The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-05

EGYPTIAN RELICS. Perhaps in no an.
tiquarian research is the enlightened
s.naent more deeply interested than in
that connected with. Egypt. It is we'll
attested that Egyptian skil1 in art and
science preceded that Of Greece, and
that the world-admired excellence of
Hellenic civilization caught its first i'm
petus from religiously benighted Egypt;
sunk in The depths OF paganism, it is
true, but still so skilled in worldly wis.
dom as to investigate the stars and
fathom mysteries only open to laborious
and continued efforts. But there Iay
this prolific land, 5000 years ago.
watered as it is to-day by the rich Nile,
on whose banks lotus flowers bloomed
and whispering reeds waved thick; from
whose redundant waters, when reauent,
were left soil 80 af1uent that cucumhers
and melons, with every vegetable deli
caoy, ripened as If by magic.
No wonder that in thirsty and bar
with vain yearning to the flesh pots OF
sensual enjoyment and national power.
We can scarcely speak with certainty
when referring to any realm 80 long
wrapped in mists Of decadence and over
run by oonquerors as Egypt is OF pres
ent; nevertheless, she is great in her old
renown, and there come revelations from
her towering and timo.defying monu-
ments, which speak not only Of departed
glory, but cast some light on forgotten
civilization and arts which are lost.
1t ls popular error to believe that
the crocodile was an object Of universal
homage in Egypt; that it was 80 in some
sections OF that country, and also in
Thebes, We are informed by historians,
who assure US that the monster was by
them kept sacred, being kept and fed by
:hem with scrupulous care. This singu-
lar object Of alteration was decked with
bracelets OF precious stones cast about its
feet, and from its threatening head de-
pended earrings OF great value. We are
told that '.this formidable denizen OF old
Nile grew tame in the hands of it's wor-
shippers, and that, after death, it was
embalmed sumptuously."
"At place now known as Moabdeh,
opposite the town of Maufaloot, are ex-
tensive grottoes, cut into the limestone
mountain, where numerous crocodile
mummies have been found perfectly pre-.
served"
On the contrary, Egyptians, of other
localities. defeated this animal, and
sought to destroy it by every means in
their power. It seems that in glass
making. the manufacture of linen, in
dyeing, and in rope making. this ancient
people were well skilled. Oambyses,
and Ptelemy Lathyrus aided largely in
overthrowing this peculiar and once
grand empire. Mathematical science
dates earliest from Egypt, and the mag
ni6cent style OF her monuments still defy
competition. The mind which loves to
pierce hoar antiquity. finds in Egyptian
records and intaglios ample study, while
the present aspect of this land, 80 full of
historic interest, biblical as we'll as pro-
fame. affords wide and exhaustless field
OF Investigation. The instability of en-
pire, the rise and fall of art and science.
are grimly shadowed forth from the ei.
gansic pyramid, no less than from the
degraded condition OF people who
onoe taught Ionia the glory Of learning,
and whose princes rsve!od in fabulous
grandeur. How sternly are we reminded
by its past and present of the mutations
of time.-Ne,o Orleans Times.