Poetry of love in ancient Egypt

Poetry about love was an important cultural element in ancient Egypt. There are many poetry examples that have received the attention of international poets such as Walt Whitman, Ezra Pound and others who transferred ancient Egyptian love poems to modern European languages. Meanwhile, the Egyptian ministries of education and culture focused more on other eras such as the Mamluk or Fatimid period. 

Pharaonic love poetry reached us through different papyri, including the Papyrus Harris 500, the Chester Beatty Papyrus in the British Museum, and the Turin Papyrus in the Turin Museum in Italy.

The poetry of ancient Egypt has different features. The first of these is the prevalence of warm emotion, which captivates us with its strength and drive. There is a gentle expression of love that goes beyond most of our social issues, and the rules of etiquette created by modern culture. The lover woman craves her beloved, regrets his separation, and wishes she would meet him instead of hunting the birds that her mother sent to hunt her.

Also characteristic of that poetry is the equality of men and women in expressing the agony of love. One can observe poems written by a man for his beloved, and also vice versa. Some of the lovers expressed their love in a remarkable, bold expression, which can rarely be found in subsequent Egyptian poetry. 

The ancient poets also had a fondness for drawing scenes, either in a detailed and direct pictorial manner, in the manner in which playwrights describe their scenes, or in a metaphorical manner loaded with connotations. An ancient Egyptian poetess says in a poem that combines the previous features, without any of them overwhelming others. 

 

Source: commonspace.eu with Arabi 21 (London). 
Picture: Papyrus Harris 500. 

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
UK, Canada and majority of EU Member States condemn Israel for ‘inhumane killing’ and say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’.

UK, Canada and majority of EU Member States condemn Israel for ‘inhumane killing’ and say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’.

Israel’s isolation is increasing as twenty eight countries including the United Kingdom and a majority of Member States of the European Union issued a joint statement on Monday 21 July saying the war in Gaza “must end now” and condemning Israel over 'inhumane killing' of Gaza civilians seeking aid. The foreign ministers of countries, also including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Japan, said “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.” The statement described as “horrifying” the recent deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry and the U.N. human rights office.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
UK, Canada and majority of EU Member States condemn Israel for ‘inhumane killing’ and say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’.

UK, Canada and majority of EU Member States condemn Israel for ‘inhumane killing’ and say the war in Gaza ‘must end now’.

Israel’s isolation is increasing as twenty eight countries including the United Kingdom and a majority of Member States of the European Union issued a joint statement on Monday 21 July saying the war in Gaza “must end now” and condemning Israel over 'inhumane killing' of Gaza civilians seeking aid. The foreign ministers of countries, also including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Japan, said “the suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths.” The statement described as “horrifying” the recent deaths of over 800 Palestinians who were seeking aid, according to the figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry and the U.N. human rights office.