Crania Ægyptiaca: Or, Observations on Egyptian Ethnography Derived from Anatomy, History and the MonumentsMorton, Samuel George
History
Crania Ægyptiaca: Or, Observations on Egyptian Ethnography Derived from Anatomy, History and the Monuments
Morton, Samuel George
Craniology -- Egypt; Ethnology -- Egypt
The features of the king are strictly Pelasgic; and the facial angle,
(allowing for the unnatural elevation of the ear,) measures upwards of
eighty degrees. It is also remarkable that this head is strikingly
like those of the Ptolemaic sovereigns of Egypt, and especially
corresponds in every feature with the portrait of Ptolemy Euergetes
II., although eighteen centuries elapsed between their respective
reigns. We therefore recur to our proposition, that whether this
effigy be a portrait or not, it at least proves that the artists of
those primeval times derived their ideas of the human countenance from
Caucasian models.
The next of these heads which can be identified with its epoch, is
that of Amunoph I. This again presents a fine cast of European
features; such, in fact, as would embellish a Grecian statue; and yet
this monarch reigned in the valley of the Nile, and held his court in
Memphis more than eighteen hundred years before the birth of Christ.
(Plate XIV., Fig. 1.) And if from this remote period we trace the
physiognomy of the kings and queens of the subsequent reigns, we
perceive among them many equally beautiful models, some of which are
not inferior to the _beau ideal_ of classic art. Take, for example,
the heads of Menepthah and Rameses III., in the character of
priest,—Rameses X., Rameses XI., and Amenmeses,—the queens Nofre-Ari,
and Nitocris, and the daughter of Phisham (or Pihmé,) the regent
priest, and let me ask among what people we shall find more graceful
facial lines, or more varied intellectual expression? (Plate XIV.)
It may be suggested that in some of these heads the Pelasgic character
is not wholly unmixed, and especially in reference to Amunoph the
First. In this instance there is something of the Egyptian, or, as
Professor Blumenbach would express it, the Hindoo physiognomy. I wish
it to be understood, however, that I do not assert all these
sovereigns to have been of the Pelasgic or Japetic stock; for some of
them, as Rameses the Third, and Menepthah the First, are on other
occasions represented with decidedly Egyptian features. These mixed
and varied Caucasian lineaments may perhaps have been derived from the
antecedent Hellenic kings, who in giving place again to the native
Egyptians, must doubtless have left their national characteristics
more or less blended with those of the indigenous families.
The following heads, which are all of strictly Caucasian proportions,
are _fac simile_ copies from Rosellini. They are derived from groups
of figures engaged in various mechanical and other operations, as
represented in the tombs and temples of Thebes, and various other
parts of Egypt.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account