DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0032
24
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
The tablet of Abydus, which is now in the British Mu-
seum, is delineated on the opposite page. It is a series of
royal rings inclosing the inaugural titles of the names of many
of the ancient kings of Egypt, in the order of their succession.
It was engraved on the wall of one of the vestibules of a tem-
ple, which has been excavated in the mountain to the north
of the city of Abydus. It is not, however, to be concealed,
that, while in some instances it confirms Manetho's lists, in
others, it is directly at variance with them.
Another source of information concerning Egypt is in
the writings of Herodotus. This oldest of the Greek histo-
rians was born about 484 b. c, and having from political
causes become an exile from his native city, he travelled
through Greece, Egypt, Asia, Scythia, Thrace, and Mace-
donia. His work is divided into nine books, which he named
after the nine muses. The second of these, Euterpe, is
devoted to Egypt, and contains an account not merely of
what he saw, but also of such explanations as he received
from the Egyptian priests, together with observations on the
manners and customs of the country, and a long dissertation
on the succession of its kings. He does not pretend, in this
latter subject, to observe strict chronological order; and his
work is chiefly valuable when brought into juxtaposition with
other authorities that can be relied on.
Diodorus Siculus is another writer, of less value, however,
than Herodotus. He professes to treat of the affairs of Egypt.
He visited the country about 58 n. c, though his work
was written at a later period. He brought to his task (says
Bunscn) "a mere acquaintance with books, without either
sound judgment, critical spirit, or comprehensive views. He
was more successful consequently in complicating and mysti-
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
The tablet of Abydus, which is now in the British Mu-
seum, is delineated on the opposite page. It is a series of
royal rings inclosing the inaugural titles of the names of many
of the ancient kings of Egypt, in the order of their succession.
It was engraved on the wall of one of the vestibules of a tem-
ple, which has been excavated in the mountain to the north
of the city of Abydus. It is not, however, to be concealed,
that, while in some instances it confirms Manetho's lists, in
others, it is directly at variance with them.
Another source of information concerning Egypt is in
the writings of Herodotus. This oldest of the Greek histo-
rians was born about 484 b. c, and having from political
causes become an exile from his native city, he travelled
through Greece, Egypt, Asia, Scythia, Thrace, and Mace-
donia. His work is divided into nine books, which he named
after the nine muses. The second of these, Euterpe, is
devoted to Egypt, and contains an account not merely of
what he saw, but also of such explanations as he received
from the Egyptian priests, together with observations on the
manners and customs of the country, and a long dissertation
on the succession of its kings. He does not pretend, in this
latter subject, to observe strict chronological order; and his
work is chiefly valuable when brought into juxtaposition with
other authorities that can be relied on.
Diodorus Siculus is another writer, of less value, however,
than Herodotus. He professes to treat of the affairs of Egypt.
He visited the country about 58 n. c, though his work
was written at a later period. He brought to his task (says
Bunscn) "a mere acquaintance with books, without either
sound judgment, critical spirit, or comprehensive views. He
was more successful consequently in complicating and mysti-