hy the Officefs of the French Army. 145 



during which the priefts were to appear with crowns on their 

 heads. 



In regard to the date of this curious monument, it maybe 

 fixed, without much fear of being miftaken, at the year i86 

 before the Chriftian aera. Ptolemy Epiphanes, indeed, hav- 

 ing died, according to the beft chronologifts, in the year 177 

 before the common aera, it follows, that the inauguration of 

 his fon, which took place nine years after, riiuft be referred 

 tt) the year J 85. But the infcription and inauguration of 

 Ptolemy Philometor, the fon of Ptolemy Epiphanes, are of 

 the fame epoch as the infcription attefts. 



We fliall not here attempt to fupply what is wanting in 

 the text of the infcripiion. This attempt would be ufelefs 

 and rafli ; ufdefsy becaufe the fecond infcription, which is in 

 the antient language of the country, and the third, viz, the 

 Greek infcription, muft reciprocally fupply what has been 

 loft; rajb, (ince in the latter cafe it might happen that the 

 reftitutions made in the Greek infcription by that which pre- 

 cedes it, might formally contradi6l the fupplcmentary addi- 

 tions of the commentator. 



It muft however be acknowledged, that I have not carried 

 my fcruples fo far as not to venture to finifti a word begun, 

 or not to terminate a phrafe, the fenfe of which might be 

 doubtful when the words preferved neceftarily fuggefted thofe 

 which had difappeared. I have not even abftained from 

 making fomc conje6lures refpecting certain parts of the in- 

 fcription where the text was fo much deftroyed that the leaft 

 trace of it did not remain. 



This firft labour on the Greek infcription of Ptolemy Epi- 

 phanes may be of fome utility to thofe who are to exercife 

 their talents on the fecond, in order to proceed afterwards to 

 the explanation of the firft. But it muft be confefted that 

 the ftate of thefc three infcriptions, and that in particular of 

 the hieroglyphical characters, gives reafon to thinkthai great 

 ditficulties niuft be overcome, and great eftbrts made, to ae- 

 complifti the propofed end. 



Vol. IX. T XVIIL Ec^ 



