wonders related of it, I cannot conclude these letters without endeavouring to difcover, amid the darknefs of time, fome traces of its history, celebrated by a few Egyptian, and a hundred Greek and Latin, authors, whofe opinions often differ, and fome of which bear the marks of blind credulity. Others, more fage, unable to disbelieve their fenfes, or give faith to miracles, have remained in doubt. I will faithfully cite their words, and, by comparing them, you will form fome judgment of a statue so celebrated in antiquity. Among the ruins of Thebes we remarked many coloffal ftatues, most of them thrown down, or mutilated. The greatest was at the entrance of the vestibules of the tomb I defcribed, named Ofymandyas by Diodorus (s), and, according to Strabo (t), Ifmandes by the Egyptians. A multitude of writers, however, have called it Mernnon (u). This ftatue, lefs marvellous for (s) Diod. lib. 1. its (u) Ofymandyas and Ifmandes were probably its vulgar name among the Egyptians. The words are derived from Ou its gigantic fize, and the hardness of its granite, than for the property it poffeffed of yielding a found at fun-rife, was broken by Cambyfes. One half was thrown down, the other part remains on its base. "The "statue of Memnon (x), represented a man "in the bloom of youth, with his face "toward the rifing fun, and, when first "fhone on by its rays, it was faid to fpeak." Thebes, famous for its "hundred gates, and the vocal statue of "Memnon, which greets Aurora, his mo 66 66 ther, when the rifes" (y). The priests of Egypt called him fon of the day (≈), and according to Diodorus, the coufin of Ofiris. Homer first spoke of the fon of Aurora. Neflor cherished in his heart the remembrance of his generous Antilochus, flain Ou Smandi, to yield a found. Memnon, also, may come from Emnoni, of ftone, whence the Greeks have formed. Memnon Ifmandes. Vide Jablonski de Memnone. (x) Philoftratus in Vità Apollonii Tyanæi. lib. 6. (y) Dionyf. Perieget. Orbis Defcriptio. (z) In the ancient Egyptian tongue Eho is day, whence' the Grecks have formed Hús, Aurora, and called Memnon, her fon. Jablons. de Memnone 66 " by by the illuftrious fon of Aurora" (a). His Commentators have all thought this paffage related to the Egyptian Memnon; but the poet might fignify by this one of the chiefs who came, from the East, to the aid of Troy. It was a metaphoric language familiar in his time; the fcripture ufes it when it calls the people of thofe climates children of the Eaft. Succeeding Poets differently explained his thought. Aurora, fays Hefiod, in his Theogony, had by Tithon the valiant Memnon, who bore a brazen helmet, and was king of Ethiopia. "The brave Antilochus (b), magnanimous of foul, defirous to fave his "father's life, fell beneath Memnon, the "chief of an Ethiopian army (c): one of "the horfes of Neftor, tranfpierced by a ja"velin Paris threw, ftopped his car." (a) Odyssey. (b) Findar. Od. II. The (c) Thefe paffages relate to the Egyptian Memnon. The Greeks long called the Delta Egypt, and all the country farther South Ethiopia. Homer makes Menelaus speak thus to Telemachus, "I went up Egypt as far as Fthiopia;" and, as he takes his Hero only to Thebes, he evidently meant the Thebais. Damis, the companion of Apollonius Thyanaus, declares he faw the Temple and ftatue of Niemnon in Ethiopia, that is to fay in Upper Egypt. Greek Greek and Latin poets, fupported by these authorities, confound the Trojan and Egyptian Memnon. Virgil (d) fpeaks of the troops of Aurora, and the arms of the black Memnon. This colour, meant to denote the hero's country, must not be regarded as a sign of deformity, for Homer, celebrating Eurypilus, calls him the most beauteous of mortals, except the divine Memnon (e). "Au rora, who had favoured the Trojans, was no longer moved by the miferies of Ilium, "nor of Hecuba. Affliction more deep in"vaded her heart, fhe wept her own woes, "and lamented the death of Memnon (ƒ).” On the bafe of the ftatue was the following epigram, written by the poet Afclepiodotus. Joy to Thetis, goddess of the fea! Know "that Memnon, who died fighting under "the Trojan ramparts, daily utters a sweet found, near the tombs, dug in the Lybian "mounts, where the impetuous Nile divides Thebes, famous for its gates; while Achilles, infatiable in battle, fpeaks not near (d) Æneid. lib. 1. (e) Odyff. lib. 5. (f) Ovid. Metam. lib. 13. 3 "the "the walls of Ilium, nor in Theffalian 66 fong." Thus, Sir, the Memnon of Egypt, or Ethiopia, for fo the ancients called the Thebais, was generally fuppofed the fame who perished, gloriously warring with the Greeks; but thefe are the teftimonies of poets, who were more defirous to give us affecting tales, and brilliant fictions, than hiftorical truths. Continue we to examine the fables invented concerning his origin. Aurora (g), in love with Tithon, carried him into Ethiopia, and had by him Emathion and Memnon. Ifacius Tzetzes adopts the fame allegory. "Tithon, "fon of Laomedon, was beloved by the god"defs of day, of whom were born Memnon "and Emathion," Diodorus explains this paffage thus (h). "Tithon, fon of Lao medon, and brother of Priam, led his ar"mies into the Eaftern countries of Afia, as "far as Ethiopia, whence arofe the fable of "Memnon, born of Aurora." But who is this hero, who aided the Trojans? For the fables of the poets always have (g) Apollodori Biblioth. lib. 3. cap. II. (b) Lib. 4. fome |