a short, straight sword, a dagger, broad knife, falchion, battle-axe,
spear-axe, iron-headed mace, and a curved club adopted from the
Ethiopians. Their defensive arms consist of the helmet, either of
iron, bronze, brass, silver, or plaited gold, according to the rank of
the wearer; usually without a crest, and extending to the shoulders,
in a collar or hood of chain-mail, protecting the neck; they wear also
a cuirass of metal plates, or quilted with bands of polished iron, and
an ample shield, of various forms, but usually that of a funeral
tablet, or a long and narrow horseshoe. This piece of armor is the
chief defence. It is a frame covered with bull's or lion's hide, bound
with a rim of metal, and studded with iron pins. The archers wear no
bucklers, but corselets of scale-armor.
I will now end this long letter, my dear mother, and my description of
Egyptian armies, by naming the nations of which it was made up. As I
sat upon my horse by the side of the prince, surveying the marching
columns as they moved southward, I distinguished the tall,
Asiatic-looking Sharetanian by his helmet ornamented with bull's
horns, and a red ball for a crest, his round shield, and large
ear-rings--a fierce race, once the foes but now the allies of Egypt;
the bearded Tokkari from beyond the horns of the Arabian Sea, armed
with a pointed knife, and short, straight sword, with arched noses and
eagle eyes,--also once enemies of the queen, but now added to her
armies; an unknown people, with tall caps, short kilt and knife-girdle
of lion's hide, an amulet of agate on the neck of every
man--strangers, with wild, restless eyes, and fierce looks; the
swarthy Rebos, with his naked breast and shoulders, and long
two-headed javelin; the Pouonti, with faces painted with vermilion,
and cross-bows with iron-headed arrows, archers that never miss their
mark. There marched by, also, the relentless Shari, who neither ask
nor give quarter to their enemies, their masses of black hair bound up
in fillets of leather, and skull-caps of bull's hide on their heads,
whose weapons are clubs and short daggers. Other bands, differing in
costume and appearance, continued to pass, until it seemed that the
queen's army had in it representatives of all nations tributary to
Egypt.
Continuing with Remeses a day's march, I then parted from him to
return to the palace, promising, as soon as I had seen Lower Egypt, I
would ascend the Nile and meet him at Thebes.
Farewell, dearest mother; may the gods of our country preserve you in
health.
Your devoted son,
SESOSTRIS.
LETTER XII.
PALACE OF THE PHARAOHS, MEMPHIS
MY HONORED AND VERY DEAR MOTHER:
In my last letter I was particular in describing to you the armies of
Egypt, as I have not forgotten the interest you take in the discipline
of your own, nor that once you led in your chariot a battle-charge
when your kingdom was invaded by the king of the Elamites. In Egypt,
which is truly a warlike country, one cannot but be inspired by the
military spirit. Not only is she the school to all the world of
astronomy, sculpture, physic, astrology, and magic, but also of arms.
In the army, recently departed for Ethiopia, I saw many young lords
and princes and heroes, strangers, who accompany the expedition to
learn the art of war. The Egyptians are eminent in planning and
executing sieges, and few fortified towns can resist their
war-engines.
From my description in the last letter, you would suppose that Egypt
is now emptied of its soldiers. On the contrary, there is a garrison
in every city, and a fortress filled with troops in every one of the
thirty or more nomes. Besides, there are all over the country, where
the Hebrews are congregated, lesser detachments, who keep vigilant
guard over this toiling nation in bondage. The queen is also at war
with a prince of Arabia Deserta, and an army of twelve thousand men,
four hundred chariots, and a thousand horsemen, have recently marched
against him. Egypt is powerful enough to combat the combined world.
Her forces are not less than four hundred thousand trained warriors of
all arms, besides sixteen thousand chariots of iron. Power, thrift,
activity, and energy characterize Egypt. The wise, courageous, firm
rule of the queen has contributed to this. What she has brought to
such glory and perfection, Remeses, when he comes to the throne, will
preserve and perpetuate.
