Few ancient Egyptian literary texts have triggered more discussion than the Instructions of King Amenemhet. A definitive edition is still lacking and there are a number of problems in the poorly documented final section of the text. A repeatedly discussed question is the motivation for its composition, in particular how the role of King Amenemhet I is to be understood. One view is that the treatise represents a political instruction for Sesostris I when he was pronounced successor by his father Amenemhet I;1 the other considers the Instruction a posthumous work motivated by political considerations and designed as political propaganda to embelish the position of Sesostris I at the troublesome beginning of his reign.2 Both views are based primarily on the opening lines of the text, which have found different translations and interpretations.