The Tale of Sinuhe (or The Story of Sinuhe) is an Ancient Egyptian text composed around 1875 BC. Concerning the life of a fictional man who flees Egypt and becomes a hero abroad, it is one of the earliest known literary texts.
Translated from attributed manuscripts traced back to the reign of Amenemhat III, The Tale of Sinuhe is presented as a first-person account of Sinuhe's life that has been inscribed on the walls of his burial pyramid. The story begins with Sinuhe, a royal courtier, becoming overcome with panic and fleeing Egypt upon hearing of King Sehetepibre's death. He travels for several months before meeting a Palestinian prince named Amunenshi, who rules upper Retjenu (Canaan and Syria). After Sinuhe displays his loyalty to the new king of Egypt with lengthy praise, Amunenshi marries Sinuhe to his daughter and sets him up as a tribe leader in a fertile area called Iaa. Sinuhe has children and lives a comfortable life, developing a reputation as a beloved warrior hero in Retjenu. In his old age, Sinuhe longs to return to Egypt. His wish is answered with a decree from King Senwosret, who requests that Sinuhe return to be buried in the place he was born. Sinuhe lives out his last days living in luxury near the Egyptian palace, overseeing the burial pyramid the king has ordered constructed for him. Sinuhe ends the story by reflecting on how he, a lowly man, has been given an afterlife befitting a great ruler all because of the king's generosity.
Because it comprises nearly the entire scope of its protagonist's life, The Tale of Sinuhe is considered an ancient precursor to the modern novel. The author-less text has been widely studied for its depiction of Ancient Egyptian life and the culture's belief in the godliness of rulers, the imperfection of man, and the value of loyalty. The text has also been celebrated for the breadth of literary genres it contains, which includes autobiography, conquest and combat narratives, a royal decree, prayers, ceremonial lyrics, and eulogies of the king. Scholars have also drawn parallels between elements of the story and narratives found in the Bible, such as the story of Joseph and the battle between David and Goliath. According to the translator and Egyptologist R. B. Parkinson, The Tale of Sinuhe is "widely regarded as the masterpiece of Egyptian literature."
