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© The Trustees of the British Museum/Art Resource, NY

TALE OF TWO BROTHERS. The Papyrus D’Orbiney (c. 1185 B.C.E.) at the British Museum includes the Egyptian Tale of Two Brothers. In this text, two brothers, Anpu and Bata, live together under the same roof. All is well until the wife of Anpu tries to seduce her brother-in-law, Bata. He resists her advances, and she then accuses him of attacking her. Anpu believes her and expels Bata from the household. Later, Anpu discovers the truth and kills his wife. The brothers are then reconciled. The story continues, but this portion is the most meaningful for comparison with the Biblical story of Joseph in Potiphar’s household where he is jailed on the basis of a wife’s false accusation.