The mention of my noble friend reminds me that he is no longer near
me. The army has been in motion southward eight days, and he has
written to the queen, and also to me, speaking of the prosperity
attending their advance. The fleet had not kept up with the army of
foot, while the chariot legion on the east bank has gone far in
advance and encamped. Every day, incense is burned, and intervention
made in all the temples, for the success of the expedition.
In the mean while, my dear mother, I will devote my letters to daily
scenes around me.
The queen's health is now firmly established, and she extends to me
the kindness and, I may say, affection, which she would to a son; but
I am conscious that I am so honored as the friend of her absent son,
who, at parting from me a stadium above Memphis, said:
"My Sesostris, be near my mother, and in the pleasure of your society,
let her regrets at my absence find compensation. When you have seen
all of Lower Egypt, come to the Thebaïd, and go with me and my army
into Ethiopia."
I promised that I would follow him by and by; but now I am engaged in
seeing the wonders of Memphis, and those marvels of ages--those
"temples of the gods"--the mighty pyramids. I will soon devote a
letter to an account of my first visit to Memphis and the pyramids. It
was made a day or two after we came to reside in the palace at Rhoda.
Remeses, though hourly occupied, had kindly promised he would
accompany me to the city of Apis, and there place me in charge of a
son of the priest of the temple. I arose the following morning a few
minutes before sunrise, in order to be prepared to go early. My window
looked forth upon On, a league and a half distant, with its grand
avenue of columns, sphinxes, obelisks, and towering propyla clasping
it to the shining river. The splendor of that morning, my dear mother,
I shall never cease to remember. The atmosphere of Egypt is so
crystalline, that light lends to it a peculiar glow. As I looked
eastward, the skies had the appearance of sapphire blended with dust
of gold; and from the as yet invisible sun, a gorgeous fan of radiant
beams, of a pale orange-color, spread itself over the sky to the
zenith. Not a cloud was visible; nor, indeed, have I seen one since I
have been in Egypt. This magnificent glory of the Orient steadily grew
more and more wonderful for beauty and richness of colored light,
when, all at once, the disk of the bright god of day himself
majestically rolled up into sight, filling heaven and earth with his
dazzling and overpowering light, while the golden shield on the temple
of the sun caught and reflected his rays with almost undiminished
brilliancy.
As I regarded with delight this sublime sunrise, there came borne to
my ears, from the direction of the temple of Osiris, in Memphis, the
sound of music. Walking round the terrace to that side, I heard the
voices of a thousand priests chanting the morning hymn to the god of
light, the dazzling "Eye of Osiris." Then I recollected that this was
the day of the celebration of the revival or resurrection of Osiris,
one of the most important days in the sacred calendar. The whole city
seemed to be in motion, and boats garlanded with flowers, and filled
with gayly attired people, were crossing to the city and temple at
every point. Music from a hundred instruments filled the air, which
seemed to vibrate with joy and delight. The city of Apis had on its
gala apparel, and all the world was abroad to welcome the sun-rising
and join in the processions.
Remeses joined me while I was watching the scene, and listening to the
grand waves of harmony as they rolled away from the temple and sounded
along the air in majestic volumes of sound.
"I see you are interested, my Sesostris, in this enlivening scene. It
is a day of rejoicing to the worshippers of Osiris."
"It seems, my dear prince," I replied, "as if every day I have passed
in Egypt has been a festival to some of its deities."
"Our year is more than two thirds of it consecrated to the gods; that
is, supposing a day given to each, the most of the year is religious.
We are a people given to piety, so far as we understand. All our works
are consecrated by prayer or sacrifice; and whether we go to war, or
engage in merchandise, build a palace or a tomb, prayer and oblation
precede all. Are you ready to go to the city and pyramids as soon as
we break our fast? My mother has invited us to breakfast with her."
