Letters from Ancient Egypt

Writings from the Ancient World #1

by Edward F. Wente Jr. (Translator)

This book provides translations of most of the letters that have survived reasonably intact from the Old Kingdom through the Twenty-first Dynasty of ancient Egypt. An introduction provides information relating to ancient Egyptian epistolography and discussion regarding the transmission of letters. The organization of the book is basically chronological, with separate sections devoted to royal letters and letters sent by and to the vizier. Also included are several model letters that were used in the education of the Egyptian scribe.

Genres: Egypt, History, Egyptology, Nonfiction

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into a time long gone - these letters are survivors from 5th Dynasty to 21st Dynasty Egypt, covering a period of about 1500 years all BCE. The most recent letters in the book still date to around 1000BCE, so the newest of them are 3000 years old minimum. It's amazing they have lasted as long as they have.
The compilation is in roughly chronological order, oldest to newest, with chapters for letters from royalty and the viziers. In several cases there are actually a series of letters to and from the same person, giving a better glimpse into an individual life - astonishing after so long a time.
The letters themselves offer a sort of comforting continuity - 3000 years ago, spouses wrote to each other about taking care of children, sending stuff back and forth, and don't neglect to write. Supervisors told their subordinates what to do and when to do it; subordinates wrote back reporting on what they had done and asking for acknowledgement. Businesses sent receipts and requested delivery of goods. Children asked their parents to send stuff; parents asked if the child had received their previous letter and why hasn't the child written to them lately?
It's nice to know that while so many things have changed over time, others remain the same - communications now may be email, phone, and Facebook, instead of papyrus and ostraca, but the conversations haven't changed all that much.
Anyone with a serious interest in ancient Egypt would enjoy this book, even when the letters are dull.

[Paul H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely one of the more interesting collections of primary source material that I've run across ... to my knowledge, the Old Kingdom letters might be the oldest vernacular/everyday-type writing in existence? Many of the letters are relatively dull (a governor telling the vizier that everything is going swimmingly in Osiris's temple in Thebes or whatever) but the book as a whole is quite compelling.

[bihter sabanoglu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is antology of letters that Deir el Medina workers wrote to each other in the 2nd millenium BCE with content such as "Your wife's cheating you" or "Am I a donkey to you? Your drink beer after work and you don't invite me?!". We used to decipher those in 3rd year of Hieroglyphics class in Ecole du Louvre.