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F. Page 74.

THE OLD CHRONICLE.

THIS is one of the most important fragments relating to Egyptian archæology that have come down to us from antiquity. It is found in Syncellus, pp. 51, 52.

"Reign of THE GODS ACCORDING TO THE OLD CHRONICLE.

"The time of Hephæstus is not given, as he appeared both night and day.

Helius, the son of Hephæstus, reigned,

Then Kronos, and the other 12 gods, reigned

Then the 8 demigods,

After these, they enumerate 15 generations of the

Cynic Cycle, in

Years.

30,000

3,984

217

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Then the 16th dynasty of Tanites,

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Tanites,

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Diospolites,
Saites,

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48

19

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* Supplied from Manetho, according to Eusebius and Africanus. See Müller's Frag. Hist. Græc. vol. ii. p. 534.

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"This number, resolved and divided into its parts, that is, 25 times 1461, shows the time of the restitution (άoxutάstuðir) of the zodiac, as fabled among the Egyptians and Greeks, which is its revolution from a particular point to the same again. This point is the first minute of the first degree of the equinoctial sign which they call the Ram, as is explained in the Genesis of Hermes, and the Cyraunian books."

G. Page 77.

ERATOSTHENES AND APOLLODORUS.

THE testimony of these two eminent writers is so important in Egyptian chronology, that a fuller exhibit should be made of the outlines of their system. Eratosthenes' list of names is as follows:

I. First reigned Menes, a Thenite (i. e., a Theban), who is called Aionios (Eternal),

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2. Athothis, son of Menes, surnamed Hermogenes,

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5. Pemphos, son of Athothis, called Herakleides,

6.

Toigar, the Invincible, a Memphite monocheir, sur-
named Tisandros, a giant,

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7. Stoichos, his son, called Ares, the Senseless,

8. Gosormies, the Desire of All,

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9. Manes, his son, named Heliodorus (gift of the sun),

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12.

Chnoubos Gneuros, i. e., Chryses, son of Chryses,

13. Rhanosis, the Supreme,

14. Biuris,

15. Saophis, the Long-haired, called by some the Money

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17. Moscheres, Heliodotos (given by the sun),

18. Mosthes,

19. Pammes, Ruler of the Land,

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22. Nitokris, a woman, surnamed Athene, the Victorious, 23. Myrtæos Ammonodotos (given by Amun),

24. Thuosimares, the Mighty, the Sun,.

100

I

6

22

12

25. Thinillos, who increased the power of his father,

8

26. Semphroukrates, surnamed Hercules Arpocrates, 27. Chouther Tauros, a tyrant,

28. Meures, Philoskoros (Lover of the Eye),

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29. Chomaephtha, the World, loving Phtah,

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30. Soikunios, the Sharp, a tyrant,

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31. Peteathyres,

32. Sistosis (?) (Palmer supplies Ammenemes I.), 33. Ammenemes II.,

• 7(?)

42

23

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36. Siphoas, who is also Hermes, son of Phtah, 37. Phrouron, or Nilos,

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Several points here deserve attention. The first is the alleged commencement of the above list in the year of

the world 2000 (ἥτις ἤρξατο μὲν τῷ β = ἔτει τοῦ κόσμου). Bunsen and Lepsius assume that this date was added by Syncellus; but of this there is no proof. Syncellus' own date for the creation of the world is B. C. 5500, and his era of Menes is B. C. 2776, i. e., in the year A. M. 2724, 124 years earlier than that given in the list of Eratosthenes. The particularity of the date A. M. 2900 creates a strong probability that it was either given expressly by the latter, or derived from some other definite date, which was well known, possibly that of the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, B. C. 525, or Artaxerxes Ochus, B. C. 341, from which it would be easy to reckon back to the beginning of the list. At any rate, it clearly was not a date given by Syncellus, and it can not be shown that it was not inserted by Eratosthenes himself. This computation places Menes at 638 years after the flood, according to the LXX.

The second point worthy of notice is the reason why Syncellus did not give the names of the fifty-three other kings mentioned by Apollodorus. Bunsen is quite se

vere upon him for the omission.

"The only natural explanation which suggested itself to us when making the inquiry, was that Syncellus lost his patience in epitomizing that list. With infinite pains he had toiled through the awkward Egyptian names it contained; and the Greek versions of them, which he did not understand. With infinite pains he had made his calculations of the year of the world which coincided with each of the thirty reigns; taking as his starting-point the nearest possible year after the flood, according to his system. In reference to the calculation of the Father of Chronology, he made the epoch from the confusion of tongues down to Abra

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