Part 1

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_ in the original text. Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals. Illustrations have been moved so they do not break up paragraphs. Old or antiquated spellings have been preserved. Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE: WITH BRIEF NOTES ON EGYPT AND EGYPTIAN OBELISKS.

BY ERASMUS WILSON, F.R.S.

LONDON: BRAIN & CO., 26, PATERNOSTER ROW. ENTERED AT STATIONERS’ HALL.

TO HIS ESTEEMED FRIENDS, CHARLES ALFRED SWINBURNE AND HENRY PALFREY STEPHENSON,

WHOSE JUDICIOUS COUNSELS HAVE AIDED HIM IN CARRYING OUT THE PROJECT OF SECURING THE BRITISH OBELISK TO GREAT BRITAIN, THIS LITTLE WORK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The accompanying pages are intended as an introduction to the magnificent Egyptian Obelisk which is about to take its place among the monuments of London. This Obelisk was hewn in the renowned quarries of Syené, at the extreme southern boundary of Egypt, and was thence floated down the stream of the Nile to Heliopolis, the City of the Sun. It was erected, as one of a pair, in front of the seat of learning wherein Moses received his education, and stood in that position for about 1,600 years. Shortly before the Christian era it was conveyed to Alexandria, where it has remained until the present time, and is now on its voyage to the banks of the Thames. Its age, therefore, may be computed at upwards of 3,000 years.

At that early period, when other nations had not yet awakened into the dawn of civilisation, Egypt had made substantial progress in architecture and sculpture; and the British Obelisk may be taken as an admirable example of their excellence. The hieroglyphs which adorn its surface, inform us that it was erected by a powerful Pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty, Thothmes III.; and that, 200 years later, it was carved with the name of another illustrious Egyptian potentate, Rameses the Great. The sculptures of Thothmes occupy the central line of each face of the shaft from top to bottom, and those of Rameses the side lines; so that, at a glance, we are enabled to compare the art of sculpture at periods of two centuries apart.

Heliopolis was the On of the Bible, and one of the cities of the Land of Goshen, where Abraham sought refuge when driven by famine out of Canaan. It was at Heliopolis that Joseph endured his slavery and imprisonment, and was rewarded by the Pharaoh of his day with the hand of Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, a priest and ruler of On. Here he received in his arms his aged father Jacob, and Jacob fell on his neck and wept with joy at the recovery of his long-lost and well-beloved son: whilst in the neighbourhood of Heliopolis is still shown the venerable sycamore tree, under which, according to traditional report, the Holy Family took shelter in their flight into Egypt.

These are some of the interesting associations which will crowd into the mind when we look upward at this colossal monolith, and of which it was once the silent spectator. Ancient Egypt, Egyptian enlightenment and refinement, scenes and acts of Bible history—are, as it were, realised by the presence of this stately object of art in the midst of our ancient, although, compared with itself, very modern, city. This, however, is not all; for our Obelisk was a witness to the fall of the Greek and the rise of Roman dominion in Egypt, and revives in our memory the brilliant exploits of Nelson at Aboukir, and the grievous loss sustained by Britain in the death of Abercromby, at Alexandria.

After the battle of Alexandria, in 1801, it had been the eager wish of the British army and navy to convey this Obelisk to England as a memorial of their victory. Weightier considerations frustrated their efforts.

In 1820, the matter was revived, and the Obelisk was formally presented by Mehemet Ali to the British nation, through His Majesty George IV.[1]

In 1822, a distinguished naval officer, Admiral W. H. Smyth, F.R.S., drew up a statement of plans by which the transport of the Obelisk might be accomplished; and Mehemet Ali offered to assist the undertaking by building a pier expressly for the purpose.[2]

[1] See Appendix, p. 187. Letter from Consul Briggs to Sir Benjamin Blomfield.

[2] See Appendix, p. 199.

In 1832, the propriety of making an endeavour to procure the Obelisk was discussed in Parliament, and supported by Joseph Hume, a sum of money being proposed for the purpose.

In 1867, Lieutenant-General Sir James Alexander directed his attention to the same subject, and read a Paper on the existing state of the Obelisk, before the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[3] In 1875, he visited Alexandria for the purpose of ascertaining the actual condition of the Obelisk, and the possibility of getting it into British possession. A letter from Mr. Arthur Arnold to Lord Henry Lennox, First Commissioner of Works, dated April, 1876, and published in his book, entitled, “Through Persia by Caravan,” exhibits one of the results of Sir James Alexander’s exertions, and may be regarded as the most recent official report on the Obelisk question.[4]

[3] Appendix, p. 190.

