151:, Khun-Anup, traveling to market with his donkeys heavily laden with goods to exchange for supplies for his family. While Khun-Anup was en route, Nemtynakht, a vassal of the high steward Rensi, notices the peasant approaching his lands and devises a scheme to steal Khun-Anup's donkeys and supplies. Nemtynakht tricks the peasant by placing a cloth on the narrow public path, where one side was bordered by the river and the other side were the private fields of Nemtynakht. His placing of the cloth on the path forces the peasant to either trample the cloth, step into the water, or take his donkeys over Nemtynakht's fields in order to continue his journey. As Khun-Anup is appealing to Nemtynakht's sense of reason in blocking his path with the cloth, one of Khun-Anup's donkeys eats a bite of barley, and Nemtynakht uses this as a justification to take Khun-Anup's donkeys and goods. When Khun-Anup complains this punishment is unfair, Nemtynakht beats him. Khun-Anup cries out for justice, and Nemtynakht threatens the peasant with death if he dares to complain. Khun-Anup does not accept this injustice and continues to appeal to Nemtynakht for ten days.
163:), telling him how elegantly the peasant speaks. Intrigued by the report of a peasant who speaks so elegantly, the pharaoh instructs Rensi to not respond to the peasant's pleas, so that the peasant would continue to make his elegant speeches and they could be written down for the pharaoh. The pharaoh orders Rensi to feed the peasant and his family while the peasant continues to plead his case, further instructing Rensi not to let the peasant know he was providing the food.
167:
Rensi sent for him and ordered him to return. But rather than being punished for his insolence, the peasant was given justice. Rensi, after reading Khun-Anup's last speech, was impressed and ordered the donkeys and the goods to be returned to Khun-Anup and the peasant to be compensated with all the property of
Nemtynakht, making Nemtynakht as poor as Khun-Anup had been.
253:
While we do have a somewhat cohesive narrative for The
Eloquent Peasant, to our current knowledge, a narrative for the entirety of the poem does not exist. The tale is a compilation of four incomplete manuscripts that have some conflict in overlapping sections. The names of people and places seem to
154:
Failing to receive justice from
Nemtynakht, Khun-Anup seeks out the high steward, the noble Rensi son of Meru, and presents his case. Rensi brings the peasant's case to the magistrates, who dismiss the case as merely being a matter of a peasant at odds with a landowner, but Rensi does not relay this
262:
Information concerning the author (or authors) of the text is minimal. It is assumed that the author(s) were more than likely male(s), but even that information may not be correct. The themes and intellectual points in the story make it evident that the author - if it was one person - was a part of
166:
For nine days Khun-Anup complimented the high steward Rensi and begged for justice. After nine days of speeches, Khun-Anup threatened suicide. After sensing that he was being ignored, Khun-Anup insulted Rensi and was punished with a beating. After one last speech, the discouraged peasant left, but
304:
The
Eloquent Peasant shows the modern reader a glimpse of how justice in crime might have been attained in ancient Egyptian culture. While it is natural to assume that guilt may be determined by the hierarchy of the time, The Eloquent Peasant shows us that you could speak your mind and possibly
289:
would have been considered a generous amount of both. The poem was also one of the first recorded texts that focused on the lives of people other than the kings or the gods. The story reflected ideals of Egypt at the time among the common people. It was extremely popular.
229:
is the ancient
Egyptian law based on the idea of harmony and balance and allows for the social hierarchy to be prevalent in citizen's everyday lives. This theme is present throughout the work, especially in Khun-Anup's speeches about what justice means to his situation.
254:
differ amongst the four different pieces. Despite this, there is an understanding that they are all versions of the same story. Like most stories, it is implied that different people told the story in different ways - leading to some discrepancies in written versions.
40:
in Egypt. It is one of the longest
Egyptian tales that has survived completed. The tale is about a peasant, Khun-Anup, who stumbles upon the property of the high steward, the noble Rensi son of Meru, guarded by its harsh overseer, Nemtynakht. It is set in the
285:, during Egypt's Classical Age. This time period was said to have produced some of the greatest works of literature and art. The wealthy and well educated Egyptians focused greatly on these aspects, as well as entertainment.
