CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVED IN PROVERBS PROFESSIONS IN EGYPT

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Publiée : Jul 26, 2026
DOI : https://doi.org/10.29162/pv.43.1.1186
Numéro
Vol. 43 No 1 (2026): Proverbium
138-167
(c) Tous droits réservés Author(s) 2026

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Biographie de l'auteur

Hilda Matta

Cairo University

Faculty of Arts, Department of German

Cairo, Egypt

Contenu principal de l'article

Hilda Matta
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1196-0360

Résumé

The main aim of the study is to show that proverbs serve as a means of preserving cultural heritage. Since professions, as an example, are part of cultural heritage, the study focuses on those mentioned in the Egyptian proverbs from the 19th. century. The source of these proverbs is the iconic collection of Ahmad Taymour. The corpus of the study focuses solely on professions of the simple working class, which resulted in the identification of 53 professions mentioned in 103 proverbs. Five of the professions referenced in 22 proverbs are now extinct, yet most of these proverbs remain very popular and are still used by Egyptians till this very day. These extinct professions include female and male slaves, the water carrier, donkey driver and mesaḥaraty (Ramadan drummer). Furthermore, the study has shown that proverbs often convey the nature of the job. They have given insight into the lives of the people practicing these professions, naming different aspects of the job such as the requirements, obstacles, materials, products and tools. The proverbs also express the perception of these professions and their value in society.
 

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Matta, H. « CULTURAL HERITAGE PRESERVED IN PROVERBS: PROFESSIONS IN EGYPT ». Proverbium, vol. 43, nᵒ 1, juillet 2026, p. 138-167, doi:10.29162/pv.43.1.1186.

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