‘This second Mercury, having before him a considerable stock of Observations provided by the Priests, and several others of his own, compos’d all, as Jamblichus from Sulencus and Manetho reports, into many thousands of Volumes, that is, of so many Leaves roul’d up of Books, afterwards made of these Volumes. Clemens Alexandrinus, Strom. 6. says, There were Forty two which were useful; six of them appertaining to Medicine, viz. of Anatomy, Diseases, Surgery, Pharmacy, particular Medicines for the Eyes, infected with many Diseases in Egypt, and lastly for Women; which Books became, as may be gather’d from Diodorus Siculus, as it were the Statute-Law in Egypt, for the practice in Physic in after Times. |The great establisher of Magic.| Yet in all these Books, it is certain, with the physical Account of Things, there was a mixture of Magic; the Author of them being the great Establisher of this Art. Now if some Chronologers are not mistaken when they say Armais was the King who was drown’d in the Red-Sea, then this same Armais, that is, Hermes Trismegistus must be the very Man, who by his Magicians contended with Moses; and was therefore rais’d up, the more remarkably to confound them at his fall. It is manifest the Books now and antiently extant, under this Hermes’s Name, are all of this Nature; which tho’ not written by him, but by certain of the later Egyptian Priests, are believ’d by Jamblichus, Porphirius and others, faithfully to represent his Sense. Therefore Celsus, also quoted by Origen against him, Lib. 8. tells us, as a piece of Egyptian Philosophy, in his Time current, That the Body of Man was divided into Thirty six Parts; each of which was possess’d with a God or Dæmon, which being call’d upon by the Magi, cur’d the Diseases of the parts they possess’d. And as they appropriated several unto one Man, so, says Herodotus, did they to every Beast one; to all, says Justin, but the Hog. And by the Author of the Book entitul’d, Trismegisti Asclepias, the same in effect is said of Plants and Stones, viz. That there was τὸ Θεῖον, something of Divinity in them all; nor was the magical Ceremony laid aside in Galen’s Time, as appears by what he reports of one Pamphilus, Qui ad Præstigiaturas Ægyptias versus fuit, junctis Incantationibus quas obmurmurat, cum Herbas colligunt. Also the Author of the Book, De Medicamentis Expertis, ascrib’d to Galen, speaking of the Egyptian Priests, has this passage, Laudamus Medicos Altarium, Ægyptiorum puta, qui curant cum Cibis Sacrificiorum.
‘Nor did magical Medicine keep within Egypt only, but was thence spread abroad into most other Countries, partly as they fell under the Government of some of their conquering Kings, and partly as Egypt was the great Academy, to which the Philosophers of other Nations made their resort, and whence Physicians were often call’d unto Foreign Princes, who, with their physical, carry’d abroad their magical Skill. The younger Apollo was Author of Divination in Greece, as the elder was in Egypt. Also in Epidaurus, Cous and other Places, his Temple was always full of sick People; as was likewise that of Æsculapius.
‘Medicines were term’d Pharmaca, which antiently signify’d Poysons, because it was believ’d, unless they were magically us’d, they would do more hurt than good; therefore Jarchas, in his Life of Apollonius, tells us also, They who were esteem’d Sons of Æsculapius had made but small proficiency in the Art of Medicine, Nisi Æsculapius, juxta Patris sui Vaticinia, Morbis proficua Remedia composuisset. Nor were the Oriental Nations without their Teraphim, a sort of constellated Images, by them so call’d, and us’d, among other purposes, in the cure of Diseases; from whence θεραπεύω, signifies both to worship and heal. Eusebius also in his Prol. ad Lib. 4. Præp. Evang. reduces all to Theology, as in Egypt, so among the rest of the Gentiles: In Gentilium Theologia Civili, continentur Oracula, Responsa, & Curæ Morborum. So true is that Saying of Celsus, concerning Hippocrates in his Præface: Primus Disciplinam hanc, Medicinalem puta, ab studio Sapientiæ separavit: that is, from magical Theology, the reputed Wisdom of those Times.’
That this was the antient state of Medicine in Egypt, and all over the World, is farther apparent from the Hebrews, being peremptorily requir’d to expel from among them, all such as practis’d the same, Deut. 18. 10, 11. Those who Sacrifice their Children, as the Phænicians did for a Remedy against the Plague, as also Diviners, Observers of Times, Enchanters, Witches, Charmers, Consulters of Familiar Spirits, Wizards and Necromancers; so many kinds of Magicians, who among other Things, undertook the Cure and Prognostics of Diseases, so many several ways, particularly the Charmer, v. 11. term’d by the Septuagint, φαρμακὸς ἐπαείδων ἐπαοιδήν one that us’d Medicines and Charms together: |Magic us’d in Embalming.| Thus was Magic so generally mix’d by the Egyptians with their Physic, that the very Dead that were Embalm’d were not free from it. This appears from the various Ornaments of their Mummies, being adorn’d with painted Characters and Hieroglyphics, and defended by several little Idols or Averruncal Gods. Some of these were plac’d within the Bodies, as suppos’d, perhaps to preserve them from Corruption; and others were sow’d to their out-sides, plac’d upon their Tombs, or in their Burial-Vaults, there to guard them from external Injuries, and by the various Shapes they represented, to deter Men from violating them; but of these we shall speak more particularly in another place.
