The Living Wisdom of Ancient Egypt by Christian Jacq
Christian Jacq (1947) is an essayist and author of popular historical novels set in ancient Egypt. He received a doctorate in Egyptology from the Sorbonne and his early scientific works attracted the attention of the French Academy, but he mainly turned to writing novels that combine Egyptology with his talent for storytelling. He gained international fame with his five-volume book about Pharaoh Ramesses II, which has been published in over twenty-five countries. He has written over fifty books, including the following works related to Egyptian tradition: The Mystery of Hieroglyphs (1997), The Living Wisdom of Ancient Egypt (1998), The Maxims of Ptah-Hotep: Teachings of a Sage in the Time of the Pyramids (2004), The Great Sages of Ancient Egypt: From Imhotep to Hermes. The written legacy is an invaluable treasure for getting to know any ancient civilization. It perhaps best brings us closer to the spirit of the times and the spirit of a particular people, allowing us to understand their prevailing system of values, the ideals that drove them, their emotions, thoughts, aspirations, fears, and beliefs.
In his book “The Living Wisdom of Ancient Egypt,” contemporary French Egyptologist Christian Jacq has made a selection from the rich treasury of records found on papyrus scrolls in museums and archives around the world, on the walls of temples, statues, tombs… Their writings, with the oldest ones carved on the inner walls of pyramids, speak of the special attention that the Egyptians devoted to ethical questions: living a righteous life, justice, proper treatment of others, and above all, purity of heart. For them, the heart is a gift from God and a part of us that is closest to God; the heart best distinguishes between good and evil, in the heart we feel joy, remorse, and regret for our actions, and it is the only way to attain true happiness. It is possible to correctly understand the teachings of the wise. That is why Egyptian sages sought to instill a sense of order, truth, and justice in the hearts of the people through their often picturesque and concise advice for everyday life, and thus bring them into harmony with the unchanging law of the universe – Maat. Behind seemingly simple teachings related to various life questions, the maturity and strength of a millennia-old civilization emerges, whose messages are timeless and just as relevant today as they were five thousand years ago.
On the occasion of the release of the Croatian translation of the book “Living Wisdom of Ancient Egypt,” Prof. Jacq responded to several questions we asked him.
What sparked your interest in Egyptian culture and what particularly fascinates you about it?
I discovered the civilization of ancient Egypt when I was thirteen, by reading the monumental work in three volumes by the Egyptologist Jacques Pirenne: its architecture, sculptures, literature, spirituality… What fascinates me the most is the consistency of this civilization, which united spiritual and material aspects.
It is known that you are engaged in creating a photo archive of Egyptian archaeological remains. Can you tell us something about that?
I was involved in the establishment of the Ramses Institute, which I have not been leading for a long time, to collect photographs of monuments, tombs, statues, etc., in order to preserve the memory of endangered works. Various research was conducted in the field, and a photographic collection was created. I hope that other similar initiatives will be launched to preserve this invaluable treasure in every possible way.
What would you recommend to today’s youth who are interested in exploring ancient Egypt?
I recommend to young people interested in ancient Egypt to learn how to read and write in hieroglyphics, delve into the symbolism and meaning behind the artwork and architecture, study the mythology and religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians, and explore archaeological sites and artifacts. It is important to approach the subject with curiosity, open-mindedness, and a desire to learn and understand the rich history and culture of ancient Egypt. Writing hieroglyphs, because it is the unique language-key of the Pharaonic civilization. Of course, read as much as you can and travel to Egypt as soon as possible to visit the main archaeological sites.
The Great Law (Maat) is immense,
its effectiveness enduring.
It has not been disrupted since the time of Osiris.
When the end comes,
the Law remains.
Ptahotep
Righteousness (Maat) springs forth
in the heart of divine light (Ra).
The Ibis Temple, the Kharga oasis.
The pharaoh’s power is justice.
Monuments of those who have destroyed are destroyed.
The actions of the wicked are not permanent.
Kanais, inscription of Seti I.
The balanced happiness of the land
comes as a result of achieved justice.
The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant.
Righteousness leads to eternity.
It descends into the underworld
with those who act accordingly.
Laid to rest, united with the earth,
but their name is not forgotten,
the memory of the good they have done remains.
Such is the law, according to divine words.
The Tale of the Eloquent Peasant.
Learn to listen, distinguishing between good and evil.
Amon-Nakht
To those who do evil, evil will inevitably come. Work done.
Urkunden VI, 71, 20
Responsible people must fight against evil,
support the good,
be those who create what must be.
Story of the eloquent farmer
Punish consistently,
teach thoroughly,
(for) stopping evil leads to lasting reign of virtue.
Ptahotep
(While even) the least evil leads to death,
no good deed is hidden from God.
Ankh-Šešonk
Do not choose the side of a richly dressed man,
do not reject a poorly dressed one.
Do not accept gifts from the powerful,
do not be unjust to the weak
in order to favor the powerful.
Amenemopet
Do not worry, nor rejoice about the future.
Story of the eloquent farmer
The human heart is a gift from God.
Take care not to neglect it.
Amenemopet
Open your ears,
listen to these words,
open your heart to understand them.
It is useful to receive them in your heart,
woe to those who neglect them!
Let them dwell in your inner being,
let them be locked in your heart.
If you live with these words in your heart, you will succeed.
Amenemopet
Beware of lies: they will prevent you from fighting against evil. And within yourself.
Ani
Do not be loud in God’s temple
because He does not like loud prayers.
Pray with a heart that loves, with unspoken words.
He will take care of your needs,
He will hear what you say,
your sacrifice will be pleasing to Him.
Ani
Do not seek advice from God only to
then ignore what He tells you.
Ankh-Seshonk
A wise man correctly uses rewards and punishments.
Insinger Papyrus
Do not pick up the spear if you do not know how to aim.
Ankh-Seshonk
A good character is heaven for a human being.
Merikara