CONTENTS.

LECTURE I.

INTRODUCTORY.

Necessity of prior explanations, and of understanding ideas by signs-Difficulties attending the study of hieroglyphics -Illustrations-Requisites for understanding hieroglyphics-Rosetta stone-Necessity of knowing the language, history, and customs of the old Egyptians-Ancient historians, Herodotus, Diodorus, Strabo, ManethoAnimals-Deities-Religious doctrine-Egyptian dynasties-Antiquities-Thebes- Memphis-Karnac-Louq

sor-Abydos, &c.-Belzoni-Cailliaud-Champollion— Conclusion

Page

- 1

LECTURE II.

Opinions of the ancients concerning the nature and use of hieroglyphics-Erroneous judgment of the modernsScarcity of monuments-The Isiacal table-HorapolloHermapion-The Rosetta stone-Discoveries made by M. de Sacy, by Mr. Ackerblad, and Dr. Young-Enchorial or Demotic alphabet-Attempt at decyphering hieroglyphics-Manner of counting numbers-Interpretation of names-Reflections

49

LECTURE III.

Continuation of the same subject-Discovery of the name of Cleopatra by Mr. Bankes-Means by which it was obtained-Champollion's publications-Lettre à M. Dacier

Page

-Precis du systeme hieroglyphique-Hieroglyphical

Alphabet-Number of characters-Their meaning-At-

tempt to account for their multiplicity and difference-

Illustrations-Mode by which the Egyptians formed their

hieroglyphics-Disposition of them-Examples-General

rules-Application of Champollion's alphabet to the read-

ing of the names of the Egyptian sovereigns-Under

the Romans-the Greeks-the Persians-the Pharaohs

-Coincidence between the Bible and some of the Egyp-

tian legends-Observations

- 79

LECTURE IV.

Division of hieroglyphics-Figurative and symbolic hiero-

glyphics explained-Legends of some of the principal

deities- Ammon-Phtha-Neith-Smé-Saté-Rhe, or

Phre-Isis-Osiris-Character of this latter in the

Amenti-Account of the thirty-two regions in which the

souls of the dead might be confined-Mode by which they

were tried-Important tenet it inculcated-Origin of Tar-

tarus, Elysium, Pluto, Cerberus, Acheron, Charon, &c. 116

LECTURE V.

Continuation of the same subject-Exhibition of the mode

by which the souls of the dead entered the Amenti-

Further examination of hieroglyphics-Explanation of

some of the most important grammatical forms-Genders

Number Verbs-Pronouns-Mixture of hieroglyphics-

Legends Names of individuals of the Pharaohs-

Mystic titles which invariably preceded their historical

name-Explanation of some most commonly used-Coin-

cidence of the Egyptian inscriptions with the names of

some of the kings mentioned in the Bible

-

-

- 150

LECTURE VI.

Continuation of the same subject-Ramesses the Great-

The Sesostris of the Greeks-Rames-Mei-moun-Legend,

exhibiting the name and mystic titles of this Pharaoh

round the cover of the Sarcophagus in the Museum at

Cambridge-Explanation of the legend-Antiquity of the

monument-Tomb of the Pharaoh Ousirei opened by Bel-

zoni-Legend of his mystic titles and historical name—

Reflections on the chronology of the Septuagint and the

Hebrew text-Table of Abydos-Discoveries made by

Champollion, confirming the canon of Manetho-The

Hyk-shos, or the Shepherd kings-Reflections-Plan of

an expedition-Important results that might be expected

from it-Extract from Dugald Stuart

Page

- 189

LECTURE VII.

History of figurative hieroglyphics - Their general use

amongst mankind-Explanation of the Mexican mode of

writing by representation of the object-Alterations intro-

duced by the Egyptians-Causes which must have pro-

duced them-Attempt at explaining some of the cha-

racters

-

. 229

LECTURE VIII.

Continuation of the same subject-Simplicity of the original

figures and language of mankind-Hebrew alphabet-

Chinese characters-Words mostly monosyllables-Ex-

amples-Formation of dissyllabic and trisyllabic words-

Examples Similarity found in most of the Oriental al-

phabets-Mode by which figures became arbitrary marks—

Their shapes-Specimens of the Chinese and Egyptian-

Names attached to each, generally imitative-How ex-

pressed in writing-Examples-Difference of hierogly-

a

phics-Joining of sounds-Analysis of them-Discovery

of the alphabet-Generally attributed to the Egyptians—

Remarkable passage of Plato-Consequences arising from

it-General remarks

Page

- 263

LECTURE IX.

Continuation of the same subject-Opinion of those who

ascribe the invention of the alphabet to the Antedilu-

vians-Scientific and literary productions of the old Egyp-

tians-Books of Hermes-A short enumeration of their

several classes, and of the priests who were to cultivate

each of them-A further account of the scientific produc-

tions of the Egyptians-Authorities of the classic writers

—Libraries-Of Osymandias-Alexandria-An account

of them-General observations

- 297

LECTURE X.

Different appellations by which Egypt has been called by the

ancients-Origin of the name of Egypt-How called by

the natives-Geography of Egypt-Its natural and poli-

tical boundaries-Short account of the Oasis, and of

the Egyptian colonies on the eastern shores of the Red

Sea-Curious answer of the oracle of Ammon-The Nile

-Different names by which it was known-Its course and

inundation-Division of Egypt-Attempt at ascertaining

when it was first made-Difference between Modern and

Ancient Egypt-Mistakes of the ancients-Causes which

produced them-Alterations produced by the Greek

writers in the Egyptian names-Mode by which they have

been recovered

- 336