Chapter 30

The ancient Egyptians erected many obelisks in various parts of their country. These were monuments made from single pieces of hard stone, and in some cases reached a height of more than a hundred feet.

They were placed before gateways leading to the principal temples and palaces, and were covered with curious carvings in the stone, which represented the language of the people at that time.

It thus appears that their written language was not composed of letters and words alone, like our own; but that they used pictures of animals, including birds, human figures, and other devices of a singular nature, to express their thoughts and ideas.

Until the year 1799, it was impossible for the scholars of modern nations to read this strange language. In that year, however, a stone tablet was discovered by a French engineer, containing an inscription written in three languages.

One of these was in the characters of the ancient Egyptian and another in those of the Greek. Upon translating the Greek writing, it was discovered to be a copy of the inscription in the Egyptian language.

By comparing the words of these inscriptions with many others, the formation of this peculiar language was ascertained. It was then learned that the inscriptions on these obelisks were the records of memorable events, and the heroic deeds of their kings and heroes.

Many of these obelisks have been taken from their positions in Egypt and transported with great labor to other countries. Nearly two thousand years ago the Roman emperors began to carry them to the city of Rome. Altogether, nearly fifty of these remarkable monuments were taken away and set up in that city. They were then, as now, regarded as curious examples of the ingenuity of the ancients who first made them.

In later years, specimens were taken to Paris and London, and more recently one was brought to America, and set up in the Central Park, New York City.

This one belongs to the largest class, being nearly seventy feet high and about eight feet square at the base.

The accompanying cut shows the position of this obelisk as it appeared when standing near the city of Alexandria, Egypt.

The difficulty of transporting one of these huge stone columns is so great, that for a long time it was thought impossible to remove it from Egypt to this country.

In their large cities, the Egyptians built massive temples which were dedicated to religious ceremonies. Some of them, although now in ruins, are considered to be among the most remarkable productions of the ancients.

Tourists who nowadays sail up the River Nile and visit the site of the city of Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt, are struck with amazement at the vast ruins surrounding them.

On the eastern side of the Nile lies what is left of the temple of Karnak.

Imagine a long line of courts, gateways, and halls; here and there an obelisk rising above the ruins, and shutting off the view of the forest of columns!

This mass of ruins, some lying in huge heaps of stone, others perfect and pointed as when they were first built, is approached on every side by avenues and gateways of colossal grandeur.

The temple originally covered an area of two hundred and seventy acres, inclosed within a wall of brick. Parts of this wall are still visible, while the rest lies crumbled and broken.

It is difficult to realize the grand appearance of the thirty rows of stone columns standing within the wall. Some of them that are still perfect, are capped with enormous monolith capitals, and it is said that one hundred men could stand on one of them without crowding.

The hall itself is four hundred and twenty-two feet long by one hundred and sixty-five feet broad. The stones of the ceiling are supported by one hundred and thirty-four columns, which are still standing, and of which the largest measures ten feet in diameter, and more than seventy-two feet in height. They are covered with carvings and paintings whose colors are still bright, even after a lapse of forty centuries.

Gazing on what he sees around, the traveler becomes lost in an effort to form some idea of the grandeur and vastness of the original.

* * * * *

Directions for Reading.--Let pupils read one or more of the paragraphs in a whisper, so as to improve _articulation_.

Mark _rhetorical pauses_ in the last paragraph of the lesson.

Name _emphatic words_ in the same paragraph, and state whether the _rhetorical pauses _occur before or after these words.

* * * * *

Language Lesson.--Let pupils write _statements_, each containing one of the following words, used in such a manner as to show its proper meaning: _haul, hall; site, sight; piece, peace; our, hour; sum, some_.

Rules for the Analysis of a Subject.--Select such points as are necessary to make the treatment of the subject complete.

Add such points as will increase the interest felt in the subject.

Arrange the points in a natural and easy order.

