Sinuhe's Epistolary Salutations to the King (B 206-211)

Abstract

The duel with a strong man of Rethenu is dramatic turning point in story of Sinuhe's life. It symbolizes change from a pursuit of material success to one of spiritual satisfaction.l It is conscious discovery that adherence to Egyptian way of life leads to a meaningful existence, not only on earth but beyond. The change in Sinhue's outlook deliberated in a poetical monologue is followed by demonstration of royal pardon in form of an unsolicited letter from king to which Sinuhe replies.2 Although an artistic creation, it can be considered an imitation of kind of letter to be envisioned as sent to king by a grateful but timid subject. As is well known, letter opens after appreciating royal reaction with a lengthy invocation of a slew of deities to act in support of king. As Gardiner already pointed out, the list of gods is a peculiar one.3 According to him, it consists of the gods of reigning Dynastic family, the cosmic deities, and certain other gods, mostly connected with distant lands. Lef?bvre4 basically followed this division into dieux de la dynastie r?gante, les principales divinit?s cosmiques, d'au tres divinit?s cosmiques. In most of more recent translations of text5 particulars of divine listing have been bypassed. An exception was Yoyotte,6 who saw in it Le panth?on de la pro vince de Th?bes; further, divinit?s qui ?taient cens?s exercer une souverainet? particuli?re sur les principales routes fr?quent?s par les voyageurs ?gyptiens and, in a final recapitulation, tous les dieux du To-Meri et des Iles de la Tr?s-Verte.