William Kelly Simpson (1928–2017)
Author of The literature of ancient Egypt; an anthology of stories, instructions, and poetry
About the Author
Image credit: William Kelly Simpson [credit: Yale University]
Series
Works by William Kelly Simpson
The literature of ancient Egypt; an anthology of stories, instructions, and poetry (1972) — Editor, Introduction, Translator — 368 copies, 4 reviews
Ancient Egypt, Discovering It's Splendors by The National Geographic Society, 1978 (Hardcover) (1978) 3 copies
A Table of Offerings 2 copies
Studies Of Honor 2 1 copy
Associated Works
Slab Stelae of the Giza Necropolis (Publications of the Pennsylvania-Yale Expedition to Egypt, 7) (2003) — Foreword — 2 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Simpson, William Kelly
- Birthdate
- 1928-01-03
- Date of death
- 2017-03-24
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Yale University (1947, 1948, 1954)
- Occupations
- professor
Egyptologist
curator
editor - Organizations
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
Yale University
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (curator of the Egyptian Department)
Pennsylvania-Yale Expedition to Egypt (co-director) - Short biography
- William Kelly Simpson, who was appointed to the Yale faculty in 1958, is professor of Egyptology and Near Eastern Languages, Civilizations, and Literatures. His interests embrace nearly every aspect of Egyptology, including history, literature, art, and archaeology. His numerous books include publications of the Pennsylvania-Yale Expedition to Egypt, Giza mastabas, several volumes of papyri and other Egyptian writings, a standard history of Egypt, and an anthology of Egyptian literature in translation. He is author of nearly 150 articles in the field of Egyptology and serves as editor of the Yale Egyptological Studies. Married to Marilyn Simpson.
- Nationality
- USA
- Birthplace
- New York, New York, USA
- Places of residence
- New York, New York, USA (birth)
- Place of death
- New York, New York, USA
- Associated Place (for map)
- New York, New York, USA
Members
Reviews
The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry by William Kelly Simpson
The second book of Egyptian writings I have read. This had some of the same pieces but also some new ones.
My favourites were the love poems, they really humanised the ancient Egyptians and show how much like us they really were. I also enjoyed the report of Wenamon for much the same reasons, the very human dramas of the emissary as he attempted to fulfil her mission.
Honourable mention goes to the Contendings of Horus and Seth for being absolutely bizarre.
My favourites were the love poems, they really humanised the ancient Egyptians and show how much like us they really were. I also enjoyed the report of Wenamon for much the same reasons, the very human dramas of the emissary as he attempted to fulfil her mission.
Honourable mention goes to the Contendings of Horus and Seth for being absolutely bizarre.
The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry by William Kelly Simpson
Beautiful anthology of ancient Egyptian literature, provided by top translators from the English-speaking region. The texts are arranged by genre (stories, wisdom literature, religious literature, songs and hymns, official epigraphs, autobiographical material), and certainly the most well-known texts are included. All texts are briefly situated, although that could certainly have been more concrete. In that respect, Toby Wilkinson's anthology is much better (although it does not include late show more Egyptian texts, in demotic script).
They remain ancient texts, which means that words, sentences or passages are often missing, and that the different versions of the ancient Egyptian language do not always allow for an unequivocal or expressive translation. This makes some of these texts rather difficult to read. In any case, I was impressed by the diversity and the depth of some of the lyrics. Another proof that, as the child of modernity, we continue to have a derogatory prejudice against older "primitive" cultures.
For a more in-depth review, see the review in my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5553648055. show less
They remain ancient texts, which means that words, sentences or passages are often missing, and that the different versions of the ancient Egyptian language do not always allow for an unequivocal or expressive translation. This makes some of these texts rather difficult to read. In any case, I was impressed by the diversity and the depth of some of the lyrics. Another proof that, as the child of modernity, we continue to have a derogatory prejudice against older "primitive" cultures.
For a more in-depth review, see the review in my History account on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5553648055. show less
An excellent anthology that may shed more light on Egyptian Coffin Texts (Ritual Spells), Egyptian Religious Studies. Faulkner never fails when it comes to in-depth understanding of Egyptian Civilization. One may commiserate with the "Man who was tired of living", penetrate the woes of one the twelve great sages of Egypt, read superb love poetry to Hathor, read how Horus won the seat at the Council of the Gods (Ennead), and much more! Between myth and magic, one takes one's lifeblood and show more makes the myth alive and like the eternal Atum-Lotos and Aten - shine again with great splendor! Astarte, the wife of Seth, and the insatiable sea of wonder awaits! show less
An excellent anthology that may shed more light on Egyptian Coffin Texts (Ritual Spells), Egyptian Religious Studies. Faulkner never fails when it comes to in-depth understanding of Egyptian Civilization. One may commiserate with the "Man who was tired of living", penetrate the woes of one the twelve great sages of Egypt, read superb love poetry to Hathor, read how Horus won the seat at the Council of the Gods (Ennead), and much more! Between myth and magic, one takes one's lifeblood and show more makes the myth alive and like the eternal Atum-Lotos and Aten - shine again with great splendor! Astarte, the wife of Seth, and the insatiable sea of wonder awaits! show less
Lists
You May Also Like
Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 25
- Also by
- 2
- Members
- 436
- Popularity
- #56,113
- Rating
- 4.1
- Reviews
- 4
- ISBNs
- 21