Yet however Superstitious and Idolatrous the antient Egyptians were in Magical Physic, they were soon convinc’d of the inefficacy of such Practices, therefore study’d other Methods and Physical Remedies, which might prove more prevalent; and altho’ they did not immediately leave off the former, yet was it to the latter only their admirable success in Physic was owing. In like manner are we to believe the preservation of dead Bodies was not effected by those Charms or Idols, found about them, but purely perform’d by an extraordinary Skill in Medicine and Anatomy, and particularly in that exquisite Art of Embalming. In this, that they might be the better instructed, and more thoroughly knowing, they took such infallible Methods, as none could hardly be ignorant of that part they were to perform; for they had these several Persons belonging to and employ’d in Embalming, |Persons how qualify’d for Embalming.| each performing a distinct and separate Office, viz. a Designer or Painter, a Dissector or Anatomist, a Pollinctor or Apothecary, an Embalmer or Surgeon, and a Physician or Priest, which last was a great Philosopher, and taught and instructed the others in these Ceremonies, as we shall shew in its proper Place.
By this means, not only the Art of Embalming, but likewise every branch of Physic, flourish’d and came to the greatest perfection, whereas, in our Age, every Art grows the more imperfect as it incroaches on another, and the civil Wars now a Days between Physicians, Surgeons and Apothecaries have been the chief occasions of reducing Physic to so low an ebb; for whilst these have been fighting for each others Countries, the Monarchy was usurp’d by Quacks and Undertakers, who are the only Vultures that attend such Battles, in order to prey immediately on the vanquish’d Enemy. Now did every one keep to his own Province, as they did formerly in Egypt, there would be none of these Divisions among us, but every Art would flourish and stand upon its own Basis, and yet, I assure you, it would be found more difficult to understand, and perform one Art rightly, than to acquire a superficial Knowledge of many Things, in other Businesses, which relate little to the Purpose. |No Quacks or Undertakers in Egypt.| To prevent these, there were in Egypt no Pretenders to Physic in general, nor any Artists who medl’d with anothers Province, each keeping strictly to his own, as Herodotus assures us in his Euterpe, where he tells us, some only profess’d curing Diseases of the Head, others of the Ears; some were Oculists, others Tooth-Drawers; some for particular Diseases in Men, and others for those in Women. In a word, there were Physicians for every Disease, but none pretended to more than one. The same thing was observ’d in other Arts, for better maintaining of which, a Law was enacted, that if any Person exercis’d more than one Profession or Trade, he should incur the most grievous of Punishments; and King Amasis also made a Law, That such as had no Profession or Trade at all, or did not yearly make appear, to the Governors of the Provinces how they lawfully got their Livelihoods, should be punish’d with Death. This Law Solon borrow’d of the Egyptians, and carry’d to Athens, where he had it put in practice: Is it not therefore a shame for us, who, no doubt, esteem our selves a much more polite People than those Heathens were, to suffer a sort of Men call’d Undertakers, to monopolize the several Trades of Glovers, Milliners, Drapers, Wax-Chandlers, Coffin-Makers, Herald-Painters, Surgeons, Apothecaries, and the like.
Art can never flourish where ’tis assum’d by every ignorant Pretender, nor be brought to any perfection, while practis’d by illiterate Persons. We may as well expect one, that has never seen a Campaign, should understand Military Discipline; or one that has never been at Sea, Command and Steer a Ship rightly, as that an Upholsterer, a Taylor, Joyner, or the like Undertaker, should be well skill’d in the misterious Art of Embalming. These are the present Grievances, as well in Sciences as Trade, and ’till such Time as Quacks and Undertakers, Hawkers, Pedlers and Interlopers, and all such Persons, as were not brought up in the Emploiment they profess, be remov’d; we can think no otherwise but that Art must sink, Trade be ruin’d, and every public Office, as well at Court as in the Country, be ill serv’d: For whence came every Art and Science, nay all kinds of Learning, to flourish so mightily in Egypt? And how came it to pass the Egyptians so much excell’d, and perform’d more wonderful Works, than all the World beside, but only by strictly confining every Artist to his particular Emploiment, and punishing all that any ways interfer’d with another? But lest we may seem to dwell too long on this Subject, which we think also more convenient to be discours’d of in another part of this Book, we will next proceed to consider, besides their Pharmacy, the extraordinary Skill of the Egyptians in other Branches of Physic, such as Anatomy, Chymistry, Surgery, &c.
