be observed in the passage above quoted from Syncellus, where the three orders of princes are mentioned which occurred in the Egyptian lists: Θεων, και Ημίθεων, και νεκύων, και θνητων. I make no doubt but, according to the true history, the reading was, Θεων, και Ἡμίθεων, Ἡμιθεων, και Νεχων θνητών : Gods, and Demigods, and kings who were mortals. These mortal kings are mentioned in contradistinction to the Gods and Demigods, though the latter were equally men, but were still esteemed a superior order of beings. Eusebius is very severe upon the Egyptian annals, as being full of forgeries. But in this I must, in some degree, dissent from this very learned author. For, I believe that the history of Egypt would have been found far more consistent than is imagined, if it had never been perverted by those who borrowed from it. The Grecians ruined a fine system, by blending what related to astronomy with chronology, and confounding theology with 58 history by not distinguishing between Gods and men; between reigns of kings, and revolutions in the heavens. The kings of Egypt had many names and titles. Διωνυμοι, και τριώνυμοι 59 58 Both Eusebius and Syncellus failed by trying to adapt foreign occurrences to Grecian mythology. 59 Syncellus p. 63. 60 πολλαχε των Αιγυπτίων οι Βασιλεις ἑυρηνται. The princes of the country have often two, and often three names. The Deities had still a greater variety and I have before mentioned a statue of Isis, inscribed, Isidi Myrionymæ, to Isis with a thousand names. These names and titles have been branched out into persons, and inserted in the lists of the real monarchs. Hence we find Menes, the Lunar God, with the hippopotamus stand foremost, and Osiris and Orus nearly in the same position. I have mentioned of Osiris, that he was exposed in an ark, and for a long time in a state of death. The like is said of Orus, whom Isis found floating upon the waters: also of Adonis, and Thamuz, who returned to light after the expiration of a year. We have the same history concerning Talus, or Tulus, who succeeded Orus. He is by some called Thoulus; and is said to have had a renewal of life, and to have recovered, when Cybele was in labour. 62 δ' εις δέμας ήλθε το δεύτερον, ενδομυχω τε to Gruter. p. 83. n. 11. 61 Plutarch. Isis et Osir. p. 357. 62 Nonnus. 1. 25. p. 674. Τάλως ὁ ἥλιος. Hesych. Ταλαιος· ὁ Ζευς εν Κρήτη. Ibid. Lastly, it is said of Rhameses, whom Herodotus calls Rhampsinitus, that he descended to the mansions of death; and, after some stay, returned to light. The anniversary of his return was held sacred, and observed as a festival by the Egyptians. I mention these things to shew, that the whole is one and the same history; and that all these names are titles of the same person. They have, however, been otherwise esteemed: and we find them acordingly inserted in the lists of kings; by which means the chronology of Egypt has been embarrassed greatly. Having mentioned Rhameses, and his descent. to Hades, I cannot help adding a short piece of history concerning him in that situation, in order to give another instance of Grecian sophistry, and abuse of terms. It is well known, that under the character of Damater the antients alluded to the ark, and to the supposed Genius which presided over it. This Goddess is said to have received and sheltered Rhameses in the shades below and it is further mentioned, 4 σuyxUBEVEIV 64 συγκυβεύειν 63 Ελεγον τέτον τὸν βασιλια ζωον καταβηναι κατω ες τον δι Ελληνες aidny voices a. Herodotus. 1. 2. c. 122. He is said to have ruled over the whole earth, like Zeuth, Osiris, Orus, and others. Hermapion calls him Rhamestes, Pauerns. Marcellinus. 1. 17. p. 126. See Tacitus. Annal. 1. 2. c. 60. 4 Herod. 1. 2. c. 122. Ty Anung, that he played at dice with the Goddess. The persons in the ark were represented as in a state of death, and the ark itself was looked upon as a bier or coffin, and as such commemorated in all the rites of Osiris. A coffin, or bier, seems by the Egyptians to have been styled Cuban; which term the Greeks retained, and expressed Cubas. Κυβας ̇ σορος. Hence Kubas rogos. Cubas, says Hesy chius, signifies a bier. A ship also was called Cuba, and Cubeia. But at the same time that Cubas, Cuba, and Cubea, had a reference to an ark or ship, Kubos, Cubus, signified a die; and Kuba, Cubea, had also a relation to a game. In consequence of this, the Grecians have taken the terms in a wrong acceptation; and, instead of saying, that Rhameses, during his state of confinement, was with Damater in Cuba, a ship, or ark, they have turned the whole into pastime, and made him play with her at dice. The like story is told by Plutarch of Hermes: whence 65 Καβείος, νέος Παφιοι. Hesych. It should be νεως. Cubeam maximam, triremis instar, pulcherrimam, atque ornatissimam. Cicero. Verrina 5. 17. From hence Apollo, the prophetic God, was called Cabæus. Ο κισσευς Απολλων, ὁ Καβαιος, ὁ μαντις. crob. Sat. 1. 1. c. 18. p. 200. 66 Isis et Osiris. p. 355. Eschylus apud Ma we may infer, that one of that name, for there were several, was the same person as Rhamneses. It is then, I think, manifest, that the Cuthite Shepherds composed the first dynasty of kings in Egypt: and that the Israelitish Shepherds succeeded them not long after their departure. Most of the Fathers are misled by Josephus; who supposes, in opposition to the best authority, that the whole history related to one body of people only, and that those were his ancestors. But the purport of the history given, and the very dynasties, which they have transmitted, prove the contrary. Yet they persist; and accordingly place the Exodus in the reign of "7 Amos, or Amosis; which was many years prior to the departure of the first shepherds, as will be shewn; and consequently contrary to the true order of history. Of these Shepherds we have very circumstantial accounts; though their dynasty is transmitted to us by different writers in a very confused manner. The persons, who have preserved it, are Manethon, Africanus, Eusebius, Syncellus, and Theophilus of Antioch. There is to be found a very great difference subsisting between these writers, of which at present I shall say nothing. 67 Οκτω και δεκατη δυνατεία Διοσπολίτων βασιλέων 15 ὧν Auws, eQ' ou Mwons'ežnλdev eg A ̧yuπTE. Syncellus. p. 62. 1 πρωτος |