From the
beginning of
the Twelfth
Dynasty to
the end of the
Fifteenth
(Twelfth
Dynasty,
2780 B.C. to
2560 B.C.).
Scarabs, which like beads were essentially feminine ornaments, exhibit their highest
perfection under the Twelfth Dynasty. They are sometimes of carnelian, jasper, or
amethyst, but more often of glazed steatite, and are incised with that continuous scroll
pattern which was quickly borrowed by Greek designers. The scarabs of the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth Dynasties have somewhat degenerated ; the discontinuous scroll or vertical
lines of hieroglyphs and the somewhat barbarous forms of the signs differentiate them
from the earlier examples.
Jewellery is only rarely found, as it has generally become the booty of the skilled
tomb-robbers of the New Empire. The little which has been obtained from these middle-
class burials is artistic and well made. But the consummate skill of the Middle Empire
goldsmiths can only be fully appreciated from the jewellery of the royal princesses whose
tombs were discovered beside the pyramids of Dahshur. Their magnificent diadems,
necklaces, bracelets, pectorals and anklets are now amongst the most admired treasures of
the Cairo museum. The cloisonné work of lapis lazuli, carnelian, and other precious stones
set in gold is extraordinarily gorgeous, and of a fineness which might challenge modern
Geneva.
The ladies used mirrors of burnished copper, the handles of which were often carved
in ivory. Of ivory also were made bracelets, wands, and inlaid boxes. The men were
equipped with axes, daggers, knives, and other tools made of copper ; for bronze, though
apparently found at Dahshur, was certainly not in common use before the Eighteenth
Dynasty. The Twelfth Dynasty was synchronous with a revival of ceramic art. The
common red pottery which is made in almost all periods assumes a great variety of forms,
only a few of which recall the degraded tradition of the preceding period. A buff-coloured
ware, the use of which continues into the New Empire, now makes its first appearance, and
there is another anticipation of the Eighteenth Dynasty in certain brilliantly-burnished
red haematitic vases, which are very possibly of Syrian origin. Several other classes of
pottery are found which were certainly not of native manufacture. Thus the thin black-
topped haematitic vessels introduced by the ‘ Pan Tomb’ people continued in use till the
New Empire. A black ware of the bucchero kind incised with patterns in white is
certainly a foreign importation. It is common in Cyprus and, like the incised black
pottery of the Archaic periods with which it has evident affinities, probably originated on
the European side of the Mediterranean. Yet another kind of foreign pottery must be
noted, which has not yet been found in any graves, but which occurred in the Twelfth
Dynasty settlement at Kahun ; namely, the beautiful polychrome ware which has since
been found in Crete and in Thera, and is now recognized as a characteristic product of
pre-Mycenaean Greece.
Lastly, the art of glazing was now extended to pottery, and the Twelfth Dynasty
marks the beginning of the fine period of ‘ Fayence/ The glazed vases and dishes of
this time are of a rich blue colour and are often ornamented with patterns in black ; the
employment of polychrome appears to be rare before the Eighteenth Dynasty.
The Eighteenth Dynasty (1590 b . c . to 1330 b . c .).
The history of the Eighteenth Dynasty is minutely dealt with in many works which
are accessible to every reader. The ‘ New Empire/ which begins with the expulsion
of the Hyksos by Aahmes the founder of the Dynasty, has left innumerable records
in monuments, inscriptions, and works of art. For the earlier Egyptologists it may
almost be said that history only began at this point, as indeed it still begins here for
many persons who merely take a general interest in the subject. So much attention,
consequently, has always been devoted to these reigns, and the main episodes are so
familiar, that a brief outline will suffice for the present purpose.
The Eighteenth Dynasty then is the Elizabethan age, the time of expansion and
foreign conquest, the time of world-interests and cosmopolitan culture.. Under the two
kings indeed, who were the first to rule over liberated and reunited Egypt, the energies
of the country were mainly absorbed in the process of recovery and reorganization.
Though the usual expeditions against the frontier tribes were executed with the usual
success, yet Aahmes and Amenhotep I showed themselves no more covetous of foreign
conquests than their ancestors had been, and devoted their thoughts mainly to the
erection and the adornment of their capital at Thebes. But a new era was inaugurated
by Thóthmes I, the third king of the line, when he broke through the secular traditions
of Pharaonic policy by leading an army of invasion into Asia. Hitherto the territorial
expansion of Egypt had been confined to the Nile valley, and to such proximate districts
as the Oases on the one side, and the Sinaitic peninsula on the other. There had no
doubt been close and frequent intercourse with Syria, especially since the days of the
Twelfth Dynasty; and caravans passing to and fro had exchanged the products of Asia
with those o f Africa. But the conception of Asiatic conquest was wholly new, and should
doubtless be regarded as the immediate outcome of the impression made by the Hyksos
invasion. It was the conviction that he could never rest secure until the menace from
the east was removed which drove Thóthmes I to overrun Syria from end to end till
he hardly stayed his march at the very banks of the Euphrates.
Had all his successors been cast in the mould of Queen Hatshepshut, who occupied
the years of her rule in restoring ruins and building temples, the expedition of
Thóthmes I would have had no lasting results. But in Thóthmes III there arose a man
of vast ambition, who launched Egypt on that new course which was to carry her out of
her traditional isolation into the turmoil of world-history. Hardly had the death of
Hatshepshut freed him from the shackles of a co-regency than he started on the first
of those Syrian campaigns which were continuëd year after year until his death; and he
ultimately bequeathed to Amenhotep II a dominion that extended from Abyssinia
to Cilicia. This was the greatest expansion which the empire ever attained, nor did
its boundaries remain so wide for more than a few years. After the death of Amenhotep
III began a rapid decline, which may be traced step by step in the correspondence
of the provincial governors preserved on the clay tablets of the archives of
T ell-el-Amarna.
But if the tenure of these new provinces was brief, their temporary acquisition was
fraught with momentous consequences for Egypt. Now, for the first time since
documentary records begin, she was brought into direct relation with the great Asiatic
powers. It chanced that the moment was exceptionally propitious; for Babylonia was
stagnating under a weak Kassite Dynasty, Assyria had only lately emerged from
obscurity, and the Hittites were as yet but preparing to descend from their homes in the
mountains of Amanos and Taurus. The several rivals therefore who Confronted the
first conquering Pharaohs did not immediately threaten their fresh-won laurels; but
if they were too weak to venture on attack they were yet too formidable to be lightly
challenged. Each side feared thé other and willingly compromised by alliances and
treaties. The rulers of Babylon and Assyria, the princes of the Hittites and even those
e 2
The
Eighteenth
Dynasty
(1590 B.c.
to 1330 B.C.).