ing cal ed "populous," in comparison with the great city Nineveh, as well as from the accounts of its extent. These accounts differ greatly, but D'Anville, analyzing the various statements, deduces that its circuit was equal to twenty-seven Roman miles, being an extent to which few modern capitals approach, and which London itself does not greatly exceed. Of the wealth of Thebes some idea may be formed from the accounts of the spoils obtained by the Persians under Cambyses, and the quantity of precious metal collected after the burning of the city. This last, according to Diodorus, amounted to upwards of 300 talents, about 26,020 pounds troy, of gold, and 2,300 talents, or 199,518 pounds of silver; the former worth 1,248,9607., and the latter 598,544l. sterling. This destruction is said to have levelled not only the private house, but the greater part of its numerous temples.

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But this was not the first time that Thebes had suffered from the desolations of war. The prophet Nahum intimates, in the passage referred to, that it was devastated before Nineveh. After drawing the comparison between the two cities, he says, "Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets; and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains." This corresponds to the first blow which the splendour of Thebes received when the Ethiopians invaded Egypt, 769 years B. C. It suffered again, very probably, when Nebuchadnezzar ravaged Egypt, 570 years B. C., after which it was burned by the Persian king. But it even then survived, and was still a city of some note. Eighty-six years B. c. it was indeed of such strength and consequence, as to dare to rebel against Ptolemy Lathyrus, and it endured a three years' siege before it was taken and plundered. It was again punished for rebellion by Gallus, in the reign of Augustus; after which the zeal of the early Christians led them to deface and destroy, as much as lay in their power, its remaining monuments, on account of the outrageous idolatry there displayed. But some of its monuments still remain, testifying at once to its ancient grandeur and to the truth of the inspired volume, which foretold its destruction. See Jer. xlvi. and Ezek. xxx. 14-16.

The ruins of Thebes, as described by travellers, testify an extent of magnificence of architectural design almost without a parallel. Karnac and Luxor are situated on the eastern It was customary with many of the ancient nations to cast lots for the principal captives who were taken in war.

side of Thebes, distant from each other about two miles. Karnac, which is the largest edifice in Egypt, was dedicated to Priapus. The mole is 140 paces in length, and twenty five in thickness. It leads to a court 110 paces in length, and the same in breadth. Two ranges of six columns conduct to a portico of 136 columns. The two middle ranges of these are eleven feet in diameter, the others are seven feet, the length of the vestibule is seventy-eight paces, the breadth twenty-five; this leads into a court where there are four obelisks, and twelve colossal figures. Two other courts conduct to what are supposed to be the apartments of the kings; besides which, there are many extensive buildings connected with the palace by avenues of sphinxes, lions, and rams. Some of these avenues extend towards Luxor. The entrance to Luxor is composed of two obelisks, which at present rise seventy feet above the surface of the ground, and are understood to be about thirty below it; two colossal statues of black granite, each thirty-eight feet high; and two masses of building of an oblong shape, and tapering sides fifty-five feet high, and covered with hieroglyphics. These large masses are so crowded together that from the front of the moles to that of the obelisks the distance is only fourteen paces. On the western side of Thebes, is the site of Memnonium, and the statue of red granite thrown down by Cambyses. The space between the Memnonium and Medineet Abou, about a mile and a quarter, is covered with fragments of Colossus. The tomb of Osymandas is supposed by some to have been here. The palace of Mendineet Abou has a covered passage still preserved. This is fifty-five paces long, and sixty-five broad, and is formed by four rows of columns placed on the four sides of the court. These columns are forty-five feet high, and seven feet in diameter. The tombs of the kings are situated in a narrow valley between the mountains of Libya, about four miles from the river. Strabo says, that there were seventeen tombs remaining in his time; and if we include a grotto near the Memnonium, the same number still remains.

From the nature of the sculptures, and the distribution of the apartments, Karnac, Luxor, and Memnonium, are supposed to have been residences of the kings of Egypt. All other buildings are considered as having been appropriated to religious purposes. Some, however, think, from the nature of the authority exercised by the Egyptian priesthood that the palace and the temple were commonly united.

ZOAN, OR TANIS.

Zoan is rendered by the Septuagint, Tanin, or Tanis, which was a city of Egypt, situated near the mouth of one of the branches of the Nile, thence called Œtium Taniticum. It appears to have been one of the most ancient capitals of Egypt. The sacred historian tells us, indeed, that it was built only seven years after Hebron, the chief residence of the patriarch Abraham and his family, Numb. xiii. 22: and that it was one of the royal cities, we gather from the fact that the plagues of Egypt were inflicted "in the field of Zoan." Psa. lxxviii. 12. Even in the days of Isaiah, it is mentioned as a seat of government. "Surely the princes of Zoan are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of Pharaoh is become brutish," Isa. xix. 11. As, however, in verse 13, Noph, or Memphis, is similarly noticed, and as it is certain there were not at that time two kings in such close vicinity, it is supposed that the kings of that period divided their residence between Zoan and Noph, as those of Persia did between Susa and Ecbatana. Bryant and others think that Tanis was too distant from the land of Goshen to have been the scene of the miracles recorded in Exodus, and they look for Zoan at Sais, which Bryant determines to have been situated a little above the point of the Delta, not far from Heliopolis, and therefore bordering close on the land of Goshen. But this is restricting the regions of Goshen within narrower limits than are assigned it by the best authorities whom we have followed in our description of that land; and therefore the Septuagint may be correct.

