vulgarly ascribed to that great man, while regent of Egypt. This has arisen, probably, from the circumstance, that the famous Sultan Joseph Saladin (who made that wonder at Cairo called "Joseph's well," attributed also to the patriarch,) repaired this celebrated work.

Besides this, Moeris is said to have built two great pyramids in the midst of this lake, 600 feet high, the half of which was covered by the water. These are mentioned both by Herodotus and Diodorus; the former of whom, whose veracity is unimpeachable, says that he saw them, and that on the top of each there was a stone colossus sitting upon a throne. These pyramids are not, however, mentioned by Strabo, nor are they to be met with at the present day; from which circumstance it has been asserted, that there is not a fact in history, in which testimony and observation are more at variance.

Moeris appears also to have been attentive to religious observances. He built the northern portico of the temple of Vulcan, at Memphis, which was more stately and magnificent than all the rest. This is noticed both by Herodotus and Diodorus, the former of whom sums up the notice of the various works of Moeris with this observation, "These are, indeed, lasting monuments of his fame."

The greatest work ascribed to Moeris was the famous labyrinth, from whose model that of Crete was afterwards copied by Dædalus; and in which, Pliny says, not a single piece of wood was used, being entirely constructed of stone. Herodotus, says Mr. Wilkinson, attributes its foundation to the twelve kings in the time of Psammeticus; but tradition seems to have ascribed it to Moeris, though it is possible that the son of Neco and his colleagues may have enlarged it. Pliny asserts, it was first built by king Petesuccus, or Tithoes, though others affirm it to have been the palace of Motherus, or the sepulchre of Moeris; and received opinion maintains that it was dedicated to the sun. Diodorus, again, mentions Mendes, or Maron, or Marrus, as the founder, while others have put forth the claims of Ismandes, probably Osymandas, and various other monarchs.

Manetho has attributed nineteen years and six months for the reign of this prince; but this appears too short a period for the various and stupendous works which he executed: hence, Dr. Hales thinks, that the reign of Harmesses, his predecessor, which is stated to have been sixty-six years two

months, should be assigned to Moeris. The death of Moeris is dated B. c. 1308.

SESOSTRIS.

If the authority of Diodorus is admitted, seven generations intervened between Moeris and Sesostris; but Herodotus seems to place the latter as his immediate successor. By some writers, Sesostris, or, as Diodorus calls him, Sesosis, was reputed to have been the son of Amenophis II., whom Dr. Hales identifies with Moeris; and they record that about the period of his birth, the god Vulcan appeared to his father in a dream, informing him that his child should become lord of the whole earth.

Josephus supposed that this celebrated monarch of Egypt was the Shishak or Sesac of Scripture, who invaded Rehoboam and plundered the temple of Jerusalem; a supposition which has been adopted by many able chronologers, but which is now generally abandoned as untenable.

The incidents recorded in the life of Sesostris are more numerous and stirring, and better authenticated, than any of his immediate predecessors. He was not only, indeed, one of the most powerful kings of Egypt, but one of the greatest conquerors recorded in the annals of antiquity. Diodorus relates, that the father of Sesostris formed a design of making him a conqueror, while yet he was but an infant. For this purpose, he took up all the children throughout Egypt, born on the same day with his son, to be educated with him, and caused them to be trained alike in the same rigid discipline of the public schools, that they might compose a band of companions, attached to his person, and qualified to fill the first civil and military departments of the state. The chief part of their education was the inuring them to a hard and laborious life, in order that they might one day be capable of sustaining the toils of war, and of excelling in brute force. They were never suffered to eat till they had run on foot or horseback a considerable race, and hunting was their most usual exercise.

It is remarked by Elian, that Sesostris was instructed by Mercury in politics and the art of government. This Mercury is he whom the Greeks called Trismegistus, "thrice great," and to whom, some say, Egypt owes the invention of almost every art. But as Jambilicus, a priest of Egypt, affirms, that it was customary for the Egyptians to affix the

name of Hermes, or Mercury, to all the new books or inventions that were offered to the public, it seems erroneous to ascribe them to one man, and the error may have arisen from that circumstance.

During his father's lifetime, Sesostris reduced the Arabians, who had never been conquered before, eastward; and the Libyans, westward; and, encouraged by these successes, he formed the design of conquering the known world. Accordingly, when his father died, he prepared for his ambitious enterprise. But before he left his kingdom, he provided for his domestic security, in winning the hearts of his subjects, by his generosity, justice, and obliging behaviour. He was no less studious to gain the affection of his officers and soldiers, being well assured, that all his designs would prove unsuccessful, unless his army should be attached to his person by the ties of esteem, affection, and interest. He divided the country into thirty-six governments, called Nomi, and bestowed them on persons of merit and approved fidelity.

In the mean time, he made the requisite preparations, levied forces, and headed them with officers of bravery and reputation, chiefly taken from among the youths who had been educated with him. It is said, that the number of his officers was 1,700, and that his army consisted of 600,000 foot, and 24,000 horse, besides 27,000 armed chariots all numbers, however, of so large an amount, at this early period must be received with caution.

