Gods and men
hhuegi
Article.pdf
epherites II :horis Kmt.
c Dynasty XXX: Ca. 378—341 B.C.E. itive Kemetic Dynasty
:ctanebo I capital at Tjebnutjer (Sebennytos). Os
er of Macedon defeats the Persian Army at ti wasion and occupation of Kmt under Alexa
XX)I: 323—30 B.C.I. Ic Dy’ asty
I (S4r) ia beqomes the Kemetic administrative capit: (Famius African Scholar-Priest) writes a Hist he di.’ides the Kemetic royal families into d 11 (Phladelphus) opens ports at Arsinoe, My ‘ian Tvuseum and Library founded. nes (Celebrated African Scholar and the First y charts the earth’s circjmference and writes
III (Euergetes) [V (Phulopator) tta Stone (A bilingual V (Epiphanes) VI (Philometor) VII (Neos Philopator) Viii (Euergetes II) LX (Soter II) (Alexander I)
U (Alexander II) ‘set and Na-nefer-ka-ptah and Khaemwaset a
(11 (Neos Dionysos) VII commits suicide. Caesar claims Kmt as a province of the Rom
e Battle of Issus. der of Macedon in
ry ofEg)’pt (Aegvptia ‘nasties. s Hormos and Bereni
Librarian at Alexandi e Canon of the Kings
ctanebo II defeated by Persians under Ataxerxes Ill in 343 B.C.E.
Egypt Rev lied
22
a)
e.
a) of
E.
d his son Si-Osiri wiit
rn Empire in 30 B.C.L
I.
decree of Ptolemy IV)Iinscribed in 196 B.C
OF GODS AND MEN: EGYPT’S OLD KINGDOM
Wayne B. Chandler
And, I say unto you, that through the inspirational writings of him who is my word unto the nations, shot! tlte land of Khem be caused to give forth those secrets to mankind which 1 shall cause to be hidden there . .
Osiris, The Book of Truth
In this chapter! hope to demonstrate that the origin of the civilization ofEgypt (Khem) was black African, specifically Ethiopian or Anti. In order to understand
the progression of events which I hope wilt lead us to the revision of Egypt’s
history, I wilt give an overview of archaeology in Egypt. In orderfor the reader
to fully appreciate the achievements of Egyptian civilization, I will summarize the notable accomplishments of the early Egyptians.
For centuries, countries too numerous to mention have competed for the right
to lay c)aim to Egypt, the birthplace of science, philosophy, art, and yes, the
very genesis of civilization as we know it. Those origins which have become
most popular over the centuries are India, Sumeria, Mesopotamia, and Arabia.
Ironically, with the advent of the archaeologist, the historical perspectives be
came even more confusing. For this pioneering school, trying to solve the ar
chaic mysteries of this culture became more a cause of frustration than a source
of adventure. Too often were archaeologists confronted with pieces of a puzzle
that did not seem to fit. In what finally became an historical frenzy to make sense
of data accumulated from temple, tomb, and terrain, archaeologists committed
the cardinal sin of sanding square pegs so they might fit into round holes.
Personal bias and racial prejudice prevented most of these scientists, many of
whom were great scholars, from seeing the obvious—that Egypt was born and
culturally nurtured from the very womb of Africa herself! In the words of Chiekh
Anta Diop, “. . . The history of Black Africa will remain suspended in air and
cannot be written correctly until African historians dare to connect it with the
history of Egypt.”2 The 1900’s ushered in a new era of archaeological exploration, for the first
time since the inception of Egyptology several historians began to paint a more
117I
an d hi st or ia n, w ro te of th es e ta bl et s: “U nt il w e ha ve m or e ev id en ce of a de fin ite
ch ar ac te ro n th e ge ne ra lf ac ts of Eg yp tia n hi st or y, an d a m or e ac cu ra te m ea ns fo r
fin di ng th e da te of th e st ar tin g po in to fE gy pt ia n ci vi liz at io n, w e sh al lh av e to be
co nt en tw ith
a sy st em
of ch ro no lo gy
w hi ch co nt ai ns se ve ra l ga ps an d a se rie s of
m in im um
da te s fo r th e gr ea te r nu m be r of th e re ig ns of th e ki ng s, fo r th e be gi n-
fli ng of w hi ch
an ex ac t da te ca nn ot be as si gn ed .” 3
Eg yp io lo gi st R og er M oo re y po in ts ou th is di ff ic ul ty
in de vi sin g Eg yp t’s ch ro
no lo gy . “E ls ew he re in W es te rn A sia
pr eh is to ric
ch ro no lo gy
is la rg el y ba se d on
th e an al ys is of th e la ye rs of de br is fro m su cc es si ve
se ttl em en ts in on e pl ac e
(s tra tig ra ph y) w hi ch ha ve fo rm ed
a m ou nd
or te ll. Th es e ar e vi rtu al ly ab se nt in
Eg yp t.” 4 H en ce th e em ph as is on ta bl et s an d ru le r ch ro no lo gy . Tr ad iti on al ly , th e
ke y to es ta bl is hi ng
th e ap pr ox im at e ag e of Eg yp t ha s be en
to re co ns tru ct th e
ch ro no lo gy
of he r ki ng s. H ow ev er , th is ha s pr ov ed
to be
a fr us tra tin g an d
im po ss ib le ta sk . Th e m os t co m pl et e lis t of ki ng s kn ow n ap pe ar ed
in th e Ro ya l
Pa py ru s of Tu rin , w hi ch
as si gn ed
in or de r of dy na st y th e na m es of ov er
13 0
ki ng s. U nf or tu na te ly , w he n it w as sh ip pe d to Tu rin
in th e ea rly
ni ne te en th
ce nt ur y,
it di si nt eg ra te d in to th ou sa nd s of tin y pi ec es . A re co ns tru ct io n w as
at te m pt ed
in 18 26
by a lin gu is t na m ed Se yf fa rth , bu t hi s kn ow le dg e of hi er at ic
ch ar ac te rs w as ve ry lim ite d an d hi s ef fo rts ha ve be en de em ed w or th le ss .C ur re nt
op in io n m ai nt ai ns th at th e m os ti m po rta nt sin gl e do cu m en to fa ll ha s be en gi ve n
to us by th e Eg yp tia n Pr ie st M an et ho , w hi ch en co m pa ss es bo th pr eh is to ry an d
th e dy na st ic pe rio d. In it, M an et ho na m ed ov er a hu nd re d ki ng s an d di vi de d th em
in to th irt y dy na st ie s; th is sy st em
is sti ll em pl oy ed to th is da y. Th e m ai n dr aw ba ck
of th is ch ro no lo gy
is th at it ha s co m e do w n to us by
w or d of m ou th . Th e tw o
m os t co m pl et e ve rs io ns of hi s lis t ar e th os e qu ot ed
by Ju liu s A fr ic an us an d by
Eu se bi us . M uc h to ou r de sp ai r th es e tw o lis ts di ff er
in th e ar ra ng em en t of th e
dy na sti es , th e le ng th s of th e re ig ns
of th e ki ng s an d in th e nu m be r of ki ng s
as sig ne d to th e di ff er en t dy na st ie s. A cc or di ng
to Ju liu s A fr ic an us , 56 1 ki ng s
re ig ne d fo r ap pr ox im at el y 5, 52 4 ye ar s in to ta l. Eu se bi us , on
th e ot he r ha nd ,
sta te s 36 1 ki ng s ru le d in 4, 78 0 ye ar s. B ud ge sta te s th at of th e tw o ve rs io ns Ju liu s
A fri ca nu s is “c le ar ly th e m or e ac cu ra te of th e tw o” .T he bi tin g iro ny
in all of th is
is th at m an y of ou r to p sc ho la rs in th e fie ld fe el th at M an et ho ’s w or k as ha nd ed
do wn
to us
is sh or t of us el es s, ye tM
an et ho
‘s sc he m e of th irt y dy na sti es
is sti ll
e,n pl oy ed !
