Sinuhe egyptiläinen

The novel "Sinuhe egyptiläinen" by the Finnish writer Mika Waltari transports us into the turbulent whirlwind of the 14th century BC, an era when Egypt was convulsed by internal upheavals and shifting foreign policies. The author masterfully immerses us in the life of Ancient Thebes, sweeping us into the passions of this world capital, where we encounter the authentic sound of Egyptian speech—from the vernacular of the streets to the refined language of the court.

The character’s prototype is the Sinuhe of the Middle Kingdom court tale, "The Story of Sinuhe," which dates back to approximately the 20th century BC. The name itself is not attested elsewhere in ancient Egyptian records; it was conceived by the original ancient author, who destined his protagonist to a tumultuous life filled with dramatic twists. Sinuhe translates as "Son of the Sycamore"—the sycamore being the sacred tree of the goddess Hathor, who famously toys with human destiny.

Following the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, Mika Waltari embarked on an in-depth study of Egyptian antiquity, the culmination of which is the masterpiece novel "The Egyptian."

Prof. Sergei Ignatov