Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-05-19
From the Scientific American.
EGYPT AND HER ANCIENT ARTS


EGYPT AND HER ANCIENT ARTS.
The hieroglyphlc system of Egyptian
writing, like the Sanscrit of India, was
sacred. 1t was the most ancient of all
languages. and is the depository of the
records of the monumental annals of a
mighty empire. Ia its nature it was al
phabetIc, symbolic and pictorial. Its
meaning was conveyed through the me.
! dunn OF sOunds-the names of things. and
Pi'tAres of the things themselves. The
representation Of lion. for example,
might, as a symbol, mean the animal it.
self, or 1t might convey the qualities of
his power, or IA alphabetically, it might ex
press the letter l.. These three modes
at hIerogsyphlc writing We're used sinoly
or together, and were incident 10 great
"bScnfIty from this undermlxture. AL
of the scul plural history of Egvnt IS
| Transmitted IN this syetem.
For the recording of continuous events
leaves of the Papyrus, an Aquatic plant
or the Nile, and slips of fine linen were
used. Numerous rolls of this species of
manuscript arc iol;Gd IL all the temples
and tombS, and their secrets have been
revealed by science. Champollion per-
! tected a key TO the entire system. The
process was to decIpher the characters
next TO Interpret the words they formed
10 accomplish this last process, it WI,
necessary 10 refer to the ancient Cop,ic
language.
The excavation. Of the French explo-
rers eXhumed new book Of Monumental
Egyptian history. Upon the immense
walls of the tombs and temples we're
spread out pictorial or scu|ptural repre-
sensations Of all the economy of Egyptian
life, with the arts and occupations, Gus
toms and costumes of all grades, voca.
tlons and professions. Volumes could
not nave coi4talnei such exact and COP
lcus details OF the most minute facts and
eve nts IN Egyptian history. The entire
social economy of the Egyptians, 1890
wears B. G., with q deIlneatlon of all
thel: mechanical vocatlons, and the pro-
gress OF artisans thus set forth with won
dertui truthtulness and vividness, are faith
fully represented in Rossehn's Plates of
monumental history. These pictorial de-
lineatlons prove that many arts which
have been supposed unknown to antiuui-
ty, were as well understood then as at
the present day. The manufacture of
glass and porcelain, and of fine linen
the imitation of precious stones with glass
and the staining of that material, after
wards for ages lost. Thebes, 1900 wears
ago. II less advanced than the 18th CEN
tury IN some respects. Is thus proven To
have tar surpassed II in others Astrono-
mIcal discoveries and tables prove, also
that the wise men of Egypt must have
possessed the art of bringing scientific in
struments to high degree Of perfection:
and the mInutest soul pturing on some of
the hardest porphyry, demonstrate that
The artisans tools must have possessed the
keenest edge and most exquisite temper.
The principle of the Arteslan Well. as
also that of the Railway, was plainly
known and practised. The engraving
OF canoes, the temperIng Of copper, and
the manufacture and use of burning glass
es, were also known while the elevation
ot the enormous lIntels on the domes of
the temple OF Carnac, and the position
and removal from great distances of 9th.
Ct vast AMI ponderouS masses OF stones.
p owe the possession of motive and me-
ch tnlcal powers now lost. The motive
principle possessed by the Egvptians could
not be so applied al the present time
BY means OF these powers and arts, were
constructed those mighty and mysterious
masses OF architecture which have been
the wonder OF all subsequent ages--hose
giant senunels of the dead past.-labv-
lnihs who's rocky masses Initiated the
hoavenly zodIac--huge statues with the
srmblance OF The shadowY phantoms of a
IHamc race, and whole temples of suen-
"lte marble, transported a hundred miles
from lis bed and the dread and awful
pyramids, next TO the works of omnipo
fence, the mIghtiest on our earth. Yet.
all these, TO the spectator. gazing down
from The SUBMITS of the porphvry noun
taIHs 1t the Nile, seem hut the fragment,
OF the architectural skeletons of an elder
ume, whose spires glitter dmid the blue
heavens. bn; whose depths were based in
blood.
From the Prairie Farmer.
PRES SERVING EGGS.