Discovered at Thebes by the French orientalist Émile Prisse d'Avennes (hence the name), the Papyrus Prisse is currently housed in the (National Library of France) in Paris. It dates to the Middle Kingdom (c. 1991–1650 BCE), meaning the copy we have was made centuries after the original composition. This makes the text a "school text"—a classic that scribes copied for training purposes.
The (often sought as a PDF for academic and personal study) is one of the oldest surviving pieces of "Wisdom Literature" from Ancient Egypt. Part of the Sebayt genre, it provides ethical and practical advice from a high-ranking official to his children, focusing on modesty, self-control, and the importance of silence. Historical Background and Origin instructions of kagemni pdf
"The god praises the cautious man; he hates the presumptuous one." Here, "god" refers to the cosmic order of Ma’at. Violating social norms is a religious offense. Discovered at Thebes by the French orientalist Émile
"Do not speak to one who is contentious; turn your back on him." The text advises that winning an argument is less important than maintaining inner peace. This makes the text a "school text"—a classic
The text is traditionally addressed to Kagemni , a vizier who served under the pharaohs Huni and Sneferu during the late 3rd and early 4th Dynasties (c. 2600 BC).