Ptah-hetep, Precepts of

This work is contained in the famous "Pri e Papyrus," which has been called "The oldest book in the world." (See Papyri .) It dates back to the Vth Dynasty, and yet "appeals to the authority of the ancients." Parts of it are extremely difficult to translate, although the general purport of the text can be gathered. But other parts are more easily understood. The moral teaching is of the same kind as that found in the Book of Proverbs. The pious son is extolled, and duty to parents and superiors inculcated. The path of the virtuous is shown to be advantageous, and by contrast the evil of disobedience, pride, lazine , intemperance, and other vices is pointed out. For translation, see "Records of the Past."