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There are many challenges for those of us who practice a Greek-Egyptian religion in the modern world.

First, of course, is the fact that our numbers are pretty small at this time. As a minority within a minority within a minority, most of us end up worshiping the gods alone, or if we are lucky with a few family members and friends. And while having a huge crowd and lavish celebrations are not necessary, it would certainly be nice from time to time!

Part of what may contribute to a sense of isolation is that our path is not always understood or respected in the broader Hellenic and Kemetic communities. Things have improved somewhat over the past few years, but you still encounter an vocal minority from time to time, which is opposed to mixing the Pantheon, which combines the practice and are woefully ignorant of the history of contacts between these two great civilizations of antiquity . Many eventually tired of the constant need to argue for the legitimacy of their approach or defend themselves against the biting personal attack and run away. Unfortunately, the decision to have anything to do with these more established groups reduces your chance to meet new people and potentially find like-minded.

And it’s not even begin to address the challenges of religion in itself: a balancing of the different requirements and personalities of the various gods (which sometimes conflicts), to teach complex religious and philosophical terminologies for the two systems, announced the same even with mythology, history, literature and general worldview of these cultures, mastering two very different forms of worship, figuring out how, when and why to combine certain things (and what happens when the various elements do not fit together quite as good as one might have expected) and so on and so forth. Many of us are just starting out on this road as well, so there’s really not a whole lot of useful material to draw on when to count things out.

No, the Greek-Egyptian polytheism is certainly not without difficulties. But I’m happy to say that there is an area that is remarkably simple, and it is to find common ethical ground between Greece and Egypt. Both cultures placed a strong emphasis on moral rectitude, moderation, perseverance, charity, piety, participation in society and respect for his ancestors and relatives and the like. Furthermore, they recommended such things in remarkably similar language, so it seems almost that it deals with a single, continuous tradition instead of trying to reconcile different ideologies as should have been if they were attracted to both Buddhism and Heat Henry, for example.

These similarities can not be random. As far back as the Minoan period, there were extensive contacts between Greece and Egypt, with a large interaction in the fields of art, technology, religion, science, politics, business, etc. It would be surprising if ethics were not included in this category as well, especially in light of the fact that many of Greece’s greatest thinkers traveled to Egypt to study with the native priests and sages:

“But now that we have studied these matters, we must enumerate what Greeks who has won fame for their wisdom and learning, visited Egypt in ancient times to become acquainted with its customs and learning. The priests in Egypt reports from records of their sacred books that they were visited early in times of Orpheus, Musaeus, Melampos and Daedalus, also by the poet Homer and Lycurgos of Sparta, later by Solon of Athens and the philosopher Plato, and there also came Pythagoras of Samos and the mathematician Eudoxos and Demokritos of Abdera and Oinopides of Chios. As evidence of visits by all these men, they point in some cases to their statues and in other places or buildings that bear their names, and offer evidence from the branch of learning that each of these men pursued on the grounds that all the things they were admired among the Greeks was borrowed from Egypt. “-

Diodoros Sikeliotes, Library of History 1.96

This intercultural dialogue continued through the Hellenistic and Roman era, increase substantially during Ptolemies, who tried to weld the two together. Indeed Alexandria especially famous for its ethical philosophers with some of the most prominent Platonists, peripatetic, Stoics, Cynics, and Cyrenaics of age to live in the capital. It was during this time that a number of important Demotic Egyptian ethical texts were composed, such as instructions to Ankhsheshonq and The Book of Thoth. (This is significant because most of the standard Egyptian texts, which we think was composed centuries and even millennia before that with few works produced in the Late and Persian periods.) There was an even greater degree of diffusion in khora or Egyptian landscape where wandering sages, teachers, priests, etc. recommended a popular ethical system that incorporates elements from the different philosophical schools, quotes from Greek dramatists, as well as traditional, homely prescriptions drawn from Egyptian sources. People remember these ethical codes that were easier to digest than the sort of lengthy digressions found in Plato and Aristotle, full of arcane terminology and abstract concepts as they are. We have several examples of such compendiums (including school books that students had to copy out by hand) and the names and brief descriptions of many more that have not come down to us, but was used by many writers in late antiquity.

It is in this spirit that I’ve put together this short review of Greek-Egyptian ethical thinking. (Even though technically I’ve also included a number of rules from Roman writers, but these men – Stoics for the most part – were great admirers of Greek culture and some even wrote in Greek, so I figure it is appropriate to include them.) And an investigation is all that is meant to be: There is an incredible amount of relevant Greek, Roman and Egyptian ethical writing that has come down to us, hardly surprising, since these cultures much was knowledgeable and we treat thousands year history. I do not intend to provide exhaustive commentary on authors or questions. Hopefully, however, will this give the reader a taste of what these authors have pleasure and encouragement to seek them in their fullness. Rather, my intention is to present a handful of texts on various subjects so that uniformity of the Greek and Egyptian background becomes visible, and the reader will have a better understanding of the values was considered as a fundamental part of their culture. These values are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago, yes, considering the stresses and risks of modern existence, I believe that they have become even more important if we are to live life well.

