Page:A history of architecture on the comparative method for the student, craftsman, and amateur.djvu/69

 EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE. II that the dwelhng-house was looked upon by them as a mere temporary lodginf]^, the tomb being the permanent abode. " Wliat availelh thee thy other buildings? Of thy tomb alone thou art sure. On the earth thou hast nought beside ; Nought of ihee else is remaining." V. Social and Political. — A vast population was available for employment on public works, the workmen probably receiving no other pay than their food. Thus a state of cheap labour existed which was eminently favourable to the execution of large and important structures. In addition there existed a centralized despotic government which, perhaps more than any other, favoured the execution of monumental works. It is assumed by some that the spare time which occurs during the annual floods enabled the population to be employed on these state buildings. It is also possible that the transport of stone required for the great buildings was effected by means of rafts floated down at this season. During the reign of Rameses II. the captives and foreigners, who had largely increased, were put to enforced labour upon the public Avorks, and in the first chapter of the book of Exodus the natives are said to have viewed with alarm the growing numbers and power of these strangers. vi. Historical. — Egyptian civilization is the most ancient of any of which there is a clear knowledge ; its history is partly derived from Holy Scripture and from Greek and Roman authors, but more particularly from the Egyptian buildings, by which it can be traced back for more than 4,000 years B.C. The Pyramids are thought to be a thousand years older than any building which has yet been discovered in Western Asia, the subject of the next division. The Kings or Pharaohs (from the title " Peraa " = " great house ") have been arranged in thirty dynasties, extending down to B.C. 332. These have been based on the list of Manetho, an Egyptian priest who lived about b.c. 300, and compiled a history of Egypt in the Greek language, and may be divided into the following periods : — 1. Prehistoric Period, B.C. 23000 (?)-4777. 2. The Ancient Empire (Dynasties I.-X.), b.c 4777-2821. The capital being at Memphis, the tombs of this period are at Abydos, Nakadeh, Memphis, Sakkara, Gizeh and Abusir. 3. The Middle Empire (Dynasties XI. -XVI.), b.c 2821-1738. A prosperous period in which much building was carried out. This period includes the dynasties of the " Hyskos " or shepherd kings. 4. The New Empire (Dynasties XVII. -XX.), b.c 1738-950. This period had Thebes as the capital, and many imposing buildings were erected at Karnac, Luxor, and elsewhere.