CAMDEN PROFESSOR OF ANCIENT HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: CANON OF

CANTERBURY: CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF TURIN

IN TWO VOLUMES

VOL. II.

LONDON

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.

NEW YORK

SCRIBNER AND WELFORD

THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY

ОСТ 1 1 1916

HARVARD
DIVINITY SCHOOL

H44,263

DT

83

R26

1881a v. 2

En
Rawlinson

2142

101

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII.

THE CHRONOLOGY.

PAGE

Difficulties of the Subject-whence arising. Chronological Defici-

encies of the Monuments. Schemes of Manetho, of Herodotus, of

Diodorus, untrustworthy. Impossibility of an exact Chronology.

Limits of the Uncertainty-(1) for the Third Period, or 'New

Empire;' (2) for the Second or Hyksos Period ('the Middle

Empire')-(3) for the First or Earliest Period (the 'Old Empire').

Possibility of an instructive History without exact Chronology. 1

CHAPTER XIII.

THE OLD EMPIRE-THE FIRST BEGINNINGS.

Uncertainty of the Succession of the Early Kings-Official Order,

determined on after the Expulsion of the Shepherd Kings, not to

be viewed as historical. The List, as given by the chief Native

Authorities. Doubts as to the Existence of Menes. Remarks on

the name Athothis. Hesepti mentioned in the Ritual. Distinction

attaching to Meribipu. Variations in the Lists. General Cha-

racter of the Names. The traditional Notices of the Monarchs

scanty and valueless. Condition of the Egyptian People at this

early time. Character of their Art and of their Religion. Prin-

cipal Features of their Life
. 23

CHAPTER XIV.

THE PYRAMID KINGS.

Reigns of Seneferu, Khufu, Shafra, Menkaura, and Aseskaf, of the

Fourth Dynasty; and of Usurkaf, Sahura, Kaka, Nefer-ar-kara,

Ranuser, Menkauhor, Tatkara or Assa, and Unas, of the Fifth.

General Condition of Egypt under these Kings. Progress of Art

-of Religion-of Civilisation and the Arts of Life

46

CHAPTER XV.

THE SIXTH DYNASTY-CULMINATION AND DECLINE.

Marked Division between the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties-Shift of

Power to the South. First Evidence of a united Egypt. Group

of four Monarchs-Teta, Pepi (Merira), Merenra, and Neferkara.

Probable Position of Ati. Reign of Teta. Reign of Pepi-First

great War-Reflections to which it gives rise-Pepi's Pyramid

and Titles-Position of Una under him-Family of Pepi. Reign

of Merenra. Reign of Neferkara. Traditions respecting Nitocris.

Sudden Decline of Egypt at the Close of the Sixth Dynasty. Cul-

mination of the Early Egyptian Art, and Advance of Civilisation

under it

PAGE

97

CHAPTER XVI.

THE DYNASTIES BETWEEN THE SIXTH AND THE TWELFTH.

No Monuments left by any Dynasty between the Sixth and the

Eleventh, which were, however, separated by an Interval. Disin-

tegration of Egypt-Parallel Kingdoms of Memphis, Heracleo-

polis, and Thebes. Causes of the Disintegration and Decline; and

probable Length of the Interval. Situation of Thebes. Its An-

tiquity, Name, and primitive Position. Rise of Thebes to Inde-

pendence. Dynasty of the Antefs and Mentuhoteps. Reign of

Sankhkara. Expedition to Punt. Close of the Dynasty. Fea-

tures of the Early Theban Civilisation

-

CHAPTER XVII.

THE TWELFTH DYNASTY.

-

121

Period of Disturbance. Accession of Amen-em-hat I.—his Mili-

tary Expeditions-his great Works-his Addiction to Field

Sports-he associates his Son Usurtasen, and leaves him written

'Instructions.' Reign of Usurtasen I. his Obelisks - his

Temples his Cushite War - his Chief Officers, Ameni and

Mentu-hotep - bis Association of Amenemhat II. Reign of

Amen-em-hat II. Reigns of Usurtasen II. and Usurtasen III.

Conquest of Ethiopia, and Construction of Forts at Semneh and

Koommeh. Usurtasen III. the Original of the mythic Sesostris

-Estimate of his Character. Reign of Amen-em-hat III.-his

Throne Name-his great Irrigation Scheme-his Nilometer—

his Palace and Pyramid-his other Works. Reigns of Amen-

em-hat IV. and Sabak-nefru-ra. Civilisation of the Period-Arts

of Life. Architecture and Glyptic Art-Changes in the Religion 141