Th is pr ob le m of ch ro no lo gy
is fu rth er co m po un de d by
th e pr es en ce of tw o
i m aj or er as kn ow n as Eg yp t’s
‘‘d ar k er as ”. Th es e pe rio ds ex ist ed on ei th er sid e of
th e M id dl e K in gd om
an d ar e tra di tio na lly
ca lle d th e fir st an d se co nd In te rm e
di at e Pe rio ds . Ja m es H en ry B re as te d, fa m ed Eg yp tio gi st an d hi st or ia n, sa ys of
th es e pe rio ds : “t t w as a pe rio d of su ch w ea kn es s an d di so rg an iz at io n th at ne ith er
ki ng no r no bl e w as ab le to er ec t m on um en ta l w or ks w hi ch m ig ht ha ve su rv iv ed
to tel l us so m et hi ng of th e tim e. H ow
lo ng
th is un ha pp y co nd iti on
m ay ha ve
co nt in ue d it is no w qu ite im po ss ib le to de te rm in e. ”5 Th es e re m ar ks by Br ea ste d
C ha nd le r
1] 9
cc ur at e ac co un t of Eg yp t’s hi st or ic al re co r
ai nt ed pe rc ep tio ns w hi ch w er e ch ar ac te ris tic
rs w ith st oo d a ba rr ag e of ve he m en t cr iti ci ,
vi th bl ac k A fr ic a. Th e de ba te s th at w er e w ag
w o fa ct io ns at tra ct ed
th e at te nt io n of th e fe
es id in g in th e U .S . W ith fre sh hi st or ic al pe rs j
). I- ou st on , W .E .3 . D uB oi s, an d J.A . R of
at is tn ), in iti at ed
a vi itu al re vi si on of bl ac k
As 1 E gy pt ol og y fo rg ed ah ea d in to th e m id -I
ie ld ’ le ad in g sc ho la rs w as th at Eg yp t’s or ig i
n ab un da nc e of ne w in fo rm at io n w hi ch re
io ns , th ei r m in ds re m ai ne d he rm et ic al ly se al
te s t4 th e pr es en t da y. To da y, as on e ex am in
m e ci an no t he lp bu t se e th e fu nd am en ta l ii
vh ic lj ab ou nd
in th is fie ld . It is un fo rtu na te
io n rg ar di ng
Eg yp t is lb ia se d, ve ry co ns er va
4a ga in e pr in te d a re ve al in g ar tic le on
th e
va s as ke d ab ou t th e th ou sa nd s of ar tif ac ts ho
na tte r- of -f ac tly
no te d th at th ey ha d co lle ct ed
ite ra lly
re w rit e hi st or y. A s st ud en ts of Eg yp ti
;ta nd in g at a hi st or ic al cr os s- ro ad : on e ro ad
‘o lu te d,
a ro ad tu rn ed
in to
a de ad -e nd
by a
)r es en t or ou r fu tu re ; th e ot he r ro ad w id e op e
ie w pe rs pe ct iv es an d di sc ov er ie s.
ta te m en t of Pu rp os e
In th e ne xt se ve ra l pa ge s w e w ill ex am in e
ew pe rs pe ct iv es . W e w il] co ns id er th e co rr e
)r ig in of Eg yp t, an d th e id en tit y of th e fir st E
ne n w ho liv ed be fo re th e fir st dy na st y, w ho
h vh o be ca m e le ge nd s. Th ei r ac hi ev em en ts in
oi nt s of di sc us si on . Fi na lly , w e w ill ex pl or e
[. T he
C hr on ol og y of Eg yp t
Th e ch ro no lo gy of th ei “O ld K in gd om ” is by
‘e ri od s of Eg yp t. H ow
ol d is it re al ly ? Th e
ci is po sa al l ha ve ce rta in an d de fin ite lim ita tio n:
a vi ab le ch ro no lo gy . Th e m os t im po rta nt of
K ar na kl th e Ta bl et of A by do s, th e Ta bl e of Sa q
:h ro no lg y of th e Eg yp tia n Pr ie st , M an et ho .
g y p
Re vi sit ed
Le av in g be hi nd
th e;
th e ra ci al ly
of th e l8 00 ’s , th es e e id ite ex pl or
m as th ey da re d to c nn ec t Eg yp t
‘U in th e ea rly
19 00 ’s
ët w ee n th es e
/ ou ts ta nd in g bl ac k h st or ia ns
th en
ec tiv es , i nd iv id ua ls su
h as D n; sjl ja
er s (th e fa th er of an t op ho to jo ur
hi st or y th e w or ld ov e
90 0’ s, th e ge ne ra l co n en su s of the
w as sti ll Eu ro -A sj at j
.E ve n wi th
ea te dl y co nt ra di ct ed
he ir C O fl V iC
d. Th is sta te of co nf ts io n co nt in
s th e cu rr en t sta te of Eg yp to lo gy
zo ns is te nc ie s an d pr co un d vo id s
ta t m os t of th e av ai la le in fo rm a
iv e, an d in su ff ic ie nt .
19 84 Ge o
rit is h M us eu m . W he ti th e cu ra to r
se d in th e m us eu m ’s as em en t he
en ou gh m at er ia l ov er th e ye ar s to
fl hi st or y, w e no w fii td ou rs el ve s
ie ll tra ve le d, a1 th ou g ve ry co n
in d- se t th at ha s no pl ac e in ou r
w ith
th e ex hi la ra tjn
pr om is e of
rit ic al is su es
in th e Ii h t of th es e
:t ch ro no lo gy
of E gy t, th e tru e
yp tia ns . W e w ill al so ]o ok
at th e
te r be ca m e go ds , an d m en af te r,
he ar ts an d sc ie nc es vi ll all
be he cr ea tio n of th e py im id s.
fa rt he m os t p er pl ex i g of all
th e
)c um en ts w hi ch
w e la ve
at ou r
w hi ch ha m pe r th e es tib ]is hm en t
he se do cu m en ts ar e tIe
Ta bl et of
ar a, th e Pa py ru s of T ui n an d th e
al lis B ud ge , no te d E yp to lo gj st
12 0
Eg yp t R ev isi ted
Ch an dl er
12 1
in di ca te th e po ss ib ili ty th at th es e pe rio ds m ay ha ve sp an ne d se ve ra l ce nt ur ie s. If
th is is in de ed th e ca se it w ou ld pu sh th e Py ra m id A ge an d th e ag e of Eg yp tp ro pe r
in to a m or e re m ot e an tiq ui ty .
C he ik h A nt a D io p, eg yp to lo gi st , lin gu is t, ph ys ic is t, an d hi st or ia n, al lo w s
10 ,0 00 ye ar s fo r th e cy cl e of Eg yp tia n ci vi liz at io n. H is lo gi c is pu re an d si m pl e
an d ha rd to re fu te . Th e Eg yp tia n ca le nd ar w as ba se d on
th e cy cl e of th e st at
Si riu s w ho se ris e co in ci de s w ith th e su n ev er y 1, 46 1 ye ar s. N ow
an y as tro no m er
Jw ill ve rif y th e fa ct th at it ta ke s th ou sa nd s of ye ar s to stu dy th e st el la r m ov em en t
J of ce le st ia l bo di es be fo re on e m ay ac qu ire
in fo rm at io n ac cu ra te en ou gh
to de
ve lo pe
a ca le nd ar . D r. D io p sa ys , an d Iq uo te : “T hi s ci vi liz at io n ca lle d Eg yp tia n
in ou r pe rio d de ve lo pe d fo r a lo ng
tim e in its ea rly
cr ad le
. .
. Th is cy cl e of
ci vi liz at io n, th e lo ng es t in hi st or y, pr es um ab ly la ste d 10 ,0 00
ye ar s. Th is is a
re as on ab le co m pr om is e be tw ee n th e lo ng ch ro no lo gy
(b as ed
on da ta pr ov id ed
by M an et ho
[w hi ch ] pl ac es th e be gi nn in g at 17 ,0 00 B .C .) an d th e sh or t
‘N hr on o1 og y [3 10 0 B .C .] of th e m od er ns — fo r th e ta tte r ar e ob lig ed to ad m it th at
, ly 42 45 B .C . t he Eg yp tia ns ha d al re ad y in ve nt ed th e ca le nd ar (w hi ch ne ce ss ar ily
Je qu ir es th e pa ss ag es of th ou sa nd s of ye ar s) .” 6 Th us , if th e Eg yp tia ns ha d th e
ca le nd ar in 42 45 B .C . an d it to ok
th e pa ss ag e of se ve ra l th ou sa nd ye ar s to am as s
en ou gh
da ta to cr ea te it, th en
it is on ly ra tio na l th at w e ad he re to th e lo gi c of
Pr of es so r D io p. D io p go es on
to sa y, “T he of fic ia l da te , ad op te d un til no w fo r
no sp ec ia l re as on w av er s be tw ee n 31 00 B .C . an d 30 00 B .C . In ac tu al fa ct , th e
ch oi ce of 31 00 B .C . re su lts fro m no ne ce ss ity
bu t t ha to f s yn ch ro ni zi ng Eg yp tia n
\a nd
M es op ot am ia n ch ro no lo gy .” 7 C on tin ui ng , D io p go es on
to po in to ut , “T he
Z) \m ot iv at in g id ea
is to su cc ee d in ex pl ai ni ng
Eg yp t by M es op ot am ia , th at is,
by W es te rn A si a, th e or ig in al ha bi ta to fI nd o- Eu ro pe an s. Th e ch ro no lo gy of V ik to r
bh ri st ia n, w ho re lie s on K ug le r’ s as tro no m ic al ca lc ul at io ns ,d at es th e st ar to ft he
fir st U r dy na st y be tw ee n 26 00
an d 25 80 , [B .C ] w hi ch w ou ld th us al so be
th e
pe rio d of th e so -c al le d ‘ro ya l’ to m bs ”. 8 Th er ef or e th e fix ed da te of M es op ot a
m ia n ci vi liz at io n at 31 00 B .C . is in co rr ec ta nd pu rp os el y m is le ad in g. In es se nc e
w ha ti s be in g st at ed he re is th at th is in fo rm at io n im pl ie s a m uc h gr ea te ra nt iq ui ty
th an th e po or fe w th ou sa nd ye ar s ac co rd ed Eg yp t by th e w or ld ’s Eg yp to lo gi st s.
