ANI, WISDOM (MAXIMS) of. - An Egyptian collection of gnomic sayings, akin in subject matter to the biblical wisdom books.
The text is found in a papyrus of the 22nd dynasty (945–745 B.C.), now in the Cairo Museum. It was published by Mariette in the Papiri di Bulaq (I, Paris 1871, pl. 16 ff.); the first translation with commentary was made by Chabas, followed by those of A. Erman, in Die Literatur der Aegypter (1923), and of E. Suys. As in collections from an earlier period, the writer A. addresses his son, Choshotep, directly, and he in turn replies to his father as occasion requires. The whole thus takes the form of a dialogue, the most important part of which consists of the father’s teachings concerning religion, morality, study, and conduct in business. This little book is distinguished from others of its kind by a more human spirit and a loftier ideal.