Analysis Of The Wisdom Of Merikare

If the king fails in his duties, both societies suffer the same fate of chaos and warfare. However, the Egyptian and Mesopotamian people view the outcome in different ways. While the author never explicitly mentions the consequences in the Wisdom of Merikare, there are some instances where he hints at failure, writing about “a shameful deed [that] occurred in my time,” which he doesn’t specify. It appears that a nome was attacked and destroyed due to his negligence. This is the main fear from the king’s perspective. The citizens of Egypt want to maintain stability in order to preserve their wellbeing. If the Pharaoh cannot preserve order, then they view him as a failure. However, the criticism the Pharaoh would receive for the millennia to

The Sumerians, from the Epic of Gilgamesh, appear to deplore hubris. For example, after he gloats that he will kill the beast Humbaba, who was sanctioned by the gods to protect the cedar forest, the city elders are appalled. To them, Gilgamesh’s belief that he can cross the gods is an example of a terrible king, as they know that there will be retribution for it. Gilgamesh’s lack of understanding of the consequences leads to hate and shame. Interestingly, the people still follow him, but they appear to verbally disagree with him. Similarly, Sumerians during the UR-III period criticized Naram-Sin for deifying himself, and many claimed this was why his empire eventually fell. While the Egyptians, based on the text, appear to physically revolt against the ruler if he does not effectively lead, external factors will plague a failing Sumerian

Respecting the gods was one of the most important, and there was retribution for those who didn’t. After killing the Bull of Heaven, the gods punish Gilgamesh and his friend, Enkidu, by sentencing Enkidu to a slow, painful death by disease. Merikare writes that a Pharaoh must, “make ample the daily offerings, it profits him who does it.” In both instances, the gods are where the kings derive their claim to the throne. Respecting them is of utmost importance because they believed that punishment could come if one did not obey. In addition, both kings needed to conquer or secure trade routes to gain access to valuable luxury resources. Both require Cedar, as evidenced when Merikare writes, “I pacified the West…it gives cedar wood,” and when Gilgamesh kills Humbaba so he can build a great Cedar gate at the entrance of Uruk. Both cultures recognized the best way to have constant access to an important commodity was to control the supply and the roads. These works both exemplify this, as both used military force to secure Cedar, which both needed for their monumental architecture. Kings also needed to be accountable to the people. In the beginning of the epic, Gilgamesh is a cruel ruler, and the people hate him. The gods decide, therefore, to give him a rival who can dethrone him. The Pharaoh also writes to his son, “Don 't be evil, kindness is good, Make your memorial last