345 
Early Civilization. 
It has been well observed by Mr. Osburn that the hiero- 
glyphic writing, in its earliest and simplest form, shows that 
the arts of civilization, such as pottery, metallurgy, rope-making, 
&c., must have already reached a state of considerable perfec- 
tion when symbols were taken from their finished products to 
express ideas in this mode of writing. M. de Rouge observes, 
in reference to the architecture of this early period, “We know 
not the beginnings of this art, but we find it extremely advanced 
in several respects from the time of the monuments of the 
IVth Dynasty, — the first to which we can assign a certain place 
belonging to this period. The architecture already shows an 
inconceivable perfection as to the cutting and the laying of 
blocks of large dimension. The passages of the great Pyramid 
remain a model of setting which has never been surpassed. 
We are obliged to guess the exterior style of the temples of 
this first epoch, and to restore the conception of it according to 
the bas-reliefs of the tombs or the decoration of the sarcophagi. 
This style was simple and noble in the highest degree, — only 
one mode of ornament varies the style, composed of two lotos- 
leaves opposed to each other.” 
The style of the figures, both in the statues and the bas- 
reliefs of the earliest time, is distinguished by a larger and 
more square-set appearance. It seems that by the lapse of 
ages the race became more lean and lank by the action of 
the climate. In the primitive monuments they sought to imi- 
tate nature with more simplicity, and, preserving all the propor- 
tions, the muscles are always better placed and more strongly 
indicated. 
The only * change in 5,000 or 6,000 years, following the most 
modern computation, has been one of physical deterioration 
and intellectual degeneracy. A son of the present Khedive, 
if his features are rightly portrayed in our periodicals, might 
very well boast, “ I am the son of the wise, — the son of ancient 
kings ” (Isa. xix. 11) ; but where is the might to bend the bow 
as of old, and to subdue, f “ with his shoulders,” all the lands 
* A wooden statue foitnd by M. Mariette in a tomb of the Vtk Dynasty, 
resembled so much the Scheilt of the village of Sakkarah, that the inhabi- 
tants at once named it after this functionary. 
t Herodotus says (Book ii. 196) of a statue of the conqueror Sesostris, 
“ There is an inscription across the breast from shoulder to shoulder, in the 
sacred character of Egypt, which says, ‘ With my own shoulders I conquered 
this land.”’ 
