Pamphilian Obelisk,or the Obelisk of thePiazza Navonain Rome. This is a pseudo-Egyptian obelisk, cut by the Romans in the quarry of Syene. It was erected by the emperor Domitian, and re-erected by Innocent X. (Pamphili) in 1651 in its present position. There is a single column of poorly executed hieroglyphs on each face of it.9
Panopolis.The Greek name of the capital of theIXth nome of Upper Egypt, called in EgyptianPer-Khem·t, "the city of the temple of (the god) Khem". It was the seat of the worship of Khem, whom the Greeks identified with their Pan.89
Pantheon Obelisk.The same as the Mahutean Obelisk, which see.
Papyrus.The Egyptian paper, made of thin slices of the papyrus plant, called in Egyptianthufi. On it were written works on almost all subjects. The finest papyri are at present in the British Museum and the Museum of Bulak.34
Pasht.The Greek name of the Egyptian goddess Sekhet, which see.92
Pelusium.The classical name of a city near the site of the ancient Egyptian Avaris, which see.92
Pentaûr.The Egyptian Homer, who described the exploits of Ramses II. in his war with the Hittites. His name is writtenPen-ta-ûr.37
Per-ba-neb-ded·t.The Egyptian name of Mendes, which see.92
Per-Bas·t.The Egyptian name of Bubastis, which see.92
Per-Khem·t.The Egyptian name of Panopolis, which see.89
Per-Usȧr·t.The Egyptian name of Busiris, which see.92
Pharaoh.The Hebrew form of the Egyptianper-â, "the great house", or more correctly, as the Hieratic generally has it,Per-â, "he of the great double house". This was the official title of the Egyptian kings.12567161920222529373846485357586061636465666768697079848789
"Pharaoh of the Oppression."All Egyptologists are agreed that this was Ramses II.3763
"Pharaoh's Needle."The Arabic rendering for "obelisk".79
Philae.An island in the Nile near the Nubian boundary, belonging to the first nome of Upper Egypt.47910228486
Philae Obelisk.A fragment of an obelisk which was erected, together with its companion, the Corfe Castle Obelisk (which see), in front of the temple of Isis by Ptolemy IX. Euergetes II. and his sister Cleopatra II. It has one column of hieroglyphs on each face, and is at Philæ.9
Piânkhî.An Ethiopian king, of theXXIVth dynasty, who conquered Egypt at the close of theXXIId dynasty, when it was divided into thirteen petty kingdoms. His name in Egyptian is21
Piazza della Minerva Obelisk.A small obelisk in Rome. It has only a single column of hieroglyphs on each face, and was probably erected by Psametik II. in Saïs. It was removed by the Romans and re-erected by Pope Alexander VII. in 1667, who had it placed on a marble elephant.10
Piazza del Popolo Obelisk.Another name of the Flaminian Obelisk, which see.
Piazza Navona Obelisk.Another name for the Pamphilian Obelisk, which see.22
Pliny,surnamed "the Elder". A famous Roman naturalist and author (23-79 A. D.).36
"Pompey's Pillar."The only important monument of antiquity at present in Alexandria. It is a shaft of granite from the quarry of Syene rising, with the pedestal, to the height of 104 ft., and erected by the Roman prefect Pompeius in honor of the emperor Diocletian.91
Pontius.The architect who transported the two obelisks of Heliopolis to Alexandria in 12 B. C. He may have possibly also removed the Flaminian and Campensis Obelisks (which see) to Rome for the emperor Augustus in 20 B. C.39737482
Porta del Popolo Obelisk.Another name of the Esmeade Obelisk, which see.11
Prioli Obelisk.A small obelisk in the gardens of the Sultan in Constantinople. Nothing is known of it, as its inscriptions have never been published.9
Psametik II.A king of theXXVIth dynasty, the son of Psametik I. He conquered Ethiopia and reigned for six years. His son Hophra is mentioned in the Bible. His name in Egyptian is791022
Pseudo-Egyptian,that is, having the appearance of being Egyptian, but not so in reality. A number of the extant obelisks belong in this category.4
Pthah[pronounced tá]. The chief deity of Lower Egypt, an emanation of Râ. He is generally represented as a deformed child holding two serpents and stepping on two crocodiles. In Upper Egypt he was worshipped under the form of an upright mummy (). His name in Egyptian isPtaḥ.656990
Ptaḥ-Sokar-Osiris.A form of Ptah, peculiar to Memphis, and represented as a deformed child. His Egyptian name isPtaḥ-Seker-Usȧr.29
Ptaḥ-tathunen.A title of Ptah of Memphis. The Egyptian form of the word isPtaḥ-tathunen, meaning perhaps "Ptah of the stable earth".65
Ptolemies.The descendants of Ptolemy Sôtêr, a general of Alexander the Great, and forming theXXXIIId dynasty of Egyptian kings. Each of them married his sister. Their reign extended from 305 to 30 B. C., and was characterized by infamy, tyranny, murder, and poisoning.92122
Ptolemy IX. Euergetes II.A weak king of theXXXIIId dynasty, married to and reigning for a time with his sister Cleopatra II. and his niece Cleopatra III. His name in Egyptian is710
Punt.The Egyptian name of the southern part of Arabia, which see.
