The Persians held Egyptian mythology in detestation, and it appears were not devoted to the erection of sacred edifices, as no remnant of a religious symbol, or hieroglyphic, is to be found in their ruins; but, on the contrarv, they appear to have been wholly absorbed in the erection of gorgeous palaces and tombs.
Their sculptures are very numerous, and consist of' triumphal processions, of ferings of horses to the sun, and oxen to the moon ; figures bearing the parasol, and armed with the lance, in conflict with the lion. The number of men and ani mals found on their tombs are nearly thirteen hundred. Their columns have no diminish, being- uniform from top to bottom, and thirteen diameters in height, having a capital one-fourth their height, carved in imitation of feathers tied or banded with silk; being the materials with which eastern monarchs formed their most splendid decorations. From the Sin' der make of these columns, and no ments of a cornice or roof being found _ that Persepolis was a suffimer residence, and that they supported a temporary- cov ering, slightly- constructed of wood, and lined with silken drapery.
These ruins bear incontrovertible evi dence of antiquity, with features distinct ly marked to characterise a separate school of architecture. The deva.station which followed the conquest of Egypt by Cambyses, whose jealousy of the perfec tion of the Egyptians in art and science caused him to prostrate their palaces and temples, carrying off the artists as well as the spoils to grace this palace, accounts very, satisfactorily for the mixture of Egyptian with Persepolitan The whole of Upper Egypt furnishes prodigies in science and art. Their py ramids, palaces, temples, and excavated sepulchres. Their system of hierogly phical sculpture is calculated to impress us with a very elevated idea of that once learned and powerful people; who, not withstanding the inroads of frequent con querors, jealous of their acquirements, and laying waste their works of art, rose, Phcenix like, from her ashes, Mvigorated by persecution.
The pyramids of Cheops, Cepliren, and Mycerines, are alone sufficient to call forth the attention of mankind, as stupen dous monuments of industry and impe rishability. Although history can give us
no satisfactory- date of their construction, many learned men have discussed their antiquity, and concludeci that Cheops, which is the largest, (being 448 feet in height and 728 feet square at the base) was erected 490 years before the first Olympiad, or about 3000 years ago.
The researches of Denon, and the French commission of arts, are the best authorities that can be quoted on the sub ject of Egyptian architecture : they have examined with zeal and accuracy each well collected fragment, under the pro tection of an armed force : we will there from proceed in giving a general outline of its particular c haracter in Upper Egypt.
On approaching the edifices of Karnac and Luxor, the first grand masses ofbuild ings are the moles, of an oblong- plan, with battering or tapering sides, from 50 to 60 feet in height, decorated on their facade profusely with hieroglyphics, in the front of which stand the obelisks, on each side of the principal entrance, also crowded with symbols of mythoiou, astronomy, history and agriculture. The tapering moles are crowned hy a cavetto ..or Rat segment of a circle, richly fluted toms that covers She corners of the—pile. The entrance or door-tiny- is between-the moles, and is turrnotirted by a similar cavetto over the architave, is frequently carved the globe, wings, and serpent. This entrance opens into a grand court, surrounded on all sides by a portico, consisting of two ranges of co lumns, 48 in number ; at the extremity of this court, and opposite the entrance, tiffs: sanctuary is placed, and contains apart ments for the priests--two small porticos or covered ways conduct to those of the kings, and are distinguished by doors of black granite. Other avenues lead to buildings of considerable magnitude, or namented with rows or alleys of lions, sphinxes and rams, from 15 to 16 feet in length, couchant upon pedestals ten feet asunder.
Some of their sculpture is merely, a deep cut outline, and is no doubt the first dawning of the art. Basso relievo, semi relief, and alto relief, is every where to be seen, producing bold and decisive effects.