Perring, John Shae; Howard-Vyse, Richard William Howard: Operations carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh in 1837: with an account of a voyage into upper Egypt, and Appendix (Band 3): Appendix (London, 1842)

APPENDIX.

29

of Ousrenre), is placed before two kings, whose prenomens are almost
similar in construction and in meaning to his own. It is to be con-
cluded that the next king in succession, namely Osortasen the First, had
been preceded upon the throne by two relations or brothers; although
the succession of Karnac does not coincide with the list copied in
Mr. Burton's " Excerpta Hier." from the tombs at Gizeh.

The Tablet at Karnac has not been satisfactorily explained. The
Ousrenre recorded in it, although the same as that on the Berlin Statue,
is evidently distinct from the Ousrenre of the Pyramids. The standard
of the older king seems to have been more correctly given by M. Laborde,
than by M. Rosellini. In both instances it commences, like that of
Shou-re, with the word " Tosh," or "Tokh;" and the copy of M. La-

horde2 contains the epithet _- OTfCp-TOTO, "regulating

the upper and lower countries," instead of the II J of M. Rosellini.3

I—«

The dynasty of Cheops probably preceded that of the Osortasens by a
much less space of time than the lists of Manetho hint. The analogy of
this title with the names of the Osortasens is remarkable; but nothing
has been satisfactorily made out before the time of Amasis : indeed, the
arrangement of the seventeenth dynasty seems to be entirely conjectural.
It is, in short, impossible to establish a distinct and satisfactory account
of the succession and names of the early dynasties without more com-
plete and connected information, than has yet been attained, and also
without a more intimate knowledge of the language and method of com-
munication, than has been at present acquired. For, although it may be
reasonably expected that the hieroglyphical documents already procured
—some of which are bilingual, and others Gnostic rituals, apparently
containing the elements of more antient writings — may eventually afford
the means of arriving at the most satisfactory results, yet, in the mean
time, it is evident that perplexity and doubt are inevitably increased by
premature and rash conclusions, unsupported by facts, and incapable of
proof. To arrive at any certainty respecting these successive dynasties,
it is necessary to compare the various inscriptions respecting them, and
fully to comprehend their expressions and meaning. In this way alone
can any positive knowledge of these curious and interesting particulars
be obtained. All other statements, however ingeniously imagined, must
be entirely hypothetical; and in adverting to the difficulties attending

5 Laborde, " Voyage," &c. loc. cit.

'Rosellini, "Mon. Stor." Tom. III. loc. cit. It apparently means the
"strength of the two worlds," or " having power over the two worlds," the
ambiguity being in the word OfCp, which may be taken either as a verb or
substantive.