4 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



In most countries, Monumental history commences with relics of a 

 period of barbarism. Such relics are not found in Egypt ; but it 

 would seem, that the first colonists who settled on the Lower Nile, 

 were already far advanced in civilization. 



III. EGYPT DURING THE BUILDING OF THE PYRAMIDS. 



According to Diodorus and Clemens Alexandrinus, the Books of 

 Thoth were composed before the time of Menes, the first king of 

 Egypt. This would make Literature, and perhaps the art of loriting, 

 anterior to all known monumental history. — On the portion of a 

 mummy-case found at Sakhara by Gliddon (and now in Wash- 

 ington), the animals forming the hieroglyphic characters are painted, 

 not conventionally as in Lepsius PI. 19 to 22, but according to the 

 colours of life ; a circumstance indicating the very commencement of 

 the art of writing. 



It seems a natural suggestion, that Idolatry may have had its origin 

 in hieroglyphic writing. However this may be, the Mythological system 

 of the Egyptians was evidently complete at the commencement of 

 their Monumental history. — Gods are figured apart from hierogly- 

 phic writing under the Fourth Dynasty; but such representations 

 continue rare until the time of the Sixth Dynasty. 



The hieroglyphic character of the cobra occurs on the Washington 

 mummy-case; and the species, as appears from the coloured figure, is 

 the indigenous C. haje. — On monuments of the Third and later dynas- 

 ties, the cobra is found to be connected with the mythology (as at the 

 present day in Hindostan) ; and from the time of the Sixth Dynasty 

 (see Lepsius II. PL 115), is also the distinguishing mark of kings. 



The hieroglyphic character of the feather, occurs on the Washington 

 mummy-case ; exemplifying the general rule, That birds and parts of 

 birds represent vowel and such other sounds as are pronounced without 

 the aid of lips.* The highly finished paintings on this mummy-case, 

 enable us to identify the birds selected for hieroglyphic writing : thus, 

 the owl, is the barn owl (Strix flammea) ; one of the small birds, is 

 the sparroiv (Fringilla domestica) ; and the young Gallinaceous bird, 

 is the chick of the red-legged partridge (Perdix). 



* The seeming exception of the owl for the letter " m," may he explained hy the con- 

 cealed "m," or the sound uttered with the lips closed. And this harmonizes with the 

 Greek adoption of the owl for the " hird of wisdom." 