330:
196:
A greedy vassal to the high steward Rensi, Nemtynakht notices the peasant Khun-Anup's supply-laden donkeys and devises a trap that will provide him with a reason for taking Khun-Anup's donkeys and goods.
263:
the educated class. He or she was literate enough to put the story in hieroglyphics. The story was likely not originally told in the form of poetry, but was later translated.
305:
change the verdict cast upon you. The theme of justice featured so prominently in The
Eloquent Peasant might have been a precursor to themes of justice in later works.
53:. This tale is described as an elaborate reflection on the connection – or disconnection – of ethical order and refined speech, as transliterated into refined writing.
188:
The noble Rensi son of Meru is the high steward of
Pharaoh Nebkaure. The peasant Khun-Anup appeals to Rensi when he does not receive justice from Nemtynakht.
209:" is a standard epithet of the deceased. Nebkaure is a Pharaoh of the tenth dynasty of Heracleopolis, ca. 2050 BCE, during the First Intermediate Period.
823:
759:
603:
792:
917:
900:
236:
is also exemplified in the courts of the story because justice and social hierarchy is fully dependent on the judge and how he interprets
418:
844:
Shupak, Nili (1992). "A New Source for the Study of the
Judiciary and Law of Ancient Egypt: "The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant"".
78:
67:
86:
92:
89:
83:
701:
676:
493:
456:
377:
95:
81:
75:
72:
70:
938:
180:
The poor peasant, Khun-Anup, lives with his wife, Marye, and their children in an oasis around the Nile Delta in Egypt.
402:
943:
727:
813:
749:
593:
308:
The
Eloquent Peasant was adapted into an award winning short film with the same name, directed by Egyptian director
296:
was one of the few texts that highlighted some of the concepts of Egyptian law during the Middle Kingdom dynasties.
654:
933:
275:
was set in the ninth and tenth dynasties, it is generally accepted that the poem itself was written during the
890:
784:
645:
905:
818:
754:
722:
598:
25:
276:
122:
37:
426:
46:
42:
111:
8:
50:
869:
861:
567:
529:
350:
697:
672:
650:
489:
462:
452:
398:
373:
354:
309:
155:
information to the peasant. Rensi brings the story of the wronged peasant before the
873:
853:
640:
559:
521:
342:
118:
281:
895:
785:"Anonymous author of The Eloquent Peasant - The Greatest Literature of All Time"
913:
160:
346:
927:
624:
466:
33:
717:
571:
533:
891:
In hieroglyphs (includes literal translations by various contributors)
865:
206:
563:
525:
857:
449:
The Tale of Sinuhe and other ancient Egyptian poems, 1940–1640 BC
156:
148:
36:
story that was composed around 1850 BCE during the time of the
205:
He is his Majesty of the Dual King Nebkaure, the justified. "
225:
649:, vol 1, part 2, 1971 (2008), Cambridge University Press,
696:(4 ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 1078.
671:(4 ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 1082.
488:(4 ed.). W. W. Norton & Company. p. 1077.
335:
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies
906:
Excerpts from The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant (.pdf)
550:
Gardiner, Alan (April 1923). "The Eloquent Peasant".
512:
Gardiner, Alan (April 1923). "The Eloquent Peasant".
329:Huehnergard, John; Pat-El, Na‘ama (June 14, 2018).
299:
901:Papyrus with the tale at Google Arts & Culture
328:
925:
814:"The Eloquent Peasant & Egyptian Justice"
750:"The Eloquent Peasant & Egyptian Justice"
594:"The Eloquent Peasant & Egyptian Justice"
440:
331:"The origin of the Semitic relative marker"
912:This article is about an item held in the
372:(4 ed.). W. W. Norton & Company.
691:
666:
483:
446:
392:
367:
779:
777:
694:The Norton Anthology of World Literature
692:Simon, Peter; Goff, Gerra, eds. (2018).
669:The Norton Anthology of World Literature
667:Simon, Peter; Goff, Gerra, eds. (2018).
631:, Oxford University Press, 1961, p. 112.
549:
511:
486:The Norton Anthology of World Literature
484:Simon, Peter; Goff, Gerra, eds. (2018).
370:The Norton Anthology of World Literature
368:Simon, Peter; Goff, Gerra, eds. (2018).
