New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-26
ANCIENT EGYPT.

HISTORY OF ANCIENT EGYPT. By GE9RGE k ~
uSsoN. NJ A. vols, svo' PIP y 22t ni'. s ,,'.
London: LoncInans, Green X co. NeW-lofk' 0OI'O
ncr & wexford.
The valuable work now before Ms IS n httIng cum
plemcnt to Canon Rawlinsons histories oi Inc
Five Great Monarchics" and "Ihe sixth treat
Oriental Monarchy as we'll as the crown oil 'h'''
honorable labors in the special department "'
Egyptology which hc began IN connection WIZ MS
translation of Hcrodotns nearly quarter of cen
tnry ago Yet he is modest enough 10 saw IN ms
preface that he would not have written this work u
he had been aware when lac began u that English
literature was 10 he enriched Icy lT Brchs"N''l-
lent annotated and improved edition q WILKINSON
and the translation Of Ncosrs. seymour and Simih
from the German OF Or. Bncsch. We may probably
congratulate ourselves that Canon ka" did
not know IT, DR. Birch and Dr Brucsch have by
M means made his book supcriluous, although they
have used To a great extent the same materials
which he has employed, and. like him. have tHcd
70 render available to the general reading pu'"c
the vas, stores Of recently accumulated hno"
about ancient Egypt heretofore Of little usc except
TO the learned. "The general public, rs hr. Raw
linson well remarks, when books are published On
a snbicct in which it feels interest. and are de-
vourcd with ayidty has it's appetite rather Whrit'd
bv the process" And apart from the ample scholar
shin displayed in this vork-a merit which u must
share with othcrs-it has individuality 81 excel
lcnce. in the easy natural and flowing style me
luciditv of arrangement, the ekllinl grouping 81
facts TO produce . picturesque eject without Tie
appcarance of trying for 1t, and perfect franLne-r
and impariaty in dealing with conif">'ri'd
theories which ought to remove 1t from The fear al
rivalry.
Amer sketch Of the physical geography tho pro-
auctions and the people II ancient Lgtpt, Canon
Rawlinson presents an account Of the language.
g ffi H
art. architecture and SCIENCE. lie Is 10y 40 m'an'
disposed tn exaggcratc the proficiency 81 thc Ie'1-
| fans even in the branches If learning 30 which u
used 10 he the fashion to believe that they cNc'll"l
| Their art was crudc and uupr"gr-s'I'c and ln tit
| sciences including mathematics astronomy, m''I-
! cine. ETC. there II 10 evidence that the, reached
| any considerable prominence. The cl''lI'h.c 81
constitution in their bindings is indeed r'm1rk"hlr
| and they knew how 10 move cuounouS masses 81
stone great distance and Co raise huge "i" rs
! Of granite 10 great hcglte They must. therefore
| have been acquainted with machinery. bat We
know nothing Of the character of their machines
and il is beyond question that for many of tho~'
engineering operations which excite tho wonder %
travellers thcy relied upon the l-utc force II mu
titudes Of men. II they hai au ohcll.S or other
heavy stone to transport from the quarry they iid
ropes to il and pulled. II docs not appear That they
uscd either levers 90 rollers; and llcrodoiu' SAYS
that 1000 men were employed for three years o.
conveying a certain monolith from the quarry 20 It's
| place of erection. The problem Of raising the
| blocks used in building the Pyramids was much
smpllhcd 10y the fact that the successive courses "t
the structure were arranged 90 steps, upon winch
the machines rcstcd After The toy course was LAID.
the faces Of the T. ramd v,Ic suoothrd. sometimes
Icy filling UP the steps, sometime 10y paHIHf '"'m
down.
| Although the Egyptians were q grossly immoral
! pcrlc vet the ceremonial part 81 religion hllcd %
| great place in their life. The temple of each oty
WAS the centre Of activity and ~ Thought. 4 per
| pctnal ceremonial Of the richest Kind went ou
within its walls professions passed along s stately
avenues or moved out INTO DO" streets or cniharhe'!
upon the Nile. The calendar Vas crowded with
festivals. Writing was 30 fail of sacred symbols
that II could hardly lr used for ans hui D. i1ou'
suhiects Saccrdota laws governed every prof@.-
sion and calling 10 the multitude ricl"n va. a
coarse and multtudinous po.ythci.'u. embracing
not ONLY the cultus Of throue Of lnvs.Ai" dc.t,s
lint an extensive animal worship rs vri. u.s. to
some il-dcGncd cxtrnt the worship 81 anc0ttor..
Bit the e,otcrc religion Of the priests. the armed
the initiated. was undoubtedly m"n"tholSti'. ltr
primary doctrine the units OF the dis nr nature
and the god, Of the popular mythology were r'-
garlcd either as pcrsoLiiici aiuhutc~ of the deity
or a. parts of created nIiuc inspired dnt informed
by him. The much disputed question of tbr origin
of Egyptian animal Worshipis hrciis treated. Canon
Rawliusons system being rather O. stt" What %
known than To- discuss what f., suru,.d. 10 hm
o" II seems sufficient and probably tra" acc'uut oi
the worship TO say that IL grew out of that c>a--
ccratcd symbolism which WIS .o chamcto rI-ii'. If
the Egyptian religion which. beginning iy tracing
r,senllauccs IN certain animals lo certain atrbutr-
of the divine nature. proceeded to -n io pIrlcu
lar driiics the heads II t!'-" tr a.fiIr~, or ctr