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Manetho or Manethon of Sebennytos, (ca. 3rd century BC) was a Hellenistic Egyptian historian and a priest
of Serapis in Heliopolis during the
reigns of Ptolemy I and Ptolemy
II.
His magnum opus, Aegyptiaca, written in Greek, which he wrote to contest errors he claimed existed in Herodotus's History, was the most important source for the history of Ancient Egypt before the successful translation
of the Egyptian language. Even now, it remains a major primary
source for its aid in compiling and systematizing ancient Egyptian Pharaonic dynasties into the order that still serves as a basis by the historians. The titles of his
other works include The Sacred Book, and An Epitome of Physical Doctrines. Much of what the ancient Greek and
Latin authors write about Egyptian religion is believed to come from Manetho's works.
His works were lost over the centuries, except for what was quoted in works of later authors such as Josephus Flavius, Sextus Julius Africanus, Eusebius and George Syncellus.
By the time of Josephus, it was widely believed that the Hyksos, who ruled Egypt
during the 13th Dynasty, were the same as the Hebrews who were
believed to have lived for several generations in Egypt. Because Manetho voiced the hostility his countrymen felt towards the
Hyksos, Josephus believed he was espousing anti-Semitic views, and wrote
Against Apion to combat them.
See also
Translation
- W.G Waddell, Manetho with an English Translation Harvard: Loeb Classical Library, 1940. ISBN 0674993853
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