New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-05-03
TIE AGE OF a PYRAMID.

Modern scholarship seems destined to win
its most signal triumphs through the applica-
ton of careful scientific method to its re-
searches into the past history of our race. 1t
multipies its aids, extends the range of its
evidences, and, by looking far beyond the
field of the old chronclers, is at last able to
correct their discrepancies. Where tho records
of earth arc at variance, it cOnsults the I'M
erring stars, and fixes the chronology OF
events more wisely than the historian who
wrote only few generations after their oc-
currence. 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 tho French Psychologists,
proiting by the remarkable astronomical
knowledge of the old Egyptians are applying
the same methods Of veriication, with wonder
full success, to the heroglyphic records.
At the meeting of the French Academy of
Inscriptions, on the 18th of April, NJ. de Sauley
read q paper in regard to discovery by the
scholar Chabas which for the first time intro
duces a positive date into the oldest Egyptian
history. Hitherto, the distinguished EgyptOlO-
gist, NJ. de Rouge, has only succeeded in es-
tablishing three dates with absolute certainty
the years 1900, 1910, and 9G2 b. c., the
last of these being that Of the taking of
Jerusalem by Sheshonk l., the Shshak of
the Bible. But two or three months
AGO NJ. Chabas was fortunate enough to
succeed in reading doubtful cdrtouche royal
name, inclosed in an oval fgure) in the famous
Ebers papyrus, n fac-simile of which was pub
lished last year. 1t proved to be the name OF
the Pharaoh, Menkeres, the Mycerinus of the
Greek historians, and the builder of the third
or smallest pyramid at Gizeh. Attached to the
cartOuche was an astronomical note stating
that the heliacal rising of the star Sothis Oc-
Cured in the ninth year Of the reign of Men
keres.
The ancient Egyptians had the habit of sig
nalizing important political events by some
cotempOrancous astronomical phenomenon.
Many of the latter could scarcely be identified
| or determined now but since we know that
their Sothis is our star Sirius, we are easily
able to fix the rare periods of its helacal rising.
| This Is the astronomical term used when a
star, after being in conjunction with the sun
and invisible, energies from the light sufli-
ciently to be seen just before sunrise. NJ Cha
has Immediately took his discovery to the as
lations, whence 1t appears that the heliacal
rising of Sothis, in the ninth year of the
reign of Menkeres, must have taken place
between the years 3O07 and 3O1O b. c. NJ
de Sauley stated that he had made the calcu-
lation independently, and with precisely the
same result: he was entirely convinced of the
correctness of the date. AS the first assured
step toward establishing, if only in its general
outlines the chronology of the Ancient Egyp-
tan Empire, this discovery is of incalculable
importance. 1t fixes the age of the third
pyramid of Gizeh at about 1850 years, and
antedates by fully Ito years the earliest
accurately ascertained point in ancient chrO-
nology.
These detached epochs are like SO many solid
piers in the flood of Time, and, though still toe
far apart to be bridged, they furnish secure
resting-places for the historian. 1t is not toe
much to expect, that when the aid Of astronomy
is called to the investigation of the Assyriar
as well as the Egyptian records, we may restore
the chronological charts of both empires from
the silent testimony of the heavens.
| -
Another book on the United States! This time il
| il Frenchman whose hand hurls the CALLING dart
He appears to be @ cool-bloOded picador, hardl,