DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0377
CHAPTER XL
HELIOPOLIS, THE CITY OP JOSEPH — THE PYRAMIDS
AND SPHINX-EGYPT A SEPULCHRE.
To the classical and the Biblical scholar, the most inter-
esting remains of old Egypt are those of Heliopolis, about
nine miles north-east of Cairo. This city is referred to in
the Scriptures under the three names of On, Avert, and
JBethshemesh — the latter corresponding with the Greek
Heliopolis, and the Egyptian Ei-Re, meaning the " House
of the Sun." Here was a " fountain of the sun," in con-
nection with which a splendid temple was built, with the
usual adornments of propyla and avenues of sphinxes.
Heliopolis was a city of small dimensions, but its celebrity
arose from the faot that it was the university-city, the
Oxford of ancient Egypt, where, in connection with the
temple, were schools of philosophy and science, under the
care of the priests.
Its interest to the Biblical student lies in the fact, that it
can be certainly identified with the Old Testament narra-
tive of Joseph. "When Pharaoh exalted Joseph, " he gave
him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest [or
prince, governor,] of On." Gen. xli. 45. It is certain, there-
fore, that Joseph often visited this city, and probable that
he had a residence here, as well as at the capital on the
other side of the river. And I have noticed' in this con-
nection, a striking corroboration of the Bible narrative, in
the remaining ruins of Heliopolis. That narrative mentions
HELIOPOLIS, THE CITY OP JOSEPH — THE PYRAMIDS
AND SPHINX-EGYPT A SEPULCHRE.
To the classical and the Biblical scholar, the most inter-
esting remains of old Egypt are those of Heliopolis, about
nine miles north-east of Cairo. This city is referred to in
the Scriptures under the three names of On, Avert, and
JBethshemesh — the latter corresponding with the Greek
Heliopolis, and the Egyptian Ei-Re, meaning the " House
of the Sun." Here was a " fountain of the sun," in con-
nection with which a splendid temple was built, with the
usual adornments of propyla and avenues of sphinxes.
Heliopolis was a city of small dimensions, but its celebrity
arose from the faot that it was the university-city, the
Oxford of ancient Egypt, where, in connection with the
temple, were schools of philosophy and science, under the
care of the priests.
Its interest to the Biblical student lies in the fact, that it
can be certainly identified with the Old Testament narra-
tive of Joseph. "When Pharaoh exalted Joseph, " he gave
him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest [or
prince, governor,] of On." Gen. xli. 45. It is certain, there-
fore, that Joseph often visited this city, and probable that
he had a residence here, as well as at the capital on the
other side of the river. And I have noticed' in this con-
nection, a striking corroboration of the Bible narrative, in
the remaining ruins of Heliopolis. That narrative mentions