Note.--In treating an historical subject, it is necessary to arrange the points in the order in which they occurred. In description, it is best to adopt some plan of treatment, and arrange the points according to the plan decided upon.

* * * * *

DEFINITIONS

OF NEW WORDS USED IN THIS BOOK, THAT DO NOT APPEAR AT THE HEADS OF THE LESSONS.

_A_

a board', _on board of_. ac cept', _take; receive_. ac'ci dents, _effects; unusual results_. ac cord'ing ly, _agreeably to a plan_. ac count', _statement of facts; bill_. ad mit'tance, _permission to enter; entrance_. ad vice', _opinion worthy to be followed; counsel_. af ford', _give; produce_. a'gen cy, _office of an agent; action_. aid, _help; assistance_. al to geth'er, _with united action; completely_. a mid', _in the midst of; surrounded by_. anxi' e ty (ang zi'e ty), _concern respecting some future event_. ap plause', _praise_. ap ply', _suit; agree_. arch'es, _places made of stone, brick, etc_. art, _skill_. a shamed', _affected by a feeling of shame_. as sist'ing, _helping; aiding_. as sure', _tell truly; make sure or certain_. at tempt', _try; make an effort_. at ten'tion, _care; notice_. av'e nues, _broad streets; openings_. a wait'ed, _waited for_. a ware', _informed_. awk'ward, _clumsy; ungraceful_. ay, _yes_.

_B_

bade, _said_. ban'dit, _robber_. ban'ner, _flag_. base, _lower part_. bid'ding, _command; order_. bil'lows, _large waves_. bon'ny, _handsome; beautiful_. bor'row, _to receive from another with the intention of returning_. bore, _carried_. bor'ders, _edges; outer parts_. braced, _took a firm stand_. braid'ed, _woven or twined together_ brick, _a body made of clay and water and hardened by fire_. bri'er, _a prickly plant or shrub_. brig, _a vessel with two masts, square-rigged_. brill'iant, _splendid; shining_. brim'ming, _full; nearly overflowing_. bris'tling, _standing erect_. bul'let, _small ball of lead_. bur'den, _that which is carried_. but'ter fly, _a winged insect of many colors_.

_C_

cack'ling, _sharp and broken in sounds_. ca nals', _water-courses made by man_. ca'per ing, _playing; dancing_. capped, _covered over at the top_. cap tiv'ity, _state of being a prisoner_. car'go, _burden; load_. cas'ters, _rollers or small wheels_. ceil'ing, _the upper surface of a room_. cen'ter, _the middle point of any thing_. cen'ti pedes, _a kind of insect having a great number of feet_. cent'u ry, _one hundred years_. chan'nel, _the regular course of a river_. cheat'ed, _taken unfair advantage of; robbed_. chose, _wished; desired_. cin'ders, _small pieces of coal or wood partly burned_. cir'cu lar, _round; shaped like a circle_. cli'mate, _state or condition of the air as regards heat, cold, and moisture_. clink, _sharp ringing sound_. clum'sy, _awkward; ungraceful_. clus'ter, _number of things of the same kind growing together_. cock'roach es, _insects with long, flattish bodies_. cof'fins, _cases in which dead bodies are placed_. coin, _piece of stamped metal used for money_. col'umn, _a dark cloud of regular shape; a shaft of stone_. com mand'ed, _had charge of; ordered_. com plaint', _expression of anger_. com plete', _entire; perfect_. con clude', _make up one's mind_. con'duct, _manner of action_. con fined', _kept within limits_. con nect'ed, _joined_. con'quered, _subdued; overcome_. con'quest, _act of taking by force_. con sid'er a bly, _in a manner worthy of notice_. con sid'er ing, _thinking; regarding_. con'stant ly, _all the time_. con'tact, _touching; meeting_. con tained', _held_. con'ti nent, _a great extent of land unbroken by water_. con tin'u ally, _all the time_. con verse', _talk_. cour' age, _boldness_. cow'ard, _one who lacks courage_. crack'ling, _sharp noises_. creek, _a small river or brook; a bay_. crew (kru), _the sailors who man a ship_. croak'ing, _making a hoarse noise_. crook'ed, _not straight_. crop, _what grows in a season_. cured, _made well_. cu ri os'i ty, _eager desire to find out something_. cur'rent, _motion of a river_. cus'tom, _way of acting; habit_. cut'ter, _small boat used by ships of war_.

