priests, we cannot reconcile the great distinction maintained between the different classes of society, or the disproportionate extent of their possessions, with the boasted simplicity of their habits; and judging from the scale of their villas, and the wealth they enjoyed, we feel disposed to withhold much of that credit we should otherwise have bestowed upon the Egyptian priesthood.

Besides their religious duties, the priests fulfilled the important offices of judges* and legislators, as well as counsellors of the monarch; and the laws, as among many other nations of the Eastt, forming part of the sacred books, could only be administered by members of their order. But as the office of judge and the nature of their laws will be mentioned in another part of this work, it is unnecessary to enter upon the subject at present, and I therefore proceed to notice the military class, which was the first subdivision of the succeeding or second caste.

SOLDIERS.

Next in rank to the priests were the military. To them was assigned one of the three portions into which the land of Egypt was divided by an edict of Sesostrist, in order, says Diodorus §, "that those who exposed themselves to danger in the field might be more ready to undergo the hazards of

Elien. Hist. Var. 1. xiv. c. 34.
The Jews, Moslems, and others.
Diodor. i. 54.

§ Diodor. i. 73.

war, from the interest they felt in the country as occupiers of the soil; for it would he absurd to commit the safety of the community to those who possessed nothing which they were anxious to preserve. Besides, the enjoyment of comfort has a great tendency to increase population; and the result being that the military class becomes more numerous, the country does not stand in need of foreign auxiliaries: and their descendants receiving privileges handed down to them from their forefathers, are thus encouraged to emulate their valour; and studying from their childhood to follow the advice and example of their fathers, they become invincible by the skill and confidence they acquire." For it was forbidden that a child should follow a different profession from that of his father, or that the son of a soldier should belong to any other profession than that of arms. *

Whether the Egyptians had any military schools, where their youth were instructed in the science of war, is uncertain; though in the account given by Diodorus of the early education of Sesostris, there is distinct allusion to a system, which, from its having succeeded so satisfactorily, may have been continued by that monarch and his successors. And when we consider that the sole education required for the children of soldiers was such as prepared them for their future duties, and that they were obliged to follow the profession of their father, we shall find much stronger reasons for believing those establishments to have been set on

• Herodot. ii. 166.

foot by the Egyptians, than by any other people of antiquity.

Each man was obliged to provide himself with the necessary arms, offensive and defensive, and every thing requisite for a campaign; and they were expected to hold themselves in readiness for taking the field when required, or for garrison duty. The principal garrisons were posted in the fortified towns of Pelusium, Marea, Eilethyas*, Hieraconpolist, Syene, Elephantine, and other intermediate places; and a large portion of the army was frequently called upon by their warlike monarchs to invade a foreign country, or to suppress those rebellions‡ which occasionally broke out in the conquered provinces.

Herodotus tells us each soldier, whether on duty or no, was allowed 12 arouræ of land §, free from all charge and tribute; which was, probably the mode of dividing the portion mentioned by Diodorus, though it may of course be inferred that every one obtained a share proportionate to his rank. And this system of portioning out land (but more particularly of a conquered country), and making allotments for soldiers, has been prevalent at all times throughout the East.

Another important privilege was that no soldier T

*So I conclude, from the fortified enclosures that remain there, distinct from the walls of the town.

This and Eilethyas are nearly opposite each other, and command the passage of the valley.

Diodor. i. 47., and the sculptures.

Herodot. ii. 168. The aroura was a square measure, containing 10,000 cubits.

|| Diodor. i. 54. 73.

Diod. i. 79.

could be cast into prison for debt; and this law, though it extended to every Egyptian citizen, was particularly provided by Bocchoris in favour of the military, who, it was urged, could not be arrested by the civil power without great danger to the state, of which they were the chief defence.

The whole military force, consisting of 410,000*, was divided into two corps, the Calasiries and Hermotybies. They furnished a body of men to do the duty of royal guards, 1000 of each being annually selected for that purpose; and each soldier had an additional allowance of five minæ of bread, with two of beeft, and four arusters of wine §, as daily rations, during the period of his service.

The Calasiries were the most numerous, and amounted to 250,000 men, at the time that Egypt was most populous. They inhabited the nomes of Thebes, Bubastis, Aphthis, Tanis, Mendes, Sebennytus, Athribis, Pharbathis, Thmuis, Onuphis, Anysis, and the Isle of Myecphoris, which was opposite Bubastis; and the Hermotybies, who lived in those of Busiris, Saïs, Chemmis, Papremis, and the Isle of Prosopitis, and half of Natho, made up the remaining 160,000. It was here that they abode while retired from active service, and in these nomes the farms or portions of land before alluded

*Herodot. ii. 165, 166. Diodorus (i. 54.) gives a much larger amount to the army of Sesostris, which, he says, consisted of 600,000 foot, besides 24,000 horse, and 27,000 chariots. He must have included the auxiliaries.

† 5 lbs. 5 oz. 1 dwt.

2 lbs. 2 oz. 8 grs.

If the aruster is the same as the cotyla, these four will be little less than 2 pints English.

to were probably situated: which were not only a substitute for regular pay*, but tended to encourage habits of industry, and to instil a taste for the occupations of a country life. For the Egyptians justly considered that such employments promoted the strength of the body, as much as the idleness of a town life injured the physical and moral constitution, and the soldier was taught to look upon the pursuits of a mechanic as unmanly and contemptible. Indeed they were absolutely forbidden to engage in any such occupation; as in Sparta, they made war their profession, and deemed it the most worthy pursuit of generous and freeborn souls. They did not, however, confine the exercise of trades to slaves, like the Lacedæmonians, because the number of the military class alone, in a country so well peopled as Egypt, sufficed for all the purposes of defence; but their prejudices against mechanical employments, as far as regarded the soldier, were equally strong as in the rigid Sparta.

The sports of the field, and gymnastic exercises were recommended, as beneficial to their physical force, and as diversions peculiarly suited to the active habits of a soldier; and mockfights, wrestling, leaping, cudgelling, and numerous feats of strength†, and agility, were their constant amuse

ment.

The military chiefs, like the kings and priests, let out their lands to husbandmen.

According to Diodorus (i. 53), when Sesostris was a boy he was obliged, like all the others educated with him, to run 180 stadia, or between 22 and 23 miles, every morning before breakfast. The heat of an Egyptian climate must have added greatly to the unpleasant part of this feat.