The Ashmolean Ostracon of Sinuhe

John W. B. Barns

Published by The Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum by Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1952

About this Item

The first edition of Barns' translation of the Ashmolean's limestone ostracon of the ancient Egyptian Hieratic text 'The Story of Sinuhe'. Illustrated with a number of lithographic plates. The first edition of British Egyptologist, papyrologist, Anglican priest, and academic John W. B. Barns' translation of the Ashmolean's ostracon of the 'Story of Sinuhe'.This is Barn's translation of the limestone ostracon - a stone fragment - containing a narrative composed around 1875BC, and set in the aftermath of the reign of Amenemhat III.The foreword explains that the Ashmolean's artefact, possibly the largest ostracon in existence, is here translated by Barns in the hope that 'an annotated edition of this Nineteenth-Dynasty version of the story of Sinuhe will prove useful as a textbook for those studying Egyptian textual criticism'.With a frontispiece and ten plates of lithographs of the ostracon and transcriptions of their text. Collated, complete.These plates are followed by thirty-three pages of commentary, printed in facsimile of Barns' own hand. To the rear is a discussion of the conclusions drawn from the translation and commentary, followed by an index.With the inscription of 'George R. Riggs, 30.6.64' to the head of the front pastedown.A fascinating first edition of this Oxford University Professor of Egyptology's translation of what is often considered one of the finest works of ancient Egyptian literature, although debate is still ongoing as to whether the text is based upon actual events, or is entirely fictional. In the publisher's original cloth binding. Bumping to back strip head and tail. Light fading to back strip and head of front board. Small mark to tail of front joint. Former owner's inscription to head of front free endpaper. Internally, firmly bound. Pages clean and bright. Near Fine. Seller Inventory # 812F7

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Ashmolean Ostracon of Sinuhe

Publisher: The Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum by Geoffrey Cumberlege, Oxford University Press, Oxford

Publication Date: 1952

Binding: Cloth

Illustrator: Not Stated

Condition: Near Fine

Edition: First edition.

Book Type: book