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Mirrors For Princes
Mirrors for princes or mirrors of princes () constituted a literary genre of didactic political writings throughout the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. It was part of the broader speculum or mirror literature genre. The Latin term ''speculum regum'' appears as early as the 12th century and may have been used even earlier. It may have developed from the popular speculum literature popular from the 12th to 16th century, focusing on knowledge of a particular subject matter. These texts most frequently take the form of textbooks for the instruction of kings, princes, or lesser rulers on successful governance and behaviour. The term is also used for histories or literary works presenting model images of good and bad kings. Authors often composed such "mirrors" at the accession of a new king, when a young and inexperienced ruler was about to come to power. One could view them as a species of prototypical self-help book or study of leadership before the concept of a "leader" became mor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Genre
Genre () is any style or form of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other forms of art or entertainment, based on some set of stylistic criteria, as in literary genres, film genres, music genres, comics genres, etc. Often, works fit into multiple genres by way of borrowing and recombining these conventions. Stand-alone texts, works, or pieces of communication may have individual styles, but genres are amalgams of these texts based on agreed-upon or socially inferred conventions. Some genres may have rigid, strictly adhered-to guidelines, while others may show great flexibility. The proper use of a specific genre is important for a successful transfer of information ( media-adequacy). Critical discussion of genre perhaps began with a classification system for ancient Greek literature, as set out in Aristotle' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ptahhotep
Ptahhotep ( "Peace of Ptah"; (), sometimes known as Ptahhotep I or Ptahhotpe, was an ancient Egyptian vizier during the late 25th century BC and early 24th century BC Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. He is credited with authoring ''The Maxims of Ptahhotep'', an early piece of Egyptian "wisdom literature" or philosophy meant to instruct young men in appropriate behavior. Life Ptahhotep was the city administrator and vizier (first minister) during the reign of King Djedkare Isesi in the Fifth Dynasty. He had a son named Akhethetep, who was also a vizier. He and his descendants were buried at Saqqara. Ptahhotep's tomb is located in a mastaba in North Saqqara (Mastaba D62). His grandson Ptahhotep Tjefi, who lived during the reign of Unas, was buried in the mastaba of his father (Mastaba 64). Their tomb is famous for its outstanding depictions. Next to the vizier's titles he held many other important positions, such as ''overseer of the treasury'', ''overseer of scribes of the king's do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Narayan Pandit
Narayan Pandit (Hindi: नारायण पण्डित), or Narayana (died 10th century), was the Brāhmaṇa author of the ''Sanskrit'' treatise called ''Hitopadesha'' — a work based primarily on the ''Panchatantra'', one of the oldest collection of stories, mainly animal fables, in the world. Narayana's dates are not known, but scholarly consensus places the composition of the ''Hitopadesha'' at around 800 to 950 CE. The last lines of the book indicate the name of the author as Narayan Pandit: नारायणेन प्रचरतु रचितः संग्रहोsयं कथानाम् Narayan Pandit was the royal poet of Dhawalchandra, the king of Bengal. (in Hindi) The beginning and ending |
Arthashastra
''Kautilya's Arthashastra'' (, ; ) is an Ancient Indian Sanskrit treatise on statecraft, politics, economic policy and military strategy. The text is likely the work of several authors over centuries, starting as a compilation of ''Arthashastras'', texts which according to Olivelle date from the 2nd c. BCE to the 1st c. CE. These treatises were compiled and amended in a new treatise, according to McClish and Olivelle in the 1st century CE by either an anonymous author or Kautilya, though earlier and later dates have also been proposed. While often regarded as created by a single author, McClish and Olivelle argue that this compilation, possibly titled ''Daņdanīti'', served as the basis for a major expansion and redaction in the 2nd or 3rd century CE by either Kautilya or an anonymous author, when several books, dialogical comments, and the disharmonious chapter-division were added, and a stronger Brahmanical ideology was brought in. The text thus became a proper ''arthashast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chanakya
Chanakya (ISO 15919, ISO: ', चाणक्य, ), according to legendary narratives preserved in various traditions dating from the 4th to 11th century CE, was a Brahmin who assisted the first Mauryan emperor Chandragupta Maurya, Chandragupta in his rise to power and the establishment of the Maurya Empire. According to these narratives, Chanakya served as the chief adviser and prime minister to both emperors Chandragupta Maurya and his son Bindusara. Conventionally, Chanakya was identified with Kauṭilya and synonymously Vishnugupta, the author of the ancient Indian politico-economic treatise ''Arthashastra''. ''Arthashastra'' is now thought with high probability to have been composed by multiple authors during the early centuries of the common era—several centuries after the Mauryan period—the backdated identification with Chanakya to have served to add prestige to the work. Chanakya-Chandragupta ''katha'' (legend) There is no documented historical informati ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Panchatantra
The ''Panchatantra'' ( IAST: Pañcatantra, ISO: Pañcatantra, , "Five Treatises") is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, arranged within a frame story.Panchatantra: Indian Literature , Encyclopaedia Britannica The surviving work is dated to about 300 CE, but the fables are likely much more ancient. The text's author is unknown, but it has been attributed to Vishnu Sharma in some recensions and Vasubhaga in others, both of which may be fictitious pen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vishnu Sharma
