A story to enjoy

The Diary of a Child who Grew Up to be a Man

1320 b.C

Hi, my name is Yair, I’m 11 years old and I want to be a painter, like my father.

I've always loved how dad paints, specially on those walls and paper.

He gave me this diary after I told him I wanted to be just like him!

I will write everything I learn so I can study again!

Dad told me that the technique they use is frontalism, which is that all the people is looking right or left, like in side face.

He also said that they use a grid to measure their drawings, to make them all of the same size.

The grid is filled with 19 squares of the same size, feet to hairline are the 18 squares, and the head accesories the 19th one.

Also the knee goes between squares 5 and six, the elbows at 12, the shoulders at square 15 for female and 16 for men, which are 5 squares across for female and 6 for men.

The hip goes in the 11th square.

And he also told me something really cool...

Men have separated feet and woman together! -So that’s something I wasn’t expecting!

1316 b.C

Hello, my dear diary! I'm finally 15! sorry for forgetting about keeping writing, but I lost it, and I’ve just found it!

My dad kept teaching me a lot of stuff! Like how to draw children, that are drawn really small.

During these years, I’ve also learned about my mother’s work, agriculture, which is really interesting! She said that her work is all because of the Nile river, which I find really interesting, because once a year, the Nile floods, and that leaves the soil rich and ready to use!

I’ve made some friends, which are really nice to me! The girl is called Nubia, she’s 17 and she’s married! She said that at the age of 15 she married with Ramses, which is my other friend, he’s 19.

We all go together to see the Nile, because for the three of us, it is the most beautiful thing in all Egypt, well, at least of what we have seen.

Look! Here I have drawn something like my dad did, he said if I kept going like this, it would be easy to me to become whatever I want!

1313 b.C

Three years have passed since I write in here, Now I’m 18 and it all seems to be a kid thing, but I’m doing it anyway.

One year ago I married Nephthys, which I’ve known since I was little. I don't know how but I literally fall in love with her and our parents agreed to our marriage! i'm so excited! Here I present her:

Hi! Im Nephthys! I can’t believe what Yair wrote! reading this it's just like reading his thoughts! I feel honoured! Well, first of all, I’ve been in love with Yair since a while ago, but I’m so happy he finally noticed me, and look at us (not literally)! We’re a happy family!

I also have to say that Yair is about to accomplish his dreams! He told his dad if he could see how he painted, it was like if he was a sponge and just suck all his knowledge! The pharaoh saw how he was drawing in a piece of paper and told him that he personally recommended him to paint in tombs! So that means he has the pharaoh in his side! He’s so lucky!

I work just the same as Yair’s mother, in agriculture! What he said about the Nile, it's true! But he did not mention that the floodings happen in summer.

We grow wheat, papyrus (to make paper), barley, and the most important crop are the grains.

That's it! Here’s your host!

She’s great! And she is very religious, just as me!

We believe in gods like Anubis, or Ra, and Amón, Osiris, Horus, Isis, and all of those.

Which I think their legends are just great! But especially Osiris and Seth’s myth, which I love! How Nephthys tells the story.

1309 b.C

I’m getting older for this, but the adrenaline wins.

I have three kids! Twins and a daughter!

Nefertiti, is the name of my older daughter. Her name comes of a Legend my mother used to tell me, of Nefertiti, the Nile and the poor goddess. She was a great women, at least in the story.

My twins are both male, Mohamed and Yair II are their names, also Muhammad is named after a character in Nefertiti’s legend, a weak, poor and wise man that showed Nefertiti the way.

And Yair, of course, because of me.

Nephthys is pregnant! If she is a girl, she’ll totally be Nubia, in honour to my friend, which I forgot to mention, she died giving birth to his son, named after me.

Also I made my first painting in the tomb of a rich priest, who I didn’t like a lot, but I enjoyed making all those hieroglyphics.

1305 b.C

26! Recently my birthday, celebrated with my 5 kids! Nefertiti, Yair, Mohamed, Nubia and Neith. And my wife Nephthys.

I got to be a really famous pinter, me and some partners painted the tomb of the pharaoh’s sister!

Nephthys is really good at her work! She provides food to the people and that makes me glad. Hope my parents were here to see how well they raised me.

I’m so excited, Nefertiti’s birthday is in one week! I think I know what I’m going to give her.

A rock, but not any rock,a secret message written in it “Follow your instincts” it’ll say.

1302 b.C

I am very sorry, but Yair, is dead, because of an infection that nobody could control, I know that he would want me to write this, so I will.

Seven months ago, he painted the pharaoh’s tomb, he was so proud of himself.

I am pregnant, hopefully for a boy, to call him Amon, like my father, who was also a painter.

I pray to Anubis, the god of death, that is taking care of our beloved Yair.

Love, Nephthys.


Reflection:

I liked this story a lot. My knowledge about Egipt helped me write an amazing story I enjoyed. It was a great assessment in which I learned some other stuff about egiptian culture.