The story of the shipwrecked sailor is a text that can be traced back to the Middle Kingdom of Egypt (24-1782 BC). This is an adventure story. Apart from entertainment, its purpose is to impress the audience, that is, everything needed to meet life was found in Egypt.

the author's name, even its origin, is unknown. According to Miriam Lichtheim, a scholar,

Glenishev [a scholar] found the only preserved papyrus copy of this story in the Imperial Museum in St. Petersburg. Know nothing about its original origin. This papyrus paper named P. Leningrad 1115 is now in Moscow. This work and papyrus manuscripts are from the Middle Kingdom period. (211)

At the same time as the rise of Osiris worship and the inscription of coffin texts, the story of shipwrecked sailors tells a similar story of redemption. The coffin text was included on the wall of tomb C. From 2134 BC to 24 BC, the worship of Osiris became popular at least from the late early dynasty (315 BC to 2613 BC) and became the most popular and influential religious and cultural belief at that time during the New Kingdom period (about 157-C). 169 BCE）。 The concept of redemption, death from life, is as prominent in this literary work as in Osiris mythology. Coffin text.

the ancient Egyptians believed in the periodicity of life-death would return again-but there were two different forms. The traditional belief of Egyptians is that after death, people will go to reed fields, which is a paradise and a mirror image of life they know on earth. Another understanding of the essence of life and death is called the famous soul reincarnation, which was popularized by the Greek philosophers Pythagoras and Plato. In the story of shipwrecked sailors, there is no death and resurrection, but the theme of a person who gets lost in a strange and terrible land and then goes home is the center, which will be different from the ancient Egyptian audience.

Story

The basic form of the story is simple: an official of the king goes home from an unsuccessful adventure. He had to report the bad news to the king, and obviously he was worried about what might happen at the meeting. His servant tried to cheer him up and told him a story about what had happened to him. The servant who used to be a sailor told the story that his own adventure was a complete failure, much worse than what his master had experienced, but it led to a great adventure.

He told his master how he survived the shipwreck and landed on a magical island, where he met a talking snake who claimed to be the king of gondolas. All the beautiful things are on the island, and the sailor talks with the snake until a ship is greeted and he can return to Egypt. Since the fourth dynasty (2613-2498 BC), Ponte's land has been a well-known trade partner with Egypt, so it is interesting to see that it was portrayed as a rich and magical island in mythology, and sailors were rescued from it and returned home to become rich with the help of snakes.

on the surface, this story can be understood as a simple comedy. The master met a bad business, and his servant tried to cheer him up by telling a fairy story that the master didn't want to hear at all. The master just didn't tell the servant to go away. The guru said, "I'm tired of talking to you as I please", which is the ancient equivalent of modern "casually".

However, the sailor insisted on telling his story, and the captain indulged him. No matter how interesting the story is, it seems that it can't alleviate the owner's mood. Finally, Master said, "My good friend, don't continue. Feed a goose that will be slaughtered in the morning at dawn? " Here, he told his servant that it was meaningless to try to comfort a man who was about to go to his fate. The last copyright page is the signature of the scribe who wrote or more likely copied the work.

cultural significance

one of the most interesting aspects of this story is how it perfectly reflects Egyptian culture at any stage of its development. Egyptians love their land so much that they shape the afterlife into a perfect reflection of the land. The reason why there is no record of great Egyptian sea travelers, or why there is no "Herodotus of Egypt" or "Homer of Egypt" is because Egyptians don't like to leave their homeland. Throughout the whole history of Egypt, there are only military operations in recent areas, such as Syria, Palestine and Nubia.

There has never been an Egyptian empire comparable to Assyria or Rome, because Egyptians don't care about what happens in other regions at all. The story of a shipwrecked sailor reflects this, because when the sailor found the island, he did not start some great adventures; He was busy doing his thing when the storm sank his ship and threw him ashore. He never wanted to stay on this magical island, nor would he be attracted by what he found there, because he knew that his home in Egypt had all the earth treasures he was interested in.

