Story of Sinuhe

A raised-relief depiction of Amenemhat I accompanied by deities; the death of

Amenemhat I is reported by his son Senusret I in the Story of Sinuhe.
"The Story of Sinuhe" is considered one of the finest works of Ancient Egyptian
literature. It is a narrative set in the aftermath of the death of Pharaoh Amenemhat I,
founder of the 12th dynasty of Egypt, in the early 20th century BC. It is likely that it
was composed only shortly after this date, albeit the earliest extant manuscript is from
the reign of Amenemhat III, c. 1800 BC.[1] There is an ongoing debate among
Egyptologists as to whether or not the tale is based on actual events involving an
individual named Sinuhe,[2] with the consensus being that it is most likely a work of
fiction.[3][4] Due to the universal nature of the themes explored in "Sinuhe", including
divine providence and mercy, its anonymous author has been described as the "Egyptian
Shakespeare" whose ideas have parallels in biblical texts. "Sinuhe" is considered to be a
work written in verse and it may also have been performed.[5] The great popularity of the
work is witnessed by the numerous surviving fragments.[6]

Contents
[hide]

1 Synopsis
2 Interpretations
3 Influences on modern culture
4 References
5 Literature
6 External links

Synopsis[edit]
Sinuhe is an official who accompanies prince Senwosret I to Libya. He overhears a
conversation connected with the death of King Amenemhet I and as a result flees to
Upper Retjenu (Canaan), leaving Egypt behind. He becomes the son-in-law of Chief
Ammunenshi and in time his sons grow to become chiefs in their own right. Sinuhe
fights rebellious tribes on behalf of Ammunenshi. As an old man, in the aftermath of
defeating a powerful opponent in single combat, he prays for a return to his homeland:[5]
"May god pity me..may he hearken to the prayer of one far away!..may the King have
mercy on me..may I be conducted to the city of eternity!".[6] He then receives an
invitation from King Senwosret I of Egypt to return, which he accepts in highly moving
terms. Living out the rest of his life in royal favour he is finally laid to rest in the
necropolis in a beautiful tomb.[5]

Interpretations[edit]
The story of Sinuhe has spawned a great deal of literature which explores the themes
contained in the work from many perspectives. The scope and variety of this material

has been likened to the analysis of Hamlet and other notable works of literature.[5]
Scholars debate the reason why Sinuhe flees Egypt, with the majority seeing a panic
response to a perceived fear.[5] The tale is full of symbolic allusions. Sinuhe's name
(=Son of the Sycamore) is seen as providing an important link in understanding the
story. The sycamore is an ancient Egyptian Tree of Life,[7] associated with Hathor, (the
Goddess of fertility, rebirth and patroness of foreign countries), who features throughout
the work.[5]
Sinuhe comes under the protective orbit of divine powers, in the form of the King, from
whom he first tries to run away, and that of the Queen, a manifestation of Hathor. On
fleeing Egypt, Sinuhe crosses a waterway associated with the Goddess Maat, the
Ancient Egyptian principle of truth, order and justice, in the vicinity of a sycamore tree.
[5]

The Ancient Egyptians believed in free-will, implicit in the code of Maat, but this still
allowed divine grace to work in and through the individual, and an overarching divine
providence is seen in Sinuhe's flight and return to his homeland. Unable to escape the
orbit of God's power and mercy, Sinuhe exclaims: "Whether I am in the Residence, or
whether I am in this place, it is you who cover this horizon".[5]
Parallels have been made with the biblical narrative of Joseph. In what is seen as divine
providence, the Syro-Canaanite Joseph is taken to Egypt where he becomes part of the
ruling elite, acquires a wife and family, before being reunited with his Syro-Canaanite
family. In what is seen as divine providence, Sinuhe the Egyptian flees to Syro-Canaan
and becomes a member of the ruling elite, acquires a wife and family, before being
reunited with his Egyptian family.[5] Parallels have also been drawn with other biblical
texts: Sinuhe's frustrated flight from the orbit of god's power (=King) is likened to the
Hebrew prophet Jonah's similar attempt,[8] his fight with a mighty challenger, whom he
slays with a single blow, is compared to the battle between David and Goliath and his
return home likened to the parable of the Prodigal Son.[9]

Influences on modern culture[edit]

