Story of Sinuhe

"The Tale of Sinuhe" is a work of Ancient Egyptian literature. It is a narrative set in the aftermath of the death of Pharaoh Amenemhat I, founder of the 12th dynasty of Egypt, in the early 20th century BC. It is likely that it was composed only shortly after this date, albeit the earliest extant manuscript is from the reign of Amenemhat III, c. 1800 BC. [R. B. Parkinson, "The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems". Oxford World's Classics, 1999, p. 21] There is an ongoing debate among Egyptologists as to whether or not the tale is based on actual events involving an individual named Sinuhe, [James Karl Hoffmeier, "Ancient Israel In Sinai: The Evidence for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition", Oxford University Press 2005, p.256] with the recent consensus being that it is most likely a work of fiction. [James Peter Allen, "Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs", Cambridge University Press 2000, p.281]

ynopsis

The tale opens as Sinuhe speaks from his own tomb. Thus the end of the story is already known. Sinuhe dies and is properly buried in Egypt. The tale begins with the death of the king Amenemhat (who we know from the 'Teaching of Amenemhat' was assassinated). Sinuhe at this point is returning from a campaign in Libya with the eldest son of the king (most notably the future king Senusret I). He overhears a messenger speaking of another brother who also heard of the news and is returning and in a blind panic flees the country. Scholars have attempted to give a reason for this flight but it is impossible to do so. Possibly, the fact that this person was serving in the royal harim and thus might have been liable to have known about any rumour there of plotting against the king may be of importance. Sinuhe was momentarily taken over by the forces of 'chaos,' there was no logic behind his actions. Upon entering Syria, he marries the daughter of an Asiatic chieftain, who adopts him. He later rises to power within his adopted tribe and returns to Egypt at the invitation of Senusret I. The king accepts that Sinuhe had not control over his actions and blames the fallability of the human heart. He himself fears nothing, is like a god incarnate on earth and maintains the order (Ma'at) in Egypt outside of which all life is pointless.

Evaluation

The tale is often considered the supreme achievement of Ancient Egyptian literature. [M. Lichtheim, "Ancient Egyptian Literature", Volume I, 1973, p.222] It combines into a single, economically expressed narrative an extraordinary range of literary styles, and is also notable for its nuanced examination of the motivations of its central protagonist. The poem continually examines the reasons for Sinuhe's flight and his possible culpability for it, without reaching a conclusion.

By placing an Egyptian character in a non-Egyptian (i.e. Asiatic) society, the poem also explores the nature of what it is to be an Egyptian, subtly questioning, without ultimately undermining the Egyptian assumption that life outside Egypt is meaningless.

Influences on modern culture

Naguib Mahfouz, the Nobel Prize for Literature-winning Egyptian writer published in 1941 a story entitled "Awdat Sinuhi" translated by Raymond Stock in 2003 as "The Return of Sinuhe" in the collection of Mahfouz's short stories entitled "Voices from the Other World". The story is based directly on the "Story of Sinuhe", although adding details of a lovers' triangle romance that does not appear in the original.

The story also formed part of the inspiration for the 1945 novel by Mika Waltari, and the 1954 Hollywood film epic, both titled "The Egyptian", which although set during the reign of 18th dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten, features a lead character named Sinuhe who flees Egypt in disgrace, to return after achieving material success and personal redemption in foreign lands.

Elizabeth Peters made reference to the tale in her novel "The Falcon at the Portal."

References

Literature

* Mahfouz, Naguib. "The Return of Sinuhe" in "Voices from the Other World" (translated by Robert Stock), Random House, 2003
*Stephen Quirke: "Egyptian Literature 1800BC: Questions and Readings", London 2004, 58-70 ISBN 0-9547218-6-1 (translation and transcription)

External links

* [http://jennycarrington.tripod.com/JJSinuhe/ Translation] which includes details on the sources for the translations, transcriptions from the original hieratic into Egyptian hieroglyphs.