This love for the motherland is also reflected in many ancient Egyptian favorite literary works. In the best-selling book The Story of Sinu River at that time, Sinu River found himself exiled to a foreign country, and one of his most pressing problems was to die outside Egypt. He lamented: "What is more important than my body being buried in the land where I was born!" For Egyptians, going out to sea to do business, doing business, but beyond the borders of Egypt, nothing is more satisfying than finding it at home; Not even charming and rich Ponte land.

During the reign of Queen Hatshepsut (1479-1458 BC), the land of Bonte became the most important trade partner. From the early dynasty (315-2613 BC) to the period of Hatshepsut's rule, Ponte was known as the "land of plenty" and provided many of the most important commodities for Egypt. In 1493 BC, the expedition sent by Hatshepsut brought back gold and ivory and 31 live fragrant trees for transplantation.

This is the first recorded transplant of exotic animals in history. Scholars continue to argue about where Puntland is or what it has become, although it is clear that modern Somalia has the strongest demand for this honor. After Hatshepsut, Ponte gradually receded in the Egyptian imagination until it became a semi-mythical land, which was finally regarded as the origin of Egyptian culture and the land of gods.

although it may be tempting to speculate that the story of a shipwrecked sailor is the beginning of this process, this story was written long before Hatshepsut's rule, during which it was clearly described as an actual region and trading partner. However, it is interesting to see that Ponte was described as a "magical island" so early, and the king of Ponte was described as a huge talking snake.

There are many comic elements in the whole story-especially the response of the long-suffering owner-but because no one knows the origin of the story or the ancient reaction to it, people can't tell how it was accepted by the Egyptian audience. However, it is conceivable that they like it as much as any modern audience; The love of a good story is eternal.

The story of a shipwrecked sailor

The following text is translated from WK Flinders Petrie in 1892:

A speech by an excellent follower:

May your heart be healthy, my master. Look, we're home. The gavel has been removed and the mooring post has been driven. Bow rope has been put on land, thank and praise God. Everyone is hugging his companion. Our crew returned safely; Our army has no losses. We have reached the end of Watt Watt; We've passed Samut.

look, we came to our land safely.

listen to me. oh, master, I have nothing to spare. Wash your hands and water your hands, so that you can answer the king when called, talk to the king wisely, and tell the story without stuttering. A man's mouth saved him. His speech makes people show indulgence.

do what you like; I'm tired of talking to you, my master said to me.

nevertheless, let me tell you something similar. It happened to me.

I'm going to the king's mine. I went to sea in a boat 12 cubits long and 4 cubits wide. There are 12 sailors in it, all of whom are the best in Egypt. Whether looking up at the sky or the earth, their hearts are braver than lions. They can forecast a storm before storm warning and bad weather before it happens.

when we were at sea, before we approached the land, the storm came. When we sailed, it gave a continuous howl and set off a gust of wind. The waves are eight cubits in it. A piece of wood knocked for me.

then I was thrown to an island by the waves. I spent three days alone, and my heart was my only companion. Taking a rest in the shade, I embraced the shade.

then I stretched out my legs and wondered what I could put in my mouth. I found figs and grapes there. Leek is the ruler there. Sycamore figs are there with the chipped Sycamore figs. Cucumber is there, just like it is planted. Fish and birds are there together. Nothing is not in it.

Then I satisfied myself. I put some on the ground because I had too many things in my hand. I took part in a fire drill, made a fire and made sacrifices.

then I heard the sound of a storm, or the sound of a raging storm and hunger! It's moving fast, approaching fast, and landing in front of me. I thought it was the waves or people sheltering from the waves at the mouth of the channel. Trees break and the earth shakes. What is this in the water? Facing the broken division, I crouched down, because it came soon and approached soon. I covered my face; We've been discovered.

