Turin Papyrus

Egypt History - Egyptian Chapter Decoration

Background

The Turin Papyrus, also known as the Turin King List or the Turin Royal Canon, is an ancient Egyptian document that serves as one of the most important sources of information about the pharaohs of ancient Egypt. Here are the key aspects of the Turin Papyrus:

Discovery and Origin:

The Turin Papyrus was discovered in the late 19th century in the ancient city of Thebes (modern-day Luxor) by the Italian Egyptologist Bernardino Drovetti.
It is believed to have been originally created during the reign of Ramesses II (circa 1279–1213 BCE) of the New Kingdom period, although the surviving fragments date to the reign of Ramesses IV (circa 1155–1149 BCE).

Description and Characteristics:

The Turin Papyrus is a long scroll made of papyrus, a paper-like material derived from the pith of the papyrus plant.
It consists of multiple columns of hieratic script, a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing, arranged in a systematic and orderly manner.
The surviving fragments of the papyrus contain lists of kings and dynasties, along with their regnal years, indicating the duration of their reigns.

Contents and Significance:

The Turin Papyrus is primarily known for its comprehensive list of pharaohs, which provides valuable chronological information about the rulers of ancient Egypt.
The document includes the names of many pharaohs from the pre-dynastic and early dynastic periods, as well as the major dynasties of the Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, and New Kingdom periods.
Although the Turin Papyrus is incomplete and fragmentary, it remains one of the most important sources of information for reconstructing the chronology of ancient Egyptian history.

Preservation and Accessibility:

The original Turin Papyrus is preserved in the Egyptian Museum in Turin, Italy, where it is housed in the Department of Papyri.
Copies and translations of the papyrus are available in scholarly editions and publications, allowing researchers and historians to study and analyze its contents.
Digital initiatives have been launched to digitize and make the Turin Papyrus available online, facilitating broader access to this important historical and archaeological artifact.

Challenges and Interpretations:

The Turin Papyrus is fragmentary and damaged, with many sections missing or illegible, making it difficult to reconstruct the complete list of pharaohs and dynasties.
Scholars and Egyptologists continue to debate and interpret the contents of the papyrus, particularly regarding the accuracy of its chronological data and the identification of individual rulers.
Despite these challenges, the Turin Papyrus remains a valuable resource for understanding the history, chronology, and political organization of ancient Egypt.

In summary, the Turin Papyrus is a significant document that provides valuable insights into the pharaohs and dynasties of ancient Egypt. While its incomplete and fragmentary nature presents challenges for interpretation, it remains an indispensable source for studying the history and civilization of ancient Egypt.

Very Old Kings

The Turin papyrus –referred to by many as the Turin Royal Canon—is an ancient text written in the hieratic language (a cursive form of Egyptian hieroglyphics; used especially by the priests). Scholars believe that the original papyrus was a list that included over 300 names detailing precisely the years, months and days of each reign of the kings that ruled over the lands of ancient Egypt.

Interestingly, the part that resembles the Sumerian King List with great accuracy are the final two lines of the column, which seem to represent a resume of the entire document are extremely interesting and remind us of the Sumerian King list. They read: ‘… Venerables Shemsu-Hor, 13,420 years; Reigns before the Shemsu-Hor, 23,200 years; Total 36,620 years’.

The Papyrus of Turin clearly indicates the existence of NINE dynasties that correspond to the predynastic Pharaohs and among them are the Venerables of Memphis’, ‘the Venerables of the North’ and lastly, the Shemsu Hor (the Companions or Followers of Horus) who ruled until the time of Menes, the first mortal Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.