St. Landry democrat., 1882-07-08
Egyptian History.

The history of Egypt, although We
have long lists of consecutive Pharaohs,
and though some portions of it stand
out with surprising clearness, is broken
by serious gaps which have not yet been
bridged over. 1t is true that there is q
papyrus composed about 1900 B. c., of
which SO much is decipherable as to
show that it is carefully compiled
chronicle of the country from the sup
posed creation OF the understanding
to Egyptian notions-up to that date;
but it is so torn and worn as to be almost
useless. We learn, however, from 9TH
er sources much about a succession of
ancient dynasties, during the earliest of
which wars were carried on with the
Bedouins in the east and Lybyans in the
west, and much devotion was shown in
the construction of monuments and
tombs. These wars were presently
waged with the assistance of conscript
negroes brought down the Nile in largo
transport ships. Then come blanks in
which national calamites are marked
by cessation in the building of temples
and in the engraving of contemporary
history, for the Egyptian never liked to
chronicle events unfavorable to himself.
Then the Theban dynasty arose with it.
Former defeats were avenged, more
temples and pyramids were built, agri-
culture was revived, and order re-estab-
Gshed.
This period was broken by the arrival
of the famous Shepherd Kings, but
whence they came no one can really
determine. We know, however, that
in the main they accepted the civiliza-
ton which they found. After several
hundred years they were expelled,
papyrus in the British Museum telling
us how this was done. Then Egypt had
a fresh Theban revival. We find her
turning the tables on other countries,
and from having been invaded becom-
ing an invader. Her galleys were to be
seen in the Mediterranean and Red Seas,
the horse was introduced with the war
chariot, Asiatic slaves were employed OH
government works, and Central Asia
was conquered, after campaigns begun
by the famous battle of Megiddo, fought
by Thothmes Ill, in Palestine. This is
a singularly interesting period in Egyp-
tian history, as it brings before us con-
temporaneous allu.ion to Damascus,
Klamath, an "Og," King of Bashan, and
many original names of the city of Ca
naan two centuries and half before the
time of Joshua. To quote from Mr..
Birch: "The arm of Egypt reached to
Nineveh, Babel brought tributes and
homage. In the hymns or poems
to Thothmes, Phenicia and the islands
of the Mediterranean are mentioned.
Then comes another eclipse in Egyptian
history, with religious revolution, in
which, under Amenophis ", the wor-
ship of the Disk was introduced and the
old gods were vigorously assailed. Their
honor, however, was soon restored, for
this effort to stamp out popular poly
theism and abolish all worship except
that of the sun produced reform which
lasted for only one generation.
Presently fresh invasions came from the
East, whereby the conquests of Thoth-
mes were lost. These were, nevertheless,
once more regained, and indeed ex-
tended into Europe, by Rameses H., or
the Great, known to the Greeks as Sesos-
iris, who is believed to be the Pharaoh |
who first nightly oppressed the children
Of Israel.-Good Words.