1,99 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: Librorium Editions
- Kategorie: Geisteswissenschaft
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
The accompanying pages are intended as an introduction to the magnificent Egyptian Obelisk which is about to take its place among the monuments of London. This Obelisk was hewn in the renowned quarries of Syené, at the extreme southern boundary of Egypt, and was thence floated down the stream of the Nile to Heliopolis, the City of the Sun. It was erected, as one of a pair, in front of the seat of learning wherein Moses received his education, and stood in that position for about 1,600 years. Shortly before the Christian era it was conveyed to Alexandria, where it has remained until the present time, and is now on its voyage to the banks of the Thames. Its age, therefore, may be computed at upwards of 3,000 years.
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Ähnliche
CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE:WITH BRIEF NOTES ON EGYPT AND EGYPTIAN OBELISKS.
BY ERASMUS WILSON
CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE AT ALEXANDRIA.
© 2023 Librorium Editions
ISBN : 9782385742638
PREFACE.
The accompanying pages are intended as an introduction to the magnificent Egyptian Obelisk which is about to take its place among the monuments of London. This Obelisk was hewn in the renowned quarries of Syené, at the extreme southern boundary of Egypt, and was thence floated down the stream of the Nile to Heliopolis, the City of the Sun. It was erected, as one of a pair, in front of the seat of learning wherein Moses received his education, and stood in that position for about 1,600 years. Shortly before the Christian era it was conveyed to Alexandria, where it has remained until the present time, and is now on its voyage to the banks of the Thames. Its age, therefore, may be computed at upwards of 3,000 years.
At that early period, when other nations had not yet awakened into the dawn of civilisation, Egypt had made substantial progress in architecture and sculpture; and the British Obelisk may be taken as an admirable example of their excellence. The hieroglyphs which adorn its surface, inform us that it was erected by a powerful Pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty, Thothmes III.; and that, 200 years later, it was carved with the name of another illustrious Egyptian potentate, Rameses the Great. The sculptures of Thothmes occupy the central line of each face of the shaft from top to bottom, and those of Rameses the side lines; so that, at a glance, we are enabled to compare the art of sculpture at periods of two centuries apart.
Heliopolis was the On of the Bible, and one of the cities of the Land of Goshen, where Abraham sought refuge when driven by famine out of Canaan. It was at Heliopolis that Joseph endured his slavery and imprisonment, and was rewarded by the Pharaoh of his day with the hand of Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, a priest and ruler of On. Here he received in his arms his aged father Jacob, and Jacob fell on his neck and wept with joy at the recovery of his long-lost and well-beloved son: whilst in the neighbourhood of Heliopolis is still shown the venerable sycamore tree, under which, according to traditional report, the Holy Family took shelter in their flight into Egypt.
These are some of the interesting associations which will crowd into the mind when we look upward at this colossal monolith, and of which it was once the silent spectator. Ancient Egypt, Egyptian enlightenment and refinement, scenes and acts of Bible history—are, as it were, realised by the presence of this stately object of art in the midst of our ancient, although, compared with itself, very modern, city. This, however, is not all; for our Obelisk was a witness to the fall of the Greek and the rise of Roman dominion in Egypt, and revives in our memory the brilliant exploits of Nelson at Aboukir, and the grievous loss sustained by Britain in the death of Abercromby, at Alexandria.
After the battle of Alexandria, in 1801, it had been the eager wish of the British army and navy to convey this Obelisk to England as a memorial of their victory. Weightier considerations frustrated their efforts.
In 1820, the matter was revived, and the Obelisk was formally presented by Mehemet Ali to the British nation, through His Majesty George IV.[1]
In 1822, a distinguished naval officer, Admiral W. H. Smyth, F.R.S., drew up a statement of plans by which the transport of the Obelisk might be accomplished; and Mehemet Ali offered to assist the undertaking by building a pier expressly for the purpose.[2]
In 1832, the propriety of making an endeavour to procure the Obelisk was discussed in Parliament, and supported by Joseph Hume, a sum of money being proposed for the purpose.
In 1867, Lieutenant-General Sir James Alexander directed his attention to the same subject, and read a Paper on the existing state of the Obelisk, before the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[3] In 1875, he visited Alexandria for the purpose of ascertaining the actual condition of the Obelisk, and the possibility of getting it into British possession. A letter from Mr. Arthur Arnold to Lord Henry Lennox, First Commissioner of Works, dated April, 1876, and published in his book, entitled, “Through Persia by Caravan,” exhibits one of the results of Sir James Alexander’s exertions, and may be regarded as the most recent official report on the Obelisk question.[4]
While in Egypt, Sir James Alexander became acquainted with Mr. John Dixon, C.E., who had given considerable attention to the subject of the Obelisk and to the mode of its transport to England. Mr. Dixon had already made some successful explorations of the Great Pyramid, and had then brought his skill and experience, as a civil engineer, to bear on the practical question of the means and contrivance by which the transport of our Obelisk might be effected.
