Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-03-14
EGYPTOLOGY.
MISS AMELIA q. EDWARDS. Pm
D., LECTURES
One Hour and Tlirce-quarters ON the
Social and Political Condition of the
Women of Ancient Egypt and
the Keign Of Queen
HatAsus

Upmindful Of rain, an audien:e Of some
GOO persons, Of social prominence aud
intelligence, assembled in West PresLy-
lug, to whom Rev. Albert N. Keigwin,
pastor, in behalf OF the W. G. T. U. and
the Century Club, introduced Miss
Amelia u. Edwards 40 the most distn-
guished lady Of our century in the his
torical development Of the Ozark Cont
nent," which Is now 90 prominently be.
fore the orld under most distinguished
leader Of it, commercial prospects and
still another of its religious interests.
While the lecturer acknowledged the
civilized worlds appreciation Of women
eho thought the very phrsseslogy of her
theme had . strange and peculiar sound
tO people who refused to behave that |
women had any desirable position In /
ancient times.
| Yet 10 ancient Egypt women had |
social and legal rights equal to mon. In |
all respects she was his equal, except In |
some bis superior. On ancient monu-
menis slaves were diminutive, and size, |
which meant greatness In social and po- |
lltical equality, was accorded wives
equally with their respective husbands
by their sides. The arm chair was the
same In size and style to each sex. Thus
seated sido by sido the wite had her arm
around her husbands neck, he his around
her vast There are sculptured domes-
tic groups with the children around the
knees Of their father and mother. The
crown Of Egypt was transferred to
women. In ancient Egypt all the cus-
: antiquity. Not only the crown, but lands.
jewels and all classes Of property were
B Inherited by women equally with men.
Latter years have thrown q great, new
, light on tho subject. Documents that
were Tor many former ages neglected and
ec!pherabio have lstterly been inter.
preted. A food of light has been let in
on ESypio!ogy, or science Of ancient
1 Egyp'. The three systems of their pro-
litc and multlf.rious writings on their
!. walls, obelisks, monuments, parchments,
/. etc. were ~ bierogly phic, (2) hieratic
aud (3) demoiic.
l. Hierog glyphics were made up Of two
classes oi symbOls-one repi esenting
ideas, the other sounds. They correspond
= 10 our alphab It and printed language.
h Tie regular alphabetio system Of read
ing them has been greatly developed in
recent years. Birds, fishes and numcr-
y Gus other drawings do not merely mean
pictures, but constitute an Alphabet of
letters.
: II. The Hierstic was . rapid mode of
writing hieroglyphics. Abbreviated
hIeroe iyphics, chiefly used on papyrI. 1t
corresponds to our handwriting. Tho
hierogiyphics were not rapid cnou b.,
hence this cursive or running hand.
Ill. The Denote is simpliiied form
OF the hieratc, An abbreviAtion OF an
abbrev!ation. 1t was chiefly used in
writing deeds, documents, books, etc.
While the former was In use 3400 B. O.,
the Demetic came Into ute after some
100 years b. G. Its use was more popu,
lar and general. II was the Language ol
or mmerce, which, In ancient Egypt,
became very extensive with other coun-
tri,s. Twenty years ago the lecturer
knew OF only two Egyptylogists OF note.
Now there are many. Family, private,
legal, marriage and other documents In
vast numbers have been unsealed from
the ancient earthern pots, and other
PAGES OF deposit, and are now easily and
reliably read.
Herodotus, who wrote OF the women
oil ancient Egypt az doing all tho trading
while their husbands sat at looms, and
DiodoIus, who recorded husbands as
promising obedience to their wives in
marriage contracts, had formerly many
interpreted documents prove they we're
correct.
Women contributed, or convey ed ,thei I
own money, property, lands, made con-
fracfs bouvnt and sold goodr, etc., with
out reference 10 tfe authority OF their
nuseands. iney were equal IN contracts
OF marriages and IN divorces. Sewers !
business and marriage contracts. worded
ana phrasea Ia erudife literature, were
tfansialea oy the speaker 10 prove her
s.emens some OF tnese are remark-
aoly amusing ~ our tiines though eyi-
dehtiy not In the least humorous 10 the
ancient Egyptians.
Mafriaae contracts we're feae' consist
A ing OF Two parts: l. be,rothsl. y. Set
.emont. Inc petrotnai was wen iorti-
J. neu ~ vaiuaDie security. Inc set,iement
a neeaeu s,, 10 security WDe,e the husband
z pu' ~ n's p'oPer'y ~ .ns pos. ss'oh o.
. nh WIG ahu gsve ,e9ai ponu thas sno
.,s m'gns use nc me, woo'o % o. ~ 70 % as'enr ner
possssslSn psssSn Vi 10 ssa,ns. nin,eli anu
= cve,ypoay. Sne seo .ooh eAcelIen' caro
,ne pcs.'ss,on , ma,, y, G hss o"n Propery ~
Ma. &c n,' s,,Sn 1o1 u'eS.ee aeSG gent o'
shUt'S s.u; p,upononS ~ 'oys. ismn.ies, su'n'
al os urao,on. @ stnns 'u ,.sr. ,nni,1os 1owony
4 smu p'Ions Eorn. '"a ao " 81 ,ha 'ue s..;
~ | huCicub CBbpt. GOhc VI tuo uuTEihgc-