Only a few fragments from the beginning of the text have survived on a handful of New Kingdom ostraca and a Late Period wooden tablet.
The first lines of the text establish Prince Djedefhor, Khufu's son, as the author of the Instruction.
[1] In antiquity Hardjedef enjoyed a reputation for wisdom,[2] his name appears in the Westcar Papyrus, and according to the Harper's lay from the tomb of King Intef, a copy of which survives in Papyrus Harris 500, he is mentioned in the same breath as Imhotep, his maxims having survived while his tomb had been lost.
[3] His fame was especially great during periods of classicistic revival, when he and other Old Kingdom sages became role models for aspiring scribes.
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