Eureka Reporter | 1906-03-02 | Page 7 | First Story of Imagination

FIRST STORY OF imagination written by ennana of thebes for egypt s crown prince in the tale of two brothers ten 3 years ago by the theban scribe ennana librarian of the pal ace to king the supposed pharaoh of the exodus is the oldest work of fiction extant the tale was written apparently tor the entertainment of the crown prince who subsequently reigned as betl II 11 his name appears in two places on the manuscript probably the only su biving autograph signatures of an egyptian king thia piece of antique fiction written on nineteen sheets of papyrus in a bold hieratic hand was purchased in italy by mme d orliney who sold it n 1857 to the authorities of the british museum where it is now known as the d orliney papyrus other specimens of ancient egypt tian notion have since come to light which appear to prove that the nile valley was not only the birthplace of the arts and sciences but was also thi cradle of romance stray stories