Inventory number

General description

Instructions of Ptahhotep

CGT 54014 is a papyrus dating to the New Kingdom, containing a copy of the famous Middle Kingdom literary composition "Instructions of Ptahhotep". This papyrus contains the beginning of the teaching which introduces Ptahhotep as the vizier under king Djedkare. The king says that before the elderly Ptahhotep is allowed to retire, he must educate his son in order for him to take over his position as vizier. Unfortunately, this is the spot where the few lines on the papyrus come to an end, so none of the actual teachings have survived on this manuscript.

This text was probably used as a scribal exercise as can be seen by the many red dots on top of words that were used to mark certain elements of each passage. Only a small part of the text has been preserved, but due to the many copies that are known throughout Egyptian history the content of the text at hand can be reconstructed.