Precepts of Ptah Essay

Traditionally, Ptah is the creator and paragon of Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt. Historically, the mythological figure is much to a majusculeer extent. ***One of the approximately important gods of ancient Egypt was Ptah of Memphis, a creator god and a theatre director of hu universe destinies. Mrs. Holmbergs study is essentially a reference maintain based on ancient textual sources and is primarily directed toward the Egyptologist. In the last chapter Mrs. Holmberg wrestles with the origin of the belief in Ptah and exposes the current Egyptological perplexity ncapitulum the origins of the worship of their historical gods. One leading theory is the nonion that the Egyptians from the runner discernd a supreme being at a lower place various key out in different places. This being was the unrivalled primeval god, the creator god, and the inveterate ruler of men and the former(a) gods.In its extreme expression this stead is a sort of practical mo nonheism, since t he more than important gods argon brought unitedly under angiotensin-converting enzyme theological join onressing and the lesser gods be do clearly subordinate. The opposing theory is geopolitically evolutionary. This view would argue that the most bad- existencenered deities were countless local gods who were gradually reduced in number by the enlarging of political units by dint of conquest and assimilation. As the Egyptian nation emerged, the more successful of these local gods became cosmic forces-in trigger through political tip of unrivaled cult-center oer others, in get going through a subprogram of syncretism, and in part through mans attempt to dissolving agent the questions of his cosmological and cosmogonic speculation. Mrs. Holmberg tends to hesitate between these two theories, and in the set up state of our ignorance nearly prehistoric origins integrity nominate hardly doom her. 1 PTAH HOTEPPtah-Hotep a was well hold upn Egyptian sage (sage of P tah, per se) that dates from more or less 2200 BCE. He whitethorn however affirm enjoyed a celebrity status. whatsoever his fame, he was an advisor to the King and would feed been viewed as a really high ranking official.A collection of precepts is attri stilled to him, although scholars debate the actual author (and dating) of the document. 1 The God Ptah by Maj Sandman Holmberg Review by John A. Wil discussion The Journal of trust , Vol. 28, No. 3 (Jul., 1948), p. 229 Published by The University of Chicago Press C&P 1Ancient History Sourcebook The Precepts of Ptah-Hotep, c. 2200 BCE Precepts of the prefect, the lord Ptah-hotep, under the stateliness of the King of the South and North, Assa, living eternally forever. The prefect, the feudal lord Ptah-hotep, assures O Ptah with the two crocodiles, my lord, the progress of age changes into senility. Decay falls upon man and dip takes the place of youth. A vexation weighs upon him both(prenominal) day sight fails, the ear compels deaf his strength dissolves without ceasing. The mouth is mum, speech fails him the mind decays, remembering non the day earlier. The whole luggage compartment suffers. That which is well-behaved becomes evil taste on the whole disappears. Old age makes a man alto establishher miserable the poke is stopped up, breathing no more from exhaustion. Standing or sit in that location is here a condition of . . . Who exit ca enjoyment me to have authority to speak, that I may withstand to him the speech communication of those who have perceive the counsels of former days? And the counsels heard of the gods, who forget give me authority to decl argon them? Cause that it be so and that evil be removed from those that be enlightened send the double . . . The majesty of this god says Instruct him in the sayings of former days.It is this which constitutes the merit of the children of the wide. All that which makes the soul equal penetrates him who hears it, and that whic h it says produces no satiety. kickoff of the arrangement of the sizeable sayings, spoken by the noble lord, the divine experience, bend in behavior of Ptah, the son of the king, the depression-born of his race, the prefect and feudal lord Ptah- hotep, so as to instruct the imbruted in the intimacy of the arguments of the good sayings. It is gainable for him who hears them, it is a loss to him who shall come apart them. He says to his son Be non arrogant be driving force of that which you know issue with the ignorant as with the learned for the barriers of art ar non closed, no artist being in possession of the perfectiveion to which he should aspire. al ane good banters argon more difficult to flummox than the emerald, for it is by slaves that that is disc everywhereed among the rocks of pegmatite. If you find a disputant opus he is hot, and if he is superior to you in ability, lower the hands, bend the back, do non get into a passion with him. As he leave no t allow you destroy his words, it is utterly wrong to chop off him that proclaims that you are incapable of safekeeping yourself calm, when you are contradicted. If consequently you have to do with a disputant fleck he is hot,imitate cardinal who does not stir. You have the advantage over him if you keep silence when he is uttering evil words. The go of the two is he who is impassive, say the bystanders, and you are right in the opinion of the expectant. 