AN NEA 103 (UCLA AN NEA 103A / Hist
103A Ancient Egyptian Civilization Dr.
Troche Primary sources weeks 6-10)
Question and answers verified to pass
The Stela of Tjetji - correct answers Date: First Intermediate Period (2181 BC-
2055 BC)
Location: Thebes
What: Horizontal inscription of fourteen lines of Tjetji giving the titular of the
Theban king Intef II a self-laudatory inscription and giving the details of his
successful career under the reigns of Intef II and Intef III. The vertical
inscription contains five columns of prayer for offerings and a successful
journey to the Western Land.
Context: Excellent example of the classic tomb autobiography
Details & Significance: Many of the Theban monuments are very important as
they help to document the progress of the Theban rulers in their campaigns to
dominate Upper and the Lower Egypt. This particular limestone stela tells the
details and story of the Intef II, the Theban king. Tjetji is praising the king as
someone who gave him rank and wealth and purpose. To put it bluntly, Tjetji
is a kiss-ass (Don't write that on the final, if it comes up). His inscriptions are
just of him praising himself and giving reasons as to why the king would trust
him with tasks such as "dealing justly with a petitioner or attending to the
request of a poor man, I performed it rightly and justly." Tjetji was the
treasurer of the king and was known as the overseer of the treasure. The
second vertical part of the limestone is just basic prayers and offerings to
ensure that the king makes it to the Western Land.
Limitations: Gives an idealized account of an official's character and career
and is not historically reliable as it may be biased.
Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage - correct answers Date: Late Middle
Kingdom (Contested, some believe it's from the 12th Dynasty. Re-written on
papyrus paper from the 19th Dynasty)
, Location:
What: National Calamity literature, a format based on a reflection of the
postulated upheaval which took place during the First Intermediate Period.
Context:
Details & Significance: What we can figure out is that a wise man named
Ipuwer is addressing the pharaoh, whose name was probably given in the
now-missing head of the document. He describes in great detail how the Two
Lands have fallen into chaos, blames it on the failure of the king to keep order,
and urges him to "destroy the enemies of the august Residence" and perform
the required religious rites so that the gods will support Egypt's restoration. On
the other hand, this writing may have been an act of political propaganda,
contrasting the good times of the reigning pharaoh with how bad things were
in the previous dynasty.
Limitations: Beginning and end are lost. No idea what they may say.
Tomb of Shemai Text - correct answers Date: 8th Dynasty
Location: Kom el-Koffar Shemai
Context/significance: This text can tell us about the declining power and
importance of the king that came with the end of the Old Kingdom. The author
speaks more in active voice, using "I" to express his own actions. There is a
much greater emphasis on family and local relationships as opposed to
relationship to the king. By contrast, Harkhuf's Autobiography from the 6th
dynasty was much more passive and described the king's actions and the
author's relationship to the king.
Saff tombs (e.g. Intef I) - correct answers A. Date: 6th Dynasty
B. Location: Thebes
C. What: Tombs that were open air-court and chambers that were cut into the
side of a mountain
D. Context: The development of the saff was purely Theban, independent of
the burial traditions in the north and of the burial traditions of the Old Kingdom.
103A Ancient Egyptian Civilization Dr.
Troche Primary sources weeks 6-10)
Question and answers verified to pass
The Stela of Tjetji - correct answers Date: First Intermediate Period (2181 BC-
2055 BC)
Location: Thebes
What: Horizontal inscription of fourteen lines of Tjetji giving the titular of the
Theban king Intef II a self-laudatory inscription and giving the details of his
successful career under the reigns of Intef II and Intef III. The vertical
inscription contains five columns of prayer for offerings and a successful
journey to the Western Land.
Context: Excellent example of the classic tomb autobiography
Details & Significance: Many of the Theban monuments are very important as
they help to document the progress of the Theban rulers in their campaigns to
dominate Upper and the Lower Egypt. This particular limestone stela tells the
details and story of the Intef II, the Theban king. Tjetji is praising the king as
someone who gave him rank and wealth and purpose. To put it bluntly, Tjetji
is a kiss-ass (Don't write that on the final, if it comes up). His inscriptions are
just of him praising himself and giving reasons as to why the king would trust
him with tasks such as "dealing justly with a petitioner or attending to the
request of a poor man, I performed it rightly and justly." Tjetji was the
treasurer of the king and was known as the overseer of the treasure. The
second vertical part of the limestone is just basic prayers and offerings to
ensure that the king makes it to the Western Land.
Limitations: Gives an idealized account of an official's character and career
and is not historically reliable as it may be biased.
Admonitions of an Egyptian Sage - correct answers Date: Late Middle
Kingdom (Contested, some believe it's from the 12th Dynasty. Re-written on
papyrus paper from the 19th Dynasty)
, Location:
What: National Calamity literature, a format based on a reflection of the
postulated upheaval which took place during the First Intermediate Period.
Context:
Details & Significance: What we can figure out is that a wise man named
Ipuwer is addressing the pharaoh, whose name was probably given in the
now-missing head of the document. He describes in great detail how the Two
Lands have fallen into chaos, blames it on the failure of the king to keep order,
and urges him to "destroy the enemies of the august Residence" and perform
the required religious rites so that the gods will support Egypt's restoration. On
the other hand, this writing may have been an act of political propaganda,
contrasting the good times of the reigning pharaoh with how bad things were
in the previous dynasty.
Limitations: Beginning and end are lost. No idea what they may say.
Tomb of Shemai Text - correct answers Date: 8th Dynasty
Location: Kom el-Koffar Shemai
Context/significance: This text can tell us about the declining power and
importance of the king that came with the end of the Old Kingdom. The author
speaks more in active voice, using "I" to express his own actions. There is a
much greater emphasis on family and local relationships as opposed to
relationship to the king. By contrast, Harkhuf's Autobiography from the 6th
dynasty was much more passive and described the king's actions and the
author's relationship to the king.
Saff tombs (e.g. Intef I) - correct answers A. Date: 6th Dynasty
B. Location: Thebes
C. What: Tombs that were open air-court and chambers that were cut into the
side of a mountain
D. Context: The development of the saff was purely Theban, independent of
the burial traditions in the north and of the burial traditions of the Old Kingdom.