I opened my face and found a snake coming. It is thirty cubits long. His beard is more than two cubits long. His body is wrapped in gold. His eyebrows are real lapis lazuli. He bent down in front. He opened his mouth to me when I was lying in front of him. He said to me, "Who brought you here? Who brought you here, civilian? Who brought you here? If you don't tell me who brought you to this island, I will let you know yourself. You have become a person like ashes who has never seen it. "

you are talking to me, but I can't hear you. I am in front of you, but I know nothing about myself.

then he put me in his mouth, took me to his residence, his happy place, and let me lie down intact. I was not hurt and nothing was taken away. He opened his mouth to me when I was lying in front of him.

then he said to me, "who brought you and who brought you cloth? Who brought you to this island? "

then I answered him and bent my arms in front of him to show my respect. I said to him, "I'm going to the king's mine by a boat 12 cubits long and 4 cubits wide." There were 12 sailors on board, all the best people in Egypt. Whether they look up at the sky or the earth, their hearts are braver than lions. They can predict storms before storm warning and bad weather before it happens. Each of them, his heart is braver than his companions, and his arms are stronger. No one is ignorant among them. When we were at sea, the storm came, before we approached the land. When we sailed, it gave a continuous howl. The waves are eight cubits in it. A piece of wood hit it for me. Then the boat died, leaving no one on board except me. Look, I'm by your side.

He said to me, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, civilian. Don't turn pale when you come to me. Look, God kept you alive, and he brought you to this island. There is nothing that is not in it; It is full of all the beautiful things. Look, you will work month after month until you have finished four months' home on this island. A ship will come back from home with sailors you know. You will go home to be with them, and you will die in your city. He who tells what he has tasted and the painful things are over is happy. Let me tell you something similar that happened on this island. My brothers and I were on the island, and the children were among them. We always have seventy-five snakes, my children and my brothers; I won't mention to you a little daughter I got through prayer. Then a star fell and they burned. It happened that I was not with them when they caught fire. I'm not among them. I'm dead to them, and when I find their bodies, I'll die for them. If you are strong and conquer your heart, you will hug your children, kiss your wife and see your house. It is more beautiful than anything.

stretch out on my stomach, and I touch the ground in front of him. I said to him, "I want to talk about you, I want to tell the king your power, and I want him to know your greatness." I will bring you laudanum heknu oil, yudenbu, hesayt spices and great temple incense to please all the gods in it. I will tell what happened to me, and I saw his power. In the city, in front of the rulers of all the land, there will be people praising God for you. I will slaughter the bull as a sacrifice for you. I will provide you with poultry. I will send a boat to fill your boat with food from all the cities in Egypt, just as God loves people in unknown distant countries. "

then he laughed at me and said I was stupid to him. He said to me, "you don't have rich myrrh as the owner of incense." I am the Lord of Bont, and Myrrh is mine. The fragrance you brought is very rich in this world. Island. If you happen to leave this place, you will never see this island again. It has become water. "

Then, as time passed, the ship came as he had predicted. Then I went to put myself in a tall tree, and I recognized the people inside. Went to report the case and found that he knew. Then he said to me,

"Health, health, get dressed, come to your home and let you meet your children. Let my name be better in your town, which I deserve for you. "

then I put myself on my stomach and bent my arms in front of him. Then he gave me a certain amount of myrrh, heknu oil, laudanum, hesayt spice, tishpes spice, perfume, eye drops, giraffe's tail, big incense, ivory, greyhound, monkey, baboon and all kinds of precious things. Things. Then I put them on this ship. When I thanked him on my stomach, he said to me, "Look, you will go home in two months. You will be full, you will hug your children, you will be young at home and you will be buried. "

then I went down to the river bank near this ship. Then I called the sailors on this ship. I praised the river bank to the owner of this land, and the people there did the same. It was a voyage, and we reached the king's palace downstream. Two months later, we approached the residence, and he had completely said it. then