VIEW

OF

ANCIENT AND MODERN

EGYPT;

WITH

AN OUTLINE OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY.

BY THE

REV. MICHAEL RUSSELL, LL.D.

WITH A MAP AND ENGRAVINGS.

NEW-YORK:

PUBLISHED BY J. & J. HARPER, 82 CLIFF-ST.

Sold by Collins & Hannay, Collins & Co., G. & C. & H. Carvill, White, Gallaher, & White, O. A. Roorbach, Pendleton & Hill, E. Bliss, and C. S. Francis;-ALBANY, O. Steele, and Little & Cummings;-PHILADELPHIA, John Grigg, Towar & Hogan, E. L. Carey & A. Hart, and T. Desilver, jr. ;-BOSTON, Richardson, Lord, & Holbrook, Carter, Hendee, & Babcock;-BALTIMORE, W. & J. Neal, J. Jewett, Cushing & Sons, M'Dowell & Son, J. Robinson, E. J. Coale, and P. N. Wood

A. M. C

PREFACE.

THE object of this volume is to present to the reader, in a condensed form, an account of all that is known respecting Egypt, both in its ancient and in its modern state. The history alone of such a country could not fail to be highly interesting to every one who has any curiosity to mark the progress of the human race in civilization and learning, and more especially the beginnings of society at that earliest period to which the writings of uninspired annalists carry back the mind of the contemplative student. It has indeed been our main endeavour to represent the genius and astonishing acquirements of the old Egyptians through the medium of the great works of architecture, statuary, and sculpture, which are still to be found on the banks of the Nile. In this part of our undertaking we have spared no pains to illustrate the descriptions of the Grecian, Roman, and Arabian historians, by a reference to the actual condition of that singular country in our own times; attempting by these means to supply to the reader of Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, Strabo, Pliny, and Abdollatiph, a light reflected from the ruins of those splendid monuments which they were the first to make known to the great body of their less-informed contemporaries.

However dark may be the cloud which still hangs over the more ancient portion of Egyptian history, it is much less obscure than it was thirty years ago. The united exertions of travellers abroad, and of learned men at home, since the beginning of the present century, have contributed not a little towards removing the perplexity which was wont to beset the historian and chronologer at the very threshold of their inquiries. The labours of Dr. Young and of M. Champollion have opened up a path by which, there is great reason to hope, the research of modern authors will be enabled to penetrate into those remote ages which preceded the Persian conquest, and which it has too long been the fashion to consign to mysticism and fable. Without permitting ourselves to yield to an undue confidence in regard to the discoveries which are said to have been made since the comparatively recent period when the language of hieroglyphics was supplied with a key, we may nevertheless cherish the expectation that the light which has been already thrown on the dynasties of the ancient kings of Egypt will increase hereafter into a much greater degree of brightness. It was not the least pleasant part of our task to trace the steps of that arduous investigation which finally led to the knowledge of Phonetic hieroglyphics; one of the most valuable additions made to literature in modern times.

The reader will find that we have not neglected any source of information in respect to the learning and science of the Egyptians, and more especially as these are in any way connected with the mechanical labours, the arts, or the political govern.