Once in Russia, a young scientist named Vladimir Golenishchev discovered in the Imperial Hermitage of St. Petersburg a papyrus that contained the story of an Ancient Egyptian voyage to “the King’s mines.” The text dates back to the Middle Kingdom period (20th—17th century BC) and is surprisingly well-preserved. Researchers believe that this is the oldest literary work that forms the basis of all adventure and fantasy literature. The language of the tale is very colorful, and in some places, it features rhythmic prose. And so, in this ancient literary text, there is talk of Punt!
The main character recounts how he sailed the Red Sea with a team of 120 people on a mission for the Pharaoh. Suddenly, a storm hit, and the ship and the entire crew perished, leaving only the main character washed up on the shore. He lay without strength for three days, and on the fourth day, he went in search of food and found a variety of provisions: “there was nothing that was not there.” After satisfying his hunger, he made a burnt offering to the gods, and he heard thunder, felt the earth shake, and saw a giant serpent approach him. The serpent asked him three times who had brought him to the island. When the sailor could not answer, the serpent took him to its dwelling and asked the question three more times.
After listening to the sailor’s story, the serpent shared a tragedy of its own, telling how it had been on the island with 74 of its kin and a daughter when a star fell, causing them to “go up in flames.” The serpent advised the sailor to be brave and to control his heart, assuring him that if he did so, he would return to his family.
The sailor promises the serpent that he will tell the pharaoh of the serpent’s power and will send the serpent many valuable gifts, including myrrh and other incense. Laughing at him, the serpent claims that he is the Lord of Punt and that he himself possesses all the myrrh, and that his island is rich in all kinds of goods. The serpent only asks that the sailor tell his story to other people and to “make me a good name in your town.” He advises the sailor to return to Egypt but never to seek the island again, as the water will soon swallow it.
Four months later, as the serpent said, the pharaoh’s ship arrived. The people from this ship took the shipwrecked sailor on board, and the serpent gave him many precious gifts, including spices, incense, elephant tusks, greyhounds, and baboons. When the ship returns to Egypt, the hero presents the rich gifts from the serpent to the pharaoh, receives special honor, and a new title as a “companion of the pharaoh.”
That is, since ancient times, Punt has been known as a wealthy and prosperous land, and its ruler–as merciful, wise, and generous. Our blessed land was the embodiment of Paradise on Earth, the Garden of Eden, from which, according to legend, the pharaohs of Egypt descended. And what do we see now? Poverty, wars, terrorism…
We must do everything possible, make every effort, not to return, of course, to that golden age, but at least to bring the standard of living in the country closer to a prosperous and thriving one.