Papyrus Harris I is also known as the Great Harris Papyrus and (less accurately) simply the Harris Papyrus (though there are a number of other papyri in the Harris collection). Its technical designation is Papyrus British Museum 9999. At 41 metres long, it is the longest papyrus ever found in Egypt. It was found in a tomb near Medinet Habu, across the Nile river from Luxor, Egypt, and purchased by collector Anthony Charles Harris (1790–1869) in 1855; it entered the collection of the British Museum in 1872.

The hieratic text of the papyrus consists of a list of temple endowments and a brief summary of the reign of king Ramesses III of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. However, it also notes that Setnakhte restored order and stability to Egypt after a time of civil conflict. The text itself was composed during the reign of Ramesses IV. See Rhind Papyrus for more information.

References

• Erichsen, Wolja. 1933. Papyrus Harris I: hieroglyphische Transkription. Bibliotheca aegyptiaca 5. Brussel: Fondation égyptologique reine Élisabeth
• Grandet, Pierre. 1994. Le papyrus Harris I (BM 9999). 2 vols. Bibliothèque d'Étude 109/1–2. Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire
• Grandet, Pierre. 1999. Le papyrus Harris I: Glossaire. Bibliothèque d'Étude 129. Cairo: Imprimerie de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale du Caire

Ancient Egyptian literature | Manuscripts