In the fourth in a series of articles exploring myths and tales from ancient Egypt, Dr Joyce Tyldesley introduces us to the New Kingdom story of the prince whose fate was foretold at his birth.
This EighteenthDynasty fantasyincludes elements that can be found in modern fairy tales; it may remind readers of Sleeping Beauty (the bad fairy at the christening) or Rapunzel (the princess trapped in her high tower). To the Egyptians, the story echoed the themes found in The Shipwrecked Sailor (travel away from home: AE99, p.20) and the Destruction of Mankind (the use of alcohol to deflect a destroyer; AE98, p.32). The tale follows the journey of an unnamed prince as he travels from Egypt, across the Sinai land bridge, to the faraway but real land of Naharin (more commonly known as Mitanni) on the Euphrates River. He travels by horse-driven chariot, a means of transport introduced to Egypt by the Second Intermediate Period Hyksos kings.
The Tale
There once lived a king who was sad because he had no children. He prayed to the gods that his wife might give birth, and they granted his wish. Nine months later a son was born. The king was beside himself with happiness. Then the Seven Hathors (see pp. 34, 35) arrived to declare the baby’s fate. The prediction was grim: “He will meet his death through a dog, or through a snake, or through a crocodile.”
この記事は Ancient Egypt の Issue 101 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
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この記事は Ancient Egypt の Issue 101 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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