W ha t of th e Eg yp tia ns th em se lv es ? H ow
di d th ey pe rc ei ve
th ei r ow n ch ro
no lo gy ? W he n H er od ot us w as
in Eg yp t in th e fif th ce nt ur y B .C ., he w as in
fo rm ed of Eg yp t’s gr ea ta nt iq ui ty .T he “f at he r of H is to ry ” w as to ld th at th e fir st
m an to ru le Eg yp t w as M m , w ho
liv ed
so to ng
ag o th at Eg yp t w as sti ll un de r
w at er : “i n (M m ’s ) tim e th e w ho le co un try , ex ce pt th e di st ric t ar ou nd Th eb es ,
w as m ar sh ,n on e of th e La nd be lo w La ke M oe ris ,w as th en sh ow in g ab ov e w at er .
To th is pl ac e fro m th e se a [N ow ] is se ve n da ys pa ss ag e up th e riv er
La te r
So lo n, en ro ut e fro m G re ec e, ha pp en ed up on
an Eg yp tia n pr ie st of Sa is. Tr yi ng
to en ga ge hi m in an hi st or ic al de ba te th e pr ie st an sw er ed th us , “Y ou G re ek s ar e
no vi ce s in al l kn ow le dg e of an tiq ui ty . Yo u ar e ig no ra nt of w ha t pa ss ed
he re or
am on g yo ur se lv es
in th e da ys
of ol d. Th e hi st or y of ei gh t-t ho us an d ye ar s is
de po si te d in ou
sa cr ed bo ok s, bu t wc
te ll yo u w ha to tr fa th er s ha ve do ne f
tu tio ns , th ei r i4 vs , an d th ei r br ill ia n
od or us ’ so ur ce s.1 w hi ch co rr ob or at e th
m ig ra te in to Eg yp tw hi le so m e of it w
th is co un try w a or ig in al ly un de r w at
as it flo w ed fr m
Et hi op ia , ha d fin a
co nt in en t.”
Ti je re is am pl e ev id en ce
w hi le th e re st jf th e co nt in en t w as
Eg yp tia ns be ga
to bu ild
as th e w at el
H er od ot us , a w e ha ve al re ad y sa id
th is tim e, an d rc or de d hi s ow n co nc l
ga ve
m e th is aC ou nt of Eg yp t, bu t IT
th ey sa id
. .
. N w
it is m y be lie ft ha t
In su pp or t he nt ed
“I ha ve ob se rv e
pr oj ec ts in to th 9 se a be yo nd
th e co as t
hi lls an d no tic e ho w sa lt ex ud es fro r
ev en th e py ra m i
hi ll ab ov e M em
ne ig hb or in g co u
w ou ld ex pe ct of
Th ot h (H er m es ).
“t he w av es of
v M od er n sc ie n
G et zi ng er pr od u
.sh el ls at a ce rta in le ve l qu ite
ab ov e th e
e. Dr . R. Re nn et an A m er ic an ge ol og is t
ur at io n an d co m po si tio n of th e lo w la nd s
e se a on ce w as he d th e ba se of th e ro ck s
pr es en t ba se of w hi ch
is re ac he d by tle
io n se ve nt y or ei gh ty
fe et ab ov e th e
ca n as ce nd
to m uc h hi gh er an tiq ui ty an d
it ni ne -th ou sa nd ye ar s I m ea n th ei r in si
A cc or di ng
to d i
se of H er od ot us , th e Et hi op ia ns be ga n o
is sti ll un de rw at er : “T he y ev en al le ge th t
r, bu t th at th e N ile , dr ag gi ng
m uc h m td
ly fil le d it in an d m ad e it a pa rt of th e
th at th e M ed ite rr an ea n sti ll co ve re d Eg yp t
Ire ad y dr y, an d th at th e fir st of th e n& w
s re ce de d.
w as to ld th at th e fir st ru le r Mm
liv ed at
isi on : “1 no to nl y be lie ve
th e pe op le w lo
y ow n co nc lu si on s st ro ng ly su pp or t w ha t
gy pt w as or ig in al ly an ar m of th e
t2
I f or m ys el f th at Eg yp t at th e N ile
D el ta
in ei th er sid e;
Ih av e se en se a sh el ls on th e
th e so il to su ch
an ex te nt th at
it af fe ct s
ha t th e on ly hi lt w he re th er e is sa nd
is th e
of Eg yp t do es no t re se m bl e th at of th e
a, or ev en of Sy ria
. .
. bu ti sb la ck as on e
M or e ev id en ce co m es fro m th e bo ok s of
py ra m id s as st an di ng up on th e se a- sh or e,
le ss fu ry ag ai ns t its ba se .”
de nt w rit er s. A n ar ch ae ol og is t, D r. H .
hs of on e of th e sid es of th e G re at P yr
[s; Ih av e no tic ed to o,
hi s, an d th at th e so i
Itr y of A ra bi a, or Li bj
an al lu vi al so il
It de sc rib es on e of thi
hi ch da sh ed
in po w el
Li sts co nf irm
th es e a
:e d st ar tli ng ph ot og r
am id re ve al in g he
in cr us ta tio n of se a
pr es en t le ve l of he
ba se of th e str uc tu
su bs ta nt ia te s th i
of Eg yp t le av e n
on w hi ch
th e p
in un da tio ns
of M ed ite rr an ea n. ”
II . O rig in of E yp t
by sa yi ng “T he co nf i,
ro om
to do ub t th at
ra m id s
. .
. st an d; th e
th e N ile
at an
et ev a
5
qu es tio n of Eg yp t’s
ho w er e th e Eg yp tia n
‘s be gi nn in gs , w e fin i
D yn as ty . Th is fa ct h
en se di ct at es th at if I
or ig in at ed
el se w he re
fi rs t D yn as ty , un de r
A pa rt fro m
th qu es tio n as to
‘4 re vi ew in g Eg yp t
fro m th e ea rli es k
ag es . C om m on
za tio n m us t h a
w ha t w e ca ll th e
ch ro no lo gy , th er e re m ai ns
th e in tr ig ui n
an d fro m w he re di d th ey or ig in at e?
Ip I a n ad va nc ed ci vi liz at io n al re ad y in ta jt
.s pe rp le xe d hi st or ia ns do w n th ro ug h th
•g yp t be ga n fu lly
m at ur e, th en
its ci vi l,
“W e fin d w he n w e di sc ov er Eg yp t ii
M en es , th at it is at its ab so lu te ze ni th df
12 2
Eg yp tR ev isi ted
I C ha nd le r
12 3
cu ltu re in pa in tin g, sc ul pt ur e, ar ch ite ct ur e. Fr om
th is pe ak pe rio d, th e Eg yp tia n
cu ltu re st ea di ly de cl in es . It is ve ry m uc h as if th e Eg yp tia ns fo un d th em se lv es th e
in he rit or s of
a gr ea t re ad y- m ad e cu ltu re of w hi ch
th ey co ul d ta ke ad va nt ag e,
w hi ch
th ey
co ul d ut ili ze
an d ev en
to so m e de gr ee em ul at e, bu t w hi ch
th ey
th em se lv es di d no tc re at e
. .
