He has given us a picturesque, vivacious, and highly original volume, as delightful as if it were not learned, and as instructive as if it were dull.
As regards the practical side of Archaeology, it ought to be unnecessary to point out that its usefulness is strictly parallel with the usefulness of public museums.

To collect and exhibit objects of ancient art and industry is worse than idle if we do not also endeavour to disseminate some knowledge of the history of those arts and industries, and of the processes employed by the artists and craftsmen of the past.

Archaeology, no less than love, "adds a precious seeing to the eye"; and without that gain of mental sight, the treasures of our public collections are regarded by the general visitor as mere "curiosities"-- flat and stale for the most part, and wholly unprofitable.
I am much indebted to Mr.W.M.Flinders Petrie, author of _The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh_, for kindly translating the section on "Pyramids," which is entirely from his pen.

I have also to thank him for many valuable notes on subjects dealt with in the first three chapters.

To avoid confusion, I have numbered these notes, and placed them at the end of the volume.
My acknowledgments are likewise due to Professor Maspero for the care with which he has read the proof-sheets of this version of his work.