ON, OR HELIOPOLIS.

On, which is mentioned as early as in the days of Joseph, who married the daughter of the high priest of that city, Gen. xli. 45, is noticed under several names in Scripture. The Hebrew name for it was Bethshemesh, or "house of the sun," which, or "city of the sun," is the meaning of all the names given to the place, except that of Aven, or Bethaven, Ezek. xxx. 17, Hos, x. 5, which means "vanity," or "house of vanity," a nick-name the Hebrews were accustomed to apply to noted places of idolatrous worship. The Greek name of the place was Heliopolis, by which name the Septuagint version renders it, a rendering that has not been disputed.

The city derived its name from the worship of the sun, to

It was a

which a celebrated temple was here consecrated. famous seat of the Egyptian science and learning. Herodotus says, that the Heliopolitans were reckoned the wisest of the Egyptians; and, according to Berosus, it was the city of Moses, which well accounts for his scriptural character, that he 64 was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," Acts vii. 22. It is certain that in the college of priests at this place, Eudoxus, Plato, and Herodotus received their instruction in astronomy, philosophy, and history; and in all that learning of the Egyptians which sacred and profane writers concur in celebrating.

Very little is known of the history of Heliopolis. Josephus says, that it was given to the Israelites for a habitation when they first went down into Egypt; but this is not mentioned in Scripture. Its destruction was foretold by the prophets, Jeremiah, chap. xliii. 13, and Ezekiel, chap xxx. 17; which predictions were probably accomplished by Nebuchadnezzar.

Heliopolis was situated in the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, about five miles below the point of the ancient Delta. Its form and size may be inferred from the remaining mounds of the wall of circuit, from which it would appear to have been of an irregular shape, and in its extent not exceeding 3,750 by 2,870 feet. The houses stood on the north side, covering a space of about 575,000 feet; to the south of which stood the temple of the sun. There are now no ruins of ancient buildings unless the mounds be considered such, but there are still existing many fragments of the materials employed in their construction. An obelisk still stands entire

upon the spot, which, from its great antiquity, has received much attention from the learned. In the adjoining villages, there are many fragments of antiquity, which have evidently been removed from thence, and one standing in its immediate vicinity bears the name of Matarieh, signifying "fresh water;" which name is taken from a spring of excellent water, supposed to be the same as "the fountain of the sun" of ancient days.

PITHOM AND RAMESES.

Pithom and Rameses are mentioned, Exod. i. 11, as having been built by the Hebrews, for the Egyptian monarch under whom they were oppressed, for "treasure" or store cities. Authors vary in their opinions concerning the sites of Pithom and Rameses. Benjamin of Tudela, in the twelfth century,

was informed by the Jews that the latter was the same as Heliopolis; but Niebuhr thinks that it lay to the north-west of it, about four leagues from Cairo, in the way to Suez, where there is a heap of ruins, called Tel el Jhûd, or Tourbet el Jhûd. As the land of Goshen is also called "the land of Rameses," we may conclude, that the town of Rameses was in that district, and that it either gave or received from it, its name. We may mention, that some authors conceive that Pithom and Rameses were the names of two kings of Egypt, but this is by no means a well founded theory.

"SIN," OR PELUSIUM.

In Arabic, the term "sin" signifies mud, and was therefore the same as Pelusium, from pelos, mud. By the prophet Ezekiel, who predicted its overthrow, chap. xxx. 15, it is called "the strength of Egypt," and by Suidas, the "key of Egypt," or, its strong barrier on the side of Syria and Arabia. But notwithstanding its strength, according to the prediction of the prophet, it is laid prostrate by the hand of time and the destroyer.

PIBESETH, OR BUBASTUS.

By the Septuagint, Pibeseth is regarded as the famous city of Bubastis, on the Pelusian branch of the Nile; whence this branch, which is the eastern, was indiscriminately called the Bubastic or the Pelusiac. The city derived its name from a magnificent temple dedicated to the goddess Bubastis, whom Herodotus identifies with Diana. The site still bears the name of Tel Bastah, but the great mass of ruins is somewhat more than half a mile west of the Tel, at Chobrah and Heryeh. There is no edifice remaining. All is one scene of desolation, testifying at once to its ancient splendour, and to the truth of Holy Writ, which foretells its destruction. "The young men of Aven and of Pibeseth shall fall by the sword and these cities shall go into captivity," Ezek. xxx. 17.

TAHAHPANES, TAHPANES, OR HANES.

This city was the same as the Daphne Pelusiacæ, noticed by Herodotus. The prophet Jeremiah resided here in his exile, Jer. xliii. 8. Isaiah abridged it to Hanes, Isa. xxx. 4.