We start our investigation with the most important of all Greek-Egyptian values piety:

“Pray to the gods, power rests in gods. Nothing good or bad happens to men without gods.” – Theognis, Frag. 199

“Piety towards the gods, to be sure, consists chiefly in thinking rightly concerning them that they are and that they govern the universe with goodness and justice, and that you own art appointed to abide by them and to submit under all circumstances that arise; add cheerfully in whatever may happen that it is being adopted and executed by the most perfect understanding. Thus you will never find fault with the gods, or pay them neglecting you. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 163

” Serve your God, so he can guard you. ” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.1

“Construct delicate monuments to God because it means maintaining the name of who does it, and a man should do whatever is profitable to his soul, for each month served as pastor and wearing white sandals. Enrich tab, discreet about the mysteries of entry into the shrine, eat bread in the temple, richly give altars, increase revenues, adds the daily deal, because it is a viable concern for who does it; maintain your monuments in relation to your property for a single day gives to eternity, an hour does good for the future, and god knows him, serving him. “- education for Merikare

” How much more respectful and better it is accept the teaching of our elders who minister the truth to maintain religions handed to us, to worship gods who from cradle you knew not to dogmatize on deities, but accepts advice of our wise older. “- Caecillius, quoted Saint Augustine

Which shows that after the gods, it is important to honor ancestors and the traditions handed down to us from antiquity:

“O my son! pour your wine on the tombs of the righteous.” – The teachings Ahiqar 2.13

“Crown your ancestors.” – The Delphic maxims

“The immortal gods have designed things good and true principles established by the wisdom and deliberations of eminent, wise and righteous men. It is wrong to oppose these principles or desert the old religion some new, for it is the height of the crime of trying to revise doctrines, which was settled once and for all by the old, and whose position is established and recognized. “- Diocletian, Fontes iuris Romani Anteiustiniani, II 544-89

“Copy your fathers, for work performed by use of knowledge, see their words endure in writing.” – Teaching for Merikare

“The soul comes to the place known by it and it will not exceed the ways of the past.” – Teaching for Merikare

“It is good to act on behalf of posterity.” – Teaching for Merikare

“Is there one here who Hardedef? Is a second as Imhotep? None have come in our time who Neferti or Khety their best. I will let you know the name of Ptahemdjedhuti and Khakheperseneb. Is another as Ptahhotep or Kaires? … They are gone, their names forgotten, but writings make them remembered. “- The Student Miscellaneous

So honor belongs to the family:

” The first honor the gods so your parents. Give each his due. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, phrases 4

” Do not say ‘young man’ to one that is old. Do not belittle an old man in your heart. ” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 7.21 to 22

“Dad’s him that sticks, not he who begets.” – Anonymous, 4th century schoolbooks

“Respect your parents. Respect the elder. Educate your sons.” – The Delphic maxims

“Honor thy father and mother who has put you on the path to the living.” – The Instruction of Khety

“From parents, we received early in life and most of the benefits and it is the greatest impiety not only to sin against them, but does not spend his life in favor of these . – Lycurgos Stop Leocrates 94

“If you are wise, look after your house; love your wife without alloy. Fill your stomach, clothes her back, as are the cares to be bestowed upon her person. Caress her, meet her wishes in the time of her existence, it is a kindness that is not honor to its possessor. Do not be brutal, tact will influence her better than violence, see what she aspires, at what she has designed what she considered. That is what fixes her in your house, and if you repel her, it is an abyss. Open your arms to her, to respond to her arms, called her, show her your love. “- The Instruction of Ptah- hotep

“No better thing befall a man than a good wife, not worse things than bad.” – Semonides of Amorgos

Dearest after gods and one’s family, the friendship ties:

“Do not go to your brother when you are in need, go to your friend.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 16.4

“The dinners of friends slowly, but their accident quickly.” – Chilon Frag. 5

“Help your friends. Love friendship. Guard friendship.” – The Delphic maxims

“O my son! Once you’ve got yourself a companion or a friend, try him, and afterward makes him a comrade and a friend, not praise him without a trial and not ruin your speech with a man who lacks wisdom. “- Lessons from Ahiqar 2.15

” He who never reveals that he has made a friend must have high exaltation among humans and gods. This is my own conviction. “- Ancient Greek proverb

” If a man lacking in good fellowship, no speech has no impact on him. He is angry face to the happy hearts that are friendly to him. He is a mourning for his mother and his friends. “- The Instruction of Kagemni

” Do not associate with bad men, but always stick to it good. ” – Theognis, Frag. 31b-32

The head of our social virtues is hospitality and especially acts of kindness to strangers:

“Have respect for Suppliants. Finding fault with anyone. Give what you have. Speak good for all . Give back what you received. Deal kindly with everyone. Share the load of the unhappy. “- The Delphic maxims

” Only a dog barks customers away from his own house. ” – Ancient Greek proverb

“If he who comes to your house be the highest or the lowest rank, he should be treated with respect: for all men your guest is the superior.” – It Hitopadesa

“Antinous, it was dishonorable to find an unfortunate wanderer; You will come to a bad end, if there is a god in heaven. Actually gods in the guise of strangers from far countries, put on all possible forms and visit the cities men see their violence and their fairness. “- Homer, Odyssey 17.483

” If you’re among those who sit at meat in the house of a greater man than yourself, take what he gives you, bowing to the ground. Connection that is placed before you, but point not at it, consider it not often that he is a blameworthy person who departs from this rule. Do not talk to the big man more than he needs one does not know what is displeasing to him. Speak when he invites you and your worth will be pleasing. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” I gave the poor man, I loved the orphans, I made him who had anything to achieve wealth as he was wealthy. ” – The Instruction of Amenemhat

“Beware of stealing from a pathetic man and rages against cripple. Do not stretch your hand to touch an old man, and did not bargain on words as elder.” – The Instruction of Amenemope 2

“If you find a large debt against a poor man, do it in three parts; forgive two, let one stand.” – The Instruction of Amenemope

“Also remember that any sensible animal is your kinsman, and to take care of all men, according to human nature.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.4

“This man, small, medium, yes, a slave, this man loved, and is master of another’s soul.” – Bianor

