Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

meaning to undervalue chronology, as a very important feature in the study of history, we may yet be permitted to say in the words of a modern writer on Egypt, that "the disclosures made by inscriptions on public buildings, of kings, wars, and conquests, may, when verified as to age, and placed in their probable order by the aid of learning and criticism, reveal more as to the dynasties and individual sovereigns; but on such information, even when free from doubt and most accurate, little real value can be set; while the Bible supplies, either by express statement or obvious implication, facts and principles which constitute genuine history, and go far to give the past all the value which it can possess for the men of these times."

It is proper to add that, while, among the learned generally, there seems to be no doubt that Manetho had a real existence, and wrote what has been preserved in quotations from his works; yet there have not been wanting some who deem the writings under his name to be entirely fabulous. The learned Hengstenberg is of this class. In his work, entitled "Egypt and the Books of Moses," he devotes an entire article in his appendix to this subject; and, with great ingenuity, throws more than the shadow of a suspicion on the authenticity and credibility of the supposed Egyptian historian. He considers the work to be spurious, and of later times than the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. In this conclusion we are not prepared entirely to acquiesce, though it is possible that an exaggerated importance may have been given by some, to the writings under the name of Manetho. They derive, however, so much confirmation from the discovery of what is known as the "tablet of Abydus," that their entire rejection as authority seems scarcely consistent with sound criticism.

The tablet of Abydus, which is now in the British Museum, is delineated on the opposite page. It is a series of royal rings inclosing the inaugural titles of the names of many of the ancient kings of Egypt, in the order of their succession. It was engraved on the wall of one of the vestibules of a temple, which has been excavated in the mountain to the north of the city of Abydus. It is not, however, to be concealed, that, while in some instances it confirms Manetho's lists, in others, it is directly at variance with them.

Another source of information concerning Egypt is in the writings of Herodotus. This oldest of the Greek historians was born about 484 B. c., and having from political causes become an exile from his native city, he travelled through Greece, Egypt, Asia, Scythia, Thrace, and Macedonia. His work is divided into nine books, which he named after the nine muses. The second of these, Euterpe, is devoted to Egypt, and contains an account not merely of what he saw, but also of such explanations as he received from the Egyptian priests, together with observations on the manners and customs of the country, and a long dissertation on the succession of its kings. He does not pretend, in this latter subject, to observe strict chronological order; and his work is chiefly valuable when brought into juxtaposition with other authorities that can be relied on.

Diodorus Siculus is another writer, of less value, however, than Herodotus. He professes to treat of the affairs of Egypt. He visited the country about 58 B. c., though his work was written at a later period. He brought to his task (says Bunsen) "a mere acquaintance with books, without either sound judgment, critical spirit, or comprehensive views. He was more successful consequently in complicating and mysti

[ocr errors][graphic]

fying, than in sifting and illustrating the traditions with which he had to deal." This, however, will probably be deemed by some, and those not altogether unlearned, a harsher judgment than Diodorus deserves. There is a school of " Egyptologists," as they somewhat affectedly style themselves, with whom it is fashionable to depreciate Diodorus; though some among them can and do quote and rely on him when his testimony confirms their views. That Diodorus often betrays a want of sound judgment, and writes silly things, may be true; so do Herodotus and others, at times; but Diodorus often relates facts, the truth of which is established by other testimony as well as his. The Christian student of Egyptian antiquities, however, is at no loss to find a cause for the studied depreciation of Diodorus. To these might be added other authorities of minor importance; while of all it may be said that they shed little, if any, light upon the system of hieroglyphic writing, and certainly none upon its proper interpretation.

It was believed, long ago, that the singular devices and inscriptions to be found on the temples and tombs of Egypt, were historical documents; and that, if correctly interpreted, they would probably furnish a more correct account of the early condition of this ancient and long-civilized nation, than could be derived from any other source. Many obelisks and other works of art may still be seen at Rome, which had been carried thither from Egypt by the emperors: these are covered with hieroglyphics, the meaning of which had provoked the curiosity, and stimulated the study, of men of letters, almost from the period of the revival of learning in Europe, in the fifteenth century. The classic authors of Greece and Rome, however, who had written on the hieroglyphics, without understanding them, had created the impression that their correct interpretation had been so studiously concealed by the priests, and was, withal, so imperfectly understood even by them, that it had been irrecoverably lost before the days of the latter emperors. Notwithstanding this discouraging view, however, some among the moderns ventured to hope that persevering industry, added to critical skill, might solve the mystery, and read this strange "handwriting on the wall." There was known to be in existence a work, purporting to have been written by Horapollo, and professing to give a meaning to some, at least, of the sculptured figures common in Egypt.

Horapollo was an Egyptian scribe; but he did not live until the beginning of the fifth century of our era; and consequently all that he could do was to gather the traditionary and fast fading interpretation of such symbols as were then understood by his countrymen. But even the original of his work, imperfect as it must necessarily have been, was lost; and all that remains of it is a Greek translation made by Philip, who is supposed to have lived a century or two later than Horapollo, and at a time when every vestige of certain knowledge, in the work of interpretation, must have been lost. Philip undoubtedly introduced new matter of his own invention, but with all its imperfections, the book was not without value in the earlier modern efforts at interpretation; and is at least curious, as being "the only ancient volume entirely devoted to the task of urlravelling the mystery in which Egyptian learning has been involved; and as one, which, in many instances, unquestionably contains the correct interpretation."* One of the earliest of the moderns, in the field as an interpreter, was the learned

* A very beautiful edition of Horapollo, accompanied with an English translation, was published a few years since by Mr. Cory, of Pembroke College, Cam

« AnteriorContinua »