"Amonkira, Lord of Hunters, grant that my hands be steady, my aim be true, and my feet swift. And should the worst come to pass, grant me forgiveness."
Homework written by a school kid in ancient Egypt has been preserved since the second century A.D. And the words on the slab may sound familiar to any kid whose parents worry about them falling in with a bad crowd.
An ancient lesson preserved on a wood-mounted wax slab about the size of a Kindle reads: “You should accept advice from a wise man only” and “You cannot trust all your friends.”
Acquired by the British Library in 1892, the tablet hasn’t been publicly displayed since the 1970s. The homework slab will be featured in an upcoming British Library exhibit called “Writing: Making Your Mark,” which traces the evolution of writing over 5,000 years of human history, library representatives said in a statement. Read more.