“Remember to immerse him who is in pain when he is sick in his body; show respect because of his god that he can watch expression … his children who are witnesses to undulating flood. ” – The admonitions of Ipuwer

“How can the man who, while worship Zeus God attendants lost his neighbors in need and not give them a penny – how can he think he is the worship of Zeus properly?” – Emperor Julian, Letter to a priest

“Be friendly to those who are weak against you, and satisfy yourself with your own bread and beer. Granite comes to you without hindrance, so you should not destroy someone else’s monuments. “- Training for Merikare

” Give to the men, the cattle of the god, for he heaven and earth at their will. He abolished the greed of the water, he gave breath into their noses, because they are images from Him that issued from his flesh. he shines in the sky for the benefit of their hearts, he has herbs, cattle and fish to feed them. He has killed his enemies and destroyed his own children because they had planned to revolt, He makes daylight for the benefit of their hearts, and he sails around to see them. He has erected a shrine behind them and when they cry, he hears. he has made them rulers themselves from the egg, a lift to lift the burden from back of a small man, he has done for them magic as weapons to ward off what might happen. “- education for Merikare

” Do not oppress the poor liability, not treat them as you wish to be treated. If you judge poor, God will judge you on your journey. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, sentences 6

” With your hands lift up what has fallen, save the unfortunate who can not find support. Pain common to all people; life is a wheel and happiness are not stable. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, phrases 14

Hard work is highly valued:

” Then plow the fields, and you To find what you need, and receive the bread from your threshing floor: better bushel which God gives you more than five thousand erroneously received, they do not spend a day in the warehouse or storage, they are no use for dough for beer, their stay in the barn is short-lived when morning comes they will be swept away. Better, then poverty in the hands of God than riches in storehouse better bread when the mind is safer than riches with anxiety. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 6

“Do not pamper your body, otherwise you will be weak.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.18

“Your own hands to rescue you from the evil property.” – Anonymous, 4th century schoolbooks

“Clusters for discipline. Do what you think they should do. Work on what you can own.” – The Delphic maxims

“Who would Hercules have been if he had Loit home? No Hercules, but Eurystheus. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 71

” It is pointless for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to achieve by itself. ” – Epicurus, Gnomologium Vaticanum 65

“Eris (strife) rebels, even the shift less to toil for a man grows eager to work when he finds his neighbor, a rich man who hastens to plow and plant and put his house in good condition and neighbor vies with neighbor as he hurries after wealth. This strife is wholesome for men. “- Hesiod, Works and Days, 20-24

” How do you propose making slide useless and inept? ” – Homer, Iliad 4.26

“Bad deeds do not prosper. The slow man probably overtake the fast.” – Homer, Odyssey 23.7

“Acquire a good character without breaking, the laziness of the wise man does not happen. Be a silent just man, obedient and sympathetic at heart. “-” The instructions of a man for his son ‘

“Without work, nothing is easy for humans, nor with the immortal them, work is still contributing to virtue. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, phrases 79

” Be active at the time of your existence, do not do more than is commanded. Do not destroy the time of your business, he is a blameworthy person who makes a bad use of his moments. Do not lose the daily opportunity to enhance what your house is in possession. Activity produces riches, and riches do not endure when it slacks. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” God does not listen to the prayers of the lazy. “- Xystus

All Honesty:

” Do not say to a man ‘Do you have promised ‘when you do not believe it. Do not separate your mind from your tongue or all of your plans will fail. God hates one who is distorting the words, his great abomination is duality. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 10

” There is no one who cheat that are not deceived again. “- The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 21.11

” Never value anything as profitable to thyself, to force you to break your promise, to lose your self respect, to hate any man to believe that curse, to act the hypocrite, to desire something to be walls and curtains. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.7

” If it is not true does not make it: If it is not true, do not say it. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.17

“I hate like the gates of hell that man who says one thing and have another in his mind.” – Homer, Iliad 9.308

And Justice:

“When Pre is angry with a land, he does justice cease in it. “- The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 5.5

” O Zeus, our father Zeus, because you control the sky, you can monitor the works of men, the right actions and the wrong they do and then your judging crimes and punish all creatures. “- Archilochos fragment.

” It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice. “- Cicero, Tusculanae Disputation

” Be overcome by justice. Practice what is fair. Be impartial. Gain possessions justly. Despise disputes. Make just judgments. “- The Delphic maxims

” The people must fight for its right to its walls. “- Herakleitos Frag. 100

” Join you in the eye and ear, and make judgments with justice. “- Hesiod, Works and Days, 10

” Decide no suit until you’ve heard both sides talk. “- Hesiod, Requirements of Chiron, frag. 2

” Do justice to you may live long on earth. Pacific weeper, do not oppress the widow, not oust a man from his father’s estate, not degrade magnates from their seats. Beware punish unjustified, not kill, it will not benefit you, but punish with beatings and imprisonment, so the land will be set in order, except only the rebel who conspired to God by those who are unhappy and God will beat down his evil doing with blood. “- Education for Merikare

” If you as a leader, to decide on the implementation of a large number of men seeking the most perfect way to do it that your own conduct may be without reproach. Justice is great, unchangeable, and assured it has not been disturbed since the age of Ptah. To throw obstacles in the way of love is to open the way for violence. Is it below the gain the upper hand, do if the unjust does not attain to the place justice? Even he who says: I take for myself, of my own free will, but do not say: I’m going through my body. The limitations of justice are mandatory, such is the instruction which every man receives from his father. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

All of which leads neatly into virtues of temperance and self-control:

