Page:Ancient Egypt Her Testimony to the Truth.pdf/24

Rh place of Ancient Memphis. One of them reads—, in which we recognise or, one of the names of these shepherd-kings in Manetho's list; the other is  which re-produces in a manner equally satisfactory the name of  another of them. Notwithstanding the fearful account given by Manetho of the barbarities committed by the shepherds in Egypt, they were evidently a highly refined race. The tomb of Ass is is said by its discoverer, M. l'Hôte, to be executed with surpassing skill. It is in the style called cavo-relievo, like most other similar monuments; and each character in it has the delicately exquisite finish of a gem or medal. This great perfection of art at so remote a period, which in his judgment was never afterwards equalled, is a subject of great surprise to him but will occasion none to those who rightly consider that all the arts of social life were, in the first instance, the direct gifts of God to man.

The shepherds had adopted the religion, the manners and the customs of Egypt. The Pharaoh to whom Joseph was prime minister was the shepherd-king Aphophis, according to Manetho. The king of Egypt with whom Abraham had had communication 200 years before, was also a shepherd-king in all probability. The proof of this is the issue of a long chronological enquiry, upon which we cannot now enter. We only observe respecting it, that the vulgar