black land
(Upper Egypt), and to the red land
(Lower Egypt). The sun, firm in his greatness in heaven, enlightens you, O ye kings (of the world). He vivifies[1] the breath of your nostrils (while ye live); he dries “
: your mummies (when ye are dead). Your eyes are dazzled (
weep) by my brightness, O ye of the chief race of men.”
The appearance of the race of men next in order, varies considerably in costume and complexion in the several repetitions of this picture which occur in the tombs of different kings; but all the copies agree in representing a people of much lighter complexion than the Egyptians, with blue eyes, and the hair inclining to red or flaxen, or, in some cases, black. We shall hereafter have the opportunity of identifying these races with the inhabitants of Canaan, and of the regions to the eastward of that country. The name which is common to them in all the copies of this picture
reads—ϣⲙⲟⲩⲉ,[2] in which we at once recognise the Shemites, the descendants of the patriarch Shom, who occupied the country immediately to the eastward of Canaan, and were confounded by the Egyptians with the inhabitants of that country, probably, because they all spoke dialects of the same language. The inscription is—“the sun drives ye away, O ye who are named the ⲛⲁⲙⲟⲟⲩ.[3] The sun is unto you as the divine vengeance,[4] that he may
- ↑ ⲥϥⲥϣ. This word is not in the Coptic texts. The meaning is indicated by the egg which determines the group, and by the context.
- ↑ See Onomasticon.
- ↑ Vide infra.
- ↑
Lit. The lion-headed goddess ϥⲁⲓⲕⲱⲧ, the fire-bearer, the Egyptian Nemesis.