” Nothing to excess. “- The Delphic maxims

” Do Do not take by violence the shares of the temple, not be greedy and you will find overabundance; not take away a temple employee to acquire the property of another man. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 5

” I can even go with you in the controversy over the word poverty, urged that no man is poor, which rejects the superfluous, and has at its command all the necessities of life which nature has ordained should be extremely small. For those who want at least want the most, since he who wishes, but rather will have everything he wants. The measure of wealth should not be in possession of land and investments, but very human soul. Because if greed make him permanent need for something fresh acquisition and insatiable in his lust for gain, nor mountains of gold will bring him satisfaction, but he will always be begging for more, that he can raise what he already possesses. It is the genuine inclusion of poverty. For every desire for fresh acquisition arises consciousness wants and it matters little how big your property is if they are too small for you. “- Apuleius, Apologia 20

” Moral qualities are so constituted as to be destroyed by excess or deficiency. “- Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 77

” Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break but it stands firm and tames the fury water around it. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.49

” To you, all you have seems small: to me, all I have seems great. Their desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. See children stuck their hands into a narrow necked jar, and striving to pull out the nuts and figs contain: if they fill out by hand, they can not pull it out again, and so they fall to tears. “Let go a couple of them and then you can pull out the rest!” Even you, let your desire go! Covet not many things, and you’ll get. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 95

” Exceed basic measure, and the most beautiful thing becomes less pleasant. ” – Epictetus, Attributed

“Take what concerns the body as far as the bare use warrants-flesh, drink, clothing, housing and staff. But anyone who does to show and luxury reject.” – Epictetus, Golden proverb 168

“No fun a bad thing in itself, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 8

“The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to obtain, but the wealth required vain ideals include infinity.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 15 #

“Of our desires some are natural and necessary others are natural but not necessary and others are neither natural nor necessary, but due to baseless opinion.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 29

“reprove yourself in your own eyes, be careful that a second man did not rebuke you.” – The Maxims of Hordjedef

“Do not just praise good people, but mimicking them.” – Isocrates, Nicocles 61

“If you sit with a company of people who wish not food, even if you wish, and it only takes a moment to keep the heart and it is disgraceful to be greedy . A handful of water quenches thirst, and a mouthful of melon supports heart. One good thing in lieu of what is good, and just replaces much. If you sit with a glutton, eat when he is finished and if you sit with a drunkard accept a drink, and his heart will be fulfilled. Rage not against flesh in front of a greedy, take what they give you and refuses it, thinking it would be a polite thing. “- The Instruction of Kagemni #

“If you want to awaken respect within the house you enter, for example, a house belonging to a superior, a friend or a person of consideration in short everywhere where you enter, keep you from advances to a woman, for there is nothing good in this respect. There is no sense in getting involved in it, and thousands of men destroy themselves in order to enjoy a moment, brief as a dream while they are dead, so know it. It is a villainous intention, that a man who thus excites himself and if he continues to perform it, his mind leaving him. For as for him who is without resentment against such action, there is no sense in him. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” Do not be an irritable temper as regards what is happening on your side; grumble not over your own affairs. Do not be an irritable temper in regard to your neighbors, better is a compliment to that which displeases than rudeness. It is wrong to get into a passion with its neighbors, no longer master of one’s words. When only a small irritation, creating for itself a disorder of the time when we will again be cool. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

In accordance with this, one should avoid conflicts and especially heated words:

” O my son! “If you hear a word, let it die in your heart and show it to another, so that it becomes a live coal and burn your tongue and cause a pain in your body and you get a reproach, and art shamed before God and man. “- The Teachings Ahiqar 2.2

” O my son, let not a word issue from your mouth until you have taken counsel with your heart. And stand betwixt persons not quarrel because of a sore words, there comes a quarrel, and from an argument coming war and the war coming matches and you will be forced to testify, but runs away and rest you. “- The Teachings Ahiqar 2.54

“Something else of value in the heart of God is to stop and think before seen.” – The Instruction of Amenemope 2

“Do not get in an argument with argumentative man or encouraging him with words, proceed cautiously before an opponent, and give way to an enemy; sleep on it before seen for a storm come forth like fire in hay is hot-tempered man in his time set. Can you be held against him, leave him to himself, and God will know how to answer him. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 3

” May not fraternize with the hot-tempered man, Nor approach him to speak. Safeguard your tongue from answering your superior, and be careful not to speak against him. Let not him throwing words only get hold of you and not be too open in your answers with a man of your own station to discuss the answer, and deal with talking thoughtlessly, and when a man’s heart is sad, words travel faster than the wind and rain. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 9

“Be gentle and patient, then your heart will be beautiful.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.8

“A small man with great anger makes much stink. A big man with little anger get much praise.” – The Instruction of 7.19 to 20 Ankhsheshonq

“Like a good husband embarrassing avoid a repetition of a sin when committed as men depraved character repeat their previous offense with increased confidence, and may I add that the more often they do, the more open, they show their audacity.” – Apuleius, Apologia 3

“It is in our power to have any opinion about one thing and not to be disturbed in our soul, because things have no natural power to form our judgments.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.52

“When one of the helots behaved pretty rude to him, he said,” Was not I angry, I would have killed you. “‘- Charillus, cited by There are many challenges for those of us who practice a Greek-Egyptian religion in the modern world.

First, of course, is the fact that our numbers are pretty small at this time. As a minority within a minority within a minority, most of us end up worshiping the gods alone, or if we are lucky with a few family members and friends. And while having a huge crowd and lavish celebrations are not necessary, it would certainly be nice from time to time!

