

Story

of

hiqar

g a i n e d

i t s

s t a n d a r d

f o r m

i n

E g y p t .

I

m u s t

a d m i t

t h a t

t h e

e l e -

ment s

t h e y

h a v e

b r o u g h t

u p

f a i l

t o

c o n v i n c e

m e ,

b e c a u s e

t h e y

t e n d

t o

be t o o u n s p e c i f i c . T h e f e i g n e d d e a t h of Ahiqar i s c o m p a r e d t o t h e L a t e

Egypt ian

Story

of

Truth

and

Falsehood.

Fo r

t h e

r e h a b i l i t a t i o n

of

a

c ou r t i e r ,

the

M i d d l e

E g y p t i a n

Tale

of

Sinuhe

is

i n v o k e d .

T h e

r i d d l e

d u e l

b e t w e e n

kings

is

s e e n

a s

s im i l a r

t o

a n

e p i s o d e

in

t h e

d e m o t i c

Tale

of

Setne

II a s

well

a s

a n

e p i s o d e

r e p o r t e d

b y

P l u t a r c h ,

Banquet

of

Seven

Sages

a b o u t

a

duel

b e t w e e n

A m a s i s

a n d

a n

E t h i o p i a n

k i n g .

T h e

mo t i v e

of

a n

i m p o s s i -

the t h e o r y o f L u z z a t t o 1 9 9 2 ) , w h o h a d a r g u e d f o r a n A k k a d i a n o r i g i n a l t e x t ; e f f o r t

at

d e f e n d i n g h e r t h e o r y i n L u z z a t t o 1994 ) .

6 For

t h e

N e a r

Ea s t ,

s e e

t h e

S u m e r i a n

nstruction of Shuruppak

a n d

t h e

Teachings

Shupeawilim s e e

t h e

e d i t i o n s

in

A l s t e r

1 9 7 4 ) ,

a n d

K a mm e r e r

1998 ) .

T h e

i d e a s

o f

Bergman 1979 : 9 9 ) a b o u t s p e c i f i c E g y p t i a n r e a s o n s f o r g i v i n g a n a m e t o t h e t e a c h e r

are

h a r d l y p e r t i n e n t .

7 T h e

b e s t

c a s e

f o r

t h i s

i s

t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n

p r e s e r v e d

in

P . I n s i n g e r

w i t h

i s o l a t e d

in s tances o f t h e f i r s t p e r s o n w i t h i n t h e t e x t a s w e l l a s a l o n g n e g a t i v e c o n f e s s i o n i n

the f i r s t p e r s o n a t t h e b e g i n n i n g a n d t h e e n d o f t h e t e x t Q u a c k 2 0 0 5 a : 9 9 a n d 104 ) .


11/27

h

Interaction

of

Egyptian

and

ramaic

Literature

8

ble

c h a l l e n g e

c o u n t e r e d

w i t h

a n

e v e n

m o r e

im p o s s i b l e

o n e

i s

a l so

f o u n d

in

t h e

La t e

g y p t i a n

Story

of

pophis

and

Seqenenre o n c e r n i n g

h e l p -

in g

b i r d s ,

t h e

d em o t i c

Tale

of

Hi

Hor

is

i n v o k e d .

T h e

p u n i s h m e n t

of

t h e

c a l u m n i a t o r

c a n

b e

f o u n d

a l s o

i n

t h e

La t e

E g y p t i a n

Tale

of

Two

Brothers

E d O r b i n e y ) . In a l l c a s e s , t h e s im i l a r i t i e s r e m a i n i n a v e r y b r o a d a n d

unspe c if ic

wa y .

It

s h o u l d

n o t

b e

d i f f i c u l t

t o

p o i n t

o u t

e q u a l l y

s im i l a r

ide a s

i n

m a n y

o t h e r

c u l t u r e s ,

a n d

i t

w o u l d

b e

b a d

m e t h o d o l o g y

t o

b a s e

a n y

c o n c l u s i o n s

a b o u t

l i t e r a r y

c o n t a c t s

o n

t h e m .