That the Egyptians must needs understand the natural Oeconomy of the Body, appears in that they were the first that employ’d their Industry in searching out the inward Nature of Animals by Anatomy, and first open’d Human Bodies to discover their respective Diseases. Olaus Borrichius, Lib. de Ægypt. Sap. p. 141. brings many Arguments to prove their Knowledge in Anatomy; and among them, this out of Aulus Gellius, Lib. 10. c. 10. Veteres Græcos, annulum habuisse in Digito sinistræ Manus, qui minimo est proximus: Romanos quoque Homines aiunt sic plerumq; Annulis usitatos; Causam esse hujus rei Appion in Libris Ægyptiacis hanc dicit; Quod insectis apertisq; Humanis Corporibus, ut mos in Ægypto fuit, quas Græci Ἀνατομὰς apellant repertum est Nervum quendam tenuissimum, ab eo uno Digito, de quo diximus, ad Cor Hominis pergere ac pervenire: Propterea non inscitum visum esse, eum potissimum Digitum tali Honore decorandum, qui continens & quasi connexus esse in principatu Cordis videretur. That the antient Greeks wore a Ring on that Finger of the left Hand, which is next to the little one: And it is likewise said of the Romans, that they for the most part wore their Rings in the same manner; of which Appion, in his Egyptian Treatises, gives this Reason; That the Egyptians in Dissecting, and opening Human Bodies, which was a Custom among them, call’d by the Greeks Anatomy, found a certain slender Nerve, deriv’d from their Finger above-mention’d, which crept along ’till it inserted it self into the Heart; wherefore they thought convenient that Finger should chiefly be adorn’d with such Honour. Macrobius, as quoted by Polydor Virgil, de Rerum Inventione, p. 140. affirms likewise, Quod ille Digitus annulo ornatur, quia ab eo Nervus quidam ad Cor pertinet. Also in Saturnius, Lib. 7. c. 13. Disarius, in consulting the Egyptian Books of Anatomy, says, he found the same. Orus adds, that for this Reason the Egyptian Priests anointed that Finger with sweet Odours; which Doctrine however, Conringius says, deserves rather to be laugh’d at than confuted; nevertheless, Borrichius thinks there may perhaps be a more secret consent between that Finger and the Heart, than young Anatomists are aware of, therefore endeavours to prove the same, p. 143. However, says he, we need not wonder if the Egyptians were sometimes in the dark, when at this Day the Anatomy of the Greeks is so empty; and surely ’twas as easie a matter for the Greeks to have added something more solid, to the Egyptian Anatomy, as for us Moderns to have so much improv’d it after them. But nothing was invented and perfected at the same Time, therefore we must not imagine the Anatomy of the Egyptians to have been so compleat as ours is now. Yet he that shall think the wise Egyptians could be so absurd as to believe the Heart Annually increas’d the weight of two Drams, for the space of Fifty Years, and afterwards gradually decreas’d for Fifty more, must needs be guilty of too great credulity, since none can doubt but that Persons of all Ages were open’d by them, in order to Embalming, and therefore such like Follies must of necessity have been refuted by ocular Inspection and Demonstration. That which Conringius chiefly builds upon, is, that all the Anatomy of the Egyptians was only instituted for the use of Embalming; yet, which is likewise confuted by Pliny, Lib. 19. c. 5. where speaking of the Phthiriasis, he says, The Cure thereof was found out in Egypt, Kings being accustom’d to Dissect dead Bodies, for that purpose: The words are plain, In Ægypto Regibus Corpora mortuorum ad scrutandos Morbos insectantibus. This I look upon to be the chief intent of their Anatomy, and not the use of Embalming, since, if we may believe Diodorus Siculus, those who were the Dissectors very probably understood no more than what they were directed to perform by the Priest and Scribe. The same Author assures us it was even a very unthankful Office to perform that; for no sooner had they finish’d their Incision, but they were forc’d to run away, the By-standers most commonly flinging Stones at them, as abhorring to see them exercise such seeming Cruelty on their Friend or Relation. Yet this does not disprove their Skill or Practice of Anatomy for other Purposes, since, besides the foregoing Arguments, we are assur’d they were well acquainted with Ostiology; |And Ostiology.| for Galen, Lib. 1. De admin. Anatom. advising as well ocular Inspection as reading good Authors, says, It is best to be done at Alexandria, where Physicians, expose to the sight of their Auditors, the Discipline of the Bones. On the contrary, tho’ the Egyptian Embalmers did not rightly understand Anatomy, yet is that Art nevertheless very requisite to be known, by those who would be thoroughly acquainted with the more exquisite Methods of the Moderns; for hereby they may be instructed how to keep the Muscles, make Skeletons, and prepare Schemes of the Nerves, Arteries and Veins, as likewise to preserve the Brain, Lungs, Stomach, Bowels, Uterus, and other curious Preparations, which serve instead of Books or Pictures for the Instruction of young Pupils, and refreshing the Memories of more experienc’d Practicers. In a word, I may justly say, to Anatomy are owing those rare Inventions of Steno, Swammerdam, Ruysh, Blanchard, Bilsius and others, for their new Methods of Embalming.
