DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0026
IS
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
the most imposing and the most diverse ? The Bible, Homer;
Philosophy, the Sciences, Greece, Rome, Christianity, the
Monks, Islamism, the Crusades, the French Revolution:
almost every thing great in this world's history seems to con-
verge into the pathway of him who traverses this memorable
country ! Abraham, Sesostris, Moses, Helen, Agesilaus, Alex-
ander, Pompey, Caesar, Cleopatra, Aristarchus, Plotinus, Paco-
mus, Origen, Athanasius, Saladin, St. Louis, Napoleon ! what
names ! what contrasts i ****** ^ country made
to occupy eternally the world, Egypt appears at the very
origin of the traditions of Judea and of Greece. Moses issues
from her; Plato, Pythagoras, Lycurgus, Solon, Herodotus,
Strabo and Tacitus enter into her bosom to be initiated in her
sciences, religion and laws."
Thus breaks forth the enthusiasm of an eloquent French
writer, as he kindles in the contemplation of a favorite theme.
Without participating in the excitement of his feelings, it
must still be confessed, that there is an absorbing interest in
the land which he thus glowingly depicts. The attention
that it has excited within the last half century has developed
so much, which neither the Christian nor the scholar is willing
to neglect; that patient labor still employs itself in research,
undeterred by unusual difficulties, and undisgusted by the ex-
aggerations of the too credulous archasologist. Persevering
industry will overcome the one, and a sound judgment affords
a corrective to the other. Nor must it be supposed that the
exaggeration is all on one side. If there be those who have
prematurely sounded the note of triumph in their supposed
discovery of monumental testimony that disproves the truth
of the sacred records; it must not be forgotten, that, on the
other hand, there are some who have found, as they imagine,
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
the most imposing and the most diverse ? The Bible, Homer;
Philosophy, the Sciences, Greece, Rome, Christianity, the
Monks, Islamism, the Crusades, the French Revolution:
almost every thing great in this world's history seems to con-
verge into the pathway of him who traverses this memorable
country ! Abraham, Sesostris, Moses, Helen, Agesilaus, Alex-
ander, Pompey, Caesar, Cleopatra, Aristarchus, Plotinus, Paco-
mus, Origen, Athanasius, Saladin, St. Louis, Napoleon ! what
names ! what contrasts i ****** ^ country made
to occupy eternally the world, Egypt appears at the very
origin of the traditions of Judea and of Greece. Moses issues
from her; Plato, Pythagoras, Lycurgus, Solon, Herodotus,
Strabo and Tacitus enter into her bosom to be initiated in her
sciences, religion and laws."
Thus breaks forth the enthusiasm of an eloquent French
writer, as he kindles in the contemplation of a favorite theme.
Without participating in the excitement of his feelings, it
must still be confessed, that there is an absorbing interest in
the land which he thus glowingly depicts. The attention
that it has excited within the last half century has developed
so much, which neither the Christian nor the scholar is willing
to neglect; that patient labor still employs itself in research,
undeterred by unusual difficulties, and undisgusted by the ex-
aggerations of the too credulous archasologist. Persevering
industry will overcome the one, and a sound judgment affords
a corrective to the other. Nor must it be supposed that the
exaggeration is all on one side. If there be those who have
prematurely sounded the note of triumph in their supposed
discovery of monumental testimony that disproves the truth
of the sacred records; it must not be forgotten, that, on the
other hand, there are some who have found, as they imagine,