CHAP. VI.

GAMES AND PASTIMES.

273

Plato says it was invented by Thoth, the Egyptian Mercury (Phædr., vol. iii., p. 364 tr.: T.) as well as games of hazard. In Egypt

274

GAMES AND PASTIMES.

APP. BOOK II.

draughts was a favourite among all ranks; in his palace at Medeenet Haboo, Remeses III. amuses himself by playing it with the women of

CHAP. VI.

DRAUGHTS.

275

his household; and its antiquity is shown by its being represented in the tombs of Beni Hassan, dating about 2000 years B. C. The pieces

were nearly similar in form on the same board; one set black, the

other white, of ivory, bone, or wood, and some have been found with human heads, differing for each side of the board. The largest pieces are 11 inch high, and 1 diameter.

Dice are also met with, but of uncertain date, probably Roman.

There are two other

games, of which the boards have been discovered in Egypt, with the men. The former are 11 inches long by 3; and one has 10 spaces in 3 rows, or 30 squares; the other 12 spaces in the upper part (or 4 spaces in 3 rows) with a long line of 8 spaces below, as an approach to it

276

OTHER GAMES.

APP. BOOK II.

resembling the arrangement of German tactics. The men, found in the drawer of the board itself, are in 2 sets, and of two different shapes

(one like our dice-boxes, the other conical, but both solid); and one set is 10, the other 9 in number; but the latter may be imperfect.

There were also other games, not easily understood; though doubtless very intelligible to the Egyptians who saw them so represented in the sculptures. (For the principal Egyptian games, see At. Eg. W., and P. A. At. Eg. W., vol. i. p. 189 to 211.)-[G. W.]

CHAP. VII.

SCIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY.

277

CHAPTER VII.

"GEOMETRY FIRST CAME TO BE KNOWN IN EGYPT, WHENCE IT PASSED INTO GREECE."--Chap. 109.

Greeks indebted to Egypt for early lessons in science. Invention of geometry. Survey: ing, geography. Early advancement of the Egyptians in science. Thales and others went to study in Egypt. Pythagoras borrowed much from Egypt. Heliocentric system. Revived by Copernicus. Pythagoras and Solon in Egypt. Great genius of the Greeks. Herodotus unprejudiced. The dial. The twelve hours. The division of the day by the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. The Egyptians had 12 hours of day and of night. The week of seven days in Egypt. The Aztec week of nine days. The seven-day division in Egypt. The number seven. Division by ten. Greek and Egyptian month and year of three parts.

THAT the Grecks should have been indebted to Egypt for their early lessons in science is not surprising, since it is known, in those days, to have taken the lead in all philosophical pursuits. Thales, the first Greek who arrived at any proficiency in geometry, went to study there; and his example was afterwards followed by others, who sought the best school of science and philosophy. Pliny's story of Thales (who was only born about 640 B. c.) teaching his instructors to measure the height of a pyramid by its shadow is sufficiently improbable; but that it should be repeated, and believed, at the present day is surprising; and some appear to think the Egyptians incapable of making canals until taught by the Greeks. Equally inconsistent is the story of Pythagoras' theory of musical sound; not only because he had visited countries where music had long been a profound study, but because the anvil (like a bell) gives the same sound when struck by different hammers, at least when struck on the same part.

If Plato ascribes the invention of geometry to Thoth; if Iamblichus says it was known in Egypt during the reign of the gods; and if Manetho attributes a knowledge of science and literature to the earliest kings; these merely argue that such pursuits were reputed to be of very remote date there; but the monuments prove the truth of the reports of ancient authors respecting the early knowledge of geometry, astronomy, and other sciences among the Egyptians. Mensuration and surveying were the first steps that led to geography; and the Egyptians were not satisfied with the bare enumeration of conquered provinces and towns; for, if we may believe Eustathius, "they recorded their march in maps, which were not only given to their own people, but to the Scythians also to their great astonishment."

The practical results of their knowledge had sufficiently proved the great advancement made by them ages before the Greeks were in a condition to study, or search after science. It was in Egypt that the