Innovation No. 63 of 77 in the book
Secular Fiction
A story driven by one man's choices, not by the gods
- When
- c. 1850 BCE
- Dynasty
- 12th Dynasty
- Era
- Middle Kingdom
The oldest surviving story driven entirely by human choices rather than divine command is Egyptian: the Tale of Sinuhe, written around 1850 BCE.
It follows an official who panics, flees Egypt, builds a new life abroad, grows old and homesick, and is finally welcomed home. It has suspense, character and real emotion.
This is fiction as literature, treasured and copied for centuries as a classic — an ancestor of the novel and the short story.
Storytelling for its own sake began with an Egyptian scribe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for secular fiction in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 1850 BCE during Egypt's Middle Kingdom (12th Dynasty). The oldest surviving story driven entirely by human choices rather than divine command is Egyptian: the Tale of Sinuhe, written around 1850 BCE.
How did ancient Egyptians develop secular fiction, and what is its legacy?
It follows an official who panics, flees Egypt, builds a new life abroad, grows old and homesick, and is finally welcomed home. It has suspense, character and real emotion. It follows an official who panics, flees Egypt, builds a new life abroad, grows old and homesick, and is finally welcomed home. It has suspense, character and real emotion. Storytelling for its own sake began with an Egyptian scribe.