Chapter I: 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