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

mencement OF the reign Of his father.
The interruption here refers toa particu-
lar fact, which is worthy Of remark. 1t
informs us that there were manufacturers
of linen cloth, defgnated under the name
Of by0xs, and dependant on the temples,
and that every year certain quantity ct
this merchandise was deducted partly for
the ieryice Of the marine, and partly for
the private fervice Of the prince and that
Ptolomy Epiphanes, In one Circumstance,
ordered the remiiiion of part of this right
or due, and that in another, he fufpended
the collection Of il. This prince made
other DEGREES in favor Of the people and of
religious worlhip, TO dwell on which
would exceed the limits prelcribed in this
extract. In the eighth year of the reign
of Ptolomy Epiphanes, there was great
inundation of the Nile. This Prince or
dered dykes to be contributed TO contain
the river in its bed, and to prevent it from
ipreading over the plain country, as it ge-
nerally did every year.
The interruption fpeaks alto of the fege
and capture of Lycopol;s (city of Wolves
which this prince took by ailault. EIic-
tory comes here in iupport of the infcrip-
ton. 1t informs Us thar Lycopolis had
revolted agairf Ptolomy Epiphanes, and
that after having enteredit as a conqueror,
he treated the inhabitants with much fe-
verify bur if hs puniCaed with an ex-
IRENE rigour the rebels who perGfed in
their revolt, he generouly Pa.doned ,hoie
who returned TO their duty, and even or
dered them to be re-efaoiihed in their
properties. The OK Apis, and the Ok
Muevis, two of the greatef divinities of
the ancient religion ofrhe Egyptians, had
alto part in his pious liberalitics.
Extending his forefght, fays the in.
icription, further than his predeceGcrs, he
aligned conGderable funds to defray the
charge of their funerals and fcpulture, and
to iupport the expence of their worfhip
and the maintenance of their temples
And thus, continues the interruption, the
Gods, to recompence him for thefe bene6-
cent actions, have given him health,
ifrengh, victory, and every other ad-
vantage which can render prince hap
Ply. The prieits then pats to the arret or
concluGon of their decree.
This iecond part Of the inicription is
unfortunately that which has fufcred the
mott from the injuries of time. There
appears on it nevertheless, clearly enough,
70 as to leave no fort of doubt, tina, the
decree is 10 this effett-That the temples
which had been contributed before, IN
honor of ptolomy Epiphanes, and of
four other Ptolomies, his protectors,
fhou'd be comfortably augmented and en-
helilhed that in each of the temples a
itatue fhall be erected to Ptolomy Epi-
planes, which fl,all be called the fatue of
Pf0lem,, fbe Deejs~der Of Egypt; thar be-
fore II ihall be placed the principal diyi-
nity OF the temple, pre!enting him with
the attributes or trophies Of victory that
the Prisfs ihall perform their iervices be-
fore thefe images, three times a day -
that there fhalI be likewiie placed in the
fanesuary of the temple fnall fatue of
the new God, inclofed in little temple
or ihrine that the little temple and the
fatue fhall be carried, like thofe Of the
other Gods, in thofe great folemnities
where 1t was uiual to convey them from
the tabernacle, and march them pompouC.
ly IN public, from which the(e folemni-
ties obtained the name of the Exodus, or
Departure from tbe Temples.
In ipite of the ruins of this part Of the
INTERRUPTION, aod the dilorganiza,ion of the
text, it is pretty evident that it refers TO
certain details relative to the worlhip Of
the new divinity and ALTO particularly
to grand feltival which was to com
mence at the neOmeaja, or new moon Of
the month Of Thouth, and TO laf five
days. during which the prieGs were 70
CarrU cro1upc ~, Il,