[4] See Appendix: Mr. Arnold’s letter; p. 195.

While in Egypt, Sir James Alexander became acquainted with Mr. John Dixon, C.E., who had given considerable attention to the subject of the Obelisk and to the mode of its transport to England. Mr. Dixon had already made some successful explorations of the Great Pyramid, and had then brought his skill and experience, as a civil engineer, to bear on the practical question of the means and contrivance by which the transport of our Obelisk might be effected.

Such was the state of affairs in November, 1876, when Sir James Alexander first broached the subject to the author of these pages. Shortly afterwards the writer had an interview with Mr. John Dixon; succeeded by a conference, in which he was assisted by the judgment and advice of two valued friends—Mr. Charles Alfred Swinburne, of Bedford Row, and Mr. Henry Palfrey Stephenson, civil engineer. The conclusion arrived at in this conference was, that the undertaking was practicable; and an agreement was shortly afterwards (January 30th, 1877) signed, by which Mr. John Dixon engaged to set up the Obelisk on the banks of the Thames safe and sound.

The incidents of voyage, the shipwreck, the abandonment and recovery of the cylinder-ship “Cleopatra,” together with her subsequent adventures, form an episode of surpassing interest, which has already been partly analysed in the journals of the day; but must now be left, for the completion of its history, until the Obelisk shall have been safely erected in London, on a site worthy of its antiquity and symbolical significance, and of the dignity of the metropolis of Great Britain. A happy chance already points to the precincts of Westminster Abbey, with its harmonious architectural and classical surroundings:—Westminster Hall, the Houses of Parliament, the Government Offices, the Horse-Guards, the Admiralty, Trafalgar Square, the Thames, and the most beautiful of its bridges, as a possible site; and in very truth, no better place can be found for it in our great city, even should Queen Anne graciously condescend to step from her pedestal at St. Paul’s, to make way for her more ancient monumental companion.

In the compilation of these pages, the writer has availed himself of all the sources of information which his leisure has permitted him to consult; and he now takes the opportunity of expressing his especial obligations to the works of—Birch, Bonomi, Mariette, Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Sir Henry Rawlinson, George Rawlinson, Burton, Chabas, Pierret, Sharpe, Lane, Admiral Smyth, Rev. George Tomlinson, Parker, W. R. Cooper, Bayle St. John, Lady Duff Gordon, and Miss Edwards; although these authors represent only a portion of the writers in whose pages he has sought for instruction.

LONDON _December, 1877._

CONTENTS.

PAGE ALEXANDER THE GREAT and Alexandria 1 The Cradle of Christian Theology 2 Succession of Persians, Greeks, and Romans in Egypt 3 The Ptolemies and the Cæsars 4 Queen Cleopatra 5 Cleopatra and Anthony 6 Shakspeare’s Cleopatra 7 Queen Berenice: Coma Berenicis 9 Cleopatra’s Needles 10 Inscription on the Bronze Supports of Cleopatra’s Needles 11 Date of Erection of Cleopatra’s Needles at Alexandria 12 Cæsarium; or Palace of the Cæsars 12 The British, or London Obelisk 13 The Pharaohs, Thothmes III. and Rameses II. 14 Signification of “Cartouche” 16 Age of the British Obelisk 17 Battle of Alexandria in 1801 17 Cleopatra’s Needle in 1801 17 Burial of the British Obelisk with Obsequies 18 Obelisks and Needles 19 Monoliths of Syenite 20 Dimensions and Proportions of the Obelisk 21 The Paris Obelisk 22 Beauty and Durability of Syenite 23 Injury done by Sand-storms 24 Probable effect of British Climate 25 Time required to complete an Obelisk 25 Colossal Obelisks 26 Obelisks Carved when Erect 27 Pliny, the Younger, on Obelisks 28 Transport of Obelisks 29 Journey of the British Obelisk 29 Adoption of Obelisks by the Greeks 30 Export of Obelisks to Rome 31 Galleys of the Greeks and Romans 32 Maritime Prejudices of the Egyptians 33 Circumnavigation of Africa 34 The Emperor Constantine’s Love of Obelisks 34 The Obelisk of Constantinople 35 Ruins of Alexandria 36 Pompey’s Pillar at Alexandria 37 Diocletian’s Title to Pompey’s Pillar 38