I expressed my readiness, and we left to seek the presence of the
queen. As we entered, she was superintending a piece of embroidery of
the richest colors, which three maidens were at work upon at one end
of the apartment. They remained a few minutes after our entrance,
glancing at us timidly, yet curiously and archly. When their royal
mistress had received us, she made a slight gesture with her hand, and
the dark-eyed girls, disappearing behind a screen, left the apartment.
I had time to see that they were very young, of an olive, brunette
complexion, with braided and tastefully arranged dark-brown hair,
their slender persons habited in neat vestures of mingled colors,
fitting the form, but open in front, displaying a soft, fine linen
robe, with loose, fringed sleeves. They had ear-rings, and numerous
finger-rings, and gilt, red, gazelle-leather sandals, laced with gay
ribbons across the small, naked foot. These, as the queen informed me,
belonged to families of officers of the palace. One of them, the
tallest, and who was most striking in her appearance, had eyes of
wonderful beauty, the effect of the expression of which was deepened
by painting the lids with a delicate shade of cohol. She was the
daughter of the royal scribe, Venephis, and her own name is Venephe;
and here, my dear mother, since you asked me in your last letter why I
am so silent upon the subject of Egyptian ladies, I will devote a
little space to them. But you know that my heart so wholly belongs to
the lovely Princess Thamonda, the daughter of the Prince of Chaldea,
that it is entirely insensible to any impressions which the high-born
Egyptian maids might otherwise make upon it. I will, however, learn
more of them by seeking their society, my dear mother, and
henceforward will give them all the attention they merit in my
letters.
I have seen many ladies of great elegance and ease of manner. The
court of Egypt is composed of an immense number of nobles and high
officers, whose palaces crowd the cities of On and Memphis, and whose
tasteful, garden-environed villas extend far beyond their limits. Some
of these nobles have the title of princes, when they govern one of the
thirty-six _nomes_, or command armies. They are opulent, fond of
display in apparel and architecture, great lovers of flowers and
paintings, and their dwellings are profusely decorated with the one
and adorned with the other. These men of rank are educated, polished
in bearing, courteous and affable. Their wives are their superiors in
refinement, being daughters of men of the same rank and social
distinction. Nobles and noble ladies by hereditary title there are
none in Egypt; for it is the boast of the Egyptians, and it is often
inscribed on their monuments, that Egyptians, being all equally "sons
of Misr," are all born equal. It is official elevation and position at
court, as the reward of talent or services, which create noble rank.
Yet there are families here who speak with pride of the glory and fame
of ancestors; and I know young Egyptian nobles whose forefathers were
lords in the court of the old Pharaohs, of the XVth and XVIth
dynasties. I have already alluded to the brave young officer of the
chariot battalion, Potipharis, whose ancestor, a lord of the court of
Apophis, purchased of the Idumeans the youthful Hebrew who
subsequently ruled Egypt as prime minister; and whose family, now
grown to a great nation, are held here in hopeless bondage.
The women of Egypt owe their high social rank to the respect shown
them by the men, who give them precedence everywhere. The fact that
Egypt is ruled by a queen, is testimony that woman is honored here by
the laws of the realm, as well as by the customs of the people, or she
would not have succeeded to the throne. It is not a mere influence
derived from their personal attractions that women possess here; but
their claims to honor and respect are acknowledged by law, in private
as well as in public. Said Remeses to me, a day or two since, when I
was remarking upon the universal deference paid to the sex, "We know,
unless women are treated with respect and made to exercise an
influence over the social state, that the standard of private virtue
and of public opinion would soon be lowered, and the manners and
morals of men would suffer." How differently situated is woman with
us! Respected she undoubtedly is, but instead of the liberty she
enjoys here, behold her confined to certain apartments, not permitted
to go abroad unveiled, and leading a life of indolent repose.
