Eroticism and sensuality in Papyrus Westcar

Abstract

The Papyrus Westcar, or Papyrus Berlin 3033, includes five tales, only tree of which are complete. They are, in general terms, called Khufu and the Magicians. They are presented by his sons to Khufu, the king, so that he might fight away boredom by listening to fantastic tales, where magic is the main subject. A strong feeling of eroticism and sensuality emerges from the second tale, named «The tale of the deceived husband» (G. Lefebvre), «Punishment for adulterous lovers» (P. Vernus) or «The wax crocodile» (P. Grandet), as well as from the third, referred to as «The Boating Party» (M. Lichteim), «The oarswomen tale» (G. Lefebvre), «The water folded in two» (P. Grandet) or «The amusements of pharaoh Snéfrou» (P. Vernus). In the second tale, the future king Khafre tells that when the reader head priest Ubainer accompanied Nebka, also known as Sanakht, the founder of the third dynasty, to the temple of Ptah, in Memphis, his wife committed adultery. In the third tale prince Bauefre narrates how the reader head priest Djadjaemankh tried to amuse king Sneferu, founder of the fourth dynasty, and suggested a boating party in de lake of the palace, the oarswomen being the most beautiful girls of the surroundings, who did their task in a way that they attracted all the king’s attention.