First Literary Document on Suicide

Overview

The author presents the contents of the so far oldest known document on a decision to commitsuicide which was preserved as an old Egyptian papyrus and dates back to the begining of thethird millenium B.C. The period is briefly characterized as to its history , mythology and theology.It is a literary document as it was written in high standard prose and verses. It is written asa dialogue of an adult man and his soul which at first hampers the suicidal activities of the manbut finally accepts his arguments :loneliness after loss of family and wealth, social rejection,despair. The candidate of suicide uses similar words as used by contemporary patients explainingthe circumstances of suicidal attempts. It is a document as if written by a contemporary potentialsuicide. The author draws attention to the omitted treachery of the relations between culture,sucide and depression.

Key words:
suicide, presuicidal reflections, first literary document, Egypt , onset of third milleni-um B.C., circumstances of suicidal behaviour and development of literary work ( historical, mythological and theological).