_D_

dames, _women_. debt, _that which is owed_. de'cent, _fit; suitable_. de clare', _say with firmness_. deed, _act; that which is done_. de fence', _protection_. dense, _thick; close_. de scrip'tion, _an account_. de sert'ed, _left; given up_. de struc'tion, _ruin_. de ter'mine, _decided; resolved_. di'et, _what is eaten or drunk_. di rect'ly, _instantly; immediately_. dis ap point'ed, _grieved; filled with regret_. dis as'ters, _unfortunate events_. dis ease', _illness; sickness_. dis hon'est, _not honest; faithless_. dis miss' ing, _putting or sending away_. dis o beyed', _went contrary to orders_. dis pose', _sell; part with_. dis re gard', _lose sight of_. dis'trict, _part of a country; region_. di vide', _separate into equal shares or parts_. dome, _very high and broad roof_. drag, _pull; draw_. drays, _kinds of carts_. dread'ful, _full of terror_. drift, _borne along by the current of a river_. driz'zling, _falling in very small drops_. drowned, _deprived of life by water_. duck'ing, _plunging into water_.

_E_

earth'quake, _a shaking or trembling of the earth_. ech'oes, _is heard_. ef fects', _results_. ef'fort (furt), _struggle; attempt_. em brace', _clasp; grasp_. em'pire, _the country of an emperor_. en'e my, _one who hates another_. en gaged', _occupied; taken_. en'gines, _machines used for applying force_. en raged', _made very angry_. en tire', _whole_. ere, _before_. er'rand, _short journeys on business_. ex am'ple, _a pattern; a copy_. ex'cel lent (ek), _very good_. ex cep'tion, _that which is left out or omitted_. ex cite'ment, _intense feeling_. ex cla ma'tion, _a cry; that which is cried out_. ex'er cise, _bodily exertion_. ex hi bi'tion, _show; display_. ex pla na'tion, _that which makes clear_. ex ten'sive ly, _widely; largely_. ex'tra, _more than usual_.

_F_

fac'to ries, _places where things are made_. fare well', _good-by_. fa'vors, _kind acts_. fear'less ly, _without fear_. feast, _a joyous meal_. feat, _a difficult act_. fee'ble, _weak; sickly_. fer'ry, _a place to cross a river_. fig'ured, _ornamented with marks_. file, _a row of soldiers ranged behind one another_. flanks, _the fleshy parts of the sides of animals_. flee, _to run away_. flood, _great flow of water_. flour, _ground wheat_. flu'id, _water, or any liquid_. foot'men, _male servants_. for ma'tions, _things of certain shape or form_. for'tress, _a fort; a castle_. fort'une, _chance; luck_. frol'ic some, _merry; playful_. fu'el, _material for fire_.

_G_

gal'lop, _a rapid movement, as of horses_. gar'ret, _the upper room of a house_. gems, _precious stones_. gen'eral ly, _usually; commonly_. gleam'ing, _shining brightly_. glee, _joy; happiness_. glim'mer, _a faint light_. glis'ten ing, _sparkling; shining_. globe, _the earth; a round body_. glo'ri ous, _grand; splendid_. glos'sy, _smooth; shining_. gor'ges, _narrow passages_. gos'sip, _foolish talk_. gov'ern ment, _the power that controls a people_. grand, _large; imposing_. grum'bled, _complained; found fault with_. guard, _that which protects_. guests, _visitors_. gur'gling, _flowing in a noisy current_.

