Coterie Paper: Essay on the 12th Dynasty of Egypt

              Item #1: Essay- The 12th Dynasty, Egypt by Helen Mathews Rice (12/14/1897)

Start Transcription:  
The 12th dynasty is the best known chronologically of any before the Greek times.  The high distinction of this dynasty does not rest so much on the greatness of the kings as on the wisdom of their government at home and the glory of their victories abroad.  Pharaoh was the common title of native kings of Egypt.  Eight kings reigned during this period. Amenemhat [sic] I is the name of the ruler who greets us on the threshold of this dynasty as the leader of his race.  A memorial stone now in London bears witness that the powers of the king extended beyond the limits of the empire.  He was the founder of the temple of Amen at Thebes, where his own portrait [end p. 1] executed in rose colored granite from Aswan bore witness to his work.  Memphis, also the Fayum [sic] and other places were chosen to be adorned with statues and temples.  Amenemhat [sic] followed the ancient custom of the Memphite kings, and built himself, for “eternal dwelling” his own pyramid, with the name of Ka nefer [sic]—translated  “beautiful and high”. This Pharaoh also carefully provided, during his lifetime, a stone sarcophagus as the receptacle for his boy.  He reigned the last ten years of his life in common with his son Usertesen the I which commenced 1740 B.C. The identification that he is the Pharaoh of Joseph is received from a hieroglyphic inscription of a famine that occurred during his reign, and from [end p. 2] Gen. 41.41.43 vrs.  Pharaoh took off his ring from his finger and put it upon Joseph’s hand and arrayed him in vestures and fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck.  And he made him to ride in the chariot which he had, and they cried before him, Bow the knee and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt”. Some insight into Egyptian customs during his reign is derived from the story of Joseph with whom he is supposed to be coerjal [sic].  The objects taken thither by the Ishmalites [sic] consisting of spices, balm, and myrrh which were intended for luxury as well as religion.  The subsequent mention of the officers of Pharaoh’s household.  The state allowed to Joseph, the portion of land allotted to the priest-hood [end p. 3] and other similar institutions and customs show the advanced state of society at this early epoch.  It was during the reign of Usertesen I [sic] that the temple of Heliopolis was founded and one of the obelisks bearing his name attests the skill to which they had attained in the difficult art of sculpturing granite.  Of these various works the best known is the obelisk of pink granite which still stands upon the site of Heliopolis, lifting itself above the verdure of the corn fields into the soft sleepy air, and pointing with silent finger to Heaven.  This obelisk is the earliest monument of the kind.  Another of the same material indicates the existence of a temple erected by this monarch in the province of lercodilopolis [sic]  [end p. 4].  It rises to a height of 66 ft. is formed of the most beautiful rose colored granite, and contains a deeply cut hieroglyphical [sic] legend, exactly repeated on each of its four sides.  But a far more interesting memorial of Usurtasen [sic] I thank his heliopitan [sic] obelisk is a work which now lies broken and prostrate, on the soil of the Fayoum [sic].  Considerably inferior in size, since its height did not exceed forty feet this monument exels [sic] the other in the variety and the artistic value of the sculptures which are engraved upon it.  This Pharaoh is represented, on the upper portion of the only broad face which is visible in the act of worshipping twenty of the principal deities.  At Thebes [end p. 5] Usurtasen [sic] continued the construction of the great temple of Ammon [sic] which his father had begun, and is thought to have completed the remarkable cell which formed the inner sanctuary on Holy of Holies in the temple as it existed at a later date.  In the Berlin Museum there is a remarkable document on parchment, which make the fact certain that Usertsen I [sic] at the very beginning of his reign, occupied himself with buildings at the temple of the city of the sun.  This parchment informs us how, in the third year of his reign, he assembled the first officials of his court to hear their opinion and counsel as to his intention of raising worthy buildings.  One of the celebrated [end p. 6] rock-tombs has preserved some historical memorials of Usertsen I [sic].  It is the same tomb which always attracts attention of the visitor by the form of the pillar by the design of the front, and by the peculiar richness of its pictures Usurtasen [sic] coveted the possession of the gold region, from which Nubia [sic]  derived its name, and with a goodly comp any started south along the course of the Nile, and came into hostile collision with the Kashi [sic] or Eushites [sic], who now for the first time make their appearance in Egyptian history, and gave them a severe defeat. Read Rawkinson [sic]  p. 157. Very little is said about the death of any of the kings.  The remains of a colonnade made in the great temple [end p. 7] and the remains of a colon-made in the great temple of Karmak prove as well as the title, “lord of the upper and lower country” accomp [sic] anything his name that he was sole monarch of the Thebaid [sic]  and Lower Egypt.  Thebes was the seat of sovereign power.  This king reigned 6 yrs. with his son who was Ammenemhat II [sic]. This prince exhibited from his earliest youth high military capacity, and was remarkable at once for his constructions and conquests.  Traces indicative of his religious zeal and architectural eminence are shown at Thebes, Abydos, Heliopolis, the Fayoum [sic] and the Delta.  A stone memorial discovered in Abydos has preserved to us some remarkable notices about the journey which was undertaken to explore [end p. 8] employed in inhospitable desert, and the erection of a temple and a station to command the wells and to serve the abode in the Uradee Jasoos (?) proved that he was mindful of their spiritual as well as temporal protection.  