The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 01 : $b Prolegomena; Egypt, Mesopotamia
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 01 : $b Prolegomena; Egypt, Mesopotamia
World history
Numerous admirable experiments in sculpture have come down to us,
above all the likeness of Ramses II preserved in Turin. The marvellous
and careful work of the relief in the temple of Seti I at Abydos has
already been mentioned; a certain grandeur must not be denied to the
composition of the great war picture which represents the events of the
Kheta war in the year V of Ramses II,--the mustering of the troops, the
life in camp, the advance of the enemy, and the battle of Kadesh. The
king had the picture carried out in coloured relief three times, in
the Ramesseum, in Luxor, and in Abu Simbel. Besides these, there are
also numerous examples of every kind of art-work, even to the simplest
steles, often very roughly worked.
Some things have come to us of the literature of the times; chiefly
the poem which Ramses II had composed and written on the walls of the
temples to commemorate his battle with the Kheta. It is a work which,
in spite of its official character, is not wanting in life and poetry.
There are also many narratives, such as the celebrated tale of the two
brothers, written under Meneptah. Above all, there are the numerous
epistles, rhetorical studies, descriptions of the power of the king
and his works, the praise of learning, hymns, moral exhortations, also
unmeaning letters which evidently served as models for real letters
and reports. Besides these collections, we have also many authentic
letters, reports, acts, etc., which give us much information concerning
the life and doings of the Egyptians in the thirteenth century B.C.
If we cast an eye on the religious life, we clearly recognise that
we are here dealing with an epoch in which heretic endeavours are
completely suppressed, and orthodoxy asserts its unconditional sway.
The religious literature of the time became characterised fairly early.
At every turn we meet with the formulas of the victorious esoteric
doctrine. The numerous temples show the increase of the power of the
priests. All natural relations were restrained and stifled by religion.
War was carried on by order, and in the name of, Amen, so as to
increase his subjects and to bring him in rich booty. The inscriptions
relate very little concerning the actions of the kings, but a great
deal concerning the conversations which they had with the deities, and
how they “cast all lands at their feet.” The eldest son of Ramses II,
Khamuas, became high priest of Ptah in Memphis, and carefully looked
after the worship of the sacred Apis: he caused the celebrated tombs of
Apis, the Serapeum of Memphis, to be built. By those who came after, he
was looked on as a great philosopher and magician.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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