_H_

hatch, _the cover for an opening in a vessel's deck_. heath, _a meadow; cheerless tract of country_. hedg'es, _thickets of bushes_. hemmed, _shut in; surrounded_. hence forth', _hereafter_. he'ro, _a brave man_. high'way, _a public road_. hint, _something intended to give notice_. hitched, _tied; fastened_. hith'er, _in this direction_. hogs'head, _a large cask_. hoot'ing, _crying; shouting_. hor'ri ble, _dreadful; terrible_. howl'ing, _crying like a dog or wolf_. hub'bub, _a great noise; uproar_. husk, _the outside covering of certain fruits_. hust'le, _shake; push roughly_.

_I_

i de'a, _thought_. ill'-nat ured, _cross; bad-tempered_. im ag'ine, _think; consider_. im me'di ate ly, _without delay_. im pos'si ble, _not possible_. in de pend'ence, _the state of being free_. in for ma'tion, _news; knowledge_. in formed', _told; gave notice of_. in hab'i tants, _persons living in a place_. in'jured, _hurt; harmed_. in'stant ly, _at once; without loss of time_. in tent', _eager; anxious_. in vi ta'tions, _requests for one's company_. is'sue, _come forth; flow out_.

_J_

jag'ged, _having sharp points_. jew'els (ju'els), _precious stones_. jin'gling, _giving forth fine, sharp sounds_.

_K_

kern'el, _the eatable part of a nut; a little grain or corn_.

_L_

la'bor, _work; toil_. lapse, _passing away_. las'sie, _a young girl; a lass_. lat'ter, _last-named; nearer_. launched, _put into the water_ laws, _rules of action_. leath'er, _the skins of animals prepared for use_. ledge, _shelf of rocks_. lee'ward, _that part toward which the wind blows_. leop'ard, _a large animal of the cat kind_. lest, _for fear that_. lev'el, _smooth and flat; of equal height_. lin'ing, _inside covering_. lint, _linen scraped into a soft substance_. liq'uid, _any fluid, like water_. lisp'ing ly, _with a lisp_. liv'er y, _a peculiar dress_. load'stone, _a kind of magnetic ore_. loft'y, _very high_. low'ered, _let down_. lub'ber, _a heavy, clumsy fellow_. luck'y, _fortunate; meeting with good success_. lum'ber, _timber sawed or split for use; boards_.

_M_

main'ly, _mostly; chiefly_. mam'moth, _of great size_. man'aged, _controlled; brought to do one's wishes_. mane, _the long hair on a horse's neck_. man'tel, _a narrow shelf over a fire-place, with its support_. mar'gin, _edge; border_. mark'et, _a place where things are sold_. mark'ings, _marks; stamped places_. mean'time, _during the interval; meanwhile_. mel'low ing, _ripening; growing soft_. melt'ed, _changed to a liquid form by the action of heat_. mem'o ry, _the power of recalling past events_. mer'chants, _those who buy goods to sell again_. mil'i ta ry, _belonging to soldiers, to arms, or to war_. mis'er y, _great unhappiness; extreme pain_. mod'ern, _of recent date; belonging to the present time_. mon'ster, _something of unusual size, shape, or quality_. mon'u ments, _those things which stand to remind us of the past_. mound, _a small hill, natural or artificial_. mo'tion, _movement; change of position_. must'y, _spoiled by age; of a sour smell_.

_N_

neigh'bor, _a person who lives near one_. nerved, _strengthened; supplied with force_. night'-mare, _an unpleasant sensation during sleep_. nim'bly, _actively; in a nimble manner_.

_O_

o be'di ence, _willingness to submit to commands_. o bliged', _forced; compelled_. oc'cu pied, _taken possession of; employed_. of'fi cer, _one who holds an office_. off'ing, _a part of the sea at a distance from the shore_. om'ni bus es, _large, four-wheeled carriages_. on'ion (un'yun), _a root much used for food_. out'posts, _advanced stations, as of an army_. o ver come', _affected; overpowered by force_.

