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Scientific EgyptologyAuthor(s): James Henry BreastedSource: The Biblical World, Vol. 1, No. 6 (Jun., 1893), p. 461Published by: The University of Chicago PressStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3135084.

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Explorationnb tDiscoverp.SCIENTIFIC EGYPTOLOGY.

For scientific work in Egyptian, two distinct foundations are now indispen-sable: (i) The complete mastery of Coptic; (2) a good knowledge ofHebrew, Arabic and Assyrian.At present Professor Erman, of Berlin, occupies a unique position in the

department of Egyptology. Investigators before his time were satisfiedwithloose translations, loose rendering of meanings, and general inexactness.They recognized to a very slight extent the principles of grammar, and wereentirely ignorant of syntax. In most cases they possessed but a smatteringof Coptic. No distinction was made between the oldest and latest language.When Erman began, his first work was to distinguish periods of develop-ment in the Egyptian language. With a keenness which was very markedhe began with the Coptic, which was, of course, the last phase of the dyinglanguage. He then took up the language of the New Empire (I8th to 20othdynasties), and studied every line of its immense literature on the basis ofwhich he wrote his Neudgyptische Grammatik,the first scientific grammar ofthe tongue containing a definite syntax, a thing undreamed of by earlierEgyptologists.

Going back still further,he took up the language of the Middle Empire(I Ith to I3th dynasties), and wrote a grammar on that period. On thisfoundationhe now proceeded to the most difficult task of all; i. e., the languageof the Old Empire (4th to 6th dynasties). The grammar of this periodhas just been completed, and will appear within a few weeks. This greatwork has consumed fifteen years, during which he has also written the mostcomplete Archeology that has yet been written, a marvel of correct detail.Erman seems to be to - day the only man in Europe who can translate aninscription with absolute grammatical exactness. Older men look askance athis results, and cling to their old, inexact methods. Erman's learning is verygreat, and there is still much to be hoped from him. By his efforts Egyptol-ogy has really become a science, and may now be studied from a philologicalpoint of view. J. H. B.

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