Part of what may contribute to a sense of isolation is that our wine cheese path is not always understood or respected in the broader Hellenic and Kemetic communities. Things have improved somewhat over the past few years, but you still encounter an vocal minority from time to time, which is opposed to mixing the Pantheon, which combines the practice and are woefully ignorant of the history of contacts between these two great civilizations of antiquity . Many eventually tired of the constant need to argue for the legitimacy of their approach or defend themselves against the biting personal attack and run away. Unfortunately, the decision to have anything to do with these more established wine cheese groups reduces your chance to meet new people and potentially find like-minded.

And it’s not even begin to address the challenges of religion in itself: a balancing of the different requirements and personalities of the various gods (which sometimes conflicts), to teach complex religious and philosophical terminologies for the two systems, announced the same even with mythology, history, literature and general worldview of these cultures, mastering two very different forms of worship, figuring out how, when and why to combine certain things (and what happens when the various elements do not fit together quite as good as one red wine might have expected) and so on and so forth. Many of us are just starting out on this road as well, so there’s really not a whole lot of useful material to draw on when to count things out.

No, the Greek-Egyptian polytheism is certainly not without difficulties. But I’m happy to say that there is an area that is remarkably simple, and it is to find common ethical ground between Greece and Egypt. Both cultures placed a strong emphasis on moral rectitude, moderation, perseverance, charity, piety, participation in society and respect for his ancestors and relatives and red wine the like. Furthermore, they recommended such things in remarkably similar language, so it seems almost that it deals with a single, continuous tradition instead of trying to reconcile different ideologies as should have been if they were attracted to both Buddhism and Heat Henry, for example.

These similarities can not be random. As far back as the Minoan period, there were extensive contacts between Greece and Egypt, with a large interaction in the fields of art, technology, religion, science, politics, business, etc. It would be surprising if ethics were not included in this category as well, especially in wine cheese light of the fact that many of Greece’s greatest thinkers traveled to Egypt to study with the native priests and sages:

“But now that we have studied these matters, we must enumerate what Greeks who has won fame for their wisdom and learning, visited Egypt in ancient times to become acquainted with its customs and learning. The priests in Egypt reports from records of their sacred books that they were visited early in times of Orpheus, Musaeus, Melampos and Daedalus, also by the poet Homer and Lycurgos of Sparta, later by Solon of Athens and the philosopher Plato, wine cheese and there also came Pythagoras of Samos and the mathematician Eudoxos and Demokritos of Abdera and Oinopides of Chios. As evidence of visits by all these men, they point in some cases to their statues and in other places or buildings that bear their names, and offer evidence from the branch of learning that each of these men pursued on the grounds that all the things they were admired among the Greeks was borrowed from Egypt. “-

Diodoros Sikeliotes, Library of History 1.96

This intercultural dialogue continued through the Hellenistic and Roman era, increase substantially during wine cheese Ptolemies, who tried to weld the two together. Indeed Alexandria especially famous for its ethical philosophers with some of the most prominent Platonists, peripatetic, Stoics, Cynics, and Cyrenaics of age to live in the capital. It was during this time that a number of important Demotic Egyptian ethical texts were composed, such as instructions to Ankhsheshonq and The Book of Thoth. (This is significant because most of the standard Egyptian texts, which we think was composed centuries and even millennia before that with few works produced in the Late and Persian periods.) There was an even greater degree of diffusion red wine in khora or Egyptian landscape where wandering sages, teachers, priests, etc. recommended a popular ethical system that incorporates elements from the different philosophical schools, quotes from Greek dramatists, as well as traditional, homely prescriptions drawn from Egyptian sources. People remember these ethical codes that were easier to digest than the sort of lengthy digressions found in Plato and Aristotle, full of arcane terminology and abstract concepts as they are. We have several examples of such compendiums (including school books that students had to copy out by hand) and the names and brief descriptions of many more that have not come red wine down to us, but was used by many writers in late antiquity.

It is in this spirit that I’ve put together this short review of Greek-Egyptian ethical thinking. (Even though technically I’ve also included a number of rules from Roman writers, but these men – Stoics for the most part – were great admirers of Greek culture and some even wrote in Greek, so I figure it is appropriate to include them.) And an investigation is all that is meant to be: There is an incredible amount of relevant Greek, Roman and Egyptian ethical writing that has come wine cheese down to us, hardly surprising, since these cultures much was knowledgeable and we treat thousands year history. I do not intend to provide exhaustive commentary on authors or questions. Hopefully, however, will this give the reader a taste of what these authors have pleasure and encouragement to seek them in their fullness. Rather, my intention is to present a handful of texts on various subjects so that uniformity of the Greek and Egyptian background becomes visible, and the reader will have a better understanding of the values was considered as a fundamental part of their culture. These values are as wine cheese relevant today as they were thousands of years ago, yes, considering the stresses and risks of modern existence, I believe that they have become even more important if we are to live life well.

We start our investigation with the most important of all Greek-Egyptian values piety:

“Pray to the gods, power rests in gods. Nothing good or bad happens to men without gods.” – Theognis, Frag. 199

“Piety towards the gods, to be sure, consists chiefly in thinking rightly concerning them that they are and that they govern the universe with goodness and red wine justice, and that you own art appointed to abide by them and to submit under all circumstances that arise; add cheerfully in whatever may happen that it is being adopted and executed by the most perfect understanding. Thus you will never find fault with the gods, or pay them neglecting you. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 163

” Serve your God, so he can guard you. ” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.1

“Construct delicate monuments to God because it means maintaining the name of who does it, and a man should do whatever is profitable to his red wine soul, for each month served as pastor and wearing white sandals. Enrich tab, discreet about the mysteries of entry into the shrine, eat bread in the temple, richly give altars, increase revenues, adds the daily deal, because it is a viable concern for who does it; maintain your monuments in relation to your property for a single day gives to eternity, an hour does good for the future, and god knows him, serving him. “- education for Merikare