In acknowledging this, dear mother, the laws point out to the favored
women of Egypt the very responsible duties they have to perform. The
elevation of woman to be the friend and companion of man, is due to
the wisdom of the priesthood. These men have wives whom they love and
respect, and I have seen the priest of On seated in his summer parlor,
which overlooks the street, by the side of his noble-looking wife
(who, it is said, is a descendant of a priest of On, whose daughter
was married to Prince Joseph, the Hebrew), surrounded by their
children, and manifesting their mutual affection by numberless
domestic graces; and I was charmed with the expressions of endearment
I heard them use to each other and to their children. What a contrast
all this to the priests of Tyre, who regard celibacy as the highest
act of piety!
The hand of your sex, my dear mother, is apparent in all the household
arrangements, and in the furniture and style of the dwellings. In her
contract of marriage it is written, that the lady shall have the whole
regulation of domestic affairs and the management of the house, and
that the husband shall, in all such matters, defer to the judgment and
wishes of the wife. Neither king, priest, nor subject can have more
than one wife, a custom differing from our own, and far superior to
it. It is owing to this universal honor paid to the sex, that queens
have repeatedly, since the ancient reign of Binothris, held the royal
authority and had the supreme direction of affairs intrusted to them.
It is proper to say, that although the Egyptians have but one wife,
they are not forbidden by the laws to have favorites, who are usually
slaves, and owe their elevation to talents or beauty. They do not,
however, hold any social relation; and the wife, to whom alone is
given the title "lady of the house," enjoys an acknowledged
superiority over them. But concubinage, though tolerated, is not
regarded with favor, and is practised by few.
The Egyptian ladies employ much of their time with the needle; and
either with their own hands, or by the agency of their maidens, they
embroider, weave, spin, and do needle-work--the last in the most
skilful and beautiful manner. They embroider chairs with thread of
gold or silver, adorn sofas with embroidery, and ornament coverings
for their couches with needle-work of divers colors, so artfully
executed as to appear, on both sides, of equal beauty and finish. At
the banquets or social festivals, which are very frequent, for the
Egyptians are fond of society, the ladies sit at the same table with
the men, and no rigid mistrust closes their doors on such occasions to
strangers, towards whom they are ever courteous and hospitable; save
only in religious ceremonies, from which, and "the mysteries of their
theology," they are jealously excluded.
I have already spoken of the services of women in the temples. These
do not marry. Although females may make offerings to Isis, they cannot
be invested with any sacerdotal office; and a priest must preside at
the oblation. They are rarely seen reading, their leisure being
occupied chiefly in talking together in social companies. They vie
with each other in the display of silver jewels, and jewels set in
gold; in the texture of their raiment, the neatness and elegance of
the form of their sandals, and the arrangement or beauty of their
plaited hair.
If two ladies meet at a banquet or festival, it is considered an
amiable courtesy to exchange flowers from the bouquet that Egyptian
ladies always carry in the hand when in full costume. They are
passionately devoted to dancing, and frequently both ladies and
gentlemen dance together; but I think when the former dance in
separate parties, their movements are marked by superior grace and
elegance. Their dances consist usually of a succession of figures more
or less involved; yet I have seen two daughters of the captain of the
guard, at a private entertainment given by the queen, perform a dance
to a slow air played upon the flute and lyre, with a grace of attitude
and harmony of motion delightful to follow with the eye. Grace in
posture, elegance of attitude, and ease of movement are their chief
objects in the dance.
