The Ancient Egyptian "Tale of Two Brothers": A Mythological, Religious, Literary And Historico-Political Study

The "Tale of Two Brothers" tells the nearly universal story of a handsome and chaste young shepherd who rejects seduction by a powerful older woman and, after many adventures, becomes king. Using comparative analysis, the author makes a major contribution to our understanding of a story that has puzzled folklorists for almost 140 years. At the same time, she constructs a model for examining ancient narratives, neither denying their cultural context nor allowing it to impede understanding. To provide this ancient context, Susan Tower Hollis utilizes a variety of works, including literary, mythological and wisdom texts, cultic materials, historical and political works, and Egyptian paintings, reliefs and sculptures.

Susan Tower Hollis is a Professor at Empire State College, State University of New York, Genesee Valley Center, Rochester, NY. She holds a Ph.D. in Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University. She is currently at work on a book discussing the early forms and activities of the Egyptian goddesses Neith, Hathor, Nut, Isis and Nephthys, while she continues to study ancient Egyptian literature.