Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1801-10-08
ANTIQUITIES OF EGYPT.

fcr,a, which, fay the French journals,
"wi!l go near perhaps tochange our ideas,
to revive our loft hopes, ard enable US, at
length, to reiolve problem, the folution
Of which had been Judged impoGhle."
This monument bears three Interruptions,
the COPY of which has been drawn upon
he Ronc itfelf, by particular proeeis,
invented by the citizens Marcel and Gal
lard, one the director and tie other the
correetor of the National Prefs, eftabliih-
ed at Cairo. Gen. Dugua fent the copy
to the National Inititute CT France, who
referred it TO citizen Amelhon, to enter
among the frf labors on Greek infcripti-
ems. The. three interruptions of the monu-
menr, are written, the frf, In hierogly-
phic or facred characters the fecond in
characters of the language of the country,
that is to fay, fuch as was then vulgarly
fpoken in Egypt; and the third, in Greek
characters. This laft informs US, that they
are all one and the fame decree, expreled
in three languages. From the circum-
itance OF the authors Of the decree having
ordered it to be engraved on Rone Of
that kind, which is difinguihed for its
hardness, being of granite, according to
the report ofgen. Dugua, it fhould feem
that they withed to fecure TO this monu=
ment an unalterable exifence. Notwith-
Handing this wife precau,ion, however,
time, which devours every thing, has
gnawed the ftone in many Of its parts, 70
that not one Of the Interruptions is entire.
That in hieroglyPhic characters, which we
are the mott interefed to know, is mutt
lated in every part, and what remains
does not exceed half of the volume which
it ought to have.
The interruption in the vulgar language
ofthe country, and which likewife merits
the particular attention of learned Orien-
talifs, is the leaf injured. The Greek
interruption has fuAered much more than
the preceding one. Of forty-fou lines
which 1t contains, tu enty four have been
more or leis corroded. Some have loft
more than a quarter of their length, which
dishgures the text 70 as to render it Eome-
times quite unintelIigibe.
Although this interruption is defective,
enough appears to attef that it is monu-
ment erected in honor of Ptolomy Epi-
planes, fon of Ptolomy Philopater, and of
Arlinoe. Ptolomy Epiphanes was the fifth
OF fourteen fovereigns, who reigned in F.
gyPt, after the death of Alexander, from
Ptolomy, fon OF Lagus, furnamed Softer,
or Saviour, to the famous Cleopatra
This monument was erected by virtue of
decree iflued by the prieas, who had az
fembled from all parts of Egypt, at Mem
Phis, to celebrate the feat of Inauguration
of the new king, ION of Ptolomy Epi-
Phanes. The name Of Ptolomy, who is
the Object of the INTERRUPTION, is hardly ever
repeated without being accompanied by
the words, evfr liDing or immortal; k.laz,-
ed jan Of The Cad Ptba, or Tuleau; Ggd
Etipbanes, and msf gracious. els com
pared In 1t to Vulcan, TO the Great
Hermes, and to Orus, ION of IFS and of
Ofris. His father, his grandfather, and
the other Ptolomies, his anceifers, partake
with him OF the honors OF this pompous
preamble, after which comes the hrR part
OF the decree. The priefs here alledge
the motives on which 1t is founded the
motives are, in general the piety of the
prince towards the gods, and his beniG-
cence towards men.
The interruption purports, that Ptolomy
Eplphanes had made great donations III
FLYER, wheat, and other largencs of every
kind, to the temples and to the priefts who
ietved them that he had reftored by force
OF arms, tranquility to Egypt that he
had afterwards fought to repair the evils
OF war, and to re-efablifh tie domeitic
comforts OF the people, by RENTING either
IN whole, or IN part, the taxes thar were
10 arrears, and by diminihing the weight
OF thofe which were in force on his accef