Sharma (Sanskrit: विष्णुशर्मन् / विष्णुशर्मा) was an Indian scholar and author who wrote the ''Panchatantra'', a collection of fables. Works Panchatantra is one of the most widely translated non-religious books in history. The ''Panchatantra'' was translated into Middle Persian/ Pahlavi in 570 CE by Borzūya and into Arabic in 750 CE by Persian scholar Abdullah Ibn al-Muqaffa as ''Kalīlah wa Dimnah'' (). In Baghdad, the translation commissioned by Al-Mansur, the second Abbasid Caliph, is claimed to have become "''second only to the Qu'ran in popularity.''" "''As early as the eleventh century this work reached Europe, and before 1600 it existed in Greek, Latin, Spanish, Italian, German, English, Old Slavonic, Czech, and perhaps other Slavonic languages. Its range has extended from Java to Iceland.''" In France, "''at least eleven Panchatantra tales are included in the work of Jean de La Fontaine''." Legend The prelude to the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Instruction Of Amenemope
''Instruction of Amenemope'' (also called ''Instructions of Amenemopet'', ''Wisdom of Amenemopet'') is a literary work composed in Ancient Egypt, most likely during the Ramesside Period (ca. 1300–1075 BCE); it contains thirty chapters of advice for successful living, ostensibly written by the scribe Amenemope son of Kanakht as a legacy for his son.Lichtheim 1976, 146–149. A characteristic product of the New Kingdom "Age of Personal Piety",Williams 1978, 131–137.Weeks 1994, 168–169. the work reflects on the inner qualities, attitudes, and behaviors required for a happy life in the face of increasingly difficult social and economic circumstances. It is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of ancient near-eastern wisdom literature and has been of particular interest to modern scholars because of its similarity to the later biblical Book of Proverbs. Overview ''Amenemope'' belongs to the literary genre of "instruction" (Egyptian ''sebayt''). It is the culmination of c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amenemope (author)
Amenemope (also Amen-em-ope), the son of Kanakht, is the ostensible author of the ''Instruction of Amenemope'', an Egyptian wisdom text written in the Ramesside Period. He is portrayed as a scribe and sage who lived in Egypt during the 20th Dynasty of the New Kingdom and resided in Akhmim (ancient Egyptian Ipu, Greek Panopolis), the capital of the ninth nome of Upper Egypt. His discourses are presented in the traditional form of instructions from father to son on how to live a good and moral life, but (unlike most such texts) they are explicitly organized into 30 numbered chapters. Although once thought to be unique, the ''Instruction'' is now seen to share common themes with the wisdom literature of other ancient Near Eastern cultures, including Babylonia and Israel, most notably the biblical books of ''Proverbs'', ''Ecclesiastes'', and ''Sirach'', for which a Hebrew translation of the ''Instruction'' served as a source. Within the Book of Proverbs, verses closely parallel Amene ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amenemhat I
:''See Amenemhat (other), Amenemhat, for other individuals with this name.'' Amenemhat I (Egyptian language, Ancient Egyptian: ''Ỉmn-m-ḥꜣt'' meaning 'Amun is at the forefront'), also known as Amenemhet I, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the first king of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt, Twelfth Dynasty of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt, Middle Kingdom. Amenemhat I was probably the same as the vizier named Amenemhat who led an expedition to Wadi Hammamat under his predecessor Mentuhotep IV, and possibly overthrew him from power. Scholars differ as to whether Mentuhotep IV was killed by Amenemhat I, but there is no independent evidence to suggest this and there may even have been a period of co-regency between their reigns.E. Hornung, ''History of Ancient Egypt'', 1999 p.50 Amenemhat I was not of royal lineage, born to Senusret and Nefert who were possibly related to the nomarchial family of Elephantine. The composition of some literary works (the ''Prophecy of Neferti ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Senusret I
Senusret I (Egyptian language, Middle Egyptian: wikt:z-n-wsrt, z-n-wsrt; /suʀ nij ˈwas.ɾiʔ/) also anglicized as Sesostris I and Senwosret I, was the second pharaoh of the Twelfth dynasty of Egypt, Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt. He ruled from 1971 BC to 1926 BC (1920 BC to 1875 BC), and was one of the most powerful kings of the 12th dynasty. He was the son of Amenemhat I. Senusret I was known by his prenomen, Kheperkare, which means "the Ka of Re is created." He expanded the territory of Ancient Egypt, Egypt, allowing him to rule over an age of prosperity. Family The family relations of the king are well known. Senusret I was the son of Amenemhat I. His mother was a queen with the name Neferitatjenen. His main wife was Neferu III who was also his sister and mother of his successor Amenemhat II. Their known children are Amenemhat II and the princesses Itakayt and Sebat (king's daughter), Sebat. The latter was most likely a daughter of Neferu III as she appears with the latter tog ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Instructions Of Amenemhat
Instructions of Amenemhat (aka "Teaching of King Amenemhat to His Son Senusret") is a short ancient Egyptian poem of the ''sebayt'' genre written during the early Middle Kingdom of Egypt, Middle Kingdom. The poem takes the form of an intensely dramatic monologue delivered by the ghost of the murdered 12th Dynasty pharaoh Amenemhat I to his son Senusret I. It describes the conspiracy that killed Amenemhat, and enjoins his son to trust no-one. The poem forms a kind of Apologetics, apologia of the deeds of the old king's reign. It ends with an exhortation to Senusret to ascend the throne and rule wisely in Amenemhat's stead. Authorship The ''Instructions'' may have been authored at Senusret's command to eulogy, eulogize his father and legitimize his claim to the throne. Several centuries later, in the New Kingdom of Egypt, New Kingdom Papyrus Chester Beatty IV, the authorship of the poem was attributed to "the foremost of scribes" Dua-Kheti, Kheti. The principal source of this docu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
