used hy the Ancient Egyptians. ' 181 



I therefore take this as the earliest date. The least and greatest intervals are 

 558 and 605 years ; halving which, I obtain 279 and 302|, as the least and 

 greatest numbers of years that the cycle can contain. These limits are incon- 

 sistent with there being any number of cycles except six between the chrono- 

 logical epoch in the eighteenth century and A. D. 34. Five such cycles could 

 not have exceeded 1512|^ years, while seven could not have been less than 1953; 

 but we have seen already that the entire interval could only vary about twenty 

 years from its mean value 1813 years. It consequently became a matter of cer- 

 tainty that the number of cycles was six ; and that the least possible value of 

 each was 299 years, the sixth part of 1793. The greatest possible value has been 

 previously determined to be 302|- years. 



IV. The next point was to ascertain what period of time, having a cyclical 

 character, and being such as the Egyptians would be likely to observe, was to be 

 found within the narrow limits which have been now determined, 299 and 302|- 

 years. I observe, in the first place, that owy cycle, depending on a comparison of 

 the wandering year of 365 days with a fixed year of any description, could not 

 differ much from 1505 years, which Is the nearest whole number to the quotient 

 of 365 days by the excess of the mean tropical year over 365 days. It is evident 

 then that the period which we wish to ascertain could not be any such cycle, 

 taken as a whole. It might, however, be a submultiple ofit; and it at once 

 presents itself to us as a remarkable coincidence, that the only small divisor 

 which 365 will admit, namely ^we, is the only integral quotient that could result 

 from dividing a number which can but little differ from 1505 by a number lying 

 between the limits 299 and 302^. We are not then driven to the necessity of 

 seeking a lunlsolar cycle, or a cycle connecting the revolution of the moon with 

 the year of 365 days, which might lie between the prescribed limits ; we at once 



deposing Uavre ; which, we know, he did by the aid of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, to 

 whom he was in subjection for a considerable part of his reign. 



The above appears to me the most probable mode of solving the acknowledged difficulties 

 respecting the succession of the Saitic kings. I do not propose it as absolutely certain; but I cannot 

 but regard it as what should be considered a settled point, that the conquest of Egypt took place in 

 527 or 528 B. C. I am aware of the confident statements of Herodotus and Diodorus to the con- 

 trary ; but these are in my judgment far outweighed by the threefold evidence that I have adduced 

 against them. 



