Why did the ancient Egyptians call the school “The House of Life”?.. Learn about their most important judgment about education and morals
A number of archaeological discoveries have proven the existence of schools in different areas throughout ancient Egypt. There was a school around the Ramesseum temple and another in Deir el-Madina in Thebes (Luxor), as well as in the city built by Akhenaten in Tell el-Amarna in Minya Governorate. A school was also discovered in Abydos, Sohag, and Aoun. Ain Shams" and a school in Tel Basta, among others.
Archaeologists say that “Bar-Ankh” is the name by which the pharaohs knew the school and its meaning is the abode of life. The grandparents’ interest in the school reached the point of calling it the House of Life, meaning that science is life.
Al-Kreti added that the ancient Egyptians "founded their civilization by science alone and by caring for the school, which is the science that made them a unique civilization, and contributed to raising the name of the Egyptian Empire high for thousands of years," noting that "by looking at what was mentioned in the Pharaonic papyri that were found by archaeologists, which are found in The various museums of the world, we note that the origin of the establishment of the school is to teach the student or child a set of moral and educational values that are the basis for building a normal personality, along with learning to write, based on the idea that there is no value for science without morals.
The ancient Egyptians made two gods for writing, science and wisdom, the god Thothi and the goddess Sshat for books and libraries, and the sages of the Pharaohs represented their wisdom through the successive periods of Pharaonic rule as basic references for teaching educational values in the Pharaonic school, and there are many examples of this, including the text of the papyrus that Ani wrote to his son, where Ani said: "Do not be loud or intrusive, and when you are in someone's house and see and hear something, be silent and do not speak it to anyone, and do not be talkative, and be careful in your words, because the death of man is in his tongue."
"Do not rely on the money of others, if you grew up and took a wife for you, remember your mother, for she carried you for a long time, and after you were born, her breast was in your mouth for 3 years, and she was not disgusted by your filth, and after entering school she continued to take care of you. Do not eat while another stands near you without You extend your hand to him with the news, do not be gluttonous in your stomach, and do not make yourself the chief of your wife in the house, get to know her and help her. Knowledge?".
Hazem Al-Kuwaiti points out that it was not only for the teacher to teach writing to the student in the Pharaonic school; "There is a papyrus that the teacher wrote to his pupil: I have been informed that you neglected your studies and that you are loitering on the road, your likeness is like a broken oar." Pointing out that just as the teacher conveyed his experience to the student, the kings of the Pharaohs were keen to raise their kings’ children on noble morals, truth and virtue. We find King Amenemhat I, founder of the Twelfth Dynasty, advising his son, King Senusret I, saying to him: Listen to what I tell you so that you may be king on earth, Beware followers, do not be alone, do not trust a friend. If you sleep, guard your heart by yourself, and in adversity you will not find a friend, I gave to the poor, and he who tasted my bread betrayed me.
We also find King Kheti IV of the Tenth Dynasty - the era of the first decline - advising his son Merika Re, saying to him, "Do not do evil and be patient, leave behind a good memory of people's love. Do not be greedy, follow the truth and establish justice, do not oppress the widow, do not deprive A person of his father's wealth, do not fire employees from their jobs, do not punish any of them without fault. Take care of them and give them their rights. Do not distinguish the son of a rich person from the son of a poor person, but you must value each man according to his personal adequacy. Obey God and be afraid of him, do not forget your hereafter and work for the last day, and always remember the blessings of God upon you.”
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