_P_

pace, _rate of movement_. pal'ace, _a splendid dwelling, as of a king_. par take', _share; take part in_. patch, _small piece of any thing, as of ground_. paus'es, _short stops; rests_. pave'ments, _coverings for streets, of stone or solid materials_. peb'bles, _small, roundish stones, worn by the action of water_. per cus'sion, _requiring to be struck; the act of striking_. per'fume, _scent or odor of sweet-smelling substances_. pe'ri od, _portion of time; an interval_. per'ished, _died; were destroyed_. per mis'sion, _the act of allowing; consent_. pic'nick ing, _having an outdoor party_. pier, _a landing-place for vessels_. pierce, _force a way into or through an object_. pil'lars, _columns; huge masses_. pin'cers, _jaws; pinchers_. pit'e ous, _fitted to excite pity; sorrowful_. pit'falls, _pits slightly covered for concealment_. plan ta'tions, _farms of great extent_. plots, _small pieces of ground, as garden plots_. plucked, _pulled out or off_. plunged, _dove; fell_. po'et, _a maker of verses_. pol'ished, _made bright and smooth by rubbing_. po lite', _obliging; pleasant in manner_. por'tion, _a part; that which is divided off_. prat'tling, _childish; talking like a child_. preach'ing, _speaking in public upon a religious subject_. pres'ent ly, _soon; in a short time_. prey, _any thing taken by force from an enemy_. pri'vate, _not publicly known; peculiar to one's self_. pro ces'sion, _regular movement, as of soldiers_. prod'ucts, _fruits; that which is brought forth_. proved, _turned out; showed the truth of_. pro vid'ed, _furnished; supplied with necessary articles_. puff'ing, _swelling with air; blowing in short, sudden whiffs_. pure, _clear; free from other matter_.

_Q_

quilt'ed, _stitched together with some soft substance between_. quo ta'tions, _portions of writings_.

_R_

range, _reach, as of a gun_. ranks, _regular rows or lines, as of soldiers_. ray, _light; a line of light or heat proceeding from a certain point_. read'i ly, _without trouble or difficulty; easily_. reap, _gather by cutting, as a harvest_. re call'ing, _thinking of; bringing back to mind_. re con sid'er, _think of again; change one's mind_. rec'ords, _stories; descriptions of events_. re gard'ed, _considered; looked at earnestly_. re late', _tell_. re lig'ious, _relating to religion_. re main'der, _the rest; what is left_. re mind', _call attention to for a second time_. re moved', _moved away; took off_. rent'ed, _gave possession of for pay_. re paired', _mended_. re placed', _put in place of another_. rep re sent', _picture; tell about in an effective manner_. re quire', _need; demand_. re sist', _stand against; oppose with force_. re spect', _regard_. re tire', _withdraw; turn back_. re volv'er, _a fire-arm with several chambers or barrels_. rid, _free_. ridg'es, _a long range of hills; steep places_. ri'fle, _a gun having the inside of the barrel grooved_. rind, _the outside coat, as of fruit_. risk, _danger; peril_. riv'u let, _a small river or brook_. rob'ber, _one who commits a robbery_. ro man'tic, _strange and interesting, as a romantic story_. rouse, _awake; excite_. ru'in, _that change of any thing which destroys it_. rust'y, _covered with rust on account of long disuse_.