As Chymistry is said to have had its Rise in Egypt, so is it also generally suppos’d to have been invented by Hermes. But that this Art was somewhat different from what we at this Day understand by that Denomination, appears from the Etymology of the Word, which the Greeks call, χημεία, ἡ τοῦ ἀργύρου καὶ χρυσοῦ κατασκευή, al. χυμία, i. e. Fusio Metallorum; præfixo artic. |The Art of making Gold and Silver.| Arab, Al, Alchimy, Chymistry; or, The Art of melting and counterfeiting Metals. Suidas likewise calls Chymistry, The preparation or making of Gold and Silver. This was the true Philosophers Stone which so enrich’d that Kingdom, and brought all their Arts to a mighty Perfection; and in quest of which, so many Persons of all Nations have since fruitlesly consum’d both their Lives and Fortunes. Whereas, on the contrary, by this Art the Wealth of the Egyptians was increas’d to that immense degree, that they study’d means how to expend what they had heap’d up. On this occasion Pliny, Lib. 36. c. 12. thus writes: Dicuntur, says he, obiter & Pyramides in eadem Ægypto, Regum Pecuniæ otiosa & stulta Ostentatio. But besides their Pyramids, their Obelisques, Colossus’s, Monuments, Pensile Gardens and Cities, their Labyrinth, Lake Mœris, and the like stupendious Works, which cost so many Millions of Talents, are sufficient Arguments of their Skill in Alchymy, whence they receiv’d so vast a supply of Riches. ’Tis recorded of Ptolomy Philadelphus, he spent at one pompous Show at Alexandria, and that even when Egypt was declining, 2239 Talents, as Athenæus reckons up, Deipn. Lib. 5. c. 8. Not to mention their Statues and Temples of entire Gold, or the Cedar Ship, built by Sesostris, which was 280 Cubits in length, the outside cover’d with Gold, and the inside with Silver, as Diodorus asserts. We have a sufficient remarkable instance of their great Riches in the Tomb of Osymanduas, describ’d by the same Author, about which there was a Circle of Gold 365 Cubits in compass, and one Cubit thick, which Circle was afterwards carry’d away by Cambyses, the Persian Monarch, when he conquer’d Egypt; besides which, as Marcellinus, Lib. 6. reports, he took out of Thebes 300 Talens of Gold, and at least 2300 of Silver. Now, since no Authors mention any Gold Mines in the Time of Osiris or Hermes, whence can we imagine they should acquire such exceeding great Wealth, but from the Chymic Art of transmuting Metals? Besides the Egyptian Mines, which perhaps were afterwards discover’d, could yeild but little Profit, because of the vast Expence and Labour they must be at in Digging them. What farther seems to confirm their Knowledge in this misterious Art, is that, as Suidas reports, the Emperor Dioclesian upon his taking Alexandria, search’d with the utmost diligence for all these Chymical Books, written by the Ancients, and burn’d what he found, both to prevent the Egyptians growing thereby Rich and Rebelling against him. It was nevertheless thought, the Art of making Gold remain’d for some Time, among the Egyptians of the first Rank, at Colchis, and that by Jason’s Golden Fleece, was meant a Book of Chymistry written on Sheep-skin or Vellum, which he fetch’d from thence. However, at last this Art was lost, and perhaps for these following Reasons: |How the Egyptians Arts came to be lost.| First, Because the Egyptian Priests, who were Masters of all Sciences, conceal’d their Chymistry as much as might be, lest others, excited by their Happiness, might envy their Treasure, and consequently hasten their Ruin. Secondly, Because these Priests were so obstinate and resolute, they would rather chuse to suffer the greatest Tortures than discover their Art. Thirdly, In that their Chymical Books, &c. being written in secret Characters, and consequently understood by few, were laid up in Subterranean Vaults, or private Recesses of their Temples, for fear of the Incursions of their Enemies, thro’ which means some never came to light. And, Lastly, by reason of the hostile Invasions of the Persians, Ethiopians, Romans and others, who ransack’d the Temples of Memphis, Thebes and Alexandria, where these secret Arts were kept, burnt that famous Library of Ptolemy Philadelphus, which contain’d about 700000 Volumes, and destroy’d in like manner the Serapion. All this consider’d, we need not wonder if this, as well as their Art of Embalming, be lost. But ’tis farther to be noted, as their Chymistry was very profitable to them in making Gold and Silver, |The Art of tinging Glass and making Artificial Stones.