King Neferkare and General Sasenet

The ancient Egyptian story of King Neferkare and General Sasenet survives only in fragments. With its atmosphere of nocturnal mystery and intrigue it is an early example of the literary cloak and dagger tradition. It is often cited by people interested in homosexuality and its history as being proof that a homosexual relationship existed between a pharaoh and one of his officers,^[1][2][3] even though there are no historical sources supporting the view of Neferkare having been a homosexual. On the other hand literature often reflects social mores: the tale is censorious of the king's conduct which may well reflect the attitude of the people towards homosexuality.^[4]

The story is dated to the late New Kingdom though it was composed earlier^[5] and purports to describe the nightly exploits of Pepi II Neferkare; some like R. S. Bianchi think that it is a work of archaizing literature and dates to the 25th dynasty referring to Shabaka Neferkare, a Kushite pharaoh.^[6]

It contains a reference to the ancient myth of the sun god Rê and the god of the realm of the dead Osiris. These two gods existed in a relationship of interdependence: Osiris needing the light of the sun while Re, who had to cross the underworld during the night to reach the eastern horizon in the morning, needed the resurrective powers of Osiris. Their union took place during the four hours of deepest darkness – the same hours Neferkare is said to spend with his general.^[7]

References and notes

References

1. ^ Lynn Meskell, when writing about homosexuality, calls it "Another well documented example" (Archaeologies of social life: age, sex, class et cetera in ancient Egypt, Wiley-Blackwell, 1999, p.95)
2. ^ Adult life in ancient Egypt
3. ^ Homosexuality in Ancient Egypt - HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE, Supplement By Bruce L. Gerig
4. ^ Meskell, op. cit. p.145
5. ^ Lynn Meskell, Archaeologies of social life: age, sex, class et cetera in ancient Egypt, Wiley-Blackwell, 1999, p.95
6. ^ Bianchi, op. cit. p.164
7. ^ van Dijk, op. cit. pp.387-393

Further reading

• Jacobus van Dijk, The Nocturnal Wanderings of King Neferkare, in: Hommages Leclant. 4, 387-393
• R.B. Parkinson, Voices from Ancient Egypt, Norman University of Oklahoma Press, 1991, p. 56ff.
• Robert Steven Bianchi, Daily Life Of The Nubians, Greenwood Press 2004
• R.B. Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems, 1940-1640 BC, Oxford University Press 1999, pp. 289f.
• Lynn Meskell, Private Life in New Kingdom Egypt, Princeton University Press 2001

External links

• English translation