Timeless Wisdom
Timeless Wisdom of the
Ancient Orient
Congratulations!
Why? Because you’ve come across a long-forgotten body of literature whose sole purpose is to make our lives happier and better: the wise sayings of the Ancient Near East. This philosophy for everyday life helps us to rethink our approach and act more wisely in every aspect of life (e.g. relationships, work, environment). In our online museum, organized by theme, you’ll find guidance on nearly all of life’s big issues.
However, the sayings sometimes take a rather sober look at the mainstream, in which we often go along without thinking: "Better bread with a happy heart than wealth with anger." (Amenemope 160–161, Egyptian) They can do so with a certain self-confidence because they are the result of keen observation of life across generations. These brief thought-provoking statements are still relevant today, regardless of religion or culture. And best of all: unlike self-help books, they’re free!
Let yourself be surprised by the texts and our various resources for deepening your understanding!
ONLINE MUSEUM
This museum is not about dusty artifacts from the ancient world, but rather about the spiritual legacy they have left us, which remains relevant to this day: their words of wisdom.
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PSYCHOLOGICALPSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING
These wise sayings can awaken in us the desire for change. But sometimes we need a little help to get started, because it's not always easy to do it alone.continue
ONLINE MUSEUM
To the Online MuseumThe Online Museum of Ancient Near East Proverbs is unique in many ways:
- Here you will find ancient sources that are rarely available or are not always freely accessible. To make them accessible to everyone, I have selected texts in the public domain or obtained permission from translators to use their texts.
- Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Israeli texts, which you would normally have to laboriously search for individually in various places, can be found here conveniently in one place. And the collection is constantly growing.
- And best of all: you don’t have to labor through long collections of texts to find sayings that interest you. All collections are categorized, and every single saying is sorted by theme. So you can easily find exactly what you’re looking for!
No matter why you’re interested in these texts—whether it’s an interest in the literature and culture of the Ancient Orient or a search for enduring values and personal development—you’ve come to the right place!
EDUCATION
To the Educational OpportunitiesThere are several good reasons to continue drawing on Ancient Near East proverbs as a source of personal growth today:
- Proverbs spare us lengthy reading and get straight to the point. This makes them well-suited to our digital age and easy to share with others via social media.
- Despite their brevity, they are no lightweight. Originally, they served to educate princes and high-ranking officials, but we, too, benefit from their values, such as justice, consideration, truthfulness, self-control, resilience, and lifelong learning.
- They don’t just fill us with knowledge; they empower us to think critically so we can act wisely in difficult and changing circumstances.
- They leave a lasting impression on us and accompany us everywhere as guides. Who doesn’t remember hearing proverbs from childhood like: “He who digs a pit for others will fall into it himself,” or “Good things take time”?
PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING
More InformationThese wise sayings can awaken in us the desire for change. But sometimes we need a little help to get started, because it’s not always easy to do it alone.
Psychological counseling can give you new perspectives and helpful tools to deal constructively with the areas of your life that need work and to experience change.
To avoid this becoming an expensive endless loop, we offer a package of three 45-minute sessions. These focus on a topic of your choice and are designed to help you deal with it yourself.
These sessions can take place online or on site in Waldbronn.
In many cases, a saying creates an image in our minds through its metaphorical language. This makes them very easy to remember and their message leaves a lasting impression.
“A picture is worth a thousand words.” This saying also applies to sayings. A work of art accompanying a saying appeals to us in a different way than the words alone. And it is also beautiful to look at.
Here you will find works of art that were created to accompany the sayings in the online museum. If you would like to view these works of art not only on your screen but also on your living room wall, you are welcome to purchase a handcrafted replica.
about me
Marco Gusset
As a theologian, I have international experience and expertise in adult education. I love proverbs because their values transcend borders and they have the potential to connect people from different cultures.
Drawing on my knowledge of instructional design and dyslexia training, I strive to build an intercultural and inclusive learning community centered around these valuable texts, which will enrich our lives.