| so in teaching them how to give beautiful Tinctures to Stones and Glass, as also Enamel, make Pastes, and the like, was equally curious and delightful. They were wont to make Drinking-Glasses, call’d [3]Allassontes, which would change colour like a Pidgeons Neck; one of which, as Vopiscus relates, being presented by an Alexandrian Priest to the Emperor Adrian, was esteem’d by him as a great Gift and rare Invention. They could likewise tinge the Lapis Obsidianus and Cyanos, with various beautiful Colours, as Pliny, Lib. 36. c. 26. and Lib. 37. c. 9. relates. Also Seneca Epist. XC. tells us Democritus, by being well acquainted with the Egyptians, discover’d how to soften Ivory, and by boiling a Stone, learn’d how to convert it into an Emerald; for those People are said to have made Gems so artificially, they imitated the natural both in lustre and hardness. Moreover, Appion Plistonices writes, there was to be seen in the Labyrinth of Egypt a Colossus of Serapis 9 Cubits high of an entire Emerald, which surely must have proceeded from a Chymical Operation, since neither of the Indies have hitherto been able to produce the like Rarity. By all this ’tis plain the antient Egyptians knew the more secret and profitable part of Chymistry, but whether that relating to Physic was practis’d by them, in the same manner as with us, is a Matter of some concern in Embalming, but, by reason of the scarcity of their Monuments or Books, not so easie to determine. Yet that they were not wholly ignorant thereof, appears by their Æs ustum, Ærugo, Alumen ustum, Diphryges, Misy, Sory, Nitre, Sal Armoniac, Salts latent in Ashes, Calcinations, and the like Operations which require the help of Fire; |The Art of Distilling, Calcining, &c.| as also in that they were acquainted with the Art of Distilling, whereby Bodies were made Incorporeal, rarify’d into Fumes, and afterwards kept from evaporating by help of Alembics, Matrasses and Retorts well luted to their Heads and Receivers. These Vessels were made of Glass, and some of them with their Figures have been describ’d by Zosimus, an antient Chymist of Panopolis, in his Book περὶ ὀργάνων καὶ καμίνων, from whence Olaus Borrichius had his Plate in his Book De Hermetis Ægyptiorum sapientia, p. 156. Now certainly, after all has been said, no Body will pretend to dispute the use of Chymical Preparations in Embalming, |Chymical Medicines useful in Embalming.| who has heard of the wonderful Effects of the Spiritus Solomonis, the Spiritus universalis Clauderi, the Spiritus Matricalis Blancardi, the Sal enixum Paracelsi, Sal mirabile Glauberi, Succinum liquidum Kerkringij, the Arcanum Bilsij, and other Chymical Spirits, Tinctures and Balsams, too many to be enumerated here, therefore I intend to describe them at large in my Pharmacopœia.
3. Ἀλλάσσοντες, i. Variantes, Sc. Calices, quod essent versicolores.
Surgery, which was another branch of their Physic, was, as Sanchuniathon asserts, invented by Æsculapius the Egyptian, first of that Name, Son of Jupiter, and Brother of Mercury, who reign’d at Memphis according to the report of Clemens Alexandrinus. After his Name several others were so call’d, who, in succeeding Ages, contriv’d any new Methods of dressing or binding up Wounds, or added any thing else which was curious to Surgery. This Art increas’d much in Egypt, as Celsus Lib. 7. Præf. witnesses; and Philoxenus, a very good Author, compos’d many Books thereof. Egypt also was the chief place famous for Surgery, insomuch that Cyrus King of the Persians, when he found no Remedy for a Disease in his Eyes, among his own Physicians and Surgeons, friendly besought Amasis King of Egypt, that he would send him an Oculist, whom he accordingly receiv’d with desir’d Success, as Herodotus in his Thalia acquaints us. Likewise both the Greeks and Romans, in case of necessity, requir’d and receiv’d the like Benefit from the Egyptians; but that their Surgery was so complete as ours is now, none will allow, nevertheless, this must be granted, that they had some Medicaments which we stand in need of; for Dioscorides, Lib. 5. c. 158. and Pliny, Lib. 36. c. 7. make mention of the Lapis Memphitis, which being powder’d and mix’d with Vinegar, they us’d to anoint any part with which they intended to Burn or Cut, and it so stupify’d it without any danger, that the Patient underwent the Operation almost without any Pain.
Surgery therefore being of that antiquity, and so well known by the Egyptians, ’twill be expected I should apply it to our Subject of Embalming: Wherefore, as was before mention’d, p. 177. there being several Persons employ’d to Embalm a Corps, as they were directed by the Physician, so one of those, to wit the Embalmer, we take to be properly a Surgeon, inasmuch as by understanding the nature of Fermentation and Putrifaction, both of the Juices and Blood, as also how to cure Mortifications in the Living, he might thereby be better enabl’d to prevent the like Qualities in the Dead. This he is likewise more capable of, by being well acquainted with Galenical and Chymical Medicines, and Anatomical Preparations and Experiments; in which Matters, seeing Physicians are generally most knowing, Santorellus thought it their Property, and consequently wrote a Book on this Subject, entitl’d, Post Praxis Medica, which shews what a Physician has to do after his Patient is dead, viz. To prescribe proper Remedies for Embalming him, as the Egyptian Priests or Physicians were wont to direct their Operators to do. So that ’tis plain, the true Office of the Physician was to prescribe, the Apothecaries to compound Medicines, anoint the Body, &c. and the Surgeons to Embalm and roul it up; |It teaches the Art of Bandage.| an Art which scarce any of our Moderns can equal, and perhaps I may have been the first that has imitated it, as Mr. Talman, one of our Masters of Anatomy, can witness I perform’d on the Body of Sir Robert Jeffrys, whom we Embalm’d.