It is not, however, customary for the nobles and their families to
indulge in this amusement in public, where usually the dancing is
performed by those who gain a livelihood by attending festive
meetings. They look upon it, however, as a recreation in which all
classes may partake; and all castes engage in it, either in private
festivities or in public. The lower orders delight in exhibiting great
spirit in their dances, which often partake of the nature of
pantomime; and they aim rather at ludicrous and extravagant dexterity,
than displays of elegance and grace. At evening, under the trees of an
avenue; at noon, in the shade of a temple, by public fountains, and
before the doors of their dwellings, I often see the men and women
amusing themselves, dancing to the sound of music, which is
indispensable. At the houses of the higher classes, they dance to the
harp, pipe, guitar, lyre, and tambourine; but in the streets and other
places, the people perform their part to the music of the shrill
double-pipe, the crotala or wooden clappers, held in the fingers, and
even to the sound of the drum; indeed, I have seen a man dancing a
solo on the deck of a galley at anchor in the river, to the sound of
the clapping of hands by his companions. Certain wanton dances,
consisting of voluptuous and passionate movements, by Arabian and
Theban girls, whose profession it was, from the impure tendency of
their songs and gestures, have been very properly forbidden by the
queen in her dominions. There are certain religious processions in
which women take part; they attend the funerals of their deceased
relatives, and hired women appear as mourners.
I have devoted, my dear mother, so much of this letter to a
description of the ladies of Egypt, in compliance with your expressed
wish, and I will appropriate the residue of my papyrus, if the ink
fail not, to an account of their homes, that you may see how they
live; since, from their private life, great insight is obtained into
their manners and customs. The household arrangements, the style of
the dwellings, as well as the amusements and occupations of a people,
explain their habits.
The style of domestic architecture, in this warm climate, is modified
to suit the heat of the weather. The poorer classes (for though all
Egyptians are born equal, yet there are poor classes), as well as
_castes_, live a great part of their time out of doors, seeking rather
the shade of trees than the warmth of habitations. And now that I have
alluded to "castes," I will briefly explain the degrees of society in
Egypt.
Though a marked line of distinction is maintained between the
different ranks of society, they appear to be divided rather into
"classes" than "castes," as no man is bound by law to follow the
occupation of his father. Sons, indeed, do usually follow the trade of
their father, and the rank of each man depends on his occupation. But
there are occasional exceptions, as, for instance, the sons of a
distinguished priest are in the army with Remeses, and a son of the
admiral of the fleet of the Delta is high-priest in Memphis.
Below the crown and royal family, the first class consists of the
priests; the second, of soldiers; the third, of husbandmen, gardeners,
huntsmen, and boatmen; the fourth, of tradesmen, shop-keepers,
artificers in stone and metals, carpenters, boat-builders,
stone-masons, and public weighers; the fifth, of shepherds, poulterers
fowlers, fishermen, laborers, and the common people at large. Many of
these, says the record from which I have obtained my information, are
again subdivided, as chief shepherds into ox-herds, goat-herds, and
swine-herds; which last is the lowest grade of the whole community,
since no one of the others will marry their daughters, or establish
any family connection with them; for so degrading is the occupation of
tending swine held by the Egyptians, that they are looked upon as
impure, and are even forbidden to enter a temple without previously
undergoing purification.
Thus you perceive, my mother, that Egypt practically acknowledges many
degrees of rank, although she boasts that "every son of Misr is born
equal."
These classes keep singularly distinct, and yet live harmoniously and
sociably with each other. Out of them the queen's workmen are taken,
and the lowest supplies the common laborers on the public
works,--thousands of whom, clad only in an apron and short trowsers of
coarsely woven grass-cloth, are to be found at work all over Egypt,
and even mingled with the Hebrews in some parts of their tasks. "And
the Hebrews?" you may ask; for I perceive by your letter that you are
interested in the fate and history of this captive nation; "what rank
do they hold among all these castes?"
They remain a distinct and separate people, neither regarded as a
class or _caste_. They pursue but one occupation, brick-making, with
its kindred work of digging the loam, gathering the straw, kneading
the clay, and carrying the bricks to the place where the masons need
them. They neither associate nor intermarry with any of the Egyptian
classes. They are the crown slaves, born in bondage, below the lowest
free-born Egyptian in the land of Misraim. Even the swine-herd belongs
to a _class_, and is equal by birth, at least, with the Pharaoh who
rules; but the Hebrew is a bond-servant, a stranger, despised and
oppressed. Yet among them have I seen men worthy to be kings, if
dignity of aspect and nobleness of bearing entitle men to that
position.