Ancient Egypt

Difficult to realize the conception of a great pyramid, 65--Egyptian idea of one, 66--Number of pyramids in Egypt: the Principal Three, 67--Description of the "Third Pyramid," 67-71; of the "Second Pyramid," 72; of the "First" or "Great Pyramid," 75-81--The traditional builders, Khufu, Shafra, and Menkaura, 82; the pyramids their tombs, 82--Grandeur of Khufu's conception, 83--Cruelty involved in it, 84, 85--The builders' hopes not realized, 85, 86--Skill displayed in the construction, 86--Magnificence of the architectural effect, 89--Inferiority of the "Third Pyramid," 90--Continuance of the pyramid period, 91-94.

V.

THE RISE OF THEBES TO POWER, AND THE EARLY THEBAN KINGS 95-119

Shift of the seat of power--site of Thebes, 95--Origin of the name of Thebes, 96--Earliest known Theban king, Antef I., 97--His successors, Mentu-hotep I. and "Antef the Great," 98--Other Antefs and Mentu-hoteps, 98, 99--Sankh-ka-ra and his fleet, 99, 100--Dynasty of Usurtasens and Amenemhats: spirit of their civilization, 100, 101--Reign of Amenemhat I., 102--His wars and hunting expeditions, 103, 104--Usurtasen I.: his wars, 105--His sculptures and architectural works, 106--His obelisk, 107, 109--Reign of Amenemhat II.: tablet belonging to his time, 109, 110--Usurtasen II. and his conquests, 111, 112.

VI.

THE GOOD AMENEMHAT AND HIS WORKS 113-123

Dangers connected with the inundation of the Nile, twofold, 113--An excessive inundation, 114; a defective one, 115--Sufferings from these causes under Amenemhat III., 115, 116--Possible storage of water, 117--Amenemhat's reservoir, the "Lake Mœris," 118--Doubts as to its dimensions, 119, 120--Amenemhat's "Labyrinth," 121--His pyramid, and name of Ra-n-mat, 122, 123.

VII.

ABRAHAM IN EGYPT 124-131

Wanderings of the Patriarch, 124--Necessity which drove him into Egypt, 125--Passage of the Desert, 126--A dread anxiety unfaithfully met, 127--Reception on the frontier, and removal of Sarah to the court, 128--Abraham's material well-being, 129--The Pharaoh restores Sarah, 130--Probable date of the visit, 130--Other immigrants, 131.

VIII.

THE GREAT INVASION--THE HYKSOS OR SHEPHERD KINGS--JOSEPH AND APEPI 132-146

Exemption of Egypt hitherto from foreign attack, 132--Threatening movements among the populations of Asia, 133--Manetho's tale of the "Shepherd" invasion, 134--The probable reality, 135, 136--Upper Egypt not overrun, 137--The first Hyksos king, Set, or Saites, 138--Duration of the rule, doubtful, 139--Character of the rule improves with time, 140--Apepi's great works at Tanis, 144--Apepi and Ra-sekenen, 145--Apepi and Joseph, 146.

IX.

HOW THE HYKSOS WERE EXPELLED FROM EGYPT 147-169

Rapid deterioration of conquering races generally, 147, 148--Recovery of the Egyptians from the ill effects of the invasion, 149--Second rise of Thebes to greatness, 150--War of Apepi with Ra-sekenen III., 151--Succession of Aahmes; war continues, 152--The Hyksos quit Egypt, 153--Aahmes perhaps assisted by the Ethiopians, 153-157.

X.

THE FIRST GREAT WARRIOR KING, THOTHMES I. 158-169

Early wars of Thothmes in Ethiopia and Nubia, 158-160--His desire to avenge the Hyksos invasion, 161--Condition of Western Asia at this period, 162, 163--Geographical sketch of the countries to be attacked, 164, 165--Probable information of Thothmes on these matters, 167--His great expedition into Syria and Mesopotamia, 167--His buildings, 168--His greatness insufficiently appreciated, 169.

XI.

QUEEN HATASU AND HER MERCHANT FLEET 170-188

High estimation of women in Egypt, 170--Early position of Hatasu as joint ruler with Thothmes II., 173--Her buildings at this period, 173--Her assumption of male attire and titles, 174-177--Her nominal regency for Thothmes III., and real sovereignty, 177, 178--Construction and voyage of her fleet, 178, 183--Return of the expedition to Thebes, 184--Construction of a temple to commemorate it, 185--Joint reign of Hatasu with Thothmes III.--Her obelisks, 186--Her name obliterated by Thothmes, 187.