Such was the state of affairs in November, 1876, when Sir James Alexander first broached the subject to the author of these pages. Shortly afterwards the writer had an interview with Mr. John Dixon; succeeded by a conference, in which he was assisted by the judgment and advice of two valued friends—Mr. Charles Alfred Swinburne, of Bedford Row, and Mr. Henry Palfrey Stephenson, civil engineer. The conclusion arrived at in this conference was, that the undertaking was practicable; and an agreement was shortly afterwards (January 30th, 1877) signed, by which Mr. John Dixon engaged to set up the Obelisk on the banks of the Thames safe and sound.
The incidents of voyage, the shipwreck, the abandonment and recovery of the cylinder-ship “Cleopatra,” together with her subsequent adventures, form an episode of surpassing interest, which has already been partly analysed in the journals of the day; but must now be left, for the completion of its history, until the Obelisk shall have been safely erected in London, on a site worthy of its antiquity and symbolical significance, and of the dignity of the metropolis of Great Britain. A happy chance already points to the precincts of Westminster Abbey, with its harmonious architectural and classical surroundings:—Westminster Hall, the Houses of Parliament, the Government Offices, the Horse-Guards, the Admiralty, Trafalgar Square, the Thames, and the most beautiful of its bridges, as a possible site; and in very truth, no better place can be found for it in our great city, even should Queen Anne graciously condescend to step from her pedestal at St. Paul’s, to make way for her more ancient monumental companion.
In the compilation of these pages, the writer has availed himself of all the sources of information which his leisure has permitted him to consult; and he now takes the opportunity of expressing his especial obligations to the works of—Birch, Bonomi, Mariette, Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Sir Henry Rawlinson, George Rawlinson, Burton, Chabas, Pierret, Sharpe, Lane, Admiral Smyth, Rev. George Tomlinson, Parker, W. R. Cooper, Bayle St. John, Lady Duff Gordon, and Miss Edwards; although these authors represent only a portion of the writers in whose pages he has sought for instruction.
London.December, 1877.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Alexander the Great and Alexandria
1
The Cradle of Christian Theology
2
Succession of Persians, Greeks, and Romans in Egypt
3
The Ptolemies and the Cæsars
4
Queen Cleopatra
5
Cleopatra and Anthony
6
Shakspeare’s Cleopatra
7
Queen Berenice: Coma Berenicis
9
Cleopatra’s Needles
10
Inscription on the Bronze Supports of Cleopatra’s Needles
11
Date of Erection of Cleopatra’s Needles at Alexandria
12
Cæsarium; or Palace of the Cæsars
12
The British, or London Obelisk
13
The Pharaohs, Thothmes III. and Rameses II.
14
Signification of “Cartouche”
16
Age of the British Obelisk
17
Battle of Alexandria in 1801
17
Cleopatra’s Needle in 1801
17
Burial of the British Obelisk with Obsequies
18
Obelisks and Needles
19
Monoliths of Syenite
20
Dimensions and Proportions of the Obelisk
21
The Paris Obelisk
22
Beauty and Durability of Syenite
23
Injury done by Sand-storms
24
Probable effect of British Climate
25
Time required to complete an Obelisk
25
Colossal Obelisks
26
Obelisks Carved when Erect
27
Pliny, the Younger, on Obelisks
28
Transport of Obelisks
29
Journey of the British Obelisk
29
Adoption of Obelisks by the Greeks
30
Export of Obelisks to Rome
31
Galleys of the Greeks and Romans
32
Maritime Prejudices of the Egyptians
33
Circumnavigation of Africa
34
The Emperor Constantine’s Love of Obelisks
34
The Obelisk of Constantinople
35
Ruins of Alexandria
36
Pompey’s Pillar at Alexandria
37
Diocletian’s Title to Pompey’s Pillar
38
Cairo and the Delta
40
Ismailia, a Health Resort
41
The Marvellous Nile
42
The Seven Cataracts of the Nile
42
