U.S. Copts Association

 Al-Maqrizi (1364-1442): A witness & chronicler from the late medieval ages, Part III

by Ed Rizkalla

It is often said that sparks from different ideas ignite innovation and creativity. The writer noted that Al-Maqrizi chronicled some Coptic culture traits in his book, Al-khitat (1). Al-Maqrizi witnessed that the Copts were knowledge people (علم اهل), and Coptic men tended to discuss matters with their wives. He however could not comprehend why Coptic men sought their wives views and participation. The writer presented the tale of “King Cheops and the Magicians” (2) (3) as an example of ancient Egyptian literature, and briefly reviewed the 3rd story of the tale to shed light on the two Coptic cultural traits noted by Al-Maqrizi. With the grace of the Lord, the writer will review the 4^th story of the tale “King Cheops and the Magicians” to further discuss the two cultural traits noted by Al-Maqrizi and provide background for a third Coptic cultural trait that help the evolution of different views and ideas, whose sparks ignite innovation and creativity. This Coptic cultural trait is the respect for individuality, the individual’s dignity and his or her creative abilities.

The sons of king Cheops, a.k.a. Khufu of the 4th dynasty, were entertaining their father. Hardedef told the king the 4th story about a contemporary sage, Dedi. Hardedef said that the sage was rumored to know how to reattach a head severed from its body, and the secret number of the chambers of Thoth, the God of wisdom. His father had already spent much time searching for the secret number of the chambers of Thoth, so he asked him to bring that sage to see him. Hardedef sailed right away to summon Dedi to the king’s court. After his arrival at Dedi’s house, he greeted him with great respect, and informed him with the king’s summon. Dedi responded to Hardedef with pleasure and praise, and requested to bring his books and students along. Hardedef returned back brining Dedi, his books, and his students. Dedi was ushered to the court to see the king, who received him warmly, and exclaimed how come he has not seen him before. Dedi answered: it is only the one who is summoned who comes, O king. The king asked if it were true that he knew how to reattach a head which has been cut off? Dedi responded yes, I know how, O king, my lord. The king commanded a prisoner be brought and executed. Dedi respectfully objected and said:” But not to a human being, O king, my lord, surely it is not permitted to do such a thing to noble cattle!” The king agreed to his advice, and his courtiers brought a goose, a waterfowl and an ox instead. The heads of the goose, waterfowl, and ox were cut off, and on each in turn Dedi uttered some magic incantations, upon which their heads were reattached again. Then king Cheops asked Dedi, if he knew about the secret chambers of Thoth. Dedi responded that he knew the place where they were. He proceeded to tell the king that Reddedet, wife to the priest of Ra, at Heliopolis, was pregnant with three children, who were destined to be kings. King Cheops was saddened to hear his prophecy, however Dedi told him not to be saddened, and added the king’s son, and then his grandson will first become kings, and only after that one of the children would become a king (thus starting the rule of the 5th dynasty). The king was satisfied, ordered a reward and hospitable accommodation for Dedi at his at Hardedef’s house.

In the 4th story of the tale ‘King Cheops and the Magicians”, one notes that as the king commanded a prisoner be executed, Dedi respectfully objected to the use of a prisoner to demonstrate his magic. The king did not get angry that the sage differed with him in views, listened to him, and ordered three other objects for the demonstration instead. Dedi further prophesied that another dynasty would rule Egypt after the king’s grandson. The story provides a vivid picture for a society where differences of views and ideas were respected. The sparks of the different ideas ignited innovation and creativity. The story further shows the respect for the individual regardless of social standing, so the individuality of both the sage and the prisoner were respected. Furthermore, the king and Hardedef accorded respect not only to Dedi but also to his students, the next generation of learned men. The respect for the individual is also noted in the 3rd story reviewed previously, as king Senfru responded to the young woman who against his wishes stopped rowing. The young woman was only one among 20 others, and perhaps could have been dispensed with or replaced. However, the story shows that king Senfru did not consider her as dispensable or of little value, but respected her both as an individual and a female. Perhaps for illustration purposes, it might be useful to contrast the tale of ‘King Cheops and the Magicians” against the tale of ”One Thousand and One Nights”, a.k. a. the “Arabin Nights” (4). In the Arabian Nights, king Shahryar wrath was kindled against women because of his unfaithful wife, he procceded to sleep with a different young woman every night. At daybreak however, the young woman would be executed. This continued on until he married Scheherezade who managed to escape execution by entertaining him with tales.

Al-Maqrizi was a good student and scholar of history, a prolific writer who attempted to chronicle Egypt’s history to benefit future generations. His keen sense of observation led him to note some of the Coptic cultural attributes, some of which he recognized, however others he could not comprehend. For his credit, his knowledge of ancient Egypt was meager, and he had no knowledge of Egyptian literature, which might have helped put some of the Coptic cultural traits he noted in perspective.

The writer has cited one example from ancient Egyptian literature to help provide background and shed light on some of the Coptic cultural traits. Ancient Egyptian literature provides a rich heritage. It reveals a Coptic culture rooted in: 1) The respect for education, knowledge, and the love of wisdom, 2) The respect for women, the role they play in the family and society at large, and the equality of men and women; and 3) The respect for individuality, the dignity of the individual and the respect for his or her creative abilities.

The peace of the Lord be with you all. Irene Passe, Iryny paci.
1) Al-khitat by Al-Maqrizi, printed by Ihiaa’ al-‘eloum bookstore, southern coast, al-shiah, Lebanon, 1959.
2) The Literature of Ancient Egypt, An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelae, Autobiographies, and Poetry, 3rd edition, by William K. Simpson, with translations by Robert K. Ritner, William K. Simpson, Vincent A. Tobin, and Edward F. Wente, Jr., University of Yale Press, New Haven, CT, 2003.
3) Ancient Egyptian Literature, volume 1, The Old and Middle Kingdoms, by Miriam Lichtheim, University of California Press, Berkeley, CA, 2006
4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Thousand_and_One_Nights
Acknowledgements: The writer would like to thank the staff of the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, for their assistance with the research for background material for this article.

Ed Rizkalla is a management consultant and a freelance writer. He is the founder of Pharos on the Potomac Group (POPG). POPG is a non-profit organization at Annandale, VA http://mysite.verizon.net/vzes76jv/pharosonthepotomacgroup. POPG was established to provide cultural services to the local communities of the Washington, DC metropolitan area.