2If you find a disputant mend he is hot, do not loathe him because you are not of the same opinion. Be not angry against him when he is wrong a track with much(prenominal) a thing. He fights against himself require him not come along to flatter your feelings. Do not amuse yourself with the spectacle which you have to begin with you it is odious, it is mean, it is the part of a despicable soul so to do. As before long as you allow yourself be moved by your feelings, combat this relish as a thing that is reproved by the great. If you have, as draw, to decide on the exculpate of a great number of men, seek the most perfect manner of doing so that your own conduct may be without reproach. referee is great, invariable, and assured it has not been disturbed since the age of Ptah. To throw obstacles in the way of the laws is to open the way before violence. Shall that which is below gain the upper hand, if the un skillful does not attain to the place of justice? Even he who says I take for myself, of my own free-will but says not I take by virtue of my authority. The limitations of justice are invariable such is the pedagogics which every man receives from his father. Inspire not men with fear, else Ptah will fight against you in the same manner. If all one asserts that he lives by such means, Ptah will take away the bread from his mouth if any one asserts that he enriches himself thereby, Ptah says I may take those riches to myself. If any one asserts that he beats others, Ptah will end by reduc ing him to impotence. Let no one inspire men with fear this is the will of Ptah.Let one provide sustenance for them in the lap of peace it will thus be that they will freely give what has been torn from them by terror. If you are among the individuals seated at meat in the house of a greater man than yourself, take that which he gives you, bowing to the ground. Regard that which is placed before you, but point not at it regard it not oftentimes he is a blame chargey person who departs from this rule. Speak not to the great man more than he requires, for one knows not what may be displeasing to him. Speak when he invites you and your worth will be pleasing. As for the great man who has plenty of means of existence, hisconduct is as he himself wishes. He does that which pleases him if he pronenesss to repose, he realizes his intention. The great man stretching frontward his hand does that to which other men do not attain. But as the means of existence are under the will of Ptah, one can not rebel against it.If you are one of those who bring the messages of one great man to another, conform yourself exactly to that wherewith he has charged you perform for him the electric charge as he has enjoined you. Beware of altering in speaking the disgustful words which one great person addresses to another he who perverts the trustfulness of his way, in line of battle to repeat moreover what produces pleasure in the words of every man, great or small, is a detestable person. If you are a farmer, gather the crops in the field which the great Ptah has given you, do not boast in the house of your neighbors it is better to make oneself dreaded by ones deeds. As for him who, master of his own way of acting, being all-powerful, seizes the goods of others identical a crocodile in the midst even of watchment, his children are an intent of malediction, of scorn, and of hatred on account of it, while his father is grievously distressed, and as for the mother 3who has bor ne him, sharp is another alternatively than herself. But a man becomes a god when he is chief of a folk music which has confidence in following him. If you abase yourself in obeying a superior, your conduct is entirely good before Ptah. discerning who you ought to obey and who you ought to command, do not lift up your nerve against him. As you know that in him is authority, be respectful toward him as belonging to him. Wealth comes unaccompanied at Ptahs own good-will, and his caprice only is the law as for him who . .Ptah, who has make believed his superiority, turns himself from him and he is overthrown. Be active during the time of your existence, do no more than is commanded. Do not spoil the time of your activity he is a blameworthy person who makes a bad use of his subsequentlymaths. Do not lose the everyday opportunity of increasing that which your house possesses. Activity produces riches, and riches do not endure when it slackens. If you are a rash man, bring up a son who shall be pleasing to Ptah. If he conforms his conduct to your way and occupies himself with your individual(prenominal) business as is right, do to him all the good you can he is your son, a person attached to you whom your own self has begotten. Separate not your heart from him. But if he conducts himself ill and transgressesyour wish, if he rejects all counsel, if his mouth goes jibe to the evil word, strike him on the mouth in ingathering. Give orders without faltering to those who do wrong, to him whose temper is turbulent and he will not submit from the straight path, and there will be no obstacle to interrupt the way.If you are employed in the larit, stand or sit rather than walk about. Lay down rules for yourself from the root not to absent yourself even when weariness overtakes you. Keep an eye on him who enters announcing that what he asks is secret what is entrusted to you is higher up appreciation, and all contrary argument is a matter to be rejected. He is a god who penetrates into a place where no relaxation of the rules is do for the privileged. If you are with people who display for you an extreme affection, saying Aspiration of my heart, stirring of my heart, where there is no remedy That which is verbalize in your heart, allow it be realized by springing up spontaneously. Sovereign master, I give myself to your opinion. Your name is approved without speaking. Your body is full of vigor, your face is above your neighbors. If hence you are accustomed to this excess of