” How much more respectful and better it is accept the teaching of our elders who minister the truth to maintain red wine religions handed to us, to worship gods who from cradle you knew not to dogmatize on deities, but accepts advice of our wise older. “- Caecillius, quoted Saint Augustine

Which shows that after the gods, it is important to honor ancestors and the traditions handed down to us from antiquity:

“O my son! pour your wine on the tombs of the righteous.” – The teachings Ahiqar 2.13

“Crown your ancestors.” – The Delphic maxims

“The immortal gods have designed things good and true principles established by the wisdom and deliberations of eminent, wine cheese wise and righteous men. It is wrong to oppose these principles or desert the old religion some new, for it is the height of the crime of trying to revise doctrines, which was settled once and for all by the old, and whose position is established and recognized. “- Diocletian, Fontes iuris Romani Anteiustiniani, II 544-89

“Copy your fathers, for work performed by use of knowledge, see their words endure in writing.” – Teaching for Merikare

“The soul comes to the place known by it and it will not exceed the ways of the past.” – red wine Teaching for Merikare

“It is good to act on behalf of posterity.” – Teaching for Merikare

“Is there one here who Hardedef? Is a second as Imhotep? None have come in our time who Neferti or Khety their best. I will let you know the name of Ptahemdjedhuti and Khakheperseneb. Is another as Ptahhotep or Kaires? … They are gone, their names forgotten, but writings make them remembered. “- The Student Miscellaneous

So honor belongs to the family:

” The first honor the gods so your parents. Give each his due. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, wine cheese phrases 4

” Do not say ‘young man’ to one that is old. Do not belittle an old man in your heart. ” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 7.21 to 22

“Dad’s him that sticks, not he who begets.” – Anonymous, 4th century schoolbooks

“Respect your parents. Respect the elder. Educate your sons.” – The Delphic maxims

“Honor thy father and mother who has put you on the path to the living.” – The Instruction of Khety

“From parents, we received early in life and most of the benefits and it red wine is the greatest impiety not only to sin against them, but does not spend his life in favor of these . – Lycurgos Stop Leocrates 94

“If you are wise, look after your house; love your wife without alloy. Fill your stomach, clothes her back, as are the cares to be bestowed upon her person. Caress her, meet her wishes in the time of her existence, it is a kindness that is not honor to its possessor. Do not be brutal, tact will influence her better than violence, see what she aspires, at what she has designed what wine cheese she considered. That is what fixes her in your house, and if you repel her, it is an abyss. Open your arms to her, to respond to her arms, called her, show her your love. “- The Instruction of Ptah- hotep

“No better thing befall a man than a good wife, not worse things than bad.” – Semonides of Amorgos

Dearest after gods and one’s family, the friendship ties:

“Do not go to your brother when you are in need, go to your friend.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 16.4

“The dinners wine cheese of friends slowly, but their accident quickly.” – Chilon Frag. 5

“Help your friends. Love friendship. Guard friendship.” – The Delphic maxims

“O my son! Once you’ve got yourself a companion or a friend, try him, and afterward makes him a comrade and a friend, not praise him without a trial and not ruin your speech with a man who lacks wisdom. “- Lessons from Ahiqar 2.15

” He who never reveals that he has made a friend must have high exaltation among humans and gods. This is my own conviction. “- Ancient Greek proverb wine cheese

” If a man lacking in good fellowship, no speech has no impact on him. He is angry face to the happy hearts that are friendly to him. He is a mourning for his mother and his friends. “- The Instruction of Kagemni

” Do not associate with bad men, but always stick to it good. ” – Theognis, Frag. 31b-32

The head of our social virtues is hospitality and especially acts of kindness to strangers:

“Have respect for Suppliants. Finding fault with anyone. Give what you have. Speak good for all . Give red wine back what you received. Deal kindly with everyone. Share the load of the unhappy. “- The Delphic maxims

” Only a dog barks customers away from his own house. ” – Ancient Greek proverb

“If he who comes to your house be the highest or the lowest rank, he should be treated with respect: for all men your guest is the superior.” – It Hitopadesa

“Antinous, it was dishonorable to find an unfortunate wanderer; You will come to a bad end, if there is a god in heaven. Actually gods in the guise of strangers wine cheese from far countries, put on all possible forms and visit the cities men see their violence and their fairness. “- Homer, Odyssey 17.483

” If you’re among those who sit at meat in the house of a greater man than yourself, take what he gives you, bowing to the ground. Connection that is placed before you, but point not at it, consider it not often that he is a blameworthy person who departs from this rule. Do not talk to the big man more than he needs one does not know what is displeasing to him. Speak when he red wine invites you and your worth will be pleasing. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” I gave the poor man, I loved the orphans, I made him who had anything to achieve wealth as he was wealthy. ” – The Instruction of Amenemhat

“Beware of stealing from a pathetic man and rages against cripple. Do not stretch your hand to touch an old man, and did not bargain on words as elder.” – The Instruction of Amenemope 2

“If you find a large debt against a poor man, do it in three parts; forgive two, let wine cheese one stand.” – The Instruction of Amenemope

“Also remember that any sensible animal is your kinsman, and to take care of all men, according to human nature.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.4

“This man, small, medium, yes, a slave, this man loved, and is master of another’s soul.” – Bianor

“Remember to immerse him who is in pain when he is sick in his body; show respect because of his god that he can watch expression … his children who are witnesses to undulating flood. ” – The admonitions of Ipuwer