Naguib Mahfouz, the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer, published in 1941 a story
entitled "Awdat Sinuhi" translated by Raymond Stock in 2003 as "The Return of
Sinuhe" in the collection of Mahfouz's short stories entitled Voices from the Other
World. The story is based directly on the "Story of Sinuhe", although adding details of a
lovers' triangle romance that does not appear in the original.
The story also formed part of the inspiration for the 1945 novel by Mika Waltari, and
the 1954 Hollywood film epic, both titled The Egyptian, which although set during the
reign of 18th dynasty pharaoh Akhenaten, features a lead character named Sinuhe
(played by Edmund Purdom) who flees Egypt in disgrace, to return after achieving
material success and personal redemption in foreign lands.
Elizabeth Peters made reference to the tale in her novel The Falcon at the Portal.
Cuban song writer and singer Silvio Rodriguez composed a song title Sinuhe (2003)
included in his album "A Date with the Angels" (Cita con los Angeles original Spanish).
The lyrics used the figure of Sinuhe as a metaphor of the past intelectual greatness of

the Middle East and portraits a contrast with the contemporary conflicts and wars in the
region.

References[edit]
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.
7.
8.

9.

Jump up ^ R. B. Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient

Egyptian Poems. Oxford World's Classics, 1999, p. 21
Jump up ^ James Karl Hoffmeier, Ancient Israel In Sinai: The Evidence
for the Authenticity of the Wilderness Tradition, Oxford University Press 2005,
p.256
Jump up ^ James Peter Allen, Middle Egyptian: An Introduction to the
Language and Culture of Hieroglyphs, Cambridge University Press 2000, p.281
Jump up ^ The best tale begins with the death of King Amenemhat, who
was the first king of the 12th dynasty. In the 'Instructions of Amenemhat' the
king describes, from beyond the grave, how he was the victim of an
assassination.("Religion in ancient Egypt" Byron Esely Shafer, John b., Leonard
H. Lesko, David P. Silverman, p160, Taylor & Francis, 1991 ISBN 0-41507030-9)
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Edmund S. Meltzer, In search of Sinuhe:
"What's in a Name?" Paper presented at The 58th Annual Meeting of the
American Research Center in Egypt, Wyndham Toledo Hotel, Toledo, Ohio, Apr
20, 2007
^ Jump up to: a b M. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, Volume I:
The Old and Middle Kingdoms, 1973, p.222, ISBN 0520028996
Jump up ^ "Death and salvation in ancient Egypt", Jan Assmann, David
Lorton, Translated by David Lorton, p171, Cornell University Press, 2005, ISBN
0-8014-4241-9
Jump up ^ "God's Word for Our World: Theological and cultural studies
in honor of Simon John De Vries", Simon John De Vries, Edmund S. Meltzer, J.
Harold Ellens, Deborah L. Ellens, Rolf P. Knierim, Isaac Kalimi, p79,
Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004 ISBN 0-8264-6975-2
Jump up ^ "Tales From Ancient Egypt", Joyce Tyldesley, p88,
Rutherford, 2004, ISBN 0-9547622-0-7

Literature[edit]

Barta, M. 2003 Sinuhe, the Bible and the Patriarchs, Czech Institute of
Egyptology/David Brown Book Company.
Greig, G. S. 1990. "The sDm=f and sDm=n=f in the Story of Sinuhe and the
Theory of the Nominal (Emphatic) Verbs", in: Israelit-Groll, I. (ed.), Studies in
Egyptology. Presented to Miriam Lichtheim, Vol. I. Jerusalem: Magnes
Press/Hebrew U., 264348.
Kitchen, K. A. 1996. Sinuhe: Scholarly Method versus Trendy Fashion BACE
7, 5563.
Mahfouz, Naguib. "The Return of Sinuhe" in Voices from the Other World
(translated by Robert Stock), Random House, 2003
Meltzer, E. S. 2004. "Sinuhe, Jonah and Joseph: Ancient Far Travellers' and the
Power of God", in: Ellens, J. H. et al. (eds.), God's Word for Our World, vol. II.

Theological and Cultural Studies in Honor of Simon John De Vries (LondonNew York: Clark/Continuum), 7781.
Morschauser, S. 2000. "What Made Sinuhe Run: Sinuhe's Reasoned Flight"
JARCE 37, 18798
Parkinson, R. B. 1997. The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems
19401640 BC (Oxford World Classics). Oxford: Oxford U. Press.
Quirke, Stephen. 2004. Egyptian Literature 1800BC: Questions and Readings,
London, 5870 ISBN 0-9547218-6-1 (translation and transcription)
Tobin, V. A. 1995. "The Secret of Sinuhe" JARCE 32, 16178.

External links[edit]

Translation which includes details on the sources for the translations,

transcriptions from the original hieratic into Egyptian hieroglyphs.