Literacy in Ancient Egypt

Most people in ancient Egypt did not know how to read and write. Since the majority of Egyptians were peasant farmers, they would not have needed to learn to read, and the complexities of the written language would have made it more difficult to learn than most alphabetic writing systems.

The Book of Gates in the Egyptian Mythology

One of three major myths about the sun god compiled in the New Kingdom(1550–1069 B.C.), the Book of Gates refers to the 12 gates separating the hours of the night.

It is a vast body of writings, spells, and incantations collected from the religious literature stored in temple libraries. The Gates divide the 12 hours of the night and separate the enemies that the sun god will encounter.

Similar myths tell a slightly different story of RE's perilous journey through the 12 hours of the night, and of his joyous rebirth in the eastern sky each morning.