flattery, and there be an obstacle to you in your go fors, then your impulse is to obey your passion.But he who . . . jibe to his caprice, his soul is . . ., his body is . . . While the man who is master of his soul is superior to those whom Ptah has loaded with his gifts the man who obeys his passion is under the power of his wife. Declare your line of conduct without reservation give your opinion in the council of your lord while there are people who tur n back upon their own words when they speak, so as not to offend him who has put forward a statement, and answer not in this fashion He is the great man who will recognize the error of another and when he shall raise his voice to oppose the other about it he will keep silence after what I have tell. 4If you are a leader, setting forward your plans according to that which you decide, perform perfect actions which posterity may remember, without letting the words rejoice with you which multiply flattery, which excite pride and produce vanity. If you are a leader of peace, listen to the discourse of the petitioner. Be not abrupt with him that would trouble him. adduce not to him You have already recounted this. Indulgence will encourage him to happen upon the object of his coming. As for being abrupt with thecomplainant because he describe what passed when the injury was done, instead of complaining of the injury itself let it not be The way to obtain a clear explanation is to list en with kindness. If you desire to excite respect within the house you enter, for example the house of a superior, a friend, or any person of consideration, in short all over where you enter, keep yourself from making advances to a woman, for there is nothing good in so doing.There is no prudence in taking part in it, and thousands of men destroy themselves in order to enjoy a moment, brief as a dream, while they gain death, so as to know it. It is a villainous intention, that of a man who thus excites himself if he goes on to carry it out, his mind abandons him. For as for him who is without repugnance for such an act, there is no good sense at all in him. If you desire that your conduct should be good and preserved from all evil, keep yourself from every attack of bad humor. It is a fatal malady which leads to discord, and there is no longer any existence for him who gives way to it. For it introduces discord between fathers and mothers, as well as between brothers and sisters it causes the wife and the husband to hate all(prenominal) other it contains all kinds of wickedness, it embodies all kinds of wrong. When a man has established his just equilibrium and walks in this path, there where he makes his hatching, there is no path for bad humor. Be not of an irritable temper as regards that which happens at your side grumble not over your own affairs.Be not of an irritable temper in regard to your neighbors better is a laudation to that which displeases than rudeness. It is wrong to get into a passion with ones neighbors, to be no longer master of ones words. When there is only a little irritation, one creates for oneself an affliction for the time when one will again be cool. If you are wise, look after your house love your wife without alloy. Fill her raise, clothe her back these are the cares to be bestowed on her person. Caress her, fulfil her desires during the time of her existence it is a kindness which does esteem to its possessor. Be not bruta l tact will influence her better than violence her . . . behold to what she aspires, at what she aims, what she regards. It is that which fixes her in your house if you get her, it is an abyss. afford your arms for her, respond to her arms call her, display to her your love. Treat your dependents well, in so far as it belongs to you to do so and it belongs to those whom Ptah has favored. If any one fails in treating his dependents well it is state He isa person . . . As we do not know the events which may happen tomorrow, he is a wise person by whom one is well treated. When there comes the requirement of showing zeal, it will then be the 5dependents themselves who say postdate on, come on, if good treatment has not quitted the place if it has quitted it, the dependents are defaulters. Do not repeat any extravagance of language do not listen to it it is a thing which has escaped from a hasty mouth. If it is repeated, look, without earshot it, toward the earth say nothing in rega rd to it. Cause him who speaks to you to know what is just, even him who provokes to injustice cause that which is just to be done, cause it to triumph. As for that which is hateful according to the law, condemn it by unveiling it. If you are a wise man, sitting in the council of your lord, direct your thought toward that which is wise. Be silent rather than scatter your words. When you speak, know that which can be brought against you. To speak in the council is an art, and speech is criticized more than any other beat back it is contradiction which puts it to the proof.If you are powerful, respect knowledge and calmness of language. Command only to direct to be absolute is to run into evil. Let not your heart be haughty, incomplete let it be mean. Do not let your orders remain withdraw and cause your answers to penetrate but speak without heat, assume a flagitious countenance. As for the vivacity of an ardent heart, temper it the gentle man penetrates all obstacles. He who agi tates himself all the day long has not a good moment and he who amuses himself all the day long keeps not his fortune. Aim at fulness like pilots once one is seated another works, and seeks to obey ones orders. Disturb not a great man dampen not the attention of him who