587:
585:
583:
581:
507:
505:
479:
477:
475:
926:
843:
629:Egypt of the Pharaohs. An introduction
545:
543:
774:
685:
660:
762:from the original on 29 October 2018
747:
606:from the original on 29 October 2018
591:
578:
502:
472:
183:
32:, "a peasant good of speech") is an
552:The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology
540:
514:The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology
13:
243:
159:, Nebkaure (who is believed to be
14:
955:
884:
395:The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant
300:Influence on arts and literature
142:
16:Literary work from Ancient Egypt
846:Journal of Near Eastern Studies
837:
826:from the original on 2018-10-29
806:
795:from the original on 2018-11-16
748:Mark, Joshua (6 October 2017).
741:
730:from the original on 2021-04-14
710:
634:
618:
592:Mark, Joshua (6 October 2017).
411:
386:
361:
322:
266:
1:
646:The Cambridge Ancient History
315:
191:
170:
147:The story begins with a poor
175:
7:
939:Ancient Egyptian philosophy
393:Parkinson, Richard (1991).
357:– via Cambridge Core.
279:, around the same time as "
240:in relation to the trials.
200:
10:
960:
916:. The object reference is
819:World History Encyclopedia
755:World History Encyclopedia
723:World History Encyclopedia
599:World History Encyclopedia
419:"The Eloquent Peasant (5)"
59:
347:10.1017/S0041977X18000496
257:
248:
212:
944:Ancient Egyptian fiction
217:
447:Parkinson, R B (1999),
29:
934:Ancient Egyptian texts
397:. Griffith Institute.
294:The Eloquent Peasant
287:The Eloquent Peasant
273:The Eloquent Peasant
21:The Eloquent Peasant
271:While the story of
127:(2055–1650 BC)
789:www.editoreric.com
282:The Tale of Sinuhe
896:Older translation
703:978-0-393-60281-4
678:978-0-393-60281-4
495:978-0-393-60281-4
458:978-0-19-283966-4
379:978-0-393-60281-4
310:Shadi Abdel Salam
184:Rensi son of Meru
140:
139:
128:
103:
102:
99:
98:
30:Sekhti-nefer-medu
951:
878:
877:
841:
835:
834:
832:
831:
810:
804:
803:
801:
800:
781:
772:
771:
769:
767:
745:
739:
738:
736:
735:
714:
708:
707:
689:
683:
682:
664:
658:
641:William C. Hayes
638:
632:
622:
616:
615:
613:
611:
589:
576:
575:
547:
538:
537:
509:
500:
499:
481:
470:
469:
444:
438:
437:
435:
434:
425:. Archived from
415:
409:
408:
390:
384:
383:
365:
359:
358:
326:
126:
64:
63:
60:
56:
55:
34:Ancient Egyptian
26:Ancient Egyptian
959:
958:
954:
953:
952:
950:
949:
948:
924:
923:
922:
887:
882:
881:
842:
838:
829:
827:
812:
811:
807:
798:
796:
783:
782:
775:
765:
763:
746:
742:
733:
731:
716:
715:
711:
704:
690:
686:
679:
665:
661:
639:
635:
623:
619:
609:
607:
590:
579:
564:10.2307/3853490
548:
541:
526:10.2307/3853490
510:
503:
496:
482:
473:
459:
445:
441:
432:
430:
417:
416:
412:
405:
391:
387:
380:
366:
362:
327:
323:
318:
302:
269:
260:
251:
246:
244:Textual history
222:
215:
203:
194:
186:
178:
173:
145:
125:
109:
82:
71:
17:
12:
11:
5:
957:
947:
946:
941:
936:
914:British Museum
910:
909:
908:
903:
898:
893:
886:
885:External links
883:
880:
879:
858:10.1086/373521
836:
805:
773:
740:
709:
702:
684:
677:
659:
633:
617:
577:
539:
501:
494:
471:
457:
439:
423:AEL Email List
410:
404:978-0900416606
403:
385:
378:
360:
341:(2): 191–204.