CAIRO and the DELTA 40 Ismailia, a Health Resort 41 The Marvellous Nile 42 The Seven Cataracts of the Nile 42 Lady Duff Gordon and her “Letters from Egypt” 43 Christianity and Theology 44 West Bank of the Nile 45 Memphis and England’s Colossus 46 The Great Pyramids of Geezeh 51 The Patriarch of Pyramids 52 The Colossal Sphynx 53 East Bank of the Nile 56 The Land of Goshen and Field of Zoan 56 Heliopolis and its Obelisk 58 Cartouches of the Pharaoh Usertesen 60 Temple of the Sun, dedicated to Ra and Tum 61 The Obelisk, Symbol of the Rising Sun and Life 63 Pharaoh’s Needles 63 Napoleon’s Address to the Army of the Pyramids 64 What have the Obelisks looked down upon 64 Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph in the Land of Goshen 65 Village of Matareeah; the Virgin’s Tree 65 Hot Sulphur Springs of Helwân 66 Chronology of Ancient Egypt 68 Manetho, the Egyptian Chronologist and Priest 70 Analogies between Obelisk and Pyramid 72 Ornamentation of Obelisks 74 Scientific Knowledge evinced in their Construction 74 Carving of the Obelisk 75 Legend of the British Obelisk, by M. Chabas 76 The Flaminian Obelisk, of the Porta del Popolo 79 Legend of the Flaminian Obelisk 81 Standard of the King 82 The Grand Assemblies called Panegyries 86 Legend of the Paris Obelisk 87 Legend of the Alexandrian Obelisk 88 Moses and the British Obelisk 89 The Pharaoh of the Exodus 90 Era of Joseph in Egypt 90 Nile Voyage from Cairo to Thebes 90 Habits of the Crocodile 91 Geology of Egypt 92 The Mighty Ruins of Thebes 93 Memnonian Colossi; the Vocal Memnon 94 Earthquake before the Christian Era 96 Granite Colossus of Rameses the Great 98 Queen Hatasou’s Western Obelisks 99 Village of Luxor 100 Tomb Architecture 100 Reign of the Mummies 101 The Pylon and Propylon 103 The Architect of Karnak 106 Colossal Statues and Sphynxes 107 Obelisk of Thothmes I. at Karnak 108 Obelisk of Hatasou, appropriated by Thothmes III. 108 Usertesen’s Sanctuary 109 Lost Obelisks of Amenophis III. 110 The Luxor Obelisks 111 Obelisks of Rameses II. 113 Confusion of Thothmes and Hatasou, Seti and Rameses, and Rameses and Thothmes 114 Sacred Scarabæi and Manufacture of Antiques 117 Humanity of the Egyptians 119 Symbolism of the Scarabæus 120 Voyage from Luxor to As-souan 121 Unfinished Obelisk at As-souan 122 Mode of cleaving Obelisks from the Rock 123 “Beautiful Philæ” and “Pharaoh’s Bed” 125 Obelisks of Philæ 126 The Bankes Obelisk 128 Resistance of Religious Faith to Theodosian Violence 131 Hieroglyphic Writing; how deciphered 133 The Rosetta Stone 134 Cartouches of Ptolemy and Cleopatra 135 Apotheosis of Egyptologists 137 USERTESEN and his Obelisks, Heliopolis and Biggig 138 Monolithic Monuments of the Hebrews 144 Abyssinian Obelisks 145 Inscription on the Biggig Obelisk 147 Obelisks of Thothmes I. 148 Obelisks of Queen Hatasou 148 Obelisks of Thothmes III. 149 Obelisk of Amenophis II. 152 Inscription on the Syon House Obelisk 153 Obelisks of Amenophis III. 154 Obelisks of Seti I., or Osirei 154 Obelisks of Rameses II. 156 Obelisks of Menephtah I. 158 Obelisks of Psammeticus I. and II. 159 Obelisks of Nectanebo I., or Amyrtæus 160 Obelisks of Nectanebo II. 162 Prioli Obelisk at Constantinople 164 Obelisk of Nahasb 166 Assyrian Obelisks 166 Ptolemaic Obelisks of Philæ 167 The Bankes Obelisk at Kingston-Lacy Hall 167 Albani Obelisk 168 Roman Obelisks 168 Obelisks at Alnwick 170 Obelisks in the Florence Museum 170 The Arles Obelisk 170 Egyptian Founders of Obelisks 172 Aggregate number of Obelisks 174 Bonomi’s List of Altitudes of Obelisks 176 Classification and Distribution of Obelisks 178 Site of the British Obelisk 182

APPENDIX.