Besides

t h e

d i r e c t

t r a n s l a t i o n ,

t h e r e

is

a l so

t h e

m u c h - d e b a t e d

q u e s -

t ion

of

po s s i b l e

i n f l u e n c e

of

hiqar

o n

o t h e r

E g y p t i a n

w i s d o m

t e x t s ,

especially

t h e

Teachings

ofKhasheshonqy S o m e

s im i l a r i t i e s

b e t w e e n

s a y -

ings

i n

t h e

t e x t s

h a v e

b e e n

i n t e r p r e t e d ,

e sp e c i a l l y

b y

L i c h t h e im

1983:

13-21),

a s

p r o o f

of

a c t u a l

i n f l u e n c e .

S h e

s i n g l e d

o u t

a b o u t

e i g h t

o r

n i n e

s a y i n g s

in

t h e

Khasheshonqy

t e x t

t h a t

s e e m e d ,

t o

h e r ,

t o

i n d i c a t e

t h a t

t h e

d em o t i c

E g y p t i a n

c omp o s i t i o n

w a s

d e p e n d e n t

o n

t h e

A r am a i c

o n e .

N o w a d a y s , o p i n i o n s a r e s t i l l d i v i d e d a m o n g Eg y p t o l o g i s t s H o u s e r

W e g n e r

2001 :

8 1 - 9 2

a n d

191 -208 ) .

I

h a v e

a l r e a d y

m e n t i o n e d

o n e

c a s e

a bove

b e c a u s e

i t

w a s

l i ke ly

t o

b e

p r e s e n t

a l s o

i n

t h e

d em o t i c


of

hiqar Of

t h e

o t h e r

c a s e s ,

t h e

o n e

w i t h

t h e

c l o s e s t

c o r r e s p o n d e n c e

in

w o r d i n g

i s

t h e

s a y i n g

Be t t e r

is

sm a l l

w e a l t h

g a t h e r e d

t h a n

l a r g e

w e a l t h

s c a t t e r e d K h a s h e s h o n q y

23 ,

9).

I n

t h e

Sy r i a c

hiqar

t e x t ,

t h i s

c a n

b e

f o u n d

in

a

f o r m u l a t i o n

t h a t

is

n o rm a l l y

t r a n s l a t e d

a s

b e t t e r

is p o v e r t y t h a t g a t h e r s t h a n w e a l t h t h a t s c a t t e r s L i c h t h e im 1983: 18;

C o n y b e a r e ,

H a r r i s ,

a n d

L ew i s

1 9 1 3 : 1 0 7

a n d

Syr .

*45,

s a y i n g

51) .

Bu t

a s

f a r

a s

I

see ,

t h e r e

is

n o

c o g e n t

r e a s o n

w h y

t h e

p a r t i c i p l e s

of

t h e

Sy r i a c

text

m u s t

b e

c o n s i d e r e d

a c t i v e

vo ice .

3 8

T h u s ,

a


Be t t e r

is

a

p o v e r t y

t h a t

is

g a t h e r e d

t h a n

l a r g e

w e a l t h

t h a t

is

s c a t t e r e d s e em s

p o s -

sible

f o r

t h e

hiqar

t e x t

a s

we l l .

F u r t h e r m o r e ,

a l s o

t h e

d em o t i c

E g y p t i a n

text

is

a m e n a b l e

t o

t w o

d i f f e r e n t

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s ,

g i v e n

t h a t

t h e

w r i t i n g

of

t h e

v e r b a l

f o r m s

c o u l d

i n t e n d

t h e

i n f i n i t i v e

w i t h

a c t i v e

m e a n i n g )

a s

we l l

a s

t h e

q u a l i t a t i v e

w i t h

p a s s i v e

m e a n i n g ;

t h e

o n e

t h a t

h a s

b e e n

p r e f e r r e d u p t o n o w ) . In a n y c a s e , c om p l e t e a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n hiqar

a n d

Khasheshonqy

is

a t t a i n a b l e .

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Quack the Interaction of Egyptian and Aramaic Literature 2011