double fosses that surrounded their walls, their bridges over them, and their mode of drawing up the phalanxes of infantry, suggest a considerable progress in civilization and the art of war. Their offensive and defensive arms consisted of spears and swords, helmets, shields, and coats of mail. They possessed two-horsed chariots, which contained each three men, thus forming a well constituted and powerful body of troops. Some fought on horses, which they guided by a bridle, without saddle; but the far greater part fought in cars, all of which is indicative of an Asiatic people.

PROTEUS.

Proteus, whose Copic name was Cetes, which Suidas says, signified a manifold sea monster, sometimes a lion, a panther, a toad, a whale, etc., very difficult to be overcome, was a Memphite.

It was the name of this monarch that gave rise to the Grecian fable of Proteus, as described by Homer, (Odyss. iv. 414-460.) and Virgil, (Georg. iv. 388-450.) Diodorus explains the fable, (for which we refer the reader to the pages of these poets,) as arising from a custom among the Egyptian kings of wearing on their heads, as emblems of sovereignty, the figures of bulls, lions, and dragons, fire, branches of trees, with frankincense, and perfumes, not only to adorn themselves, but to strike awe and terror into the hearts of their subjects.

This explanation, however, is questioned by some, from the circumstance of the head dresses of the kings being represented in the sculptures, when offering to the gods, both numerous and varied in their forms.

The shrine of Proteus was still visible at Memphis in the time of Herodotus. It stood on the south of the temple of Vulcan, (the god of the ancients, who presided over fire, and who was the patron of all artists who worked in iron and metals.) and was magnificently ornamented. The Phenicians of Tyre who had settled in Egypt lived in its vicinity when Herodotus visited the country, and the whole of the environs thence obtained the name of the Tyrian camp.

There was also in the same spot a small temple dedicated to Venus, the stranger, a goddess who was conjectured by Herodotus to be the Grecian Helen, who was said to have lived some time at the court of Proteus. This author says, that the priests of Egypt gave him the subjoined information

concerning this heroine:-"Paris, having carried off Helen from Sparta, was returning home, when contrary winds arising in the gean, he was driven into the Egyptian sea. The winds continuing unfavourable, he proceeded to Egypt, and putting into the Canopic mouth of the Nile, landed at the Tarichæa, or the salt pans, near a temple of Hercules. If, at any time, a slave fled for refuge to this shrine, and submitted to be marked with certain characters, in testimony of consecrating himself to the service of the deity, no one was permitted to molest him. The servants of Paris were aware of this privilege, and fleeing from their master, with a view of injuring him, became suppliants to the deity. They revealed the secret concerning Helen, and the wrong he had done to Menelaus, not only to the priests, but also to Thonis, governor of that mouth of the river.

"Thonis despatched a courier to Proteus at Memphis, with this message: A Trojan is arrived here, who has committed an atrocious crime in Greece. Not only has he seduced the wife of his host, but he has carried her away with his treasures. Contrary winds have brought him hither: shall I permit his departure, or seize his person and property?" Proteus commanded, that whoever the man was who had thus violated the rights of hospitality, he should be brought before him. Paris, with Helen, and all his treasures, were, therefore, sent to Memphis. Proteus inquired who he was, and from whence he came? The delinquent related the name of his family and country, and from what place he had set sail; but when he was questioned concerning Helen, he equivocated, and endeavoured to conceal the truth, till the slaves who had deserted him were confronted with him, and explained all the circumstances of his guilt. Proteus, therefore, pronounced this sentence: 'If I did not consider it a great crime to put a stranger to death, who has been driven on my coast by contrary winds, I would, thou worst of men, avenge the Greek whose hospitality thou hast abused in so treacherous a manner. Thou hast seduced his wife, and, not contented with this, thou hast stolen her away, and still detainest her; and to complete the crime, thou hast robbed his house. But, as I consider it not right to put a stranger to death, I suffer thee to depart. This woman, however, and wealth thou hast brought, I forbid thee to take. These shall remain with me till the Greek demands them in person. In three days leave the coasts of Egypt with thy companions, or expect death.'

"Helen was detained by Proteus till the arrival of Menelaus, who finding, when Troy was taken, that Helen was in Egypt, repaired to the court of the Egyptian monarch. On his arrival, he related the object of his journey. He was received with the rites of hospitality, and Helen who had been treated respectfully, was restored to him, with all his treasures. He then returned to the coast, intending to return to Greece immediately; but the winds were contrary; and Menelaus, unmindful of the favours he had received, clandestinely seized two children, and offered them as a sacrifice. This was no sooner made public, than the Egyptians resolved to punish the perpetrator of this gross outrage. But, as he fled by sea into Africa, they were unable to overtake him, and Menelaus thereby escaped their indignation, and the punishment he deserved." Thus history demolishes much of the Homeric fable.

Proteus is said to have founded the city of Memphis, the metropolis of Lower Egypt.* He reigned about fifty years, during which time, the country is supposed to have enjoyed peace and prosperity. He is the last of the Egyptian monarchs whose history is connected with that of the heroic age.