PAGE Extract from “Bombay Courier,” 1802 185

Consul Briggs to the Right Hon. Sir Benjamin Blomfield, 1820; presentation of the Obelisk to George the Fourth, by Mehemet Ali 186

General Sir James Alexander; Paper read at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1868 190

Plan of Transport of the Obelisk, by Captain Boswell, R.N. 193

Report by Mr. Arthur Arnold, to Lord Henry Lennox, respecting state of Obelisk and Plans of Transport, 1876 195

Captain Methven’s Plan of Transport, and Estimate 197

Admiral Smyth’s Plans of Transport 199

Transport of the Luxor Obelisk to Paris, 1831-36 200

Carrick-a-Daggon Monument, in memory of General Browne Clayton, one of the Heroes of Alexandria 205

The British Ensign; half-mast, March 28th, in memory of our gallant and victorious Abercromby 207

Translation of the Legend of the British Obelisk, by Demetrius Mosconas 207

Ancient Heroic Poem in honour of Thothmes III., translated from the Tablet of Phtamosis 210

M. Mosconas’ recent Work 213

ILLUSTRATIONS.

BRITISH OBELISK (_Frontispiece_). ALEXANDRIAN OBELISK (_Vignette on Title-page_).

PAGE PARIS OBELISK 22 OBELISK AT CONSTANTINOPLE 35 POMPEY’S PILLAR AT ALEXANDRIA 37 THE COLOSSAL SPHYNX 54 OBELISK OF USERTESEN AT HELIOPOLIS 59 CARTOUCHES OF USERTESEN 60 STANDARD OF THE KING 82 MEMNONIAN COLOSSI, THE VOCAL MEMNON 94 PYLON OF A HOUSE OR TEMPLE 103 PROPYLON OF THE TEMPLE AT EDFOO 105 PLAN OF ORNAMENTATION OF THE ENTRANCE OF AN EGYPTIAN TEMPLE 111 SACRED SCARABÆI 116 ENGRAVED UNDER-SURFACE OF SCARABÆI 118 CARTOUCHES OF PTOLEMY AND CLEOPATRA 135 OBELISK AT AXUM IN ABYSSINIA 145 CARTOUCHES OF THOTHMES III. 150 CARTOUCHES OF RAMESES II. 156 BRITISH MUSEUM OBELISKS 161 OBELISK AT ARLES 171

CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE.

More than twenty-two centuries ago—that is to say, about three hundred and thirty-two years before the birth of Christ—a Greek general, after a victorious campaign against the Persian rulers of Egypt, and a triumphant progress along the eastern boundary of the Delta (at that time the heart of the Egyptian kingdom), embarked in his galley on the Rosetta branch of the Nile, and swept down its stream to the Mediterranean Sea. Veering to the west, he steered along the African coast, and very soon came in sight of a small narrow island, called Pharos, lying at a short distance from the shore, and separated from it by a deep-sea channel capable of floating ships of heavy burden. This island served as a ready-made breakwater to the channel inside, and seemed intended to convert it into a natural harbour. It was on this very spot that the city of Alexandria sprung into existence, in obedience to the command of the victorious general already mentioned, who, indeed, was no less a personage than Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, the first of a line of Greek kings who reigned over Egypt for three hundred years.

On the island of Pharos was laid the foundation of a magnificent lighthouse. The centre of the island was connected with the mainland by means of a mole, or causeway, three-quarters of a mile long; and this causeway contributed additional security to the harbour. Warehouses, docks, and streets, interspersed with temples, palaces, and monuments, sprung into existence with inconceivable rapidity; and that which originally was nothing more than a poor little fishing village, called Rhacotis, was speedily converted into the greatest and most flourishing city of the world, the chief seaport of Egypt, distinguished alike for its commercial prosperity and for its influence as a seat of learning. Here was established the celebrated library of Alexandria, the resort of philosophers from all the surrounding countries—from Greece, from Rome, from Babylon, from Jerusalem, from Persia, and from Palestine: here creeds were argued and debated; here Athanasius and Arian disputed; here the Holy Bible was translated into Greek (the common language of the people), for the benefit of the Alexandrian Jews; here the Evangelist Mark preached the gospel of Christ; and here the groundwork was laid of a future religion of brotherly love, moderation, and peace.