Pylon.The large mass of masonry of an Egyptian temple, resembling two truncated pyramids with the gate between them. A picture of one is given on page20. Its hieroglyph is perhaps.2024
Pyramidion.The apex of an obelisk which resembles a miniature pyramid. It was sometimes inscribed with pictures and hieroglyphs, and covered with a capping of gold-metal or electrum (which see).181921222647505152535455
Pyramids.The enormous masses of stone built by various kings, especially those of the fourth dynasty, and serving as their tombs. There are quite a number of them in and near ancient Memphis, the largest being that of Khufu, called the Great Pyramid, which is 480 ft. high. The usual Egyptian word for "pyramid" isȧbmer.122791
Qebti·t.The Egyptian name of Coptos, which see.88
Qem·t.The common Egyptian designation of Egypt, which see.61667084
Qurnah.A modern village marking the site of a part of the necropolis of ancient Thebes, situated on the west shore of the Nile. Here are the ruins of the grand temple begun by Seti I., and completed by Ramses II.88
Râ.The Sun, the Supreme Being, and the organizer of the world according to Egyptian mythology. He was worshipped in the entire country, but especially in Heliopolis. He is always represented with the face of a hawk. With the fifth dynasty the Pharaohs began to call themselves the incarnation of Râ, orsa Râ, "the son of the Sun", which title they retained until the time of the Roman emperors. The Egyptian name of the sun isRâ.21222730313637383946474849505253545556575859606162636465666768697071728291
Râ-Ḥor-Khuti.A name of the sun-god, written in EgyptianorRâ-Ḥor-khuti, "the Sun, the hawk of the two horizons".28293046474955585960
Ramses II.One of the greatest monarchs the world ever saw, the son of Seti I., and a king of theXIXth dynasty. He conquered most of the then known world, built magnificent temples, erected obelisks, and perpetuated his name on almost every Egyptian monument. His Egyptian name is78910163637626364656667686970718891
Ramses III.A famous king of theXXth dynasty, who conquered the Hittites, Syrians, and the tribes of Palestine. His name in Egyptian is112131
Râqedî·t.The Egyptian name of Alexandria (which see), called Rhakôtis by the ancients.91
Redesieh.A modern village in what was formerly the first nome of Upper Egypt.68
Red Sea.This was called in Egyptianmuqed·t.8688
Rhakotis.The Greek name of the town on whose site Alexander the Great built Alexandria (which see).91
Rising Sun.The god Râ.22
Rome.The capital of the ancient world. Its Egyptian name occurs on the Barberini Obelisk asHarmâ·t.57920222325
Rosetta.A modern town at the mouth of the Bolbitinic arm of the Nile. It was the ancient Bolbitiné.91
Rosetta Stone.Without a doubt this is the most important monument of antiquity that has come down to us. It is a stelé of black basalt, bearing an inscription in Hieroglyphic, Demotic, and Greek. It contains a decree of the priests in honor of Ptolemy V. Epiphanes, which was issued on March 27, 195 B. C. This stone, discovered in 1799, furnished the key for deciphering the hieroglyphs, and is now preserved in the British Museum.92
Rotennu.A Syrian people who were repeatedly defeated and subjugated by kings of theXVIIIth and later dynasties. They were subdivided into the Upper and Lower Rotennu, and their Egyptian name wasRethennu.36
Saccarah.A modern village near the site of ancient Memphis with a number of famous pyramids. The name is undoubtedly derived from that of the god Ptah-Sokar-Osiris.91
Sa-el-Hajar.The modern name of Saïs.92
Saïs.The capital of the fifth nome of Lower Egypt, the EgyptianSa·t, and the Coptic[saï]. Nothing now remains but a mass of débris.41092
Saîu·t.The Egyptian name of Sioot, which see.89
Sallustian Obelisk.An obelisk in Rome standing opposite the church of Santa Trinita dei Monti. It is a poor Roman copy of the Piazza del Popolo Obelisk, and has three columns of hieroglyphs on it, together with the cartouches of Seti I. and Ramses II. It was re-erected by Pius VI. in 1789.9
Sân.The modern name of Tanis, which see.11