of Thebes originated, and they will account for the peculiarity of two capitals in Egypt. The native sovereigns being expelled from Memphis, Thebes became the metropolis of Egypt.

The monuments give but very scanty materials whence to form a history of the first five monarchs of this dynasty. The whole of them were named either Amenumis or Osortasen, agreeably to a custom very prevalent in ancient Egypt, of giving the grandfather's name to the grandson. They still continued to make war upon the Nubians or Ethiopians, and extended in that direction the conquests of the head of their family, Osortasen 1. The name of the third of them is inscribed in the sanctuary of the temple of Semné, in Nubia. It was probably in these wars that they acquired the military skill and experience of which their late reverses had so fatally taught them the necessity, and which enabled them shortly afterwards to recover possession of Memphis, and expel the invaders.

A collection of superb tablets, executed during the reigns of five of the monarchs of this epoch, is now in the British Museum. They were found at Abydos, a city of the northern part of Upper Egypt. No fewer than eight of these tablets are inscribed with dates computed from the commencement of the king's reign during which they were executed. Osortasen I., whose hieroglyphic name has been already given, reigned, according to one of them,* thirtynine years. A tablet quoted by Rosellini is dated the fortythird of his reign.

His third successor, Amenumis II., reigned at least nine

* Anastasy No. 9 of the Museum.

teen years, on the unanswerable authority of one of these tablets, (Anastasy 57.) The succeeding monarch, Osortasen III., whose name is the first of the middle row to the right in the genealogy of Abydos, (see p. 179,) reigned not less than six years.

*

The fifth monarch of this line reigned seven years, or more. His name follows that of his predecessor, in the middle row of the genealogy of Abydos. He is also named Osortasen, Iv. (Anastasy 18.)

III.

The name of the sixth of these Pharaohs was Amenumis

His title, or prenomen, is the third to the right of the middle row of the tablet of Abydos: he reigned twentyfive years, at least, according to one of these tablets.

Copies of some of the more remarkable of them are here subjoined.

The top of this most beautiful tablet, (see engraving on p. 198,) bears the winged globe, the symbol of Har-hat, the celestial sun. The principal inscription, the two horizontal lines immediately below it, read thus:-" In the 19th year of his majesty the king, (sun of golden offerings) Amenumis II.,† (the third successor of Osortasen 1.,) loving Osiris, the lord of Abydos, the giver of life and stability, like the sun for ever." The third line reads both to the right and left, divides in the middle. The part to the right means a "house of blessing, that is, the sepulchre; wine, milk, incense, oxen and geese have been offered by the constable of the palace, Sevek Re, the justified." This part refers to the group of six figures on the right side of the upper part of the tablet,

* Anastasy No. 7.

The first legible ring to the right in the middle row of the tablet of Abydos, above, p. 179, is the title of the successor of Amenumis II., who was called Osortasen.

which represents the eldest son of Sevek Re with his five sisters in the act of making the offering to the mummy of their father, which this tablet commemorates. The son bears a linen bandage for swathing the mummy, the daughters are bringing lotus flowers. The column immediately over the first figure reads, "His son who loves him, Sevek Re.” The others had the names of the daughters, which are no longer legible. The left side of the third line reads thus: "A house of blessing; wine, milk, incense, oxen, geese, have been offered by the constable of the palace, Saotph, the son of Tese-nofre, the just." This was the son and successor of Sevek Re. The inscription also refers to the group on the left side of the tablet, consisting of seven of the children of Saotph. The two columns of small characters over the first figure to the left, with a roll of linen in his hand, seem to read, "His son who loves him, performing the prescribed rites of sacrifice before his lord," that is, his father. This was probably the son and heir of Saotph. The next two lines refer to the second son, who offers two lotus flowers. It also reads, " His son who loves him ;" then follows the name, which is nearly defaced. Three other sons follow, each offering a duck or goose. Waterfowl were very much used as an article of food by the ancient Egyptians. This fact, which is mentioned by Herodotus, (Euterpe, c. 117,) is abundantly confirmed by the pictures on the monuments, which represent geese and ducks as almost invariably forming a part of the viands both in feasts and sacrifices. The name of the third son of Saotph, the last of the upper row, has been cut off in fitting this tablet to the door of the tomb which it closed. That of the fourth, the first figure in the lower row, seems to have been Rasajeri; but it is not very legible. His fifth, and appar

ently youngest son, was named Chonsou. Two daughters are represented, and a third appears to have been cut off in fitting the stone. The name of the first was Onk-nat; that of the second Shont; that of the third, and probably youngest, is not legible.

66

The square tablet in the centre, filled with columns of hieroglyphics, is a list of the various articles offered in the tomb of the deceased by their families. They are specified with all the minuteness of a bill of fare. The first in the upper column of the table to the left is "one vial, containing liquid odours, essences;" one vase of incense" is the second article enumerated. Then follow two other vases, and six vials, the contents of which are recorded, but the sense has not yet been made out: most probably they were perfumes, in the form either of essences, or of fragrant woods or roots pounded. Two joints from the fore part of some animal, the head, the eyes, and some portion of the viscera, are the next in order. Then follow one vase of frankincense, and vases of other substances to the end of the first column, the hieroglyphic names of which are yet undeciphered. But little account can be given of the second column. A vial of distilled essence for perfume, a jar of water, a flower-pot containing a palm branch, (the symbol of youth and of the year,) two chests containing images, (probably such as have been found in the tombs, full of clay figures of the deceased,) the heart, and probably some other portions of slaughtered animals, and four cooking vessels, or cauldrons of boiling water,—are amongst the articles deposited in the tomb of the deceased by the piety of their descendants. In the third column, the thigh, the liver, and the mesentery of the slaughtered animals, are specified as well as