These, though last in the order of antiquity, necessarily form the present commencem•nt of the temple, w hich, like many others belonging to different epochs, is not ' two sepa rate edifices,' but one and the same building. A dromos, connecting it with Karnak, extended in front of the two beautiful obelisks of red granite, whose four sides are covered with a profusion of hieroglyphics, no less admirable for the sty he of their execution, than for the depth to which they are engraved, which in many instances exceeds two inches.
Two sitting statues of the same IZeineses are placed behind these, one on either side of the pylon ; lint, like the obelisks, are much buried in the earth and sand aceumulated a round Near the north-west extremity of the another similar colossus rears its head amidst the honses of the village, which also conceal a great 'Killion of the inter esting battle-scenes on the front of these towers. At the doorway itself' is the name of Sabaco, and on the abacus of the columns be ond, that of Ptolemy Philopater, both added at a later epoch.
The area, whose diinensions are about 190 feet by 1'70, is surrounded by a peristyle, consisting of two rows of columns, now almost concealed by the hovels and musk of the village. The line of direction no longer continues the same behind this euurt, the Remessean front having been turned to the eastward, in order to facilitate its connection with the great temple of Karnak, rather than to avoid the ‘icinity of the river, as might at first be supposed.
" Passing through the pylon of Amunoph you arrive at the great colonnade, where the names of this Pharaoh and his brother are sculptured. The latter, however, has been effaced, probably by order of the surviving mona••h, as is generally the case wherever it is met with, and those of the immediate successor of Amunoph Ill. and of Osirei are introduced in its stead.
"The length of the colonnade to the next court is about 170 feet, but its original breadth is still uncertain, nor ean it be ascertained without considerable excavation. To this sueeeeds an area of 155 feet by 167 surrounded by a peristyle of 12 columns in length and the same in breadth, terminat ing in a covered portico of 32 columns 57 feet by Behind this is a space occupying the whole breadth of the building, divided into chambers of dimensions, the centre one leading tai a hall supported by • columns, im mediately before the entrance to the isolated sanctuary.
On the east of this haIl is a chamber eontaining some curious sculpture, representing the aceouchement of queen .,laut-m-shoi, the mother of Aninnoph and his brother ; the two eli:Idren nursed by the deity of the Nile, and presented to A mun, the presiding divinity of Thebes; and several other subjects relating to their education and subsequent history.
" The sanctuary, whi(•h had been destroyed by was rebuilt by Alexander (the son of Alexander, Ptolemy being governor of Egyrt,) and bears h e. is nam in the follow ing 'dedicatory formula: " This additional work made he, the king of men. lord of the regions, Alexander, for his father Aniun•e. president of
'rape (Thebes;) he erected to him the sanctuary, a grand. mansion, with repairs of sand-stone, hewn, good, and hard stone, Ilistead his majesty, the king of men, Amu noph.' Behind the sanctuary are two other sets of apart ments, the larger ones suppoi ted by columns. and ornamented with rich sculpture, much of w Inch appears to have been gilded.
"Behind the temple is a stone quay. of the late era of the Ptolemies or Caisars, since blocks bearing the sculpture of the formisr have been used in its construction. Opposite the corner of the temple, it takes a more easterly direction, and points out the original course of the river, which continued across the plain now ing between it and the ruins of Kar nak, and which may be traced by the descent of the surface of that ground it gradually deserted. The southern ex tremity of this quay is of brick, and indicates in like manner the former di: ection of the stream, which now. having formed a recess behind it, threatens to sweep away the it hole of its solid masonry, and to undermine the foundations of the temple itself.
'Die road to Karnak lies through fields of hatfth indicating the site of anvient ruins, and here and there, on that magnificent building. the direction of the avenue, and the of its sphinxes. are traced in the bed of a small canal. or watercourse, which the Nile. the inundation, appropriates to its rising stream. To this succeeds another ounas of Criosphinxes, and a majestie pylon of Ptolemy Eue•getes, with his queen and sister Bereni who in one instance present an °tiering to their predecessors and liarcnts, Philadelphus and Arsiiwe. In one of the compartments within the doorway, the king is represented in a Greek costume, of which there are some other instances in Ptolemaic ruins. Another avenue of sphinxes extends to the prop% la of the isolated temple behind this gateway, which was founded by 1Zemeses I V., and continued by Remeses and a late Pharaoh, who added the hypzuthral area and the props la. ills name, and the exact era at w hich he flourished, are not precisely ascertained ; but if, as is very probable, we are authorized to read Bocchw•is, this part w ill date in the time of the twenty-fourth dynasty, or about. Si° B.C. Other names appear in different parts of the building, among which are those of A Inyrteus and Alexander on the inner and outer gatew ay s of the area." Haying made this digression in favour of Karnac and Luxor, wit will now continue our descriptions, taking our examples in geographical order, commencing at the northern extremity of Upper Egypt, and travelling southwards. The first remains of which we have any notice are those of I lermopolis Magna, but they are little better than mounds of ruins, the portico described by Denon haying been demolished. This portico was of great merit, and consisted of twelve columns in two rows Or six each, surmounted with cornice and entablature. The next place we arrive at is Dendera, the ancient Tentrris, which contains ruins of several temples. The following account is given by Wit k inson.