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Ptahhotep

Imagine a super-wise ancient Egyptian who wrote advice for kids thousands of years ago!

Images

<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Papyrus fragments with a section of the “Instruction of Ptahhotep” on the recto Cyperus papyrus</i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Papyrus fragments with a section of the “Instruction of Ptahhotep” on the recto Cyperus papyrus'</div> <div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Frammenti di papiro recanti “l’insegnamento di Ptahhotep” sul recto'</div></div>

<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Papyrus fragments with a section of the “Instruction of Ptahhotep” on the recto Cyperus papyrus</i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Papyrus fragments with a section of the “Instruction of Ptahhotep” on the recto Cyperus papyrus'</div> <div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Frammenti di papiro recanti “l’insegnamento di Ptahhotep” sul recto'</div></div>

openverse
<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a human-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309142#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span></i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>title QS:P1476,en:'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a human-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309142#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a human-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309142#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Vaso canopo di Ptahhotep con coperchio a testa umana'</div></div>
Vessel Fragment with Incised Inscription Naming the Vizier Ptahhotep LACMA M.80.199.22
Sakkara-24-Mastaba of Mereruka-Ptahhotep im Boot-1982-gje
Ptahhotep and Akhethetep mastaba tombs
<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a jackal-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309151#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span></i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>title QS:P1476,en:'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a jackal-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309151#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a jackal-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309151#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Vaso canopo di Ptahhotep con coperchio a testa di sciacallo'</div></div>
<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a falcon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309152#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span></i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>title QS:P1476,en:'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a falcon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309152#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a falcon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309152#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Vaso canopo di Ptahhotep con coperchio a testa di falco'</div></div>
Procession of Offerings in Ptahhotep's Saqqara Tomb
26690: Statue of Ptahhotep
Sarcophagus of Ptahhotep. Greywacke lid of the sarcophagus of the Steward of the Treasury Ptahhotep, son of Horenpetnakht, inscribed with a text from the Book of the Dead, Chapter 72. Campbell's Tomb, Giza, Late Period, 26th Dynasty. Ex Sir Francis Cook C
<div class='fn'> <div style='font-weight:bold;display:inline-block;'><div style='display:inline-block' dir='ltr' lang='en'><i>Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a baboon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309149#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span></i></div></div><div style='display: none;'>title QS:P1476,en:'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a baboon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309149#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Len,'Canopic jar of Ptahhotep with a baboon-headed lid <span class='mw-valign-text-top noprint' typeof='mw:File/Frameless'><a href='https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139309149#P1476' title='Edit this at Wikidata'><img alt='Edit this at Wikidata' src='https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg/20px-OOjs_UI_icon_edit-ltr-progressive.svg.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&amp;utm_campaign=parser&amp;utm_content=thumbnail' decoding='async' width='10' height='10' class='mw-file-element' data-file-width='20' data-file-height='20'></a></span>'</div><div style='display: none;'>label QS:Lit,'Vaso canopo di Ptahhotep con coperchio a testa di babbuino'</div></div>
26690- Statue of Ptahhotep

Key Facts

Who He Was
An ancient Egyptian vizier (a high-ranking advisor).
When He Lived
Around 4,500 years ago, during Egypt's Fifth Dynasty.
His Famous Work
The Maxims of Ptahhotep, an ancient book of advice.
What He Taught
Lessons on good behavior, honesty, and respect.
Fun Fact
His advice book is one of the oldest pieces of wisdom literature ever found!

Meet the Wise Man Ptahhotep!

Ptahhotep was a very important person in ancient Egypt, a super long time ago, around 4,500 years ago! That's even older than the pyramids! He was like a super-smart advisor to the king.

His job was to help make sure everything ran smoothly in the land. He was so wise that people still talk about his ideas today. He lived during a time called the Fifth Dynasty, which was a really exciting period in Egyptian history.

Ptahhotep's Amazing Advice Book!

Ptahhotep wrote a special book filled with advice called 'The Maxims of Ptahhotep'. Think of it like a guide for young boys on how to be good and kind people. He wanted them to learn how to be polite, honest, and respectful.

This book is one of the oldest 'wisdom books' ever found! It's like getting advice from a grandpa who lived a super long time ago, but his words are still helpful for us today. He wanted to teach them how to be good citizens.

Why Ptahhotep's Words Still Matter!

Even though Ptahhotep lived so long ago, his advice is still super useful! He talked about things like listening carefully to others, not being greedy, and being fair. These are important lessons for everyone, no matter when they live.

His book helps us understand what people thought was important way back then. It's like a time machine for learning about ancient Egyptian values and how they wanted their children to grow up. His wisdom is like a treasure from the past!

What Did Ptahhotep Teach?

Ptahhotep taught important lessons about how to act. He said it's good to be patient and to think before you speak. He also believed in being honest and treating everyone with respect, even people who are different from you.

He wanted young men to learn how to be good leaders and good friends. His teachings are like a blueprint for being a good person, showing us that some important ideas have been around for thousands of years. He wanted to make Egypt a better place.

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Based on content from Wikipedia · Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0