Senuseret I (Part II): the Teachings of Amenemhat

In the wake of his father’s murder, King Sen-user-et comes to power. First he must manage the transition to power, then he must build his own legacy.

To strengthen his legitimacy, Senuseret commissions The Teachings of Amenemhat. Purporting to be written by the late king, the work promotes the new ruler’s view of his situation and courtly society, with special warnings to trust no one. Whether the work is full of Senuseret’s own ideas, or perhaps composed from teachings given by the late Amenemhat during their co-regency, it is a fascinating piece of Egyptian didactic literature.

The Teaching of Amenemhat

  • The “Instructions of Amenemhat,” at UCL. Later versions at Wikimedia.

Senuseret I

  • Overview of reign and records at SLU.edu.
  • Overview of records at UCL.
  • Detailed summary of reign at Wikipedia.
  • Misc monuments, objects, and art at Wikimedia.

Names / Titles

  • Horus: Ankhmesut
  • Two Ladies: Ankhmesut
  • Golden Horus: Ankhmesut
  • Throne name/Prenomen: Kheper-ka-Re
  • Personal name/Nomen: Senusret

Wives

  • Neferu III

Monuments

  • Pyramid complex at al-Lisht, Wikimedia.
  • The White Chapel at Karnak, photos by Kairoinfo4u, Flickr.
  • Obelisk in the Temple of Ra at Iunu (Heliopolis), Wikimedia.

The Twelfth Dynasty

Show 4 Comments

4 Comments

  1. waterhawk

    there is no podcast link

  2. Tim Jokela

    Re the Finnish novel on Sinuhe, the author’s name is Mika Waltari.
    Great work on the podcasts !

  3. Christine Pizan

    The unpleasantness of the teachings of Amenemhat isn’t particularly surprising imo. These are kings who go on imperial conquests to the west east and south, behind every military campaign is a trail of human misery and destroyed lives.

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