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Egyptian Texts II

Code: 44504 ECTS Credits: 10
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
4315555 Egyptology OB 2

Contact

Name:
Josep Cervello Autuori
Email:
josep.cervello@uab.cat

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Have previously taken the modules Egyptian Texts I and Egyptian Epigraphy and Paleography.


Objectives and Contextualisation

The general objective of this module is for students to specialise in Egyptian philology, specifically in the translation, analysis, and commentary of Middle and Late Egyptian literary and religious texts in hieroglyphic and hieratic script, through eminently practical classes. These are the contents they will have to work on:

1) Hieratic palaeography of Middle and Late Egyptian texts.

2) Translation, analysis, and commentary of Middle and Late Egyptian literary and religious texts in hieroglyphic and hieratic script, paying special attention to their cultural context.


Competences

  • Act in a creative and original way with solidarity and spirit of scientific collaboration.
  • Assess the quality, self-imposed, rigor, responsibility and social commitment, both in training and in the scientific and informative work.
  • Critically analyze a given scientific problem based on historical and cultural sources.
  • Critically interpret texts as historical and cultural sources.
  • Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
  • Read, translate, parse, interpret texts critically and edit antiguoegipcios, medioegipcios and neoegipcios of different genres and on different media.
  • Teaming up with special sensitivity interdisciplinarity.
  • That students are able to integrate knowledge and handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
  • That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Act in a creative and original way with solidarity and spirit of scientific collaboration.
  2. Assess the quality, self-imposed, rigor, responsibility and social commitment, both in training and in the scientific and informative work.
  3. Critically analyze a given scientific problem based on historical and cultural sources.
  4. Knowledge and understanding that provide a basis or opportunity for originality in developing and / or applying ideas, often in a research context.
  5. Medioegipcias critically interpret textual sources of high difficulty.
  6. Neoegipcias critically interpret textual sources.
  7. Teaming up with special sensitivity interdisciplinarity.
  8. That students are able to integrate knowledge and handle complexity and formulate judgments based on information that was incomplete or limited, include reflecting on social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
  9. That students have the learning skills that enable them to continue studying in a way that will be largely self-directed or autonomous.
  10. Translate and interpret Middle Egyptian texts of high difficulty.
  11. Translate and interpret literary Neo Egyptian texts .

Content

SUBJECT 1. LITERARY MIDDLE-EGYPTIAN TEXTS II

Translation and grammatical study of the complete History of Sinuhe and selected passages from other Middle Egyptian literary and religious texts of a high level.

SUBJECT 2. LATE EGYPTIAN LITERARY TEXTS IN HIERATIC SCRIPT

A. HIERATIC PALAEOGRAPHY

1) Hieratic script: signs, ligatures, layout.

2) Exercises in reading hieratic Middle and Late Egyptian texts.

B. LATE EGYPTIAN TEXTS

Reading of the hieratic original, translation, and grammatical study of the complete tale of The Two Brothers (D'Orbiney papyrus) and selected passages from other Late Egyptian texts.


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Classroom interventions 10 0.4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
In-class exams and tests 15 0.6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Theoretical and practical classroom lessons with the support of ICT 60 2.4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Type: Supervised      
Follow-up tutorials 5 0.2 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Type: Autonomous      
Study and personal or group work by the student 160 6.4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Specification of what the STUDENT AUTONOMOUS ACTIVITY consists of:

a) Study (studying is that process or set of personal or group activities that leads to knowing things and being able to explain them in a coherent and orderly way, orally or in writing).

b) Personal work: consultation of grammars, dictionaries, text editions, and reference works in the field of Egyptian philology; reading of specialised bibliography; exercises in writing (hieroglyphic and hieratic) and reading; translation, analysis, and commentary of Middle and Late Egyptian texts; team work on the translation of Middle and Late Egyptian texts; preparation of interventions in class and tutorials; preparation of continuous assessment activities and exams and tests in class.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Classroom interventions and follow-up tutorials on Middle and Late Egyptian texts 5% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Exams on Middle Egyptian texts 50% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Group work on Middle and Late Egyptian texts 30% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
Short in-class exercices on hieratic palaeography and hieratic Middle and Late Egyptian texts 15% 0 0 6, 8, 9, 11

To pass the module students must pass the evaluation of the two subjects that compose it.

In the table, the hours of dedication to each activity are not specified because they may vary from one student to another. The approximate total hours of the student's personal work are specified in the table in the "Methodology" section.

The assessment will consist of the four types of activities specified in the table.

