The Pharaohs Code of Ethics

In a celebration organized by the Center for Documentation of Heritage one of the Library of Alexandria research centers, I was exposed to a story that appeared on the papyrus called book of the dead. This papyrus is kept at the British Museum.

It was translated by E. A. WALLIS BUDGE and published in 1895. Wallis’ work was called The Book of Dead, the Papyrus of Ani, hence the name of the papyrus acquired and became known as. According to Wallis The papyrus of Ani, was found at Thebes, and was purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum in 1888. It measures 78 feet by 1 foot 3 inches, and is the longest known papyrus of the Theban period.

One of the stories presented was the scene of the final judgment of Ani before Osiris and the Gods of the tribunal.

In the above picture Ani is wearing white on the left side of the papyrus, his heart being weighed against a feather by Anoubis.The following step in the papyrus was Ani declaring his innocence before the Gods of the tribunal to be accepted to eternal life and evade capital punishment, he denies that he has committed any of the listed sins; the list had 42 sins that he had to deny one before each of the 42 Gods.

It is amazing how almost 5000 years ago ancient Egyptians had a well developed sense of right and wrong and a very elaborate code of ethics.

1. I have done no sin.
2. I have not done falsehood.
3. I have not robbed.
4. I have not killed people.
5. I have not destroyed food supplies.
6. I have not debased the measures.
7. I have not stolen the god’s properties
8. I have not told lies.
9. I have not stolen food.
10. I have not been sullen.
11. I have not committed homosexuality.
12. I have not caused someone to cry.
13. I have not transgressed.
14. I have not dissembled.
15. I have not been greedy.
16. I have not stolen a bunch of corn stalks.
17. I have not revealed a secret.
18. I have not been disputed.
19. I have not disputed except as concerned my own property.
20. I have not slept with a married woman
21. I have not committed adultery with a married woman
22. I have not committed adultery.
23. I have not caused terror.
24. I have done no wrong.
25. I have not been impatient.
26. I have not been deaf to the words of Truth.
27. I have not cursed (someone).
28. I have not been aggressive.
29. I have not done disturbance.
30. I was not impatient.
31. I have not eavesdropped.
32. I have not been voluble of speech.
33. I have not committed evil.
34. I have not reviled a king.
35. I have not waded in water.
36. I have not been loud-voiced.
37. I have not reviled a god
38. I have not been puffed up.
39. I have not stolen the bread of the gods
40. I have not stolen “Khenef” cakes from the justified ones.
41. I have not stolen the “Khenef cakes from the young or cursed the god of my city,
42. I have not killed the sacred cattle.

    The question now do we respect the and cherish the ethics of our ancestors?