j'8 ANCIENT. EGYPT. 



The Middle Empire, composed of dynasties xi. to xviii. 

 inclusive, carries the chronology up to, say, b.c. 1460. Egypt 

 emerges from the comparatively unknown during the xith, 

 and that art flourished then is indicated by an inscription in 

 the valley of Hammamat commemorating an expedition to 

 Ophir; but whether this place was located in our present 

 possessions in Africa, south of the Lower Zambesi, or was 

 situated nearer the coast as a station for collecting the gold, 

 is still a matter of conjecture. This inscription discloses the 

 interesting fact that gold was being drawn from these regions 

 2,000 years before the days of Solomon and Hiram, king of 

 Tyre. Among the museum collection of pictures is a repre- 

 sentation of the return of a vessel laden with gold, apes, trees, 

 &c., in the days of Queen Hatasoo, about B.C. 1600. Gold 

 was, however, drawn from Egypt itself in ancient times, and 

 there are still traces of old workings in the country. An 

 English company has been formed quite recently to work 

 these mines, but operations have not yet got beyond the 

 experimental stage. It is stated that in one working the 

 quartz was literally held together with gold, and that in two 

 days ;z^i,i8o worth of specimen ore was obtained. 



The xiith dynasty was a brilliant one, and memorable for 

 some remarkable achievements. Some remains at Karnak 

 speak to a style of architecture less conventional and more 

 beautiful than anything that succeeded it. The famous 

 labyrinth was built, and the celebrated reservoir. Lake Moeris 

 dug out, on whose bed is now the fruitful province of the 

 Fayoom. This age was remarkable for the magnitude of its 

 irrigation works. Dynasties xiii. to xvii. inclusive repre- 

 sent another long period of decadence and dark ages. 



In the xvth dynasty, about B.C. 2200, we have the invasion 

 of the Hyksos or Shepherds {Jiyk or hak a prince, and sos 

 Shepherd), probably Hittites (Kheta), who established their 

 dominion in Lower Egypt; the upper kingdom being 

 governed by native Haks or princes under the Hyhsos rulers. 

 It is probable that Joseph governed Egypt under Apopi 

 of the xviith dynasty, the last of the Shepherd Kings. 



