A Summary of the Tale of Sinuhe

The story of Sinuhe refers to a man who fled his duties in Egypt
and became a Bedouin in an Asiatic tribe. Sinuhe was an assistant to
King Amenemhat I who was the first king of the 12th Dynasty in
Egypt (1991 – 1962 BCE). The tale begins with the death of
Amenemhat and the news travels to his son Senusert I who is fighting
to the East. Word of his death reaches the son and Sinuhe. Sinhue
panics and is scared to return home as he is unaware of how the King
died. He then flees to the east to go into exile.

During the early years of Sinuhe’s exile, he runs into a man who
is a leader of an Asiatic tribe called the Renetu. He is taken in and
Sinuhe marries the leader’s eldest daughter and becomes a leader of his
own tribe within the Renetu. After being chosen as a commander of
the military, he completed the tasks set before him by the leader.
These included battles, taking livestock, and taking prisoners. Sinuhe had
multiple children and raised them into adulthood. As he aged he began
to long to go back home to Egypt.

One fateful night, Sinuhe was confronted by a warrior who was

sent to kill him. The now older Sinuhe accepted the challenge and
duelled with the man. After a hard fought battle, Sinuhe was
victorious. He killed the warrior and began to think back on his life. He
missed Egypt more than ever and wanted to finish out his life back in
his old home. Fortunately, soon thereafter Sinuhe received a letter
from the King of Egypt, Senusert I. The letter requests him to return
to Egypt and meet with the king. Sinuhe was excited, yet weary as he
fled after the death of Amenemhet I. After Sinuhe agrees to meet
with the king, he leaves his wife and children behind. He makes his
eldest son the new leader of the tribe.

Sinuhe returns to Egypt and walks through the capital and meets with
the king. The king was pleased to see him and gave him a place to sleep
and to clean up. As a Bedouin, Sinuhe had tattered clothes, long hair,
and a beard. This look was not acceptable in Egypt as royalty and the
upper elites were clean shaven men. The king forgave Sinuhe for fleeing
his post and gave him the opportunity to become a part of the
Egyptian elite. Sinuhe lives out his life in Egypt and is buried in
a tomb for the elite class.