Hieratic copy of the Teaching of Amenemhat I

New Kingdom, Ramesside

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 124

This extract from a strikingly dramatic poem was written on the sherd of a large jar. In the story, a vision of the dead king Amenemhat I speaks to his son and warns him of the burden of kingship. He describes a night when he was attacked and apparently killed by his bodyguard. Although it may have been composed in the Eighteenth Dynasty, the poem provides a vivid picture of kingship centered on Middle Kingdom rulers.

Hieratic copy of the Teaching of Amenemhat I, Pottery, ink

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.