He therefore whom the Egyptians call’d the Embalmer, was strictly speaking the Surgeon, for as much as the curing the Corps was to be perform’d by a manual Operation, and local application of Medicines, a Thing which requir’d much care, skill and dexterity, and which, a Person that is not as well acquainted with this, as Balsamic Medicines, can never perform as he ought, or be able to invent any new Method; whereas Frederic Ruysch, a good Physician, a great Anatomist and Reader of Surgery at Amsterdam, was well skill’d in this Art of Embalming, as his several Preparations of the Veins, Arteries, Uterus, &c. testifie, all which, Doctor Brown, President of the College of Physicians London, affirms he saw most accurately done at Ruysch’s House at Amsterdam, and which he particularly mentions in his Book of Travels, viz. The Lymphatic Vessels so preserv’d, that their Valves were very perspicuous, and the very minute Vessels of an excarn’d Liver clear and shining. He likewise says, he saw the Muscles of Children dissected and kept free from Corruption; as also an entire Body preserv’d, and the Face of one without the least spot, change of colour, or alteration of the Lineaments, from what might be expected after Death, and yet Ruysch had kept them Two Years, and hop’d so to continue them.
We have insisted the longer on Physic and its particular Branches, such as Anatomy, Chymistry, Surgery, &c. in as much as they not only teach how to prevent and cure Diseases, but likewise to Embalm dead Bodies. Yet seeing the Egyptians were famous in other Arts and Sciences, such as Painting, Carving, Architecture, Astronomy, Geometry and the Mathematics, some of which conduc’d very much to their Embalmings, and others to the erecting and compleating their Pyramids and Monuments; it may not be impertinent to enquire into those Arts, by which Egypt grew into such repute, that it was generally esteem’d, in respect to its Magnificence, |Egypt Mistress of the World, and Mother of all Arts and Sciences.| The Mistress of the World; to its Fertility, The Magazine or Store-House of the World; and to its Antiquity, The Origin, or Mother of all Arts and Sciences. This Digression I hope will be the more pardonable, in that it will be somewhat diverting to the Lovers of Art, and also help to give a true Notion of the several Ceremonies and great Expences us’d about their Embalm’d Bodies. |Egyptians their Antiquity.| We will first therefore begin with their Antiquity, for from thence we may expect the first Progress or Invention, tho’ perhaps not the Perfection of Arts; in which point the Egyptians would make us believe, the first Men were form’d in their Country, and give so great a number of their Kings, and so long a duration of their Reigns, as to deduce their Origin some Thousands of Years before the Creation of the World; asserting also that they were govern’d by the Gods about 25000 Years, before their Kingdom fell into the Hands of Men: But however questionable this Tradition may be, yet is it not to be doubted but the Egyptians were of very great Antiquity, and perhaps the antientest People of the World, from whom Laws, Arts, Sciences and Ceremonies were first deriv’d to other Countries. |Their Inventions.| Now the Inventions commonly attributed to them are, Geometry, Arithmetic, Music, Astrology, Physic, Necromancy or Sorcery, Carving, Painting, Enameling, Fluxing of Metals and Stones, curious Works in Glass, and making of fine Linnen, Mathematical Machines and Automata, Pneumatic and Hydraulic Engines, and various other Mechanical Curiosities; in a word, all kinds of Learning and Ingenuity, but more particularly they were the first Inventors of the Art of Embalming. Some of these we have already mention’d, therefore shall only speak of those not hitherto treated of. First then, The Thebans boast they were the most antient Philosophers and Astrologers, |Astrology.| as having found out the first Rules for the Improvement of those Sciences, since they most accurately observ’d the Courses of the Sun, Moon and Stars, their Eclipses, Constellations, Risings, Aspects and Influences, dividing thereby their Years into Months, and grounding their Divinations on their hidden Properties; yet did they so manage their Prognostications, that they could certainly foretel every particular Event.