. Th is ve ry st ro ng ly su gg es ts th at it dr ew
its gr ea t
ne ss fro m
a so ur ce hi gh er th an its el f
. “
Jn 19 62
a ne w di sc ov er y oc cu rr ed w hi ch sh ed so m e lig ht on
th is pu zz le . A n
ex ca va tio n te am
he ad ed
by K ei th C. Se el e, th en D ire ct or of th e U ni ve rs ity
of C hi ca go ’s O rie nt al In st itu te , ha d se t ou t to sa lv ag e an ci en t re m ai ns
in N ub ia
w hi ch w er e in da ng er of ris in g flo od w at er s. Th er e th ey fo un d th e bi rth pl ac e of
a ph ar ao ni c- ce nt er ed ci vi liz at io n se ve ra l ge ne ra tio ns ol de r th an th e fir st hi st or ic
Eg yp tia n dy na st y. Th er e in Q us tu l, N ub ia , pr eh is to ry
w as tra ns fo rm ed
in to
hi st or y, fo r it ha d pr ev io us ly be en be lie ve d th at ad va nc ed po lit ic al or ga ni za tio n
di d no t en te r N ub ia or an yw he re so ut h of Eg yp t fo r an ot he r 2, 50 0 ye ar s. Th is
di sc ov er y, al on g w ith
in fo rm at io n ex ca va te d fro m to m bs , pr ov ed th at Eg yp tia n
ci vi liz at io n an d cu ltu re ha d no t on ly or ig in at ed
in th e so ut h, bu t th at
in so m e
re m ot e pe rio d of an tiq ui ty th e in ha bi ta nt s of Eg yp t an d N ub ia w er e on e an d th e
sa m e. D io do ru s of Si ci ly in fo rm s us th at “t he Et hi op ia ns sa y th at th e Eg yp tia ns ar e
on e of th ei r co lo ni es w hi ch w as br ou gh t in to Eg yp tb y O si ris
. .
. Th ey ad d th at
fro m th em , as fro m th ei r au th or s an d an ce st or s, th e Eg yp tia ns ge t m os t of th ei r
la w s. It is fro m th em
th at th e Eg yp tia ns ha ve le ar ne d to ho no rk in gs an d go ds an d
bu ry th em
w ith
su ch po m p; sc ul pt ur e an d w rit in g w er e in ve nt ed
by th e E th io
pi an s. Th e Et hi op ia ns ci te ev id en ce th at th ey ar e m or e an ci en tt ha t t he Eg yp tia ns ,
bu t it is us el es s to re po rt th at he re .” ‘
\ A t th is ju nc tu re , w e sh ou ld ex pl or e m or e de ep ly in to th e na tu re of th e E th i
op ia ns
w ho em ig ra te d to Eg yp t. Fi rs t w e m us t cl ar ify
so m e te rm in ol og y. Th e
w or d “E th io pi an ” is G re ek , st em m in g fro m th e w or ds “a ith ei n” w hi ch m ea ns to
bu rn , an d “o ps ” w hi ch m ea ns fa ce . Th er ef or e th e te rm
bu rn t fa ce or Et hi op ia n
w as ap pl ie d ve ry br oa dl y to al l bl ac k pe op le s w ho
in ha bi te d A fr ic a an d A sia .
Th e bl ac ks of an ci en t Et hi op ia re fe rr ed
to th em se lv es as th e A nu . W he n O sir is
br ou gh t fo rth
th is ex od us ou to f E th io pi a in to E gy pt w e m us ts ur et y re m em be r
th at th e te rm
Eg yp t di d no t ex is t, fo r it to o is G re ek . Th ou gh
th e an ci en t
Eg yp tia ns ca lle d th ei r la nd K he m , K em it, or K m t, (w hi ch
m ea ns bl ac k in th ei r
la ng ua ge or la nd of th e bl ac ks ) ne ve r d id th os e bl ac ks of th e O ld K in gd om
re fr ai n
fr om
id en tif yi ng th em se lv es w ith
th e A nu .
‘ .
A bb e Em ile A m el in ea u (1 85 0- 19 16 ) is cr ed ite d w ith
th e di sc ov er y of th e A nu
;9 àç d th ei r co nt rib ut io n to Eg yp tia n ci vi liz at io n. 18
It w as A m el in ea u w ho de si g
n e d th e fir st bl ac k ra ce
to oc cu py
Eg yp t as th e A nu . H e fo llo w ed th ei r pa th
al 6n g th e N ile , an d re ve al ed th at th ey bu ilt th e ci tie s of Es ne h, Er m en t, Q ou ch ,
an d H el io po lis . A cc or di ng
to A m el in ea u, “A ll th os e ci tie s ha ve th e ch ar ac te ris tic
sy m bo l w hi ch se rv es
to de no te th e na m e A nu .”
9 C iti ng ev id en ce un co ve re d in
B as al t st at ue
of pr e- dy na st ic fig ur e
ad or ne d w ith
a fa sc be ar d, w hi ch la te r
be ca m e a ph ar ao n sy m bo l, an d a pe ni s
sh ea th . C ou rte sy
o W ay ne C ha nd le r an d
G ay ne !! C at he rin e
12 4
Eg yp tR ev isi te d
i C ha nd le r
12 5
Pr e- dy na st ic st at ue tte
of a w om an fr om
th e Te m pl e at H ie ra ko np ol is . Co ur te sy
of W ay ne C ha nd le r an d G ay ne ll C at he r
in e.
hi s ex ca va tio ç he co nt in ue s: “T he s
on a la rg e s le
al on g th e N ile , s
de fe ns iv e pu ro se s.
To th is pe op le
m os t an ci en t gy pt ia n bo ok s, Th e
am id s, co ns eq 1u en tly , all th e m yt hs
th e ph ilo so ph al sy st em s th en
kn ox
kn ew
th e cr at s ne ce ss ar y fo r an y
th os e tra de s rq ui re d. Th ey kn ew
h at te m pt s at w ti ng , fo r th e w ho le E
th e gr ea t H er rie s, an A nu
lik e O si r
Th e Bo ok of (i e D ea d an d in th e
al re ad y kn ew
th e pr in ci pa l ar ts ; it
to m bs at A by os , es pe ci al ly th e to
ha ve be en fo d be ar in g th e un m is t
iv or y, or th e l1 ttl e he ad of
a N ub ia n
th e sm al l w oo
en or iv or y re ce pt ac l1
O fc ou rs e, if th e Eg yp tia ns w er e
al so be bl ac k. A nc ie nt w rit er s as w
co nf irm
th is. Th e an ci en t te st im on i
w ith
th e dy na ic Eg yp tia ns an d re pr
hi st or ia ns , an 4 Eg yp to lo gi st s of th e
19 16 ) su m m ai liz es ho w th e w rit er s
“B y th e al m ot un an im ou s te st im on
N eg ro ra ce
w hi ch
fir st se ttl ed
in Et
co ur se of th e riv er , th ey
gr ad ua lly
Co un t C on st a tin
de V ol ne y w as
in w er e ch ar ac te ist ic du rin g hi s tim e.
ye ar
17 83
(th sla ve
tra de
w as
at i
A fri ca n ra ce l at w ou ld fo re ve r ch a
ha ve
a bl oa te d fa ce , pu ff ed
up ey es ,
at tri bu te
it to th e cl im at e, bu t w he n
I th e ke y to th e id dl e. O n se ei ng
th at
re m em be re d
t e re m ar ka bl e pa ss ag e
‘A s fo r m e,
I j Ug e th e C oi ch ia ns to
th em , th ey ar e bl ac k w ith
w oo le y h
tia ns w er e tru
N eg ro es of th e sa m e
th in k th at th is
ac e of bl ac k m en , to
is th e ve ry ra c
to w hi ch
w e ow e ou i
Ju st im ag in e.
in al ly , th at
it is in th t
gr ea te st fr ie nd
of lib er ty an d hu m ai
ro us sl av er y ai d qu es tio ne d w he th e
w hi te s! ”2 2 T h:
pr of ou nd
re ve la tio nA nu w er e ag ric u1 tu ra pe op le ,r ai si ng
c til e
Iu tti ng
th em se lv es
up in w al le d cit ies 1 fo r
w e ca n at tri bu te w ith ou t f ea r of er ro ri th e
oo k of Th e D ea d an d th e Te xt of th e P yr
rr el ig io us te ac hi ng s.
Iw ou ld ad d al m ot al l
‘n an d sti ll ca lle d Eg yp tia n. Th ey ev id en tly
iv ili za tio n an d w er e fa m ili ar w ith
th e t ol s
w to us e m et al s
. .