320:
319:
317:
314:
301:
298:
277:Middle Kingdom
268:
265:
259:
256:
250:
247:
245:
242:
221:
216:
214:
211:
202:
199:
193:
190:
185:
182:
177:
174:
172:
169:
161:Nebkaure Khety
144:
141:
138:
137:
134:
133:
130:
129:
123:Middle Kingdom
115:
114:
105:
104:
101:
100:
97:
96:
93:
90:
87:
84:
79:
76:
73:
68:
38:Middle Kingdom
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
956:
945:
942:
940:
937:
935:
932:
931:
929:
921:
919:
915:
907:
904:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
888:
875:
871:
867:
863:
859:
855:
851:
847:
840:
825:
821:
820:
815:
809:
794:
790:
786:
780:
778:
761:
757:
756:
751:
744:
729:
725:
724:
719:
713:
705:
699:
695:
688:
680:
674:
670:
663:
656:
652:
648:
647:
642:
637:
630:
626:
625:Alan Gardiner
621:
605:
601:
600:
595:
588:
586:
584:
582:
573:
569:
565:
561:
557:
553:
546:
544:
535:
531:
527:
523:
519:
515:
508:
506:
497:
491:
487:
480:
478:
476:
468:
464:
460:
454:
450:
443:
429:on 2008-08-28
428:
424:
420:
414:
406:
400:
396:
389:
381:
375:
371:
364:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
332:
325:
321:
313:
311:
306:
297:
295:
291:
288:
284:
283:
278:
274:
264:
255:
241:
239:
235:
231:
228:
227:
220:
210:
208:
207:The justified
198:
189:
181:
168:
164:
162:
158:
152:
150:
143:Story summary
136:
135:
132:
131:
124:
120:
117:
116:
113:
107:
106:
94:
91:
88:
85:
80:
77:
74:
69:
66:
65:
62:
61:
58:
57:
54:
52:
51:Herakleopolis
48:
47:Tenth Dynasty
44:
39:
35:
31:
27:
23:
22:
911:
849:
845:
839:
828:. Retrieved
817:
808:
797:. Retrieved
788:
764:. Retrieved
753:
743:
732:. Retrieved
721:
712:
693:
687:
668:
662:
655:0-521-077915
644:
636:
628:
620:
608:. Retrieved
597:
555:
551:
517:
513:
485:
451:, New York,
448:
442:
431:. Retrieved
427:the original
422:
413:
394:
388:
369:
363:
338:
334:
324:
307:
303:
293:
292:
286:
280:
272:
270:
261:
252:
237:
233:
232:
224:
223:
218:
204:
195:
187:
179:
165:
153:
146:
108:sḫtj nfr mdw
20:
19:
18:
852:(1): 1–18.
267:Time period
112:hieroglyphs
928:Categories
830:2018-11-15
799:2018-11-15
766:4 November
734:2018-11-15
610:4 November
558:(1/2): 8.
520:(1/2): 7.
433:2007-12-17
316:References
192:Nemtynakht
171:Characters
657:, p. 465.
467:317507143
355:171983928
312:in 1969.
176:Khun-anup
918:EA 10274
874:56427338
824:Archived
793:Archived
760:Archived
728:Archived
604:Archived
201:Nebkaure
718:"Ma'at"
572:3853490
534:3853490
157:pharaoh
149:peasant
49:around
872:
866:545594
864:
700:
675:
653:
570:
532:
492:
465:
455:
401:
376:
353:
258:Author
249:Origin
213:Themes
870:S2CID
862:JSTOR
643:, in
568:JSTOR
530:JSTOR
351:S2CID
238:ma'at
234:Ma'at
226:Ma'at
219:Ma'at
43:Ninth
768:2018
698:ISBN
673:ISBN
651:ISBN
612:2018
490:ISBN
463:OCLC
453:ISBN
399:ISBN
374:ISBN
854:doi
560:doi
522:doi
343:doi
119:Era
110:in
45:or
930::
868:.
860:.
850:51
848:.
822:.
816:.
791:.
787:.
776:^
758:.
752:.
726:.
720:.
627:,
602:.
596:.
580:^
566:.
554:.
542:^
528:.
516:.
504:^
474:^
461:,
421:.
349:.
339:81
337:.
333:.
121::
28::
920:.
876:.
856::
833:.
802:.
770:.
737:.
706:.
681:.
614:.
574:.
562::
556:9
536:.
524::
518:9
498:.
436:.
407:.
382:.
345::
24:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.