In the Mathematics and Mechanical Powers the Egyptians were particularly famous, for they had Engines whereby they could raise their Obelisques, and hoist up vast Stones to so incredible and prodigious a height as their Pyramids are. They also devis’d other wonderful Machines for divers purposes, as some for dreining Marshes, others for watering Gardens, of which Diodorus Siculus says, In the pensile Garden of Semiramis there was an Engine, that, thro’ certain Conduits or Conveyances from the Platform of the Garden, drew a great quantity of Water out of the River, yet no Body was the wiser or knew how it was done. A third sort of Machines they had for destroying and confounding their Enemy, with which last they had once almost reduc’d Julius Cæsar to extream despair, when he invested Alexandria with his whole Army; for as Aulus Hirtius, Writer of that War, relates, Ganymedes with Wheels and other Machines of great force, pump’d the Water out of the Sea, and threw it from high Places, with that great force and violence on Cæsar’s Men, that they thought of raising the Seige. He farther adds, That by those means he also made all their Water so salt they could not drink it. But besides these they had a sort of Water-Works for pleasure, as their Organa Hydraulica or Water-Organs, and others for measuring Time, as the Clepsydra or Water-Hour-Glass. They had likewise other Machines which mov’d with the Air or Wind, and some Automata that went by invisible Springs; for, as Cælius Rhodiginus relates, the Egyptians made some Statues of their Gods both to walk of themselves, and also to utter certain Words articulately. As to their Motion, that may be ascrib’d to some Wheels and Springs within, and their Voice or Speech, to some Air forc’d up thro’ Pipes plac’d in their Heads and Mouths. Kircher in Tom. 2. Oed. Ægyptiac. gives many Examples of Pneumatical Engines, among the Egyptians, in their Temples. Yet is there none so remarkable as the Statue of Memnon, which was made by the Theban Priests with that Art and Contrivance, that in the Morning, on the rising of the Sun, and the striking of its Beams upon it, it utter’d a kind of Music. This was so famous a piece of Work, that Men travell’d from far to see it. Lucian the Sophister went to view that Miracle, as he terms it, and as he tells us in his Philopseudes. The same did the Emperor Severus, as Spartianus informs us, and Germanicus, as Tacitus, and Strabo, that judicious Geographer, went to see it; the like did Apollonius Tyanæus, as Philostratus writes, which Matter need not seem fabulous, says Natalis Comes, to any that shall understand the Power of Art and Human Wit, nor how expert the Theban Priests were in all Mathematical Sciences. But I need say no more in particular of their Art of Building, Carving or Painting, |Their wonderful Works in Architecture.| since those will appear much more conspicuous by a Relation of such stupendious and beautiful Works as were the City of Thebes, together with its stately Sepulchres, Obelisks and Temples, all built by them. The Sepulchre of King Osymandua, the Cities of Memphis, Cairo, Babylon and Alexandria, the Tower of Pharos, the long Wall built by Sesostris, the Labyrinth, their Pyramids, Obelisks, Columns, Colossus’s, Statues, Sphinx’s, Monuments, Subterranean Vaults and Lamps, and other like admirable Works, testifie their extraordinary Skill and Ingenuity in all kinds of Arts to be such, as neither the Greeks, Romans, nor any other Nation were afterwards capable of. But that you may not, Sir, be put off with a bare enumeration of them, I will give such a particular account of them, as will, I dare say, not only surprise and divert the Reader, but also lead him into every minute Circumstance of their Embalming.
First then of Thebes, a very rich and glorious City, once the Regal Metropolis of all Egypt, and built by Busyris, who resided in it. It was call’d by the Egyptians Heliopolis, or the City of the Sun, and by Strabo, Diospolis, or Jupiter’s City, by reason he was there worshipp’d. It was in circuit about 140 Furlongs, or 17 Miles and an half, and was adorn’d with so many stately Monuments both of Gold, Silver and Ivory, such multitudes of Colossus’s and Obelisks, cut out of entire Stone, such exceeding splendid Temples, Palaces and Tombs of the old Egyptian Pharaohs, and other such like Ornaments and stupendious Rarities, that it was not only look’d upon to be the most beautiful and stately City of Egypt, but of all others in the World; for it is recorded, that not only King Busyris, but all his Successors also from Time to Time beautify’d and adorn’d it, and ’tis certain it had in it 20000 Chariots of War, and that there were 100 Stables all along the River, from Memphis to Thebes, towards Libya, each of which was capable of containing 200 Horses. Pomponius Mela says, Thebes was so exceeding Populous, it could draw out of every Gate 10000 armed Men, and that the Greek Word Hecatompolis, which as some think signifies an hundred Gates, according to which, Thebes was so call’d by Homer, is not to be understood literally, but rather to be explain’d to relate to an hundred Palaces, in which so many Princes had their Residence. Pliny, Lib. 36. c 14. will have the whole City to have stood upon Arches, so made on purpose, that the Egyptian Kings might march their Armies this way and that way under the Houses, without being discover’d. In this City were also four Temples, very wonderful for their beauty and largeness, of which, the most antient was 13 Furlongs, or above a Mile and half in circuit, and 45 Cubits high, and had a Wall 24 Foot thick. The Ornaments of this Temple were suitably magnificent both for Cost and Workmanship, and the Fabric continu’d ’till Diodorus Siculus’s Time, but the Silver, Gold, and other Ornaments of Ivory and precious Stones, were carry’d away by the Persians at such Time as Cambyses burn’d the Temples of Egypt. ‘Here, says Diodorus Siculus, Lib. 1. cap. 4. were the wonderful Sepulchres of the antient Kings of Egypt, which for State and Grandeur far exceeded all that Posterity could attain to even to this Day. The Egyptian Priests say, That in their Sacred Records there were register’d 47 of these Sepulchres, yet which is not only reported by the Egyptians, but by many of the Grecians likewise, who travel’d to Thebes in the Time of Ptolemeus Lagus, and wrote Histories of Egypt. Among these, one was Hecatæus, who agrees with what Diodorus relates, viz. That when he was there, which was in the 180th Olympiad, there remain’d only 17 of these Sepulchres. |Osymandua’s Tomb.| Of the first of these, that of King Osymandua was 10 Furlongs in compass, and at the entrance, they say, there was a Portico of vari-colour’d Marble, 45 Cubits in height and 200 Feet long. Thence going forward, you came into a four square Stone-Gallery, every Square being 400 Feet, supported by Beasts instead of Pillars, each of which was of an entire Stone, 16 Cubits high, and Carv’d after the antique manner. The Roof was also entirely of Stone, each Stone being 8 Cubits broad, with an azure Sky all bespangl’d with Stars. Passing out of this, you enter’d another Portico like the former, but more curiously carv’d, and adorn’d with greater variety. At the entrance stood 3 Statues, each of one entire Stone, being the Workmanship of Memnon of Scienitas. One of these was sitting, whose Foot measur’d 7 Cubits, and in the whole magnitude, exceeded all other Statues in Egypt. The other two were much less, reaching but to the Knee, the one standing on the right Hand, and the other on the left, being the Mother and Daughter. This Piece is not only commendable for its greatness, but likewise admirable for its Workmanship, and the excellency of the Stone, that in so great a Work there was not to be discern’d the least flaw or blemish. Upon the Tomb there was this Inscription:
‘I am Osymandua, King of Kings; if any would know how Great I am, and where I lye, let him excel me in any of my Works.
