DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0128
94
OPERATION'S CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
an extensive idea of the conquests and dominion of an-
tient Egypt.8 In one of these curious representations
I fancied that I observed a hostile chief making a yet-
tatura, with an extended hand, and arm, to avert the
evil eye of the conqueror, who, it may be remarked, is
always represented in the flower of youth. The simi-
larity of some of the costumes with those discovered
in America, and many other interesting particulars, have
8 An explanation of the sculpture so frequently found in tombs
and in other places, is extremely desirable; and particularly of these
writings, which are of the greatest possible interest as far as profane
history is concerned, but they have not yet been deciphered, even with
the help of the figures. Whatever progress has been made in hierogly-
phics seems to have been effected by a careful examination of the
triple inscription on the Rosetta stone, which was brought to England
in 1801. Yet in 1835, Mr. Wilkinson, the highest authority in these
matters, thus expressed himself: "No one is yet sufficiently advanced
in the language of antient Egypt to enable him literally to translate an
inscription of any length, or moderately complicated, though a general
meaning may frequently be obtained." This assertion is unfortu-
nately found to be true, notwithstanding the pretensions set up to the
contrary. Nor does it appear that even Mr. Wilkinson has been able
to establish any undoubted chronology, or succession of the antient
kings, even with the aid of the stone found at Abydos, and of the Greek
historians, or to reconcile in any way the differences which exist between
the accounts of Manetho, and those of Herodotus. The earliest periods
are still involved in complete mystery, and the most important events
remain as yet unexplained, although described both in sculpture, and in
written characters. Some great mistake must indeed exist in those
antient accounts, which carry back the dynasties to a period before the
creation, and record four, in which twenty-seven kings reigned one hun-
dred and forty-six years; sixteen, forty-three; sixty, one hundred and
eighty-four ; and seventy other monarchs seventy days ; whilst at the
same time to Cheops is attributed a reign of fifty ; and to his successor,
Chephren, fifty-six years.
OPERATION'S CARRIED ON AT GIZEII.
an extensive idea of the conquests and dominion of an-
tient Egypt.8 In one of these curious representations
I fancied that I observed a hostile chief making a yet-
tatura, with an extended hand, and arm, to avert the
evil eye of the conqueror, who, it may be remarked, is
always represented in the flower of youth. The simi-
larity of some of the costumes with those discovered
in America, and many other interesting particulars, have
8 An explanation of the sculpture so frequently found in tombs
and in other places, is extremely desirable; and particularly of these
writings, which are of the greatest possible interest as far as profane
history is concerned, but they have not yet been deciphered, even with
the help of the figures. Whatever progress has been made in hierogly-
phics seems to have been effected by a careful examination of the
triple inscription on the Rosetta stone, which was brought to England
in 1801. Yet in 1835, Mr. Wilkinson, the highest authority in these
matters, thus expressed himself: "No one is yet sufficiently advanced
in the language of antient Egypt to enable him literally to translate an
inscription of any length, or moderately complicated, though a general
meaning may frequently be obtained." This assertion is unfortu-
nately found to be true, notwithstanding the pretensions set up to the
contrary. Nor does it appear that even Mr. Wilkinson has been able
to establish any undoubted chronology, or succession of the antient
kings, even with the aid of the stone found at Abydos, and of the Greek
historians, or to reconcile in any way the differences which exist between
the accounts of Manetho, and those of Herodotus. The earliest periods
are still involved in complete mystery, and the most important events
remain as yet unexplained, although described both in sculpture, and in
written characters. Some great mistake must indeed exist in those
antient accounts, which carry back the dynasties to a period before the
creation, and record four, in which twenty-seven kings reigned one hun-
dred and forty-six years; sixteen, forty-three; sixty, one hundred and
eighty-four ; and seventy other monarchs seventy days ; whilst at the
same time to Cheops is attributed a reign of fifty ; and to his successor,
Chephren, fifty-six years.