. Th ey m ad e th e ea r le st
yp tia n tra di tio n at tri bu te s th is ar t to Th
th , j
s, w ho
is ca lle d O ni an
in ch ap te r fif te e of
‘x ts of th e P ra m id s. C er ta in ly th e pe op le
ef t pr oo f of th is
in th e ar ch ite ct ur e of1 th e
b of O si ris , an d in th os e se pu lc he rs ob jc ts
ka bl e st am p of th ei ro ig in — su ch
as ca rv ed
gi rl fo un d in a to m b ne ar th at of O si ris , or
es in th e fo rm
of a fe lin e he ad
20
n u pe op le , lik e th e Et hi op ia ns , th ey w ou ld
ll as m od er n on es , led
of co ur se by D io p,
in cl ud e w rit er s w ho
w er e co nt em po ra ry
bs en t so m e of th e m os t re sp ec te d ex p] or er s,
la st 2, 00 0 ye ar s. G as to n M as pe ro (1 84 6-
f an tiq ui ty vi ew ed
th e an ci en t Eg yp tia ns .
y of an ci en t hi st or ia ns , th ey be lo ng ed
to a
hi op ia , on
th e M id dl e N ile : fo llo w in g th e
re ac he d th e se a
21 A no th er sc ho la r,
th ue d w ith
all th e ra ci al pr ej ud ic es w hi ch
Em ba rk in g up on
a so jo ur n to Eg yp t in th e
ts ze ni th ) he
m ad e a di sc ov er y ab ou t th e
ig e hi s ou tlo ok : “ .
. . all
[th e in ha bi ta nt s]
fla t no se , th ic k lip s;
. . I w as te m pt e to
vi si te d th e Sp hi nx , its ap pe ar an ce ga ve m e
he ad , ty pi ca lly
N eg ro
in all
its fe at ur e.
I w he re H er od ot us
[5 th ce nt ur y B .C .] sy s:
be a co lo ny of th e Eg yp tia ns be ca us e, lik e
ir. .
. .‘ In ot he r w or ds , th e an ci en t E gy p
ty pe
as all na tiv e- bo rn A fr ic an s
. .
. Ju st
lay ou r sla ve s an d th e ob je ct of ou r sc cr n,
ar ts , sc ie nc es an d ev en th e us e of sp ee h!
m id st of pe op le s w ho
ca ll th em se lv es he
1i ty th at on e ha s ap pr ov ed
th e m os t ba rb a
bl ac k m en
ha ve
th e sa m e in te lli ge nc e as
is all
th e m or e re m ar ka bl e fo r on e p rv i
_c :’_ ••_ _
12 6
Eg yp tR ev isi ted
ou sly
in fli ct ed w ith
th e vi ru s of ra ci sm . Fi na tly th is is al ls ub st an tia te d in th e tex t
‘A C om pa ra tiv e st ud y of R ac ia lA na ly si s” by B .K . C ha tte rje e an d G .D . K um ar .
Th ey co m pa re d th e m ea n va lu es of di ff er en t cr an ia l, fa ci al , na sa l, an d or bi ta l
m ea su rm en ts of sk ul ls re la te d to va rio us ar ea s an d pe rio ds of Eg yp tia n ci vi liz a
tio n. C ra ni um
m at er ia l w as an al yz ed fro m th e pr e- hi st or ic sit es of Eg yp tN aq ad a
II, Eg yp tB ad ar i, pl us N ub ia A rib a, an d w er e th en co m pa re d w ith sk ul ls fro m th e
Tw el fth
an d Th irt ee nt h D yn as tie s an d Sa qq ar a, (O ld K in gd om ). Th e ar ch ae ol
og is ts fo un d th at all of th es e sk ul ls in re sp ec t to “l on g he ad , br oa d fa ce , lo w
or bi t, an d br oa d na sa l ap er tu re ha ve
th e ch ar ac te ris tic
fe at ur es of th e N eg ro id
ty pe ”. 23
II I. T he M en B ef or e th e Fi rs t D yn as ty
“M yt hs ar e th in gs w hi ch ne ve r ha pp en
bu t al w av c ar e
— Sa lu sti us
In Eg yp tia n hi st or y O si ris
w as en sh rin ed
as a go d,
a le ge nd
or m yt h. if yo u
w ill . Bu ti n al la ct ua lit y he ex is te d as
a hi st or ic al fig ur e as di d M en es , an d m an y
of th e ot he r ki ng s of th e O ld K in gd om , w ho
fo un d th ei r w ay
to im m or ta lit y
th ro ug h de ifi ca tio n. Eg yp to lo gi st H ei nr ic h B ru gs ch no te s “F re qu en t m en tio n is
m ad e in th e ol d re co rd s of ro ya l go ds , as of re al pe rs on ag es . B es id es th e na m e
of th ei r dy na st y th ey ha ve
a se co nd
na m e of ho no r, an d, ju st lik e th e Ph ar ao hs ,
th ey be ar re sp ec tiv el y th e au th en tic tit le un de r w hi ch th e go d Te hu ti [T ho th i, th e
sa cr ed sc rib e of th e go ds , re gi st er ed ea ch of th em
in th e ‘B oo k of K in gs ,’ at th e
co m m an d of th e su n go d, Ra . Th ey
ha ve
th ei r in di vi du al hi st or y, w hi ch
th e
sc rib es w ro te do w n in th e te m pl e bo ok s; th ey m ar rie d ro ya l br id es , an d be ga t a
ve ry nu m er ou s po st er ity ”. 24
Th e pa rt O si ris
pl ay ed
in Eg yp tia n hi st or y is ob
sc ur e. O ut si de of w ha t le ge nd
ha s be qu ea th ed
us , w e kn ow
th at he w as pa rt of
a tri ad w hi ch in cl ud ed
hi s sp ou se Is is, an d so n H or us , al lo f w ho m w er e de ifi ed
du rin g a la te r pe rio d. A no th er em in en t fig ur e w ho
pl ay ed
a pr om in en t ro le
du rin g th is er a w as Th ot h, or H er m es as he w as kn ow n to th e G re ek s.
Eg yp t’s gr ea te st M as te rs ,O si ris , H er m es ,I sis , an d H or us all be lo ng ed
to “t he
ol d ra ce ”, th e bl ac k A nu .I tw as th ro ug h th es e so ve re ig n ru le rs th at th e ve ry co re
of Eg yp tia n ph ilo so ph y an d sc ie nc e (in
all of its as pe ct s) w as cr ea te d an d m ai n
ta in ed . Ea ch of th es e gr ea ti nd iv id ua ls pl ay ed
a pa rti cu la rr ol e in no to nl y Eg yp t’s
hi st or y, bu tt he hi st or ie s of m an y na tio ns w hi ch w er e to la te r ar is e. W e ha ve
no t
th e tim e or sp ac e to in cl ud e th e hi st or y an d le ge nd s w hi ch
ac co m pa ny
th es e
de iti es , bu t a br ie f ov er vi ew
is ap pr op ria te .
O nc e ag ai n w e m us tt ur n to A m el in ea u fo r it w as he th at di sc ov er ed th e to m b
\o f O si ris
at A by do s. B ec au se of th is di sc ov er y O si ris
co ul d no lo ng er be co n
\s id er ed
a m yt hi ca l he ro . Th e m ag ni tu de of th is di sc ov er y ca nn ot
be st re ss ed
Pr ot o- dy na sti c lif e- ze d fig ur e of O sir is, fr m A by do s. C ou rte sy of W ay ne C ha nd le r
no ug h. A no th er in cr ed ib le fin d m ay al so be at tri bu te d to A m el in ea u, th e di s-
an d G ay ne t! C at he ri ze .
C
B
I
C.
13 0
Eg yp t R ev is ite d
C ha nd le r
13 1
co ve ry of
th e ha d of O si ris . Fo un d
A m el in ea u sa ys
“I m ys el f ha ve
fo ui
ex ca va tio ns w hi h cu lm in at ed
in th e
sh rin e w he re th e sk ul lo ft he go d Ib el i
th e sc ie nt is tt ha ti e w as he so ug ht to v
in th e M us eu m
pf Le id en , he fo un d ft
w as pr es er ve d all A by do s, a pl ac e de si
of A by do s” .
A m el in ea u m
m ay ha ve fo un d
I co nf irm at io n.
TI Eu ge ne R ev ill ou
Re vi lfo ur ve rif ie
he ad as be in g lo
la nc e. In br ie f,
an d im m or ta lit y
cr ea tio n, be ca m
es ta bl is he d a co
em ba rk ed on jo
sp ou se Is is ni le
Se th , as he
w as
O sir is. H av in g l
W he n is is le ar n
th e ro ya lc h il d r
fo ug ht Se th se ve
fa th er , m ot he r,
kn ow n of th em
Eg yp t. so n of Sá
an d pe rs on ifi ed
th e la nd of K he t
M ad on na . H or u
is ca lle d th e “l o’
of th e w or ld ,b ei
of hi s fa th er , th
tio ns . By
hi m th
Th ot h, Th ot ,
pe rs on ag e of
th m at io n ab ou t hi s
of Eg yp t ha ve
h co nc is e.