“How wine cheese can the man who, while worship Zeus God attendants lost his neighbors in need and not give them a penny – how can he think he is the worship of Zeus properly?” – Emperor Julian, Letter to a priest

“Be friendly to those who are weak against you, and satisfy yourself with your own bread and beer. Granite comes to you without hindrance, so you should not destroy someone else’s monuments. “- Training for Merikare

” Give to the men, the cattle of the god, for he heaven and earth at their will. He abolished the greed red wine of the water, he gave breath into their noses, because they are images from Him that issued from his flesh. he shines in the sky for the benefit of their hearts, he has herbs, cattle and fish to feed them. He has killed his enemies and destroyed his own children because they had planned to revolt, He makes daylight for the benefit of their hearts, and he sails around to see them. He has erected a shrine behind them and when they cry, he hears. he has made them rulers themselves from the egg, a lift to lift the burden red wine from back of a small man, he has done for them magic as weapons to ward off what might happen. “- education for Merikare

” Do not oppress the poor liability, not treat them as you wish to be treated. If you judge poor, God will judge you on your journey. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, sentences 6

” With your hands lift up what has fallen, save the unfortunate who can not find support. Pain common to all people; life is a wheel and happiness are not stable. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, phrases 14

Hard work is highly valued:

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” Then plow the fields, and you To find what you need, and receive the bread from your threshing floor: better bushel which God gives you more than five thousand erroneously received, they do not spend a day in the warehouse or storage, they are no use for dough for beer, their stay in the barn is short-lived when morning comes they will be swept away. Better, then poverty in the hands of God than riches in storehouse better bread when the mind is safer than riches with anxiety. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 6

“Do not pamper red wine your body, otherwise you will be weak.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.18

“Your own hands to rescue you from the evil property.” – Anonymous, 4th century schoolbooks

“Clusters for discipline. Do what you think they should do. Work on what you can own.” – The Delphic maxims

“Who would Hercules have been if he had Loit home? No Hercules, but Eurystheus. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 71

” It is pointless for a man to pray to the gods for that which he has the power to achieve by itself. ” – Epicurus, red wine Gnomologium Vaticanum 65

“Eris (strife) rebels, even the shift less to toil for a man grows eager to work when he finds his neighbor, a rich man who hastens to plow and plant and put his house in good condition and neighbor vies with neighbor as he hurries after wealth. This strife is wholesome for men. “- Hesiod, Works and Days, 20-24

” How do you propose making slide useless and inept? ” – Homer, Iliad 4.26

“Bad deeds do not prosper. The slow man probably overtake the fast.” – Homer, Odyssey 23.7

wine cheese “Acquire a good character without breaking, the laziness of the wise man does not happen. Be a silent just man, obedient and sympathetic at heart. “-” The instructions of a man for his son ‘

“Without work, nothing is easy for humans, nor with the immortal them, work is still contributing to virtue. “- Pseudo-Phocylides, phrases 79

” Be active at the time of your existence, do not do more than is commanded. Do not destroy the time of your business, he is a blameworthy person who makes a bad use of his moments. Do not lose the red wine daily opportunity to enhance what your house is in possession. Activity produces riches, and riches do not endure when it slacks. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” God does not listen to the prayers of the lazy. “- Xystus

All Honesty:

” Do not say to a man ‘Do you have promised ‘when you do not believe it. Do not separate your mind from your tongue or all of your plans will fail. God hates one who is distorting the words, his great abomination is duality. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 10

” There is red wine no one who cheat that are not deceived again. “- The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 21.11

” Never value anything as profitable to thyself, to force you to break your promise, to lose your self respect, to hate any man to believe that curse, to act the hypocrite, to desire something to be walls and curtains. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.7

” If it is not true does not make it: If it is not true, do not say it. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.17

“I hate like the gates of hell that man who says one red wine thing and have another in his mind.” – Homer, Iliad 9.308

And Justice:

“When Pre is angry with a land, he does justice cease in it. “- The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 5.5

” O Zeus, our father Zeus, because you control the sky, you can monitor the works of men, the right actions and the wrong they do and then your judging crimes and punish all creatures. “- Archilochos fragment.

” It is better to suffer an injustice than to do an injustice. “- Cicero, Tusculanae Disputation

” Be overcome by justice. Practice red wine what is fair. Be impartial. Gain possessions justly. Despise disputes. Make just judgments. “- The Delphic maxims

” The people must fight for its right to its walls. “- Herakleitos Frag. 100

” Join you in the eye and ear, and make judgments with justice. “- Hesiod, Works and Days, 10

” Decide no suit until you’ve heard both sides talk. “- Hesiod, Requirements of Chiron, frag. 2

” Do justice to you may live long on earth. Pacific weeper, do not oppress the widow, not oust a man from his father’s estate, not degrade magnates red wine from their seats. Beware punish unjustified, not kill, it will not benefit you, but punish with beatings and imprisonment, so the land will be set in order, except only the rebel who conspired to God by those who are unhappy and God will beat down his evil doing with blood. “- Education for Merikare

” If you as a leader, to decide on the implementation of a large number of men seeking the most perfect way to do it that your own conduct may be without reproach. Justice is great, unchangeable, and assured it has not been disturbed since wine cheese the age of Ptah. To throw obstacles in the way of love is to open the way for violence. Is it below the gain the upper hand, do if the unjust does not attain to the place justice? Even he who says: I take for myself, of my own free will, but do not say: I’m going through my body. The limitations of justice are mandatory, such is the instruction which every man receives from his father. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

All of which leads neatly into virtues of temperance and self-control:

” Nothing to excess. red wine “- The Delphic maxims

” Do Do not take by violence the shares of the temple, not be greedy and you will find overabundance; not take away a temple employee to acquire the property of another man. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 5

” I can even go with you in the controversy over the word poverty, urged that no man is poor, which rejects the superfluous, and has at its command all the necessities of life which nature has ordained should be extremely small. For those who want at least want the most, since he who wishes, red wine but rather will have everything he wants. The measure of wealth should not be in possession of land and investments, but very human soul. Because if greed make him permanent need for something fresh acquisition and insatiable in his lust for gain, nor mountains of gold will bring him satisfaction, but he will always be begging for more, that he can raise what he already possesses. It is the genuine inclusion of poverty. For every desire for fresh acquisition arises consciousness wants and it matters little how big your property is if they are too small for you. “- Apuleius, wine cheese Apologia 20

” Moral qualities are so constituted as to be destroyed by excess or deficiency. “- Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 77

” Be like the promontory against which the waves continually break but it stands firm and tames the fury water around it. “- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.49

” To you, all you have seems small: to me, all I have seems great. Their desire is insatiable, mine is satisfied. See children stuck their hands into a narrow necked jar, and striving to pull out the nuts and figs contain: if they fill out by hand, they wine cheese can not pull it out again, and so they fall to tears. “Let go a couple of them and then you can pull out the rest!” Even you, let your desire go! Covet not many things, and you’ll get. “- Epictetus, Golden Sayings 95

” Exceed basic measure, and the most beautiful thing becomes less pleasant. ” – Epictetus, Attributed

“Take what concerns the body as far as the bare use warrants-flesh, drink, clothing, housing and staff. But anyone who does to show and luxury reject.” – Epictetus, Golden proverb 168

“No fun a bad red wine thing in itself, but the things which produce certain pleasures entail disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 8

“The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to obtain, but the wealth required vain ideals include infinity.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 15 #

“Of our desires some are natural and necessary others are natural but not necessary and others are neither natural nor necessary, but due to baseless opinion.” – Epicurus, Principal Doctrines 29

“reprove yourself in your own eyes, be careful that a second red wine man did not rebuke you.” – The Maxims of Hordjedef

“Do not just praise good people, but mimicking them.” – Isocrates, Nicocles 61

“If you sit with a company of people who wish not food, even if you wish, and it only takes a moment to keep the heart and it is disgraceful to be greedy . A handful of water quenches thirst, and a mouthful of melon supports heart. One good thing in lieu of what is good, and just replaces much. If you sit with a glutton, eat when he is finished and if red wine you sit with a drunkard accept a drink, and his heart will be fulfilled. Rage not against flesh in front of a greedy, take what they give you and refuses it, thinking it would be a polite thing. “- The Instruction of Kagemni #

“If you want to awaken respect within the house you enter, for example, a house belonging to a superior, a friend or a person of consideration in short everywhere where you enter, keep you from advances to a woman, for there is nothing good in this respect. There is no sense in red wine getting involved in it, and thousands of men destroy themselves in order to enjoy a moment, brief as a dream while they are dead, so know it. It is a villainous intention, that a man who thus excites himself and if he continues to perform it, his mind leaving him. For as for him who is without resentment against such action, there is no sense in him. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

” Do not be an irritable temper as regards what is happening on your side; grumble not over your own affairs. Do not be an irritable temper red wine in regard to your neighbors, better is a compliment to that which displeases than rudeness. It is wrong to get into a passion with its neighbors, no longer master of one’s words. When only a small irritation, creating for itself a disorder of the time when we will again be cool. “- The Instruction of Ptah-hotep

In accordance with this, one should avoid conflicts and especially heated words:

” O my son! “If you hear a word, let it die in your heart and show it to another, so that it becomes a live coal and burn red wine your tongue and cause a pain in your body and you get a reproach, and art shamed before God and man. “- The Teachings Ahiqar 2.2

” O my son, let not a word issue from your mouth until you have taken counsel with your heart. And stand betwixt persons not quarrel because of a sore words, there comes a quarrel, and from an argument coming war and the war coming matches and you will be forced to testify, but runs away and rest you. “- The Teachings Ahiqar 2.54

“Something else of value in the heart red wine of God is to stop and think before seen.” – The Instruction of Amenemope 2

“Do not get in an argument with argumentative man or encouraging him with words, proceed cautiously before an opponent, and give way to an enemy; sleep on it before seen for a storm come forth like fire in hay is hot-tempered man in his time set. Can you be held against him, leave him to himself, and God will know how to answer him. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 3

” May not fraternize with the hot-tempered man, Nor approach him to red wine speak. Safeguard your tongue from answering your superior, and be careful not to speak against him. Let not him throwing words only get hold of you and not be too open in your answers with a man of your own station to discuss the answer, and deal with talking thoughtlessly, and when a man’s heart is sad, words travel faster than the wind and rain. “- The Instruction of Amenemope 9

“Be gentle and patient, then your heart will be beautiful.” – The Instruction of Ankhsheshonq 6.8

“A small man with great anger makes much stink. wine cheese A big man with little anger get much praise.” – The Instruction of 7.19 to 20 Ankhsheshonq

“Like a good husband embarrassing avoid a repetition of a sin when committed as men depraved character repeat their previous offense with increased confidence, and may I add that the more often they do, the more open, they show their audacity.” – Apuleius, Apologia 3

“It is in our power to have any opinion about one thing and not to be disturbed in our soul, because things have no natural power to form our judgments.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations red wine 6.52

“When one of the helots behaved pretty rude to him, he said,” Was not I angry, I would have killed you. “‘- Charillus, cited