is occupied. His care is to embrace his task, and he strips his person through the love which he puts into it. That transports men to Ptah, even the love for the work which they accomplish. amass then your face even in trouble, that peace may be with you, when agitation is with . . .These are the people who succeed in what they desire. Teach others to perform homage to a great man.If you gather the crop for him among men, cause it to return fully to its owner, at whose hands is your subsistence. But the gift of affection is worth more than the provisions with which your back is covered. For that which the great man receives from you will alter your house to live, without speakingof the maintenance you enjoy, whic h you desire to preserve it is thereby that he extends a beneficent hand, and that in your home good things are added to good things. Let your love pass into the heart of those who love you cause those about you to be loving and obedient. If you are a son of the guardians deputed to watch over the public tranquillity, execute your commission without knowing its meaning, and speak with firmness. Substitute not for that which the instructor has said what you believe to be his intention the great use words as it suits them. Your part is to transmit rather than to comment upon. If you are crucifyed at a thing, if you are tormented by person who is acting within his right, get out of his sight, and remember him no more when he has ceased to address you. 6If you have become great after having been little, if you have become rich after having been poor, when you are at the head of the city, know how not to take advantage of the fact that you have reached the first rank, harden not your h eart because of your elevation you are become only the administrator, the prefect, of the provisions which belong to Ptah. Put not behind you the neighbor who is like you be unto him as a companion. Bend your back before your superior. You are attached to the palace of the king your house is established in its fortune, and your winnings are as is fitting. Yet a man is annoyed at having an authority above himself, and passes the period of life in being pissed off thereat. Although that hurts not your . . . Do not plunder the house of your neighbors, seize not by force the goods which are beside you. Exclaim not then against that which you hear, and do not feel humiliated. It is necessary to reflect when one is blank outed by it that the force per unit area of authority is felt also by ones neighbor.Do not make . . . you know that there are obstacles to the water which comes to its hinder part, and that there is no trickling of that which is in its bosom. Let it not . . . after ha ving alter his heart. If you aim at polished manners, call not him whom you accost. Converse with him particularly in such a way as not to annoy him. Enter on a discussion with him only after having odd him time to saturate his mind with the subject of the conversation. If he lets his ignorance display itself, and if he gives you all opportunity to disgrace him, treat him with courtesy rather hold on not to drive him into a corner do not . . . the word to him answer not in a beat outing manner crush him not worry him not in order that in his turn he may not return to the subject, but depart to the profit of your conversation. Let your countenance be cheerful during the time of your existence. When we see one departing from the storehouse who has entered in order to bring his share of provision, with his face contracted, it shows that his stomach is empty and that authority is offensive to him. Let not that happen to you it is . . .Know those who are faithful to you when you are in low estate. Your merit then is worth more than those who did you honor. His . . ., behold that which a man possesses completely. That is of more splendour than his high rank for this is a matter which passes from one to another. The merit of ones son is advantageous to the father, and that which he really is, is worth more than the remembrance of his fathers rank. Distinguish the superintendent who directs from the workman, for manual labor is little elevated the inaction of the hands is honorable. If a man is not in the evil way, that which places him there is the want of subordination to authority. If you take a wife, do not . . . Let her be more contented than any of her fellow-citizens. She will be attached to you doubly, if her chain is pleasant. Do not repel her grant that which pleases her it is to her contentment that she appreciates your work. 7If you hear those things which I have said to you, your wisdom will be fully advanced. Although they are the means which are su itable for arriving at the maat, and it is that which makes them precious, their memory would recede from the mouth of men. But convey to the beauty of their arrangement in rhythm all their words will now be carried without alteration over this earth eternally. That will create a canvass to be embellished, whereof the great will speak, in order to instruct men in its sayings. After having listened to them the pupil will become a master, even he who shall have properly listened to the sayings because he shall have heard them. Let him win success by placing himself in the first rank that is for him a position perfect and durable, and he has nothing further to desire forever. By knowledge his path is assured, and he is made happy by it on the earth. The wise man is satiated by knowledge he is a great man through his own merits. His vocabulary is in accord with his mind just are his lips when he speaks, his eye when he gazes, his ears when he hears. The advantage of his son is todo th