The subject Middle Egyptian Literary Texts II involves the following assessment activities:

a) Three mid-term exams on Sinuhe and, possibly, other Middle-Egyptian literary texts;

b) Three group works on Middle Egyptian literary and religious texts.

The subject Late Egyptian Literary Texts in Hieratic Script involves the following assessment activities:

a) Various short in-class exercises, on a weekly or be-weekly basis, on hieratic palaeography and hieratic Middle and Late Egyptian texts.

b) A group work on a Late Egyptian literary text.

As regards the grading review procedure, teachers will inform students of the procedure at the time of each assessment activity.

With regard to make-up tests and exams, the teacher will agree the dates with the students, which must be within the month following the original test or exam. Students who have passed a test or exam but wish to improve their marks may also sit the make-up exam. In principle, the work and activities that the student carries out in an autonomous way are not subject to recovery.


Bibliography

A. HIERATIC PALEOGRAPHY

Gosline, Sh.L. 1999. Writing Late Egyptian Hieratic. A Beginner's Primer. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns.

Möller, G. 1927-1945. Hieratische Lesestücke für den akademischen Gebrauch.3vols. Leipzig: Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung.

Möller, G. 1927-1936. Hieratische Paläographie. Leipzig: J.C. Hinrichs.

Schrauder, J.; Laudenklos, F. 2011. Neue Paläografie des Mittelägyptischen Hieratisch. Berlin: Epubli.

B. TRANSLATIONS OF LITERARY TEXTS

Into Spanish and Catalan

Fortuny Boladeras, J. (catalan version); Pastor, P. (illustrations). 2013. La vida de Sinuhè o el gust de la mort. Barcelona: Associació de Bibliòfils de Barcelona.

Galán, J.M. 1998. Cuatro viajes en la literatura del antiguo Egipto. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 1998.

Galán, J.M. 2002. El imperio egipcio. Inscripciones, ca. 1550-1300 a.C. Pliegos de Oriente 7. Madrid-Barcelona: Trotta-Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona.

López, J. 20051, 20222. Cuentos y fábulas del antiguo Egipto. Pliegos de Oriente 9. Madrid-Barcelona: Trotta-Publicacions i edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona.

Serrano Delgado, J.M. 19931, 20212. Textos para la historia antigua de Egipto. Madrid: Cátedra.

Into other languages

Allen, J.P. 20051, 20152. The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts. Writings from the Ancient World 23. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature.

Barbotin, Ch. 2005. La voix des hiéroglyphes. Promenade au département des antiquités égyptiennes du musée du Louvre. Paris: Kheops-Musée du Louvre.

Barguet, P. 1967. Le Livre des Morts des anciens Égyptiens. Paris: Éditionsdu Cerf.

Bresciani, E. 19691, 19993. Letteratura e poesia dell'antico Egitto. Cultura e società attraverso i testi. Torino: Einaudi.

Faulkner, R.O. 1973-1978 (reprint in 1 vol. 2004). The Ancient Egyptian Coffin Texts. 3 vols. Oxford: Aris & Phillips.

Faulkner, R.O. 19721, 19852. The Ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead. London: British Museum Publications.

Grandet, P. 1998. Contes de l'Égypte ancienne. Paris: Hachette.

Lichtheim, M. 1973-1980. Ancient Egyptian Literature. 3 vols. Berkeley-Los Angeles-London: University of California Press.

Mathieu, B. 2023. La littérature de l'Égypte ancienne, III: Moyen Empire et Deuxième Période Intermédiaire. Contes, enseignements et littérature d'idée. Paris: Les Belles Lettres.

Parkinson, R.B. 1991. Voices from Ancient Egypt. An Anthology of Middle Kingdom Writings. London: British Museum Press.

Parkinson, R.B. 1997. The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems. 1940-1640 BC. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Vernus, P. 20102. Sagesses de l'Égypte pharaonique. Arles: Actes Sud.

Vernus, P. 1992. Chants d'amour de l'Égypte antique. Paris: Imprimerie nationale.

C. HISTORY OF SINUHE: EDITIONS, TRANSLATIONS, AND STUDIES

Editions and facsimiles

Barns, J.W.B. 1952. The Ashmolean Ostracon of Sinuhe. London: Oxford University Press.

Blackman, A.M. 1972. Middle-Egyptian Stories (Bibliotheca Aegyptiaca II). Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth.

Gardiner, A.H. 1909. DieErzählung des Sinuhe und die Hirtengeschichte (Literarische Texte des Mittleren Reiches 2 = Hieratische Papyrus aus den Königlichen Museen zu Berlin 5) Leipzig: Hinrichs.