H e w a
m ea ns “t he th rl
M A ST ER
of M
in a ja r in th e ne cr op ol is of A by do s,
id ot he r sh rin es du rin g th e pr el im in ar y
ro ya l ne cr op ol is , be fo re un ea rth in g th e
ve d Ih ad fo un d w as pr es er ve d. ”2 5 B ei ng
rif y hi s fin di ng . R ef er rin g to th e pa py ru s
at it ex pr es sl y st at ed th at th e go d’ s he ad
na te d on th e pa py ru s as “t he ne cr op ot is
lm ed
w ith
ex ci te m en t. Th e fa ct th at he
iu m bi ng . St ill un ce rta in he so ug ht fu rth er
n in de m ot ic so
he co nf er re d w ith
on e
th e fie ld of an ci en tl an gu ag es an d sc ri pt .
cu m en ta nd th e fa ct th it it m en tio ne d tik
pr ov ed
to be
a di sc ov er y of gr ea t im po r
Le st ha t he w as th e go d of tra ns fo rm at iU n
or id (d ea th ). In lif e he
w as th e lo rd
ug ht th e pe op le sc ie nc e, hu sb an dr y, an d
ia de
Eg yp t pe ac ef ul
an d pr os pe ro us
he na tio ns of th e w or ld . In hi s ab se nc e hi s
28 th ye ar of hi s re ig n Ty ph on , Se t, pr
A so , th e Q ue en of Et hi op ia , to m ur de r
ed th e ki ng do m w ou ld fa ll in to di sa rr a’ .
la m en ta tio ns w er e so te rr ib le th at on e of
)s iri s w as av en ge d by hi s so n H or us w ho
mU H or us , co m pr is e th e di vi ne Tr in ity of
pu re ly al le go ric al an d sy m bo lic . W ha t Is
ve ry lit tle . O si ris w as th e gr ea te st go d of
ca rn at io n, et c. Is is is th e V irg in M ot he r,
d as th e w om an cl ot he d w ith
th e Su n of
H or us fo rm
th e fir st an d or ig in al B la ck
e lin e of di vi ne so ve re ig ns of Eg yp t. H e
)e lo ve d of th e Su n” . Ke
is th e su bj ug at or
) of th e w or ld .H or us
is al so th e su bs ta nc e
de at h an d tim e— th e m at er ia l m an if es ta
th at w hi ch
it co nt ai ns .
kn ow n to th e G re ek s is th e la st di vi ne
A nu . M uc h lik e O si ris , hi st or ic al in fo r
el y sc ar ce . Bu tw ha t th e an ci en t te m pl es
bo ut hi m fo r th e m os t pa rt is cl ea r an d
iri us Tr is m eg is tu s by
th e G re ek s w hi ch
gr ea t” ; “t he
gr ea te st gr ea t”
an d
e m ay at tri bu te w rit in g, m ed ic in e, ch en
st ha ve
be en ov er w h
he he ad of O si ris w as
e pa py ru s w as
W rit tf
w ho w as an ex pe rt in
I t he va lid ity of th e dc
:a te d at A by do s. Th is
ie le ge nd of O si ris
sta K in g of th e ot he r
ki ng of Eg yp t an d t
le of ta w s. H av in g r
rn ey s to in st ru ct ot he
th e ki ng do m . O n th
kn ow n, pl ot te d w ith
ne th is th ey th en ho
U of O sir is’ de at h, he
di ed of fr ig ht . La te r
al tim es , O si ris ,i si s,
so n. Th ei r st or y is
is to ric al ly am ou nt s to
ur n, ce le st ia lf ire , re i
at ur e. Sh e is de sc rib
ni . To ge th er Is is an d
w as ne xt to la st in ti
ed of he av en ” an d “I
g bo rn fro m th e w om
is, be in g re la te d to
w or ld
is ju dg ed
by r H er m es
as he w a
an ci en t pr e- dy na st ic
pe rs on al lif e is ex tre r
ee n ab le to di vu lg e
ca lle d H er m es
M ec
e gr ea t” “t he
gr ea t
LS TE RS ”. To Th ot h
7
Is is an d H or us , Sa ite Pe ri od . C ou rte sy of W ay ne C ha nd le r an d G ay ne lt C at he rin e.
1 ,
“: -‘ ç.
‘ -
.4 -
— -
- -
- —
. 5 , . . , . c . l
‘ % ‘
.4 %
, . . 5
. 4
‘ . 4
4
4-f t
— ‘.4
. ‘f t
% :,
f t
r - ,
‘ . 4 ,
-3 ’
15 0
Eg yp t Re vi sit ed
9 -
‘. 4
S . •
4 $ 4 ,
‘ 1
‘ - 5
- - c’ t.
. 5
;.4 ’
.4 ,
, f t .
4 ft .
t. ‘ ‘ ‘ . 4
a , , ’
• . 5 . .
.5 .4 .
5, ‘ , , 9
1 ‘ 1 ’ ,
“ 4 - ’ ‘ ‘
- .
—
‘ ‘ : ‘
—
— - .
• , : ‘
‘4 -
* : ‘
4 ’
‘
—
- . 4 ’
‘1 .
3 5
*
4* ‘ % , “ ,
“ ‘ ‘ l
5 4
; “ : “ t
5% .
S ,.. r-
- , —
.5
I .3 .4 ,,
.4
.4 .
.3 ,,
4 - 4 -
b .—
‘
f t5 .-
: .5 ,,
.
-s ’
- ‘
“ 4 .
-. 4 -
‘5
.4 ‘ 5 t1 _ ‘ . .
. ‘ S : ’ , 5 . ,
.4 .
4 - - —
- — . 4
.4 ’
.4 .4 “ 1
‘ ‘
‘ ‘
.4 .4
“ ft
. 4 - % ;
4 .
‘ ‘. 4%
: .: \ ‘
, ,
.“ - ‘ % ,- * .. 4 -
.4 .
ft .
7’ .,,
5 ,
.4 5
, . 4 , ,
,, ,, -, ,1 ’ 1 ’
‘S ’
• 4% z,
‘ 5
5 I
‘4
;f’ 4%
-
r’V %
7 ¶ 1 .. ,. * % . , _ . 4 ,
‘N ’..
‘ -
. 4 . -
sH .’ -
, 2 ’ , ‘ ‘
I --
t 4 % • ’ ’ ’ . 4
• .
1:. ‘ \ 3 .
- ‘
.4 .4
. 4 . ’ - . . , 4 .
, .4
5 .4
‘ ‘k
‘L .r
‘ 4- .
‘ . 5
, -\
.4
“ ‘ ‘ :
“4 -
: , ‘
.4 .4
Ph ot og ra ph sh ow in g th e op tic ia n’ s se am
of tw o ad jo in in g ca si ng bl oc ks ; co in w hi ch
st ra dd le s th e se am
is eq ui va le nt in siz e to a U S qu ar te r. C ou rte sy of W ay ne C ha nd le r
an d G ay ne ll C at he rin e.
id of K ha fr e w hi cl in di ca te s th e im m en se nu m be r of st on e ne ce s
. C ou rte sy
o W ay ne C ha nd le r an d G ay ne ll C at he rin e.
—
0)0)
z -e
0) = C C)
— U . C
= CO C) j— EC
LI,
15 4
Eg yp tR ev isi ted
m ou nt ai ns of st on e w er e ra is ed . Th e le ge nd
st at es th at af te r th e st on es
w er e
qu ar rie d th ey
w er e la id on
sh ee ts of m et al in sc rib ed
w ith
sy m bo ls an d flo at ed
al on g ro ad s al so in sc rib ed w ith sy m bo ls .T he hi gh pr ie st s w ho al on e he ld th e ke y
to th is sc ie nc e, w ou ld st rik e ea ch sh ee t o f m et al w ith
a vi br at in g ro d of sp ec ifi c
le ng th . Th is
in tu rn w ou ld ca us e th e sh ee ts to vi br at e an d w ou ld th en
lif t th e
st on es
in to th e ai r by
th ei r ow n po w er an d tra ns po rt th em
do w n th e ro ad
a
di st an ce w hi ch
w as eq ui va le nt to on e bo w sh ot of an ar ro w . O f co ur se w ha t is
be in g de sc rib ed he re is th e te ch ni qu e of le vi ta tio n an d of co ur se w e kn ow
th is is
to ta lly
ab su rd , or do
w e?
