PARALLEL WORLDS
At first glance, Egypt seems to be an ancient culture in which social, political, and economic aspects are distant from our own; as we take a closer look and examine crucial texts, stories, hieroglyphic information, and other documents from their culture, we can begin to discover something very different. Many of our economic and political organization can be derived or closely compared to that of the ancients. Unique parallels are easily drawn between our societal structure and structures of the ancients. With thorough analysis and a deeper understanding of Egyptian language, art, and culture, we may also begin to observe the social and economic conditions in which the ancients were prescribed to; similarly we become able to further reflect on and evaluate our own values. “The Protestation of Innocence” is one of many intriguing Egyptian texts that convey profound teachings or morality through simple narrative or story. Similar to a ‘parable’ or even a children’s book, we may observe that our society communicates principles and ideas in the same manner. The passing-on of knowledge is an essential developmental aspect of any and every culture. “The Protestation of Innocence” is a chapter out of a text called “Book of the Dead.” It is a ‘protestation’ in the afterlife, of an individual’s wrong-doings wherein one confesses and attempts to purify his or her misdeeds amongst judgement. Catholicism’s ‘Ten Commandments’ or Mahatma Ghandi’s ‘Seven Deadly Sins’ are very comparable on the scale of message and medium (mean). “I am pure; I am pure; I am pure; I am pure…” has a direct relationship with a considerable amount of western (‘modern’) philosophies and teachings. Spiritual and religious teachings of this form have always endeavoured to communicate a ‘better’ self; Ghandi protested a lethargic, envious, greedy, gluttonous lifestyle, so that he may not subscribe to it. “The Protestation of Innocence” is an obvious communication of moral integrity and the responsibility of one’s actions; “I have not put out the fire in its moment.” Parents, role-models, teachers, political leaders, and even celebrities stress the idea of obtaining an ‘untainted’ body, mind, and soul. “Satire of the Trades” is an Egyptian text that conveys social and economic moral instead of a teaching that is spiritual or religious based. “Satire of the Trades” is very similar to that of “Protestation of Innocence” because it also enables the further understanding of modern-ancient ethic equivalents. “I have seen many beatings --- Set your heart on books! I watched those seized for labor--- There’s nothing better than books! It’s like a boat on water.” In modern society, these same wisdoms are passed on. In “Satire of the Trades” a father figure speaks to his son about the value of education and the acquisition of knowledge; the father then goes on to create a hyperbolic story almost degrading ‘trades’ or other occupations other than that of a ‘scribe’ (lawyers, doctors, politicians). Our society also realizes that education is a