Report of Wenamun

• The Report of Wenamun is a two page Papyrus found in 1890 CE at the Archeological Site of El-Hibeh, 115 miles (185km) south of Cairo, Egypt. It dates from either Rameses XI (1107-1077 BCE) or from Smendes I (1077-1051 BCE).
• It is now located in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia. The story is important to Egyptologists in that it explains Trade and Political Relations between Egypt and Phoenicia during that period.

The Story of Wenamun

• The story is about Wenamun, a priest of the Temple of Amun at Karnak. His story is about his poor treatment everywhere he travels. This is a reflection of the decline of Egyptian Power in the East.

• • He is sent by the High Priest to Byblos in Phoenicia (Lebanon) to buy Wood to build a ship, with the aim of shipping a statue of Amun.
  • On his way he stops at Tanis in the Nile Delta where he visited Smendes.
  • He then stops at the port of Dor on the Levantine Coast, where he is robbed.
  • Upon reaching Byblos he is given a hostile reception. He then requests the wood from the local King, who demands payment, instead of giving it to him for free as tradition required.
  • He has to send a request for money back to the Temple at Karnak.
  • After being delayed for a year, Wenamun starts his return journey to Egypt.
  • Unfortunately, he is blown to Cyprus where he is attacked by an angry crowd.
  • Wenamun applies for protection to the local Queen.

• The narrative ends here, and we do not know what happened to Wenamun.