XXXIX

PART 6 – Ch.XXXIX.6.II

The great Pelasgian empire

(Decline of the Pelasgian empire)

Other kings of the divine dynasty

XXXIX. 6. II. Mizraim (Mesrem, Misor, Misir).

Another king who had reigned over the valley of the Nile had been, according to Egyptian and Hebrew sources, Mizraim (Genesis, ch.10). He was also called Mestraim (Syncellus, p. 53; Alex. Polyhistor, fragm. 3), or Mestraimus (Flavius Josephus, Ant. I. 6. 2); Mestrem (Ioann. Antiochenus, Chron. Fr. 1.21 in Fragm. Hist. gr IV. 539.21); Mesrem (Anonymus, Chronologica, p. 21); Misir in Assyrian language, and Misor in Phoenician annals (Philo Byblius, fragm. 2. 8), where he figures as father of Taaut or Hermes, while his brother was called Sydekk.

From his name, Egypt was called in the Hebrew language Mestrem (Ioann. Antiochenus, fragm. 1. 21) and Mestre (Flavius Josephus, Ant. I. 6. 2), a word which is neither of Egyptian, nor of Hebrew origin (Brugsch-Bey, Hist. d’Egypte, Leipzig 1875, p. 11).

In regard to his chronology, it is said that he had reigned over Egypt before Hermes (Anonym. Chronologica, p. 21).

In Traditional Romanian poems, king Misraim, Misir or Misor figures under the name “Mezar craiu” (Alexici, Texte, I. p. 56), “Domnul Mizil-craiu”, or “Misil-craiu from beyond the plateau” (Negoescu, Balade, p. 7; Tocilescu, Mater. Folkl. 126-128; Teodorescu, Poesii pop. p. 686).

We find in these songs of old not only historical elements, but also mythological, which show us that the personality of Mezar-Craiu had belonged to the ancient heroic times.

Mezar-Craiu has two residences, one “beyond the plateau” (in Transilvania), the other in Tera Romanesca (TN – Valahia, Muntenia). His daughters are a sort of Amazons. Their bearing is that of brave men, they wear their hair like them, they ride horses, have brave weapons, and go to perform military services.

The fact that the memory of this king has been preserved in our folk songs to this day, and that Egypt had once been named “the country of Mizraim”, shows us that he had been one of the illustrious kings of the divine dynasty.

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