RHAMPSINITUS.

This monarch is not distinguished for the extent of his conquests; but he surpassed all his predecessors in wealth, and in his fondness for riches. Diodorus says, that he was so avaricious, that he would not employ any of the treasures he had amassed, either for the service of the gods, or the benefit of his subjects. The monuments, however, which he erected at Memphis, disprove this statement, and claim for him a place among the patrons of his religion, and the encouragers of art. According to Herodotus, he added the western vestibule to the temple of Vulcan, and adorned it with two colossal statues, twenty-five cubits high. The same author relates a romantic tale concerning an artful and daring robbery committed on his treasury, and of the singular expedient which he employed to discover the robber; but the details deserve no mention in these pages.

Rhampsinitus is supposed to have been the patron of the

The reader will observe, that the founding of Memphis is ascribed by ancient historians to two different monarchs of different ages, namely, to Menes and Proteus. It is probable that Menes founded it, and that it was enlarged by Proteus.

Eleusinian mysteries, which were first instituted in Egypt, and which were designed to maintain the immortality of the soul and a future judgment after death, by the infernal deities Ceres and Bacchus. This supposition is founded on another romantic tale, which states that Rhampsinitus descended into the infernal regions, and played at dice with the goddess Ceres, and alternately won and lost. The Eleusinian mysteries, which were an allegory kept secret from the multitude in all ages, and of which nothing is known, passed from Egypt into Greece. Why they were kept secret, we are told by Synesius. The ignorance of the mysteries," he says, "preserves their veneration for which reason they are entrusted only to the cover of the night." Clemens Alexandrinus, also, says, that the veil or mist through which things are only permitted to be seen renders the truths contained under it more venerable and majestic. The learned Varro, moreover, in a fragment of his book, "Of Religions," preserved by St. Augustin, relates, that there were many truths which it was inconvenient for the state to be generally known; and many things which, though false, it was expedient the people should believe; and that, therefore, the Greeks shut up their mysteries in the silence of their sacred enclosures.

How different from all this is the promulgation of the doctrines of the Bible among mankind. By a stated ministry, charged to declare the whole counsel of God, we are taught the precious truths contained therein; and, if the meaning of any passage appears hidden from sight, we are encouraged to ask of God, and he, by his Holy Spirit, will guide us “into all truth." Truly these are proofs of the Divine origin and authority of the Holy Scriptures.

Till the reign of Rhampsinitus, Egypt was remarkable for its excellent laws, its strict justice, and moderation; but, according to Herodotus, in the two next reigns, oppression and cruelty usurped their place.

CHEOPS.

On the authority of the Egyptian priests, it is stated by Herodotus, that this prince was the builder of the first pyramid, and that he shut up the temples, and prohibited the national sacrifices. This it is not probable a native king would either desire or dare to do; and, therefore, the report may have been made, as is supposed by some, to conceal the disgrace of their former slavery and oppression under the shepherd kings, and

to enhance the power and grandeur of their native kings. It would appear, however, that Cheops disregarded justice, and bare an iron rule compared with his predecessors.

According to Dr. Hales, Cheops was the father of that princess of Egypt whom Solomon, king of Israel, married. * See 1 Kings iii. 1. If such was the case, Cheops was a warlike prince; for it is recorded of him in the sacred writings, under the name of Pharaoh, that he took Gezer, and burned it with fire, and slew the Canaanites that dwelt in the city, and gave it for a present unto his daughter, Solomon's wife, 1 Kings ix. 16. It is not recorded how the king of Egypt came to be engaged in this undertaking: perhaps he had a quarrel of his own with the inhabitants of Gezer; or, his son-in-law, Solomon, who did not himself engage in any military undertaking, might have requested him to render him this service. By this king, also, Solomon was supplied with horses, chariots, etc., out of Egypt, 1 Kings x. 28, 29.

But it must not be forgotten, that the placing of Cheops, by Herodotus and chronologers, after the Trojan war, is considered by some to be a gross anachronism. Manetho places him among the earliest of the Pharaohs, under the name of Suphis, and the monuments would seem to testify that he is correct. Be this as it may, Cheops, it would appear, reigned fifty years, and was succeeded by

CEPHRENES,

his brother, who, by the same ancient writer, Herodotus, and on the same authority, the priests, is said to have built the second pyramid, and to have adopted the policy of his predecessor. Of this pyramid, Herodotus remarks, that this had no subterraneous chambers, nor any channel for the admission of the Nile, like the former, near which it stood; from which it would appear that the first was a water temple.

Most writers of ancient history, as stated in the article Sesostris, have identified that restless conqueror with the Sesac or Shishak* of Scripture; but Dr. Russel, in the third volume of his "Connexion," and Dr. Hales, in his " Analysis of Chronology," have shown that Sesostris lived anterior to this event. The latter writer, who identifies Cephrenes with Shishak,

* The work Shishak means a hard drinker, and is equivalent to his other title, Bacchus, a bottle companion; titles which were considered by the ancients as very honourable. To be able to drink more wine than other men, was considered by them as part of the character of a hero.