![]() ![]() The existence of Egypt as a nation begins with Mena, the first king of the First Dynasty, and ends with Cleopatra. ( 10) Hence it may be seen that even in prehistoric Egypt we are as far as ever from the beginnings of civilization and beyond this, all is impenetrable night. ![]() It is possible–we may even go so far as to say it is probable–that a gigantic work of art belonging to that inconceivably remote age survives to this day in the great Sphinx of Ghizeh. The rulers of these earliest petty states were remembered by the Egyptians of after ages as the Horshesu, or "Followers of Horus." They occupied, in fact, much the same place in Egyptian history and tradition which the demi-gods occupied in the history and tradition of Hellas but with this great difference–the demi-gods were purely mythical heroes, whereas the Horshesu were human rulers, living in a land where political boundaries were already sharply defined. That background of tradition represents prehistoric Egypt and of prehistoric Egypt we at all events know that it was subdivided into a number of principalities which subsequently became the "Nomes," or Provinces, of United Egypt. That earliest landmark–dimly seen down the vista of ages–carries us back to about five thousand years before the Christian era and even Mena, who is undoubtedly an historical personage, has a background of tradition behind him. The dawn is long past when we catch our first glimpse of that far-distant epoch when Mena, Prince of Thinis, became chief of the chieftains of the primitive clans, and founded the first monarchy. Where, then, it may be asked, are we to place the starting-point of Egyptian history ? That is a very difficult question to answer. ![]() and the Pyramids were already hoary with antiquity when Abraham journeyed into the land of Egypt. He must not only go up the Nile he must ascend the great River of Time and trace the stream of History to its source.ĭo we realize how far distant is his goal, or how many familiar landmarks he must leave behind ? We are accustomed to think of the days of Plato and Pericles, of Horace and the Cæsars, as "ancient times." But Egypt was old and outworn when Athens and Rome were founded the greatĪssyrian Empire was a creation of yesterday as compared with that of the Pharaohs the middle point of Egyptian history was long past when Moses received his education at the court of Rameses II. The traveller who would visit the court of Memphis in the days of the earliest Egyptian monarchy must undertake a journey of some six or seven thousand years. ![]() From the port of New York to the harbor of Alexandria, as the crow flies, may be roughly estimated at between five and six thousand miles while for those who are not crows the transit, even at high pressure, would scarcely be accomplished under three weeks.īut if modern Egypt is so far away that it takes three weeks to get there, ancient Egypt is infinitely more distant. IF as a rule the busy American, no less than the busy Englishman, knows less about Egypt both ancient and modern than about many less interesting lands, we may assume that his apparent indifference is mainly due to the remoteness of the place and the subject. Publication: Pharaohs Fellahs and Explorers. "Chapter 2: The Buried Cities of Ancient Egypt."īy Amelia Ann Blanford Edwards (1831-1892) ![]()
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