UPPER FLOOR.] 
EGYPTIAN ANTEROOX 
85 
times to which they belong. The sculptures are principally of the 4th 
and 12 til dynasties. 
The 4th ^yas distinguished by the high civilization that prevailed 
in Egypt during its rule. Its monarchs conquered Arabia, and built 
the pyramids as royal sepulchres. Among the monuments may be 
noticed some of the casing-stones of the pyramids, and a coloured 
statue found in a tomb at Gizeh. 
The 12th dynasty excavated the Mceris Lake, built the Labyrinth, 
the city of Abydos, and the fortress of Samneh. and conquered 
Nubia or Ethiopia. Of this dynasty is a mutilated statue of King 
An, dedicated by King Osortesen 1. 
Over the East doorway is a plaster cast from the head of the most 
Northern colossal statue of Eameses II. at Aboosimbonl, placed here 
owing to the want of space in the Central Saloon. 
NOETH-WEST STAIECASE. 
On the staircase are placed Egyptian Papyri, Tv-liich are 
documents of various character, inscribed on rolls formed of 
slices of the pa,p3/Tus plant. They show the three forms 
of writing in use among the Egyptians : — 1 . The HieroglypJtic, 
in which all the characters, or figures, are separately and dis- 
tinctly defined. 2. The Hier at I c, in ^Yhich the same characters 
are represented in what may be termed a running hand. 
3. The Demotic, or Enchorial, a still more cursive form, in 
vfliich the Language of the common peoj^le was written ; it 
was principally employed in civil transactions dming the Ptole- 
maic period, and continued in use to the 3rd or 4 th century 
of our sera. 
The papyri exhibited present chiefly portions and extracts from the 
Eitual of tiie Dead, the small pictures in them referring to the subjects 
of the various chapters. 
At the top of the staircase is the 
EGYPTIAN ANTEEOOM. 
On the walls are. placed casts from sculptured and coloured 
bas-reliefs in Egypt, painted in imitation of the originals. 
The principal are as follows : — 
Bas-relief from the North wall of the great edifice at Karnak, 
representing the victories of King Seti Menephtah I. overthe Tahennu, 
a people who dwelt to the North of Egypt. — Bas-reliefs taken from the 
tombs of Sethos I., and Seti Menephtah II. and other kings of the 
I9th dynasty, in the Biban-el-Molook, or valley of the tombs of the 
kings, at Thebes. — Bas-reliefs from several portions of a fallen obelisk 
of red granite at Karnnk. 
