Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-04
LAND OF PHARAOH.
TIE CLOUDS ARE RAPIDLY BEING
LIFTED THEREFROM.
Light on tho Bible Discoveries mnde oy
sclentists-rity Built by the OPP
pressed Hebrews.
For the Diapnich.l

DltAlNE INENFINS 40 hpN 'HN's ~
store-housc of ancient lore. Scattered oil
over the country are ruins OF buildings,
pyramids, and monuments. These yenera-
BILE relics are. covered with curious signs
and engravings. and upon these strange
looking hieroGlyphics travellers have often
gazed IN bewIlderment and wondered
whether any eye would ever penetrate
their hidden meaning.
MultItudes of these inscribed stones had
been brought by tourists 10 European aud
Aslatic museums. and while they were
studied with ueculiar interest yet not
single sign had been deciphered. mat
these writings were the language Ind the
work of the ancient Egyptians was fact
known 20 all. and that they contained ricn
treasures Of information was a certainty
winch made their silence all tho moro tau
taliZlng. But how could the KEY be found
mud the stOrohouse unlockedg where was
the magic hand that could touch these
dead lips and wake them TO living speech :
This was the question which perpl"Xed
many scholars, and their eaecrneS9 70
solve the problem increased with every
passing year.
While matters were in this uncertain
state an important discovery was made.
4 relic was found which touched the
hidden spring and opened up the long
buried secrets. In 1893 at Rosetta. IN
Egypt. party of French explorers came
across q stone upon which was engraved
two sets Of inscriptions. The curious
treasure was sent as present 10 George
III. of England and into the mysteries OF
It's symbols scholars began ImmedaielF
10 search. IN examination revealed the
fact that one o. the inscriptions was IN The
Greek language and the other IN the
Egyptian. The Greek was Of course easily
translated and found To- contain procia.
nation Of Egyptian priests III honor OF
King Ptolemv \. II was az once guessed
that tho parallel Egyptian heroylyph-
les must be the Egyptian rem
derlng of the same proclamation, and con-
sequcntly that "a translation OF the t.rreA
would also be- q translation OF the EIyp-
tan The translation and comparison
was made bv a VOuuc Frenchman named
Champollion. By thus obtaining the ruean-
ing ot the Egyptian characters ON m
stone Champolli0n opened the way Tor
further deciphCrment, and II Was not long
before tho meaning Of nearly all OF the
Egyptian signs had been discovered.
From this time the translation Of tho
Egvptian inscriptions became certainty
and scholars eagerly leaped TO the task.
Musty old Egyptian slabs ana tables
which had been piled away III museums
were now dragged from their hiding
places: monuments and ruins IN the Nile
VALLEY were AGAIN visited bv explorers,
and Transitions Of their inscriptions
poured forth III bewliderlng abundance,
and bearing. ~ many cases. Startling ana
valuable information.
FGYrGIAN HISTORY DISCLOSED.
Egyptian history. which previously had
been imperfect and fragmentary, now
commenced gradually 10 assume definite
and continuous shape. The old Egyptian
kings. SO long yellcd IN dark uncertainty
suddenly emerged IRON their gloom. took
their places in the royal line, marched by
IN orderly fashion. and as they came each
told the story of his conQUests aud achieve
mems. The old pyramids and ruined
buildings of Egypt immediately began 10
sparkle with "A new interest and The hun
drcd4 Of tablets stored away IN European
museums and in private libraries were
brought under the eager eye OF the trans
lutor.
These discoveries are chiefly interesting
because Of the light which they throw
upon tie Bible Tho largest part Of the
inscriptions which have been found Were
written during the period OF lsraels So
iouru in Egypt. and onsequcntlv much
testimony Is gwen concerning statements
in the Dld Testament. These INSCRIPTIONS
aye found upon ali kinds or buildings and
in all manner Of places. The greater part.
however. are engraved upon pyramids
and temple walls. With Egyptian hlngs
architecture was consuming pas
sion. Each monarch sought 10 out
strip every pre- lcceesOr III the mag
nlfceucc Of his structures. and upon
these structures would be written the his
tory Of the royal ruler. Accompanying
these writings were elaborate engravlnGs
representing the events which the hero
ElVpnlcs describe.
The immense pyramids which amaze the
Loholicr were built by Egyptian kings ~
their own sepUichres. and these toWtTlI.
siructures. which have deiied the curiosity
and ingenuity of visitors for 50 many CEN
turtles, nave u, last been cXcayated and en-
tered and their secrets brought 10 light.
Their masslvrnc-s l. prov erblal AMI the
skill shown IN their construction is only
euualled by the immense amount OF labor
that must have been required IN their
erection.
PHARAOH THE GREAT.
The most remarkable discovery that has
been made III Egypt occurred in 1879.
The point at winch this happened was
at the ruins OF the ancient city OF
Thebcs. Ilera hidden away IN an un-
known tomb were found the bodies OF
several Egyptian kings and among tcn
the qroG' PidrOlt under whom Israel
groaned in cruel bondage. Yes. we can
now look upon the very sockets whose
ewes flashed upon the ensaved Hebrews.
upon the very mouth from which issued
words of heartess tyranny. and upon the
very BODY which enclosed heart SO hard
and bitter against Gods chosen people.
THIS relentless monarch. when stripped OF
his mummy wrapplngs, was revealed as q
person OF low aud rctreatlng forehead,
long and narrow face. and high. proml-
neut cheek-houes. The existence Of
this tomb with its royal inmates
had been long known TO the native Arabs,
but their superstltCuS reverence tor AL
such places had sealed their lips. Ia 1919,
however. the seai was broken. Mr.. Mas
pero. while engaged IN tour Ot eXplOra-
ton. came across tablet winch had been
obtained from an Arab. The stone
awakened Mr.. Maspero's suspicious and
the Arab was arrested. From this terrified
prisoner the secret of the tomb was eX-
tOrtel aud the work Of excavation was
immediately begun. The workmea were
let down by ropes into deep PIT,
where IN a chamber they found boxes
OF statuettes. bronze aud terra.cotta
lars. alabaster vases. and also IN
chamber eighteen hinge mummy cases."
These cases bore upon them inscriptions
concerning the pers) IONS whose forms slept
within them, and every one was found 10
contain the body of an Egyptian King. At
first the explorers were surprised that
these mummies should have been huddled
together in a deep secret tomb instead Of
being in the pyramids. which mad been
built by the kings as their own sepul-
chres.
After some investigation the riddle was
solved. II was found that during the reign
Of Rameses IL. some of the royal tombs
were invaded and rihed, ana II was deter
mined to remove the bodies and treasures
OF the kings from these pyramids To place
of safety. Some of the invaders were cap
tured and forced 10 confession. The
full account OF their testimony has been
discovered and translated.
OUR RICHMOND PRINCESS.
If the reader is tempted 10 be skeptical
about the fndInC of the preserved bodies
Of men who have been dead for over 5000
years let him stroll out to Richmond Col
lege and there IN the museum turn
his doubling eyes upon the form
or an Egyptian princess whose friends
were called upon 10 mourn her untimely
departure some 5000 years ago. Let 1t be
remembered also that IN the art OF en-
balmine the ancient Egyptians have led
the world, and the resurrection of the
body of an Egyptian 5000 or 1000 years
old is fast ceaslng TO be q thing startling
or strange. 1t IS true that these newly
excavated monarchs have lost the power
of sight aud when IN company never VEN
ture even the yestige of remark and
always insist on continuing IN one un-
changeable position, but IN spite of
these eccentricltles they are wonderfully