Koch, R. 1990. Die Erzählung des Sinuhe (Bibliotheca Aegyptiaca XVII). Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth.

Translations

Bresciani, E. 1999. Letteratura e poesia dell'antico Egitto. Torino: Einaudi.

Fortuny Boladeras, J. (catalan version); Pastor, P. (illustrations). 2013. La vida de Sinuhè oel gust de la mort. Barcelona: Associació de Bibliòfils de Barcelona.

Galán, J.M. 1998. Cuatro viajes en la literatura del antiguo Egipto. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas.

*Grandet, P. 1998. Contes de l'Égypte ancienne. Paris: Hachette.

Lefebvre, G. 1982. Romans et contes égyptiens de l'époque pharaonique. Paris: Maisonneuve.

Lichtheim, M. 1973-1980. Ancient Egyptian Literature. 3 vols.Berkeley-Los Angeles-London: University of California Press.

López, J. 2005. Cuentos y fábulas del Antiguo Egipto. Barcelona-Madrid: Publicacions dela UB-Trotta.

*Mathieu, B. 2023. La littérature de l'Égypte ancienne, III: Moyen Empire et Deuxième Période Intermédiaire. Contes, enseignements et littérature d'idée. Paris: Les Belles Lettres.

*Parkinson, R.B. 1997. The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems. 1940-1640 BC. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Simpson, W.K. (ed.) 1973. The Literature of Ancient Egypt. New Haven-London: Yale University Press.

* Especially recommended

Studies

Baines, J. 1982. Interpreting Sinuhe. JEA 68: 31-44.

Cervelló Autuori, J. 2013. Prefaci. In: Fortuny Boladeras, J. (catalan version); Pastor, P. (illustrations). La vida de Sinuhè o el gust de la mort. Barcelona: Associació de Bibliòfils de Barcelona: 9-23. [Spanish version for the MOOC Coursera-UAB in "Egiptología": 2014. La Historia de Sinuhé: contexto histórico, contexto literario, trama.]

Obsomer, Cl. 1999. Sinouhé l'Égyptien et les raisons de son exil. Le Muséon 112: 207-271.

Tobin, V.A. 1995. The Secret of Sinuhe. JARCE 32: 161-178.

D. THE TWO BROTHERS: EDITION, TRANSLATIONS, AND STUDIES

Edition, facsimil, and photographs

Gardiner, A.H. 1981. Late-Egyptian Stories. Bibliotheca Aegyptiaca 1.Bruxelles: Fondation Égyptologique Reine Élisabeth.

Möller, G. 1927. Hieratische Lesestücke für den akademischen Gebrauch. Vol. 2. Leipzig: Hinrichs'sche Buchhandlung.

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=113977&partId=1&searchText=

Translations

Bresciani, E. 1999. Letteratura e poesia dell'antico Egitto. Torino: Einaudi.

*Grandet, P. 1998. Contes de l'Égypte ancienne. Paris: Hachette.

*Hollis, S.T. 1990. The Ancient Egyptian 'Tale of Two Brothers'. The Oldest Fairy Tale in the World. Oklahoma Seriesin Classical Culture 7. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.

Lefebvre, G. 1982. Romans et contes égyptiens de l'époque pharaonique. Paris: Maisonneuve.

Lichtheim, M. 1973-1980. Ancient Egyptian Literature. 3 vols.Berkeley-Los Angeles-London: University of California Press.

López, J. 2005. Cuentos y fábulasdel Antiguo Egipto. Barcelona-Madrid: Publicacions de la UB-Trotta.

*Mathieu, B. 2015. Le conte des Deux Frères. P. d'Orbiney = P. BM EA 10183 (teaching material published by the author on Academia.edu).

Simpson, W.K. (ed.) 1973. The Literature of Ancient Egypt. New Haven-London: Yale University Press.

* Especially recommended

Studies

Hollis, S.T. 1990. The Ancient Egyptian 'Tale of Two Brothers'. The Oldest Fairy Tale in the World. Oklahoma Series in Classical Culture 7. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press (with good bibliography since 1990).

Mathieu, B. 2015. Le conte des Deux Frères. P. d'Orbiney = P. BM EA 10183 (teaching material published by the author on Academia.edu; with good updated bibliography).


Software

JSesh, hieroglyphic writing software.
It can be downloaded free of charge from: https://jsesh.qenherkhopeshef.org/


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Spanish annual afternoon