_S_

sake, _purpose; reason_. sap, _the juice of plants_. sat'in, _a glossy cloth made of silk_. scene, _picture; view_. schol'ars, _men of learning; those who attend school_. scorch'ing, _burning slightly; affecting by heat_. scoured, _made clean and bright_. scram'bled, _moved with difficulty_. scum, _that which rises to the surface; worthless matter_. se'ri ous, _severe; sad in appearance_. serv'ice, _duty, as of a soldier_. se vere', _violent; hard_. shab'by, _worn to rags; poor in appearance_. shag'gy, _rough_. shal'lows, _places where the water is not deep_. shat'tered, _broken; broken at once into many pieces_. sheath, _a covering for a sword_. shep'herd, _one who has the care of sheep_. shield, _a broad piece of armor carried on the arm_. shock, _a sudden striking against_. shriek, _a sharp, shrill cry on account of surprise or pain_. siege, _a closing in on all sides of a fortified place_. sighs, _stifled groans; long breaths_. skein, _a number of threads of silk or yarn_. skel'e ton, _bony frame-work of the body_. skull, _the bony case which encloses the brain_. sleet, _frozen mist_. slopes, _declines by degrees_. slum'ber, _sleep_. sly'ness, _cunning; artfulness_. smites, _strikes, as with a weapon_. snort'ing, _forcing the air through the nose with a loud noise_. soaked, _moistened throughout_. soar, _fly high_. sought (sawt), _tried; went in search of_. spared, _saved from death or punishment_. splut'ter ing, _boiling noisily; speaking hastily_. spout, _run out with force_. sprained, _injured by straining_. spurred, _urged; encouraged_. stale, _not new; not fresh_. stee'ples, _high towers ending in a point_. stern, _hind part of a boat_. stock, _supply on hand_. stout, _large; broad_. strain'ing, _exerting to the utmost_. strict, _severe; exact_. stub'by, _short and thick_. sub'stan ces, _bodies; matters_. suc ceed'ed, _obtained the object desired_. suf'fered, _felt pain_. sul'try, _very hot; burning_. sup port', _prop; pillar_. sus pect'ed, _thought; considered quite probable_. sus pi'cious, _indicating fear; inclined to suspect_.

_T_

tab'let, _a flat piece of stone_. tac'tics, _disciplined movements_. tem'per, _way of acting_. tem'ple, _a place for worship_. ten'drils, _tender branches of plants_. ter'ri fied, _filled with fear_. ter'ri to ry, _a large tract of land_. ter'ror, _fear; dread_. thieves _persons who steal_. thirst, _strong desire for drink_. thith'er, _to that place_. thorns, _woody points on some trees and shrubs_. thor'ough, _complete; perfect_. thread'bare, _worn out_. thrives, _prospers; flourishes_. till'er, _the bar used to turn the rudder of a boat_. ti'tle, _a name_. tor'rid, _violently hot_. trace, _mark; appearance_. tract, _a region_. treb'les, _the higher parts in music_. trick'led, _flowed in drops_. trop'ic al, _belonging to the tropics_. tuft, _a cluster or bunch_. tun'nels, _passages; openings_. twinge, _a sudden, sharp pain_. twink'ling, _a quick movement_. twit'ter ing, _a trembling noise_.

_U_

uncom'forta ble, _causing uneasiness; not pleasant_. un der neath', _below; beneath_. un der take', _attempt_. un ea'si ness, _want of ease_. un grate'ful, _not thankful_. u nit'ed, _joined; combined_. un man'ly, _not worthy of a man_. un ru'ly, _not submissive_. un scarred', _not marked_. urg'ing, _encouraging_. ut'most, _to the furthest point_.

_V_

val'u a ble, _of great value_. vel'vet, _a soft material woven from silk_. ver'min, _little animals or insects_. vic'tims, _persons destroyed in pursuit of an object_. vic'tor, _one who conquers_. vi'o lence, _force; power_. virt'u ous, _inclined to do right_.

_W_

wa'ges, _what is paid for services_. wa'ter break (breakwater), _that which breaks the force of water_. weap'on, _any thing to be used against an enemy_. whence, _from which or what place_. whiff, _a quick puff of air_. whith'er, _to what place_. wig, _a covering for the head, made of hair_. wine, _a liquor made from grapes_. wits, _powers of the mind_. wrig'gled, _moved or twisted_. wrung, _distressed; twisted about_.

_Y_

yawns, _opens wide_. youth'ful, _young; belonging to early life_.