W ith
th es e pe rp le xi ng
iss ue s se ttl ed , le t us re tu rn
to th e dy na st ic su cc es si on .
Th e ad ve nt of th e Th ird
D yn as ty br ou gh t c ha ng es to th e O ld K in gd om
ci rc a 26 39
B .C . Th e ca pi to l w as sh ift ed fro m Ti ni to M em ph is co nc ur re nt w ith
th e fir st of
th e M em ph ite
D yn as tie s. M on um en ta l st ru ct ur es w er e bl ue pr in te d an d m ad e
re ad y fo r co ns tru ct io n:
it w as th e er a of th e py ra m id bu ild er s, it w as th e tim e of
D jo se r. D jo se r. (p ro no un ce d Zo se r) w as th e fir st gr ea t ru le r of th e Th ird D y
\n as ty . D jo se r, or N et er ik he t a s he w as kn ow n in hi s lif et im e, as ce nd ed th e th ro ne
un de r th e au sp ic es of hi s pa re nt s Q ue en N em at ha p an d K in g K ha se kh em ui . th e
]la st ru le rs of th e Se co nd
D yn as ty . H e ac co m pl is he d m uc h in hi s ni ne te en
ye ar s
as ki ng . H e fir st es ta bl is he d a fir m M em ph ite su pr em ac y, th en
he co nt in ue d th e
ex pl oi ta tio n of th e co pp er m in es
in th e Si na i, w hi le in th e so ut h he ex te nd ed
hi s
fr on tie r to th e fir st ca ta ra ct . D jo se r’ s re ig n m ar ke d th e be gi nn in g of ex te ns iv e
bu ild in g in sto ne an d it is he re th at hi s st or y re al ly be gi ns . It is kn ow n all to o w el l
th at D jo se r’ s su cc es s is du e in pa rt to
a gr ea t w ise
m an w ho be ca m e D jo se r’ s
ch ie f ad vi so r. H is na m e w as lrn ho te p. di vi ne pr ie st of th e Th ird
D yn as ty .
A ke y fig ur e in Eg yp tia n hi st or y, Im ho te p w as G od
of m ed ic in e, pr in ce of
pe ac e.
an d th e fir st C hr is t-f ig ur e. K no w n as
he R EA L Fa th er of M ed ic in e.
Im ho te p is th e fir st ph ys ic ia n to sta nd ou tc te ar ly
in th e an na ls of an tiq ui ty . Li ttl e
is kn ow n ab ou t hi s pe rs on al lif e: hi s fa th er w as an ar ch ite ct na m ed K an of er : hi s
.n o th e r w as K hr ed uo nk h; an d hi s w ife R on fr en of er t. H ow ev er , hi s pr of es si on al
• \c hi ev em en ts be ca m e le ge nd ar y. Im ho te p is sa id to ha ve tre at ed
m or e th an
20 0
4i se as es , am on g th em
fif te en di se as es of th e ab do m en ,e le ve n of th e bl ad de r, te n
of th e re ct um , tw en ty ni ne of th e ey es , an d ei gh te en of th e sk in . H e. as w el l as
ot he r ph ys ic ia ns
in Eg yp t, w er e le ar ne d in th e sc ie nc e of fa ci al an al ys is , w hi ch
al lo w s a tra in ed
ph ys ic ia n to de te ct
a m al ad y th ro ug h sh ap e. co nd iti on , an d
co m pl ex io n of th e pa tie nt ’s fe at ur es . Im ho te p kn ew
of th e ci rc ul at io n of th e
bl oo d 4, 00 0 ye ar s be fo re
it w as kn ow n in Eu ro pe . H e w as w or sh ip pe d as
a go d
fo r th e ne xt 30 00
ye ar s; fir st as
a m ed ic al de m i-g od . fro m 26 50
B .C . to 52 5
B .C ., an d th en
as a co m pl et e de ity , fro m 52 5 B .C .- 55 0 A .D . B re as te d sa id of
lm ho te p, “I n pr ie st ly w is do m , in m ag ic , in th e fo rm ul at io n of w ise
pr ov er bs : in
m ed ic in e an d ar ch ite ct ur e; th is re m ar ka bl e fi ur e of Zo se r’ s re ig n le ft so no ta bl e
D io se r, K in g of h e T hi rd D yn as ty , hi lt at or of th e St ep Py ra m id , ci rc a 26 35 B .C .
C ou rte sy of
W av e e C ha nd le r an d G ay ne
IC at he ri ne .
a re pu ta tio n th at hi s na m e w as ne ve r fo rg ot te n
50 0 ye ar s af te rh is de at h he
ha d be co m e a go d of m ed ic in e in w ho m th e G re ek s. w ho ca lle d hi m Im ou th es .
18 0
Eg yp t R ev is ite d
hi st or y, sc ie nc e, ph ilo so ph y, la w , m ys tic is m , a nd th e ea rth
in ge ne ra l, an d te lli ng
th em
th at th e py ra m id s w er e bu ilt by le vi ta tio n. H e w ou ld ha ve be en bu rn ed
in th e sa m e fa sh io n th at th ey bu rn ed Py th ag or as — as
a w ar lo ck !
I do
no t w ish
to ta ke an yt hi ng
aw ay fro m m an ’s m or e re ce nt ac hi ev em en ts .
W ha t w e’ ve ac co m pl is he d is as to un di ng : ab un da nt el ec tro ni c ga dg et ry . am ph ib
io us au to m ob ile s, la se r b ea m su rg er y, co m m un ic at io ns vi a sa te lli te , w al ks on th e
m oo n, fli gh ts fa st er th an
th e sp ee d of so un d. Bu t in all of m od er n m an ’s cr e
at io ns , he ha s ye t to bu ild
a sin gl e py ra m id !! Th e tru th of th e m at te r is th at w e
do no t po ss es s th e m ac hi ne ry or te ch ni ca l sk ill at pr es en t to ac co m pl is h su ch
a fe at . Th us
I l ea ve yo u w ith
th is th ou gh t:
th e f ar th er ba ck
yo u lo ok , th ef ur th er
fo rs va rd yo u’ ll be ab le to se e
N ot es
I. R an da ll St ev en s, O sir i.s — Th e Bo ok of Tr ut h, (L on do n: Th e C am el ot Pr es s Lt d. . 19 76 ). pg . 11 5
2. C he ik h A nt a D io p. Th e A fr ic an O rig in of C h’ ili at io n M yt h or R ea lit y. (W es tp or t: La w re nc e
H ill & C om pa ny . 19 74 ), p. xi v
3. E. A . B ud ge , H is to ry of Eg yp t. (N ew
Y or k: D ov er Pu bl ic at io ns . In c. 19 12 ) pp . 11 3- 11 4.
4. P. R .S . M oo re y, A nc ie nt Eg yp t, (O xf or d: A sh m ol ea n M us eu m Pu bl ic at io ns , 19 88 ). p.
7 5. W al lis B ud ge . H is to ry of Eg yp t, (N ew
Y or k: D ov er Pu bl ic at io ns . In c. . 19 12 ) pg . 12 5
6. C he ik h A nt a D io p, Th e A fr ic an O rig in cf C iv ili za tio n: M yt h or R ea lit y. (W es tp or t: La w re nc e
H ill an d C om pa ny , 19 55 ). p. 22
7. D io p, O p C it. , p.
10 5
8. C he ik h A nt a D io p. Th e A fr ic an O rig in of Ci vi Ii: ci rio n M yt h or R ea lit y, (W es tp or t: La w re nc e
H ill
& C om pa ny , 19 74 ), p.
10 5
9. H er od ot us . Th e H is to rie s, (H ar rn on ds w or th , M id dl es ex . U K. Pe ng ui n B oo ks . 98 3) . pg . 13 1
10 . D ru si lla
D un je e H ou st on , lV on de rfi il Et hi op ia ns of th e A nc ie nt Cu .sh ite Em pi re . (B al tim or e:
B la ck C la ss ic Pr es s) . 19 85 , pp . 70 -7 1
II . Ib id .. p.
I 12 . H er od ot us , Th e H is to rie s, (H ar m on ds w or th , M id dl es ex , U .K . Pe ng ui n B oo ks , 19 83 ), pg .
13 1 1 3. Ib id ., p.
13 3
14 . Jo hn
H. Ev er ar d. Tr an sl at or . Th e D iv in e Py m an de r (L os A ng el es . C al ifo rn ia : W iz ar d B oo ks )
19 68 p. 9
15 . D ru si lla
D un je e H ou st on . W on de rfu l Et hi op ia ns of th e A nc ie nt Cu .v hi te Em pi re . (B al tim or e.
