Book of Sothis
Encyclopedia
The Book of Sothis is a document known mainly through transmission by George Syncellus
, purporting to have been written by the historian Manetho
. Modern scholars are nearly unanimous that the book was in fact written by someone other than Manetho, making it a forgery. Its contents are consequently regarded as being of little value to Egyptology
.
While the unknown author is considered to have displayed a thorough knowledge of Manetho, the clearest indication of forgery is the introductory dedication to Ptolemy II Philadelphus
, referring to him as Σεβαστω (Sebasto) — i.e. "august" or "Augustus
", a Roman title that did not appear until centuries after his death.
Syncellus states that Manetho included information from monuments in "the Siriadic land" (variously conjectured to be Assyria, Arabia or Egypt), that had been engraved before the Deluge, but afterward had been translated and stored in hieroglyphic books in Egyptian temples.
George Syncellus
George Syncellus was a Byzantine chronicler and ecclesiastic. He had lived many years in Palestine as a monk, before coming to Constantinople, where he was appointed syncellus to Tarasius, patriarch of Constantinople...
, purporting to have been written by the historian Manetho
Manetho
Manetho was an Egyptian historian and priest from Sebennytos who lived during the Ptolemaic era, approximately during the 3rd century BC. Manetho wrote the Aegyptiaca...
. Modern scholars are nearly unanimous that the book was in fact written by someone other than Manetho, making it a forgery. Its contents are consequently regarded as being of little value to Egyptology
Egyptology
Egyptology is the study of ancient Egyptian history, language, literature, religion, and art from the 5th millennium BC until the end of its native religious practices in the AD 4th century. A practitioner of the discipline is an “Egyptologist”...
.
While the unknown author is considered to have displayed a thorough knowledge of Manetho, the clearest indication of forgery is the introductory dedication to Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus
Ptolemy II Philadelphus was the king of Ptolemaic Egypt from 283 BCE to 246 BCE. He was the son of the founder of the Ptolemaic kingdom Ptolemy I Soter and Berenice, and was educated by Philitas of Cos...
, referring to him as Σεβαστω (Sebasto) — i.e. "august" or "Augustus
Augustus (honorific)
Augustus , Latin for "majestic," "the increaser," or "venerable", was an Ancient Roman title, which was first held by Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus , and subsequently came to be considered one of the titles of what are now known as the Roman Emperors...
", a Roman title that did not appear until centuries after his death.
Syncellus states that Manetho included information from monuments in "the Siriadic land" (variously conjectured to be Assyria, Arabia or Egypt), that had been engraved before the Deluge, but afterward had been translated and stored in hieroglyphic books in Egyptian temples.