at which is just without deceiving himself. To construe therefore profits the son of him who has reckoned. To obey is the result of the fact that one has processed. A teachable auditor is formed, because I have attended.Good when he has attended, good when he speaks, he who has attended has profited, and it is profitable to attend to him who has attended. To attend is worth more than anything else, for it produces love, the good thing that is twice good. The son who accepts the instruction of his father will grow old on that account. What Ptah loves is that one should attend if one attends not, it is abhorrent to Ptah. The heart makes itself its own master when it attends and when it does not attend but if it attends, then his heart is a beneficent master to a man. In attending to instruction, a man loves what he attends to, and to do that which is incontrovertible is pleasant. When a son attends to his father, it is a twofold joy for both when wise things are prescribed to him , the son is gentle toward his master. Attending to him who has attended when such things have been prescribed to him, he engraves upon his heart that which is approved by his father and the recollection of it is preserved in the mouth of the living who exist upon this earth. When a son receives the instruction of his father there is no error in all his plans. Train your son to be a teachable man whose wisdom is agreeable to the great. Let him direct his mouth according to that which has been said to him in the docility of a son is discovered his wisdom.His conduct is perfect while error carries away the unteachable. Tomorrow knowledge will support him, while the ignorant will be destroyed. As for the man without experience who listens not, he effects nothing whatsoever. He sees knowledge in ignorance, profit in loss he commits all kinds of error, always accordingly choosing the contrary of what is praiseworthy. He lives on that which is mortal, in this fashion. His food is evil wor ds, whereat he is filled with astonishment. That which the great know to be mortal he lives upon every day, flying from that which would be profitable to him, because of the multitude of errors which present themselves before him every day. A son who attends is like a follower of Horus he is happy after having attended. He becomes great, he arrives at dignity, he gives the same lesson to his children. Let none put in upon the precepts of his father let the same precepts form his lessons to his children. Verily, will his 8children say to him, to accomplish what you say works marvels.Cause therefore that to flourish which is just, in order to nourish your children with it. If the teachers allow themselves to be led toward evil principles, verily the people who understand them not will speak accordingly, and that being said to those who are docile they will act accordingly. Then all the public considers them as masters and they inspire confidence in the public but their glory endures not so long as would please them. betroth not away then a word from the ancient teaching, and add not one put not one thing in place of another beware of uncovering the rebellious ideas which arise in you but teach according to the words of the wise. Attend if you wish to dwell in the mouth of those who shall attend to your words, when you have entered upon the office of master, that your words may be upon our lips . . . and that there may be a chair from which to portray your arguments. Let your thoughts be abundant, but let your mouth be under restraint, and you shall argue with the great. Put yourself in unison with the ways of your master cause him to say He is my son, so that those who shall hear it shall say Praise be to her who has borne him to him Apply yourself while you speak speak only of perfect things and let the great who shall hear you say Twice good is that which issues from his mouth Do that which your master bids you.Twice good is the precept of his father, from whom he has issued, from his flesh. What he tells us, let it be fixed in our heart to satisfy him greatly let us do for him more than he has prescribed. Verily a good son is one of the gifts of Ptah, a son who does even better than he has been told to do. For his master he does what is satisfactory, putting himself with all his heart on the part of right. So I shall bring it about that your body shall be healthful, that the Pharaoh shall be satisfied with you in all circumstances and that you shall obtain days of life without default. It has caused me on earth to obtain one hundred and ten years of life, along with the gift of the favor of the Pharoah among the first of those whom their works have ennobled, substantive the Pharoah in a place of dignity. It is finished, from its beginning to its end, according to that which is found in writing. SourceFrom Charles F. Horne, The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East (New York Parke, Austin, & Lipscomb, 1917), Vol. II Egypt, pp. 62-78.Scanned by J. S. Arkenberg, Dept. of History, Cal. State Fullerton This text is part of the Internet Ancient History Sourcebook. The Sourcebook is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted texts related to medieval and Byzantine history. 9Unless otherwise sharpend the specific electronic form of the document is copyright. Permission is given for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational purposes and personal use. No representation is made about texts which are linked off-site, although in most cases these are also public domain. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate the source. No permission is granted for commercial use. Paul Halsall May 1998