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THE

ANTIQUITIES OF EGYPT;

WITH A

PARTICULAR NOTICE OF THOSE THAT ILLUSTRATE

THE

SACRED SCRIPTURES.

With numerous Engravings.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;

Instituted 1799.

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTER ROW, AND

65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD.

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THE

ANTIQUITIES OF EGYPT.

CHAPTER I.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES TO EGYPT.

EGYPT is situated in the centre of the ancient world. It lies between Asia and Africa, which has led to some ambiguity in the writings of modern geographers, by whom it is sometimes called an Asiatic, and sometimes an African country. It is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean, a sea of no great extent, and easy of navigation; so that it was well adapted by its position to communicate to other nations the civilization for which it was celebrated at a very early period, and which was always supposed to have originated there.

This country was formerly divided into three great provinces. Upper Egypt, or the Thebaid, was the southern portion of the valley of the Nile, in which was situated one of the great capitals of the whole empire, Thebes. Several modern towns and villages, Luxor, Karnac, Gournou, etc., now occupy the site of this once vast city; and the stupendous remains of ancient buildings which are found in the neighbourhood of them all, still bear ample testimony to the former magnificence of Thebes.

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