‘There was likewise at the second Gate another Statue, of the Mother by her self, of one Stone, 20 Cubits high; upon her Head were plac’d Three Crowns, to denote she was both Daughter, Wife and Mother of a King. Near this Portico, they say, there was another Gallery, more remarkable than the former, in which were various Sculptures representing his Wars with the Bactrians, who had revolted from him, against whom, ’tis said, he march’d with 400000 Foot and 20000 Horse, which Army he divided into four Bodies, and appointed his Sons Generals of the whole.
‘In the first Wall might be seen the King assaulting a Bulwark environ’d with the River, and fighting at the head of his Men, against some that made up against him, assisted by a Lion in a terrible posture; which some affirm must be understood to be a real Lion that the King bred up tame, went along with him in all his Wars, and by his great strength ever put the Enemy to flight. Others make this Construction, that the King being a Prince of extraordinary Courage and Strength, he was willing to set forth his own Praises and bravery of Spirit, by the representation of a Lion. In the second Wall were carv’d the Captives dragg’d after the King, represented without Hands and Privy Members, to signifie that they were effeminate Spirits, and had no Hands when they came to fight. The third Wall represented all sorts of Sculptures and curious Images, in which were set forth the King’s Sacrificing of Oxen, and his Triumphs in that War. In the middle of the Perystilion or Portico, open to the Air at top, was rear’d an Altar of polish’d Marble, being of excellent Workmanship, and equally to be admir’d for its Magnitude. In the last Wall were two Statues, each of entire Stone, 27 Cubits high, near which three Passages open’d out of the Portico into a stately Room, supported by Pillars, like a Theatre for Music. Every side of the Theatre was 200 Feet square. Here were many Statues of Wood, representing Pleaders and Spectators looking upon the Judges. Those which were carv’d on one of the Walls were 30 in number, and in the middle sat the Chief Justice, with the Image of Truth hanging about his Neck, his Eyes clos’d, and many Books lying before him. This signify’d that a Judge ought not to take any Bribes, but only to regard the Truth and Merits of the Cause. Next adjoyning was a Gallery full of diverse Apartments, in which were all sorts of delicate Meats ready serv’d up. Near this was represented the King himself, curiously carv’d and painted in glorious Colours, offering as much Gold and Silver to the Gods as he yearly receiv’d out of his Mines. The Sum was there inscrib’d (according to the rate of Silver) to amount unto 32 Millions of [4]Mina’s, which is about 100 Millions of Pounds Sterling. Next was the Sacred Library, on which were inscrib’d these words, The Cure of the Mind. Adjoyning to this were the Images of all the Gods in Egypt, to every one of which the King was making Offerings, peculiarly belonging to each of them, that Osiris and all his Associates, who were plac’d at his Feet, might understand his Piety towards the Gods, and his Righteousness towards Men. Next to the Library was a stately Room, wherein were 20 Beds to set upon, richly adorn’d, in which were the Images of Jupiter and Juno together with the Kings, and here it’s suppos’d the King’s Body lay interr’d. Round the Room are many Apartments, wherein are to be seen all the Beasts that are accounted Sacred in Egypt, very curiously painted. Thence you ascend to the top of the Monument or Sepulchre, which having mounted, there appears a Border of Gold round the Tomb of 365 Cubits in compass, and one in thickness; within the division of every Cubit were the several Days of the Year ingraven, with the natural Risings and Settings of the Stars, and their Significations, according to the Observations of the Egyptian Astrologers. In this manner they describe the Sepulchre of King Osymandua, which seems far to exceed all others both for Magnificence and curiosity of Workmanship.’ Now he who shall seriously consider this, as also several other Passages in Herodotus and Diodorus Siculus of the stupendious Works of the Egyptians, says Greaves in his Pyramidographia, p. 9. must needs acknowledge, that for Magnificence, if not for Art, they far exceeded the Grecians and Romans, even when their Empires were at the highest pitch and most flourishing: Wherefore those Admiranda Romæ, collected by Justus Lipsius, are hardly admirable, if compar’d with some of these. At this Day there is scarce any great Column or Obelisk remaining in Rome worthy of Note, which has not antiently been brought hither out of Egypt.