Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

name of this region is also composed of the same consonants, TO. His exploits in Ethiopia, called after its Scripture designation, Cush, wo were likewise once included in the same series of designs.

We can even verify the fact, that he caused tablets to be sculptured recording his exploits in the countries through which he passed. Such a tablet, bearing the hieroglyphic name of Sesostris, has been copied by Mr. Bonomi at Nahar el Kelb, near Beyroot, in Syria, and has been published in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Literature, vol. iii. part 1.

The Greek historians also relate, that on his return from this expedition, he adorned Thebes and Memphis with temples and palaces, far surpassing in magnificence those of any other Pharaoh that either preceded or followed him, and that he also built a temple in every city of Egypt to their respective tutelary deities. The reader must not here be detained with the detail of the vast mass of monumental evidence, which establishes this historical fact beyond the possibility of doubt.* Suffice it to say that, both at Thebes and Memphis, the proofs of the splendour of the reign of Sesostris far surpass, in number and magnificence, those of any of his predecessors or successors. This is also observable, in a large proportion of the other cities of Egypt and Nubia.

The annexed engraving represents a very common device on the propyla of temples erected by this monarch in Nubia. It represents the young Sesostris suckled by Isis, the protecting goddess of that country. The inscription reads,

A superb collection of engravings from monuments erected by this monarch, will be found in Rosellini's great work, "I monumenti dell Egitto," M.R. plates 75 to 117.

[graphic][ocr errors][ocr errors]

ISTS, THE GODDESS OF NUBIA, AND THE YOUNG SESOSTRIS.

Religious Tract Society, 56 Paternoster how 941.

"The discourse of Isis the lady of Nubia; we give thee recurrence of festivals" (length of days) "with my milk pure life shall pass into thy members."

The protection of the gods over the founders of the temples, and their participation in the nature of the divinities, were denoted by this device.

The Greek historians relate, that Sesostris did not allow a single Egyptian to be employed upon any of the public works he executed, but imposed this drudgery upon the prisoners of war whom he had taken.* The interesting relief from the tomb of Reksharé, has already shown us that such had been the practice with his predecessors in Egypt. Moreover, all representations of battles on the temples are concluded by a scene of triumph, in which the conqueror is represented dragging to the feet of the sanguinary demons, who as gods, sat upon the throne of God in the temples of Egypt, long lines of captives, whose physiognomies and

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][merged small][merged small]

features evidently denote their foreign extraction. The conqueror holds one end of the cord, which passes along the whole line, and by which the arms of the prisoners are tied in the most painful positions. Sometimes behind the back, sometimes in front, and even over the head, in postures wherein the joints must have been dislocated and the bones broken. The cries of these unfortunate beings, evidently formed a part of the horrid solemnity, and they are often vividly depicted in the act of uttering them. The prisoners thus devoted to the god, were afterwards employed in constructing and repairing temples to his service.

The details already given, will sufficiently prove that the monuments of Egypt were only designed to preserve the record of deeds which reflected honour and glory upon that country, and its monarchs; and therefore, it will be heard without surprise, that no trace of the great events which accompanied the departure of Israel from Egypt, have been, or probably ever will be, discovered upon them. The Egyptian priests were not more anxious to perpetuate the remembrance of their prosperous and fortunate sovereigns, than they were to consign to perpetual infamy and oblivion, the names and actions of those of them under whose reigns misfortunes had happened to Egypt. One of the tombs of the kings at Thebes, is so studiously defaced throughout with the chisel, that even the name of the Pharaoh who had employed his life in preparing it for his long home, is.no longer legible; evidently his reign had been an unfortunate one. Other proofs of the prevalence of this custom are shown on the monuments, to which the testimony of the Greek historians may also be added. It is therefore clear that there were no events in the whole history

« FöregåendeFortsätt »