THE

INSTRUCTION OF PTAH-HOTEP

INTRODUCTION

Is there anything of which it may be said,
  See, this is new?
It has been already of old time,
  Which was before us.
There is no remembrance of former things;
  Neither shall there be any remembrance
Of things that are to come
  With those that shall come after.

In these days, when all things and memories of the past have eventually become not only subservient to, but submerged by, the matters and needs of the immediate present, those paths of knowledge that lead into regions seemingly remote from such needs are somewhat discredited. The aims of those who follow them are regarded as entirely out of touch with the real interests of life. This is especially true of archaeology, the study of ancient and curious tongues, and research into old thoughts on high and ever-insistent questions. A public that has hardly time to