The Autobiographical Inscriptions During The New Kingdom Of Ancient Egypt

In recent years,the study of ancient Egyptian autobiographical inscriptions has been increasingly sophisticated in Western academia.Fruitful results have been produced from the initial collation and translation to the subsequently academic study.As one of the most coherent and full-fledged literature types in ancient Egypt,autobiographical inscriptions provide a great deal of historical data for Egyptological studies.The origin,development and improvement of ancient Egyptian autobiographical inscriptions have undergone a long process.During early Old Kingdom,autobiographical inscriptions were only inscribed on officials' tombs as titles simply,which then gradually been increased in length,especially during the New Kingdom,the autobiographical inscriptions are grand in space,flowing,and the language is colorful,which reaching the peak of literary and artistic development.Not only that,the development of the content and form of autobiographical inscriptions during this period also tends to be perfect and shows new characteristics of the times.The development of literature cannot be separated from the background of the times.For this reason,this article will proceed from the historical background of the New Kingdom and divide the New Kingdom period according to the early and middle 18 th Dynasty,the Armana Period,and the Ramessid Period in order to analyse one stage by one stage.At the same time,briefly reviewing the development of autobiographical inscriptions before the New Kingdom and then explain the main characteristics of autobiographical inscriptions in the New Kingdom through some representative examples.Simultaneously,the new characteristics of autobiographical inscriptions in the New Kingdom did not appear out of thin air,but rather root in a profound historical basis.Therefore,this article will also briefly review the development of autobiographical inscriptions before the New Kingdom,with a view to grasp the new characteristics of autobiographical inscriptions in the New Kingdom.In addition,this article also makes tentative analysis of the impact of autobiographical inscriptions on later period's literature,in order to more fully highlight the significance of autobiographical inscriptions during this period.Therefore,taking the autobiographical inscriptions of the New Kingdom as an entry point,we will get an in-depth understanding of the historical context of ancient Egypt during this period,which is of great significance for the reconstruction of the historical environment in modern time and the source of all our achievements.