B la ck C la ss ic Pr es s, 19 85 ), p. 67
16 . Ja la nd ris , Th e H al l of R ec or ds : Th e H id de n Se cr et .s
/.t he Py ra m id is ,d Sp hi n. s, (S ar i Fr an
ci sc o: H ol is tic
Li fe Tr av el s, p. 19 80 ) p. 4
17 . D io p, O p C it. , pp . 1- 2
18 . A m el in ea u w as
a gr ea t Eg yp to lo gi st an d ar ch ae ol og is t. H e ex ca va te d at O m El ’G aa h. ne ar
A by do s, an d di sc ov er ed
a ro ya l ne cr op ol is w he re he w as ab le to id en tif y th e na m es of si xt ee n ki ng s
m or e an ci en t th an M en es . H e di sc ov er ed
fo ur ro ya l to m bs of th e ki ng s K a. D en , th e Se rp en t K in g
D je t, an d on e ki ng
w ho re m ai ns un id en tif ie d.
19 . A bb e Em ile A m el in ea u, N ou re Ils
Fm iii Ie s d’ A by dc ss . (P ar is , Pa ris Pr es s. 18 99 ), pp . 24 8
20 . Ib id .. p. 24 7
21 . G as to n M as pe ro . Th e D un n of C irt hz ar io n. (N ew
Y or k, Fr ed er ic k 1.J ng er Pr es s. 19 68 ), p.
15 22 . D io p, O p C it. , p. 27
23 . B K . C ha tte rje e an d G .D . K um ar , C om pa ra tiv e St ud y an d R ac ia l A na ly si s of
th e H um an
13 0
r B ru gs ch . Eg )p t un de r th e
B ru gs ch . Eg yp t un de r th e
D un je e H ou st on , W on de rf
3r es s) , 19 85 , p. 85
ud ge , O si ris an d th e Eg vg
[X u dg e, O si ris an d th e Eg vj
R em ai ns of m d s V al le y C iv ili za tio n. (C al
24 . H ei nr ic l B ru gs ch , Eg yp t un de r th e
25 . Ib id .,
p4 15 8
26 . C yr il A l re d, Eg yp tia n A rt, (N ew
27 . L. A. W rd de ll, Eg yp tia n C iv ili za tio r
C al ifo rn ia : C hr st ia n B oo k C lu b, 19 26 ), p.
28 . C ol lo uc
B at ta , Th e H is to ry of m di i
of th e te rm s us :. d by B at ta is in or de r. A ry a
na m e of C ai ro i
29 . H ei nr ic B ru gs ch -B ey , Eg yp t un de r
30 . H er od ot js . Th e H is to rie s, (H ar m on
31 . A . R os zl ie D av id . Ti re M ak in g of .
E is ev ie r- Ph ai dn , 19 75 ). pp . 13 -1 4
32 . G er al d M as se y. Bo ok of B eg in nr ng
33 . A le xa nr e M or et , Le til le tl en ci vi lls
Th e A fri ca n O ni gi tr of C iri liz at io n: M vi ii or
p. 97 3 4. C he ik h A nt a D io p. Th e A fr ic an O n
H ill
& C om pa ny . 19 74 ), p. 78
35 . H er od o us . Th e H is to rie s, (H ar m o
36 . H ei nr ic
37 . H ei nr ic
38 . D ru si ll
B la ck C la ss ic
39 . W al lis
19 68 ) Pr ef ac eh
40 . W al li s
19 68 ) Pr ef ac e IX
41 . C. P.
B 42 . Jo hn
H 19 68 . pg . 63
43 . H ei nr ic
B ru gs ch . Eg yp t un de r tb
44 . H ei nr i B ru gs ch , Eg yp t un de r th
45 . Pr of es or H .S . Sm ith
an d M is s Ro
Fo re st: Th e K ns al Pr es s) 19 83 , p. 29
46 . Fl av iu E Jo se ph us , A ga in st A pi on
Jo se ph us w as bo rn
in Je ru sa le m
in 37
A Es se ne s. Sa dd uc ee s, an d th e Ph ar is ee s, h
th e R om an s air d Je sv s he w as ap po in te d g
w as lo st.
tro n1 ica lly , he w on
fa vo r w ith
ti 47 . W ill ia ts R. Fi x, Py ra m id O dy ss ey
48 . Fl in de s Pe tri e as qu ot ed by C ha rle
A . St ra ha m ai d C o. ). 18 74 , p. 20
49 . W ill ir n R. Fi x, Py ra m id O dy ss e
50 . W ill ir n R. Fi x, Py ra m id O dv ss e3
51 . Ja m es B re as te d.
A H is to ry of
E1 11 2- 11 3
52 . H ei nr ic h B ru gs ch . Eg yp t un de r th
53 . Ja m es B re as te d,
A H is to ry of Eg y
C ha nd le r
18 1
ut ta , So l D is tri bu to rs . W . N eu m an . 19 65 ), p.
17 ‘h ar ao hs , (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) , 18 91 . p.
14
or k: O xf or d U ni ve rs ity
Pr es s) , 19 80 , p. 93 1
Its Su tti er ia n O rig in an d R ea lC hr on ol og y (H aw th or ne ,
ix ( C al cu tta : C al cu tta
Pr es s. 19 36 ). p. 27 A n ex pa na tio n
is Ir an
or Pe rs ia : B ar ria . is A ra bi a. an d M as ra , w as th e
th e Pi ra ra ah .c . (L on do n: Jo hn
M ur ra y.
18 91 ), p.
19 is w or th : Pe ng ui n C la ss ic s) p.
14 8
he Pa st : Ti re Eg yp tia n K in gd om s, (T ur nh ou t, B el gi um :
(V ol t U ni ve rs ity
B oo ks , 18 81 ). p. 27
11 10 0 eg i’p tie flf le . p. 12 2, as qu ot ed
in C hi ek h A at a D ro p.
R ea lit y. (W es tp or t: La sv re nc e H ill an d C om pa ny , 19 74 ),
gin of C iv ili za tio n M yt h or R ea lit y. (W es tp or t: La w re nc e
rd sw or th , M id dl es ex . U .K . Pe ng ui n B oo ks . 19 83 ). pg .
Pi ra ra oh s, (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) , 18 91 , p.
10 Pl ra ra oh s. (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) , 18 91 , pp . 24 -2 9
ii Et hi op ia tis of tir e A nc ie nt C us hi te Em pi re , (B al tim or e:
ia n R es ur re ct io n. (N ew
Y or k: D ov er Pu bl ic at ro n, In c. ,
lio n R es ur re ct io n, (N ew
Yo tk : D ov er Pu bl ic at io nL s. In c. ,
,o nd on : Lo nd on Pr es s) . 19 30 . Pl at e
I vi ne Py nr on de r. (L os A ng el es .C al ifo rn ia : W iz ar d
oo ks ).
Pl ra ro oh s, (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) , 18 91 , pp . ll
Ph ar ao hs , (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) . 18 91 , pp . 10 -l I
al in d M . H al l, Eg yp tia n C en te rs of C iv ili za tio n, (W in ds or
Bo ok
O ne ). (N ew
Y or k: R ei nl an d Pr es s) . l9 7 . p.
25
D . A fte r st ud yi ng
th e te ne ts of th e se ct s of Ju da is m . th e
be ca m e a Ph ar is ee . A t th e be gi nn in g of th e w ar be tw ee n
ve rn or of G al ile e. Th ou gh
he fo ug ht w ith
va lo r hi s ba ttl e
e R om an ge ne ra l an d w as gi ve n th e na m e fla vr us .
(U rb an na , V irg in ia . M er cu ry M ed ia ), 19 84 , p. 42
Sm yt h. O ur In ire rit an ce
in tir e G re at Py ra m id . (L on do n:
(U rb an na , V irg in ia : M er cu ry M ed ia ), 19 84 , p.
5 (U rb an na , V irg in ia : M er cu ry M ed ia ), 19 84 , pp . 23 0- 22
yp t, (N ew
Y or k: C ha rle s Sc rib ne r & So ns ). 19 09 , pp .
Ph ar ao hs , (L on do n: Jo hn M ur ra y) , 18 91 , pp . 32
,t , (N ew
Y or k: C ha rle s Sc rib ne r & So ns ), 19 09 , p.
11 5
Ia n,
Ti re Pa py ru s Eb er us
Ev er ar d, Tr an sl at or . Ti re D
