Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1872-10-22


The historical records of Egypt are
more ancient than those of any other
country, If we except China, and reach
back to the foundation of the State,
by Menes, 24l2 B. c., or, as stated by
Lcpsius, 1892 b. c. Egyptian history
embraces accounts of SIX great periods:
the PharaOhs, or native kings the
Persians; the Ptolemies the Romans;
the Arabs and the Turks. The priI-
cipal sources of Information relating
to the days of the Pharaohs are the
Scriptures, the Greek writers HerOdo-
tus, DiodoruS and kratoSthenes, some
fragmentary relics of the writings of
Manetho, All Egyptian priest in the
third century B. c., and the hierO-
glyphic Inscriptions on temples, tOmbs
and other eTectionS of ancient times.
Something has also been discovered
through the Interpretation Of the con-
tents of rolls of papyrus found in the
tombs, but the translatiOns have as yet
been very imperfect, and scarcely any
two authors hold the same opinion in
regard to names or dates. These di-
versities are of but little consequence
in uames. but the differences in chro-
II )!Ogy are grefa and see nj nglv beyond
reconciliation.
Although the histCry of the Egyp-
tians is thus ancient, they were not of
the race that first Inhabited the earth,
but probably were descendants of an
eaIly Asiatic people, the date of whose
existence is unknown Egypt can
boast of one of the longest national
periods known iH history. extending
from -; earliest foundation to 525 B.
c.. when it was conquered by Cambys-
es and became province Of Persia -
Twenty-siX dynasties reigned over
it III three successive capitals: This,
Memphis and ThebeS. For nearly
twenty centuries following the chrO-
nology of Lepsius) the nation confined
itself almost exclusively TO the Nile
valley. Following this time came the
conc Lcst of the people 10y foreign in
vadcrs-the shepherd kings, whose
rule lasted about five centuries; then
came war of independence after
which, for nearly two centuries, Egypt
was by its arts and its arms the first
nation in the world, and the dominion
of the Pharaohs embraced Ethiopia,
Libya, and far into Asia.
Beyond any other people the Egyp-
tians are remarkable for the great care
and labor they bestowed upon the con-
structiou of mighty and indestructi-
bic monuments of their existence, at
testing the truth of DiOdOrus's state
ment that " they held the time of
their life very short. but after their
death very long" Their pyramids.
temples, palaces, mummies and ohe-
lisks, not yet destroyed by time, betray
the wonderful effoIIS of the most an
cient of nations for an enduring name
and fame. 1t is as though those dwell
ers on the earth so long ago fOresaw
with the eye of phrOphecy the changes
and vicissitudes yet TO come, and strug
gled to escape the dreaded doom of
oblivion. But in the days of Egyp-
tian supremacy and greatness other
States arose to take their places by the
side of the land OF wonders. Babylon,
in 1900 b. G., rivaIling Ihebes in lis
science and art, was the second great
centre of advancement, and the CAPT
tai of an immense Chaltiean empire.
Semitic refinement and arms held the
first rank in Asa for the space of sew
eral centuries. Annoyed at the same
time by both the Pharoahs and the
Hebrews, the inhabitants of the PhCe-
nician coasts took 10 the sea, and form
ed the first important naval and COM
mercial power. In 1000 Il. c., they
had passed the whole length of the
establishing cities on
its islands and coasts. and had brought
iron and amber from the shores of the
North Sea and the Baltic; their com
merce extended east TO the mouth of
the Indus, north to the regions of the
Caucasus, and south to the land of
in Arabia.
In the meantime Assyria, OH the up
per Tigris rose in Importance it was
the first warlike and cOnguering king
dom of Asia, and its power lasted for
about five centuries, or until the fall of
Ninevah under Sardana alus, 640 Il.
G. BY its arms Babylon was conquer
ed. aud during the rule of its most
warlike princes. its power extended in |
western Asia from the Mediterranean
and the Halys Oh one hand to the Cas-
plan and the great Persian desert on
the other. The civilization OF Assy- |
ria is believed to have equalled that of
any other ancient country. and in the |
exec Hence Of is material arts and ap-
pliances it did not fall 50 very far be- |
hind our bOasted modern itttainments.
The scene of Hebrew development lay |
betweeIi the commercial and the WIT |
like power. Tyre and SidOn on the |
west, and Nineveh on the east, 1t |
was about 1900 b. c., laccOrding to |
Lepsius) that the Hebrews passed from
Egypt into southern Syria. and estab- |
lisied their authority by the sword |
The disadvantages which attended |
ri. =.
worldly ambition of the Phenicians. I
and suffering from the oppression Of
AssyriaD and BsiIylonian conquerors,