The quarries of the Kossayr (?) road were then opened, and also the emerald mines of Gebel Gabara [sic].  The wars which took place at that time are recorded in a tablet at Uadee [sic]  Jasoos [sic]  bearing the date of the 28th yr of Amememhat II [sic].  This last is a very important fact as it shows that the arms of Egypt already extended into some of the very same countries afterward noticed among the conquests of the Pharaohs [end p. 9].  He continued the war against the black races of the south, while at the same time he extended the sphere of the Egyptian operations in the north east.  He worked the mines of the Uady [sic]  Magharah [sic], repaired the tombs of his predecessors executed repairs of public buildings.  One of the most remarkable and richly adorned tombs of his erection is at Beni [sic] Hassan, this kind reigned 38 yrs. and Usertesen II [sic] is in power, Egypt was flourishing and was sought by immigrants who quitted their own less favored countries to fix their abode in the fertile valley of the Nile.  Among those coming is recorded a family of Amu from Midian [sic] who to the number [end p. 10] of thirty seven entered Egypt in a body, carrying their little ones upon asses and sought the protection of the reigning Pharaoh through his minister.  Various circumstances of the scene illustrate the arrival in Egypt of the sons of Jacob.  These people brought a present of the eye paint called mest’em [sic], the paint was an article much in request, as the Egyptians used it to blacken their eye brows.  This king distinguished himself by his power and wisdom.  His people believed then honored him best by regarding him as a god to whom they built temples and offered sacrafices [sic].  His martial deeds began by expeditions against the inhabitants of the negro land Cush.  There are a great many [end p.11] memorials and inscriptions dedicated to the memory of this king which originate from officials who lived in his reign and were employed on the public works.  Usertesen II [sic] reigned 29 yrs. A third Usertesen [sic] now mounted the throne and was regarded by the Egyptians as the greatest of their early kings.  He was the king who broke the Ethiopio [sic] power and permanently attached to Egypt the tract of land know as Nubia [sic].  He established two forts just below the 2nd cataract, one on either side of the Nile, and set up two pillars with inscriptions warning the black races that they were not to proceed further northward, except with the object of importing into Egypt cattle, oxen, goats or asses.  His fame was derived [end p. 12] from his having settled Ethiopia, also the conquest of Ethiopia is attributed unto him.  The forts built by this king to protect his conquests are still visible on either bank of the Nile a little below the 2nd cataract.  At the head of disciplined troops he gained repeated victories.  His reign consisted of 38 yrs.  He was buried in one of the brick pyramids at Dashoor [sic].  His successor was Amenemhat III [sic] he held the throne for 42 yrs.  One of the great deeds he accomplished was, taking advantage of a natural depression in the desert to the west of Egypt, extending over an area of 400 sq. miles.  He formed in the south eastern part of this space a vast artificial basin or lake known as Lake Mocris [sic] read Rawkinson P. 170. This king was succeeded [end p. 13] Amenemhat IV[sic], the Turin papyrus sayes [sic] he reigned 9 yrs and 3 mo. He worked the same mines that had been in operation, and the labors of the workman were still rewarded by rich yields of copper and mafka [sic] the egyptian [sic] for emerald.  The work of this dynasty is among the finest. The sculptures of Amenemhat I [sic]. Usertesen II [sic] and the tomb chamber of Amenemhat III [sic] are as perfect in workmanship as anything wrought by man.  The private works of this time are fine and substantial.  About 160 mi. from Cairo is an important monumental work in the form of the tombs near the hamlet of Beni Hassan from which they are named.  On approaching the entrance to these tombs one would sup- [end p. 14] post, that he was looking upon some modern Greek specimen of Doric architecture. Several fluted columns bear up a plain architecture which is over hung directly by the cliffs.  The tombs are wonderfully interesting and important for the large number of paintings they contain. The tombs are excavated from the solid rock and are double the northernmost possessing the Doric columns spoken of and the southern columns of a lighter style representing four pap?? Stalks or stems crowned with a capital of four lobes, all united solidly to form stone pillars.  The doric [sic] pillars are 16 ft 8 in in height and 5 ft in diameter.  The paintings in these [end p. 15] tombs have revealed more of the ancient daily life of Egypt than has been obtained from any other tombs in the valley.  The paintings allude to almost every phase of common life, both ordinary and extraordinary.  The style of execution is exceedingly life-like and masterly.  The reliefs are remarkable for harmony-elegance and delicacy of workmanship.  Intellectual life flourished at this period: schools were established all over the country, and a high tone of thought prevailed in the temple colleges.  The human form, alike in the statues and sculptures in relief, is distinguished by broad thick set proportions.  The human figure preserves this figure till near the end [end p. 16] of the 12th Dynasty, from this time forward they become more slender and taller, which is due to the influence of the soil and climate P. 173 [sic]. And thus a dynasty of universal vigor and energy expires amid clouds and darkness, nor is it until a considerable space has passed that the role of history once more unfolds to us events of interest and personages of importance.  It is much to be hoped that further explorations may reveal to us of this brilliant age and that monuments of other kings[page damage] this dynasty may be discovered.  Meeting held [page damage] Helen M-Rice Dec [page damage] 97 [end p. 17] 
Noted on back of p. 17: Coterie- at the home of Mrs. Seward—Helen Mathews Rice Dec-14-97 Dec 14, 1987