Sesostris began his expedition by invading Ethiopia, or Abyssinia, situated on the south of Egypt. This country he rendered tributary, obliging the nations thereof to furnish him annually with a stated quantity of ebony, ivory, and gold. He then reduced the islands of the Red Sea, or Persian Gulf, with his fleet. He is said, also, to have marched an army by land as far as India, eastwards, and to have penetrated even beyond the Ganges; but this is, probably, a fiction of the Egyptian priests, who reported it to Diodorus, from whom we derive the information. After this, he turned his arms northwards, subdued the Assyrians and Medes of Upper Asia, and crossing over into Europe, subdued the Scythians and Thracians. But he received a check at the river Tanais, where he was in danger of losing his army from the difficulty of the passes, and the want of provisions. He left a colony in the ancient kingdom of Colchis, situated to the east of the Black Sea, where the Egyptian manners and customs have ever been retained. He likewise erected pillars in

the conquered countries, as trophies of his victories, on which were inscribed,

66 SESOSTRIS, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS, SUBDUED THIS COUNTRY BY HIS ARMS."

Several of these pillars were seen by Herodotus and Strabo in Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and Ethiopia; and it is probable that the pillar which Josephus said was remaining in the land of Siriad in his days, and which he ascribed to the antediluvian. Seth, was one of those erected by Sesostris.

Of these pillars seen by Herodotus in Syria, Mr. Wilkinson, who identifies Sesostris with Rameses II., says, there is little doubt that one of the tablets, or stelae, alluded to by the historian, still exists in Syria, bearing the name of Rameses II. It is at the side of the road leading to Beiroot, close to the river Lycus, now Nahr-el-Kelb; and though the hieroglyphics are much erased, sufficient remains to show by whose order it was sculptured. Near it is another, accompanied by the figure of a Persian king, and inscribed with the arrow-headed character, copies of which have been lately made by Mr. Benomi; and thus the memorials of the passage of the Egyptian army, marching triumphant over Asiatic nations, and that of the Persians, victorious over Syria and Egypt, are recorded in a similar manner at the same spot. And yet now, these two stones are all the traces that remain of these direful contests and mighty efforts.

One remarkable trait is observable in the character of Sesostris, which is, that he had no idea of preserving the conquests he was at so much pains to achieve. It was sufficient for him to have subdued and despoiled those nations, to have made wild havoc in the world, and to have erected these monuments; for after that period, he confined himself almost within the ancient limits of Egypt, a few neighbouring provinces excepted. He returned home triumphant, bringing immense spoils and innumerable captives to Egypt. There, glory unknown to his predecessors awaited him; but it was that glory which was erected on the woes of mankind, and which, sooner or later, would be exchanged for shame, notwithstanding the false gloss which historians may throw over the character of such conquerors.

On his return, it is recorded, that Harmais, his brother, whom he had left as regent or viceroy in Egypt during his expedition, conspired to destroy him and his family at a ban

quet which he had prepared for him in Daphne, near Pelusium, by setting fire to the house. He lost two of his sons in the flames, but escaped himself with four more, and, as Herodotus relates, punished his brother, but in what manner we are not informed.

As a monument of gratitude for this deliverance, Sesostris rebuilt the temple of Vulcan, at Memphis, the immense stones of which are noticed by Herodotus. In front of this temple, he placed six colossal statues, two of them thirty cubits high, representing himself and his queen; and the other four, twenty cubits high, representing his four sons who had escaped the flames.

Sesostris also erected temples in every city; raised embankments to the river; and dug numerous canals, for the supply of water, the conveyance of corn and provisions, and the security of the country against foreign invasion. He also built a wall across the desert from Pelusium to Heliopolis of 1,500 stadia, or about 187 miles in length, to secure Egypt from the irruptions of its neighbours, the Syrians and Arabians; thus adopting the wise policy of the shepherd kings. His great work was, the raising a considerable number of high banks, or moles, in which new cities were built, in or der that man and beast might be secure from any unusual inundations of the Nile.

In all these various public works, Sesostris employed only captives. This is certified by an inscription found upon many of the monuments, which reads thus: "None of the natives were put to labour here" and which may be looked upon as a tacit reprobation of the ostentatious pyramids of the shepherd kings, who so cruelly enslaved the Egyptians. It appears, indeed, to have been the policy of Sesostris to be tender over his own people, while he oppressed those he had taken captives, forgetting that mankind were all "made of one blood," and therefore have all a demand upon our sympathy.

So great was the regard which Sesostris bore to his people, that he made an equal division of the lands to them; assigning a square piece of ground to each, and reserving to himself an annual rent from the tenants, with directions to his surveyors to make proper abatements should the river encroach on any man's land. It was no wonder, therefore, that his memory was highly honoured in Egypt, even to remote ages. This may be gathered from Diodorus, who relates, that when Darius Hystaspes obtained the crown of Persia,