The Satire of the Trades

author
genre:  sebayt
original language:  Egyptian
main subject:  professionscribe

The Satire of the Trades, also called The Instruction of Kheti, is a didactic work of ancient Egyptian literature. It takes the form of an instruction and was composed by a scribe from Sile named Kheti for his son Pepi. The Satire exalts the career of a scribe while remarking on the drudgery experienced in other professions. Laborers are described in the document as having tired arms and to be living in subpar conditions. This poor standard of living is juxtaposed with the life of a scribe, whose job is "greater than any profession". Egyptologists disagree on whether or not the text is satirical. The same Kheti may have composed the Instructions of Amenemhat, but this is unclear.The entirety of the document survives on the Papyrus Sallier II at the British Museum (Museum number EA10182,11), but it is extremely corrupted. Some fragments are kept at the British Museum, the Louvre, the Morgan Library & Museum, and other institutions. This instruction is referenced by Ben Sira in the Deuterocanonical Book of Sirach at Sirach 38:24–39:11. Source: Wikipedia (en)

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Work - wd:Q616182

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