Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-15

u
! 1919. Thebearer was an Armenian, WHO
had Immediately arrived from Alexandra,
lin Egypt, where hehad expended con''-
derable. sum in antiquities Of all kinds, such
as mummies, statues, medals, DC. &c. he
was introduced by one of the most respec-
table Greek merchants OF Leghorn, to
whom the Armenian antiquary had been
strongly remembered. He was sensible
.nd well informed man, and by his CONVEX
sation and conduct proved himself worthy
Of the character his friend the Greek, had
given him, for honor, integrity and yeFaclty.
Previous to purchasing these mummles,
lhe reverend gentleman enquired OF the Ar
menian. how, and where he had got them
g The head" said he " purchased OF
slave who was employ ed with thousands OF
others in digging canal from the river Nile
| to the city of Alexandra, where, he SAID IL
was tound in stone coffin, which had been
broken open and the head deposited among
other rarities in place appointed Tor the
purpose. From this place the slave who
cold il had stolen it," As to the Anubis,
the Armenian assured me that twas lately
found with many other mumnies in the last
pyramid which has been opened.
/ From the high preservation in which the
head and the linen that envelopes il were
found. the stone vase, case or coffin, where
IN itreposed .mus. have been we'll cemened,
to have resisted, for so many ages, the ell
fects of time. moisture, and air. Many
circumstances led this profound historian 10
conjecture that this may be the adentacae
head of the Great Pompey, who was most
barbarously and ireacherously murdered by
the councillors OF Ptolemy. King of Egypt.
This sovereign, being very young, was en-
tirely ruled by Pbobinus, his prime minis
! ter, an eunuch by Theodotus, scboolmas-
ter, who taught him rhetoric and by A
! cbillis, the commander Of his troops. fto-
lemy at that time reigned alone; tor al
though the throne had been left to him and
bis sister Cleopatra, equally. by their iather'
PtoIemy Auletes, yet this disobedlent son
had violated the testament Of his sire, ana
instead of permitting bis sister 10 reign with
him, and with equal powers, bad driven her
! into exile.
To this faithless court did the protector
of expiring Roman liberty fee for an asy-
lum. after the disastrous defeat at Pi'arsalia
To Egypt Julius pursued him with his Victo'
rious legions.
The manner in which this Chief of the
republican heroes fell, was as follows, taken
in substance, from the various authorities,
and reduced to a summary :-Ptolemy ard
his court, being informed of the approach OF
feet, sus pected it was Cleopatra, coming
with foreign aid TO recover the crown u
which they had deprived her. They were
waiting near Pelusium, to the eastward OF
Alexandra, for the purpose Of opposing her,
when they were informed it was the famous
Cn. Pompeius, who, after rulnous battle
with his political rivals and competitors, had
in the exgency of his affairs, come to solicit
the friendship and protection of prince, TO
whose father he had been warm benefac-
tor.
The per6dious rulers, with seeming kind
ness and hospitality, invited him to the
shore, and sent boat to convey him. In this
boat were General Achilles and Centurion,
Septinus who had served under Pompeius
in his more fortunate days. These criminal
wretches fell upon him, and cruelty murder
ed him before he reached the Iand'-They
cut off his head, took his ring from his fin
ger, and threw his body on the shore
/ The body, by the care Of freedman and
an old soldier, was placed on a funeral pile,
composed OF the materials of an old fishing
craft lay near, and burned. The ashes
= were collected, and afterwards conveyed to
bis amahle and disconsolate widow, Corne-
liza.
On the whole, after weighing the testimo-
ny pro and con there seems not only no alb
surdity, hut even high probability, in con-
Guiding the embalmed head now under con-
slderation, may have belonged 10 that great
man, who, in the height of his popularity, j.
reported TO have uttered the presumptuous
words, in whatever part of Italy stamp
with my foot, there will come up legions."
EpnM cJFpRY JEONE.