Since 1930 the existence of two demotic fragmentary papyrus, datable to the first century AD and written by the same hand, with parts of the “Story of Ahiqar”, has been known. They were edited by K. Zauzich in 1976 and are re-studied by M. Betrò in this essay. Her contribution considerably improves the first edition with new readings and interpretations; moreover, it makes clear, through the new readings she proposes, that the demotic fragments of the Story transmit episodes not present in the Elephantine text, although known by the later tradition, here narrated in a simpler form and style. They attest therefore the existence of an intermediate link in the textual tradition between the Aramaic text from Elephantine and the later tradition. The author stresses how this intermediate version draws on ancient Egyptian themes, but processes and mixes them with elements coming from other different cultural sources. This literary creation probably took place in a cultural environment deeply egyptianized but, nonetheless, jealously keeping alive its own identity, whose natural candidate is the large Aramaic community living in Egypt in the first millennium B.C.
La tradizione di Ahiqar in Egitto
BETRO', MARIA CARMELA
2005-01-01
Abstract
Since 1930 the existence of two demotic fragmentary papyrus, datable to the first century AD and written by the same hand, with parts of the “Story of Ahiqar”, has been known. They were edited by K. Zauzich in 1976 and are re-studied by M. Betrò in this essay. Her contribution considerably improves the first edition with new readings and interpretations; moreover, it makes clear, through the new readings she proposes, that the demotic fragments of the Story transmit episodes not present in the Elephantine text, although known by the later tradition, here narrated in a simpler form and style. They attest therefore the existence of an intermediate link in the textual tradition between the Aramaic text from Elephantine and the later tradition. The author stresses how this intermediate version draws on ancient Egyptian themes, but processes and mixes them with elements coming from other different cultural sources. This literary creation probably took place in a cultural environment deeply egyptianized but, nonetheless, jealously keeping alive its own identity, whose natural candidate is the large Aramaic community living in Egypt in the first millennium B.C.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
