The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1876-06-08
THE AGE OF A PYRAMID.
Another TrlunaPh OF Historical Research
.-ssA Discovery Of KnGaleuIable Ems
POrt@mce.
New York Tribune.

new 1CTE 4T1Dune.
Modern scholarship seems destined to
win its most signal triumphs through
the application of a careful scientific
method to its researches into the past
history of our race. 1t multiplies its
aids extends the range of its evidences,
and by looking far beyond the field of
the old chrOniciers is at last able to cor
rect their discrepancies. Where the
records of earth are at variance, it con-
suits the unerring stars, and fixes the
chronology of events more wisely than
the historian who wrote only few gen.
4eratiOns after their occurrence. The
German astronomer Hansen was one of
the first to determine the day and hour
of an ancient battle by calculating the
eclipse of the sun which occurred at the
same time; and now the French Egypt
olOgists, profiting by the remarkable
astronomical knowledge of the Egyp-
tians, are applying the same methods Of
verifcation, with wonderful success, to
the hieroglyphic records. At the meet
ing of the French academy of inscrip-
tons, on the seventh of April, M. de
Sauley read paper in regard to the dis
EONGEV ny ZIG BGLJAu4 IAUUdGg WA44Gu AOE
the first time introduces a positive date
into the oldest Egyptian history. Hither-
to the distinguished Psychologist, NJ. de
Rouge, has only established three dates
with absolute certainty-the years 1900,
1910, and 962 B. O., the last of these be-
ing that of the taking of Jerusalem by
Sheshonk L, the Sbi8hak of the bible.
But two or three months ago M. Chahas
was fortunate enough to succeed in
reading O doubtful cartOUche (rOyal
name inclosed in an oval figure),
in the famous Ebers papyrus, a fac
-8imits of which was published last
year. 1t proved to be the name of
the Pharaoh, Menkeres, the Mycerines
of the Greek historians, and the
builder of the third or smallest pyra-
mid at Gizeh. Attached to the cartOUche
was an astronomical note, stating that
the heliacal rising of the star SOtbis
occurred in the ninth year of the reign
of Menkeres. The ancient Egyptians
had the habit of signalling important
political events by some cOtempOraneOus
astronomical phenomenon. Many the
latter cOul d scarcely be identified or de-
termined now; but, since we know that
their SOthis is our star Sirius, weare east
ly able to fix the rare periods Of its helia-
cal rising. This is the astronomical term
used when star, after being in c0njunc.
ton with the sun and invisible, emerges
from the light sufficiently to be seen Just
before sunrise. M. Chabas Immediately
took his discovery to the astronomer
Blot, who made the necessary calcula-
tions, whence it appears that the heliacal
rising of Sothis, in the ninth year of the
reign of Menkeres, must have taken
place between the years 3007 and SOl0B.
q, NJ, de Sauley stated that he had
made the calculation independently, and
with precisely the same result; he was
entirely convinced of the correctness of
the date. AS the first assured step to-
ward establishing, if only in its general
outlines, the chronology Of the ancient
Egyptian empire, this discovery is of
1ncalculable Importance. 1t fixes the
age OF the third pyramid of Gi2eh at
about four thousand eight hundred and
eighty years, and antedates by fully one
thousand seven hundred and seventy
years the earliest accurately aseertained
point in ancient chronology. These de-
tached epochs are like so many solid
piers in the food of time, though still
zoo lar apart to be bridged, they furnish
secure resting places for the historian. 1t
y not too much to expect that, when the
AID Of astronomy Is called to the investi-
cation Of the Assyrian as well as the
Egyptian records, we may restore the
chronological charts of both empires from
ehe silent testimony Of the heavens.