Lady Duff Gordon and her “Letters from Egypt”
43
Christianity and Theology
44
West Bank of the Nile
45
Memphis and England’s Colossus
46
The Great Pyramids of Geezeh
51
The Patriarch of Pyramids
52
The Colossal Sphynx
53
East Bank of the Nile
56
The Land of Goshen and Field of Zoan
56
Heliopolis and its Obelisk
58
Cartouches of the Pharaoh Usertesen
60
Temple of the Sun, dedicated to Ra and Tum
61
The Obelisk, Symbol of the Rising Sun and Life
63
Pharaoh’s Needles
63
Napoleon’s Address to the Army of the Pyramids
64
What have the Obelisks looked down upon
64
Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph in the Land of Goshen
65
Village of Matareeah; the Virgin’s Tree
65
Hot Sulphur Springs of Helwân
66
Chronology of Ancient Egypt
68
Manetho, the Egyptian Chronologist and Priest
70
Analogies between Obelisk and Pyramid
72
Ornamentation of Obelisks
74
Scientific Knowledge evinced in their Construction
74
Carving of the Obelisk
75
Legend of the British Obelisk, by M. Chabas
76
The Flaminian Obelisk, of the Porta del Popolo
79
Legend of the Flaminian Obelisk
81
Standard of the King
82
The Grand Assemblies called Panegyries
86
Legend of the Paris Obelisk
87
Legend of the Alexandrian Obelisk
88
Moses and the British Obelisk
89
The Pharaoh of the Exodus
90
Era of Joseph in Egypt
90
Nile Voyage from Cairo to Thebes
90
Habits of the Crocodile
91
Geology of Egypt
92
The Mighty Ruins of Thebes
93
Memnonian Colossi; the Vocal Memnon
94
Earthquake before the Christian Era
96
Granite Colossus of Rameses the Great
98
Queen Hatasou’s Western Obelisks
99
Village of Luxor
100
Tomb Architecture
100
Reign of the Mummies
101
The Pylon and Propylon
103
The Architect of Karnak
106
Colossal Statues and Sphynxes
107
Obelisk of Thothmes I. at Karnak
108
Obelisk of Hatasou, appropriated by Thothmes III.
108
Usertesen’s Sanctuary
109
Lost Obelisks of Amenophis III.
110
The Luxor Obelisks
111
Obelisks of Rameses II.
113
Confusion of Thothmes and Hatasou, Seti and
Rameses, and Rameses and Thothmes
114
Sacred Scarabæi and Manufacture of Antiques
117
Humanity of the Egyptians
119
Symbolism of the Scarabæus
120
Voyage from Luxor to As-souan
121
Unfinished Obelisk at As-souan
122
Mode of cleaving Obelisks from the Rock
123
“Beautiful Philæ” and “Pharaoh’s Bed”
125
Obelisks of Philæ
126
The Bankes Obelisk
128
Resistance of Religious Faith to Theodosian Violence
131
Hieroglyphic Writing; how deciphered
133
The Rosetta Stone
134
Cartouches of Ptolemy and Cleopatra
135
Apotheosis of Egyptologists
137
Usertesen and his Obelisks, Heliopolis and Biggig
138
Monolithic Monuments of the Hebrews
144
Abyssinian Obelisks
145
Inscription on the Biggig Obelisk
147
Obelisks of Thothmes I.
148
Obelisks of Queen Hatasou
148
Obelisks of Thothmes III.
149
Obelisk of Amenophis II.
152
Inscription on the Syon House Obelisk
153
Obelisks of Amenophis III.
154
Obelisks of Seti I., or Osirei
154
Obelisks of Rameses II.
156
Obelisks of Menephtah I.
158
Obelisks of Psammeticus I. and II.
159
Obelisks of Nectanebo I., or Amyrtæus
160
Obelisks of Nectanebo II.
162
Prioli Obelisk at Constantinople
164
Obelisk of Nahasb
166
Assyrian Obelisks
166
Ptolemaic Obelisks of Philæ
167
The Bankes Obelisk at Kingston-Lacy Hall
167
Albani Obelisk
168
Roman Obelisks
168
Obelisks at Alnwick
170
Obelisks in the Florence Museum
170
The Arles Obelisk
170
Egyptian Founders of Obelisks
172
Aggregate number of Obelisks
174
Bonomi’s List of Altitudes of Obelisks
176
Classification and Distribution of Obelisks
178
Site of the British Obelisk
182
APPENDIX.
PAGE
Extract from “Bombay Courier,” 1802
185
Consul Briggs to the Right Hon. Sir Benjamin Blomfield, 1820
presentation of the Obelisk to George the Fourth,
by Mehemet Ali
186
General Sir James Alexander;
Paper read at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1868
190
Plan of Transport of the Obelisk, by Captain Boswell, R.N.
193
Report by Mr. Arthur Arnold, to Lord Henry Lennox,
