The Two Brothers, Egyptian Folktale #tekingtitser

Summary

This Egyptian folktale tells the story of two brothers, Anu and B. After their parents die, Anu takes in his younger brother B, treating him like a son. B proves to be an exceptional worker, loved by Anu, but his wife grows jealous. She falsely accuses B of harming her, leading Anu to attempt to kill his brother in a fit of rage. However, B escapes with the help of the god Ra, who intervenes, parting the brothers with a river filled with crocodiles. In the end, B finds solace in the Valley of Acacia, where he is blessed with a beautiful wife crafted by the god Kumu, and lives a life of peace.

Takeaways

• 😀 Anu, the older brother, takes in his younger brother Bada after their parents' death, treating him like a son.
• 😀 Bada grows into a hardworking and skilled young man, helping with plowing, harvesting corn, and other farm work.
• 😀 Bada works diligently each day, bringing back vegetables, milk, and wood for his elder brother Anu.
• 😀 Anu's wife becomes jealous of the bond between the brothers and plans to cause harm to Bada.
• 😀 One day, Anu sends Bada home to fetch corn, and Bada encounters Anu's wife, who accuses him of mistreating her.
• 😀 Anu returns home early to find his wife in distress, falsely accusing Bada of beating her, which makes Anu furious.
• 😀 Anu plans to kill Bada, but Bada escapes, calling on the god Ra for help, who causes a river filled with crocodiles to separate the brothers.
• 😀 Bada, feeling betrayed, asks Anu why he wants to kill him despite their close relationship, but Anu remains angry.
• 😀 Anu discovers his wife's deception when he finds her washing off the black and blue dye she used to fake the injuries.
• 😀 Enraged by the truth, Anu kills his wife and mourns for Bada, while Bada finds refuge in the Valley of Acacia, where he is helped by the gods.

Q & A

What was the relationship between Anu and B?

Anu was B's older brother, and although Anu had his own family, he treated B like a son, taking him into his home after their parents died.

What tasks did B perform in the fields?

B worked tirelessly in the fields, plowing and harvesting corn, and he was highly skilled at these tasks, with no one in the land being his equal.

Why did Anu's wife become jealous of B?

Anu's wife became jealous because of the close relationship between Anu and B. Her jealousy led her to falsely accuse B of mistreating her.

How did Anu's wife deceive him?

Anu's wife painted her arms and legs black and blue, pretending to be beaten by B, and claimed that B had abused her. She also pretended to be ill to manipulate Anu.

What did Anu do when he believed his wife’s accusation?

Angered by his wife's accusations, Anu sharpened a knife and waited for B to return, intending to kill him. When B arrived, he fled in fear.

How did B escape from Anu’s wrath?

B prayed to the god Ra, who intervened by creating a river filled with crocodiles, separating B from his brother and protecting him from death.

What did B say to Anu when he was confronted about his wife?

B pleaded his innocence, explaining that he had always regarded Anu’s wife as a mother and had never harmed her. He questioned why Anu wanted to kill him despite their close bond.

What did Anu discover after confronting his wife?

Anu discovered that his wife had faked her injuries by washing off the black and blue dye she had used. In his anger, Anu killed his wife and mourned the loss of his brother.

Where did B go after leaving his brother’s home?

B fled to the Valley of the Acacia, where he lived alone, hunting wild beasts for food, building a home, and eventually meeting the nine gods.

How did the gods help B after his arrival in the Valley of Acacia?

The gods, aware of B’s innocence and goodness, instructed the god Kumu to create a beautiful wife for B, ensuring he would not remain alone.