In approaching Luxor, (see Plate CXLIX.) the great objects crouded together at the entrance, are new to a European. In front of two great moles, 55 feet high, and distant only fourteen paces, stand two obelisks, 92 feet high, and between the obelisks and moles there are two colossal statues of black granite, each 38 feet high.
The first colonnade is ruined, the second still exists; it is formed of two ranges of eight columns; the total height being 56 feet, and the diameter nine feet. At 28 paces to the right and left of the great colonnade, were two other ranges, 30 feet high, and four feet diameter. These structures are on the eastern bank of the Nile. On the western side, on the scite of the Memnonium, is the immense statue of red granite, thrown down by Cam byses : its stature is 64 feet. Another smaller statue of rose granite is reckoned the finest in Egypt. Between the 'Alemnonium and Al edinet Abou, are two of the great est statues in Egypt ; their proportion is 55 feet ; they are seated on pedestals, which are eleven feet high, (See Collection of Fragments, Plate CXLIX.) The space between Memnonium and Medinet Abou, which is about a mile and a quarter, is covered with fragments of colossus. Here appears to have been what Diodorus Siculus called the tomb of Osymandes. The palace of Medinet Abou has still preserved a peristyle, 55 paces long, and 65 in breadth, formed by four rows of co lumns, placed on the four sides of the court. The co lumns are 45 feet high, and seven feet diameter ; the materials good, and the execution fine. In the hiero glyphics, the large figures have two inches relief, the smaller ones one inch. On the exterior of the palace wall, a bas relief represents a chase of lions, and an at tempt at a descent by strangers, whose dress very much resembles that of Indians. The Egyptians oppose the descent by sea and land, and the barbarians are all routed. Under this picture is seen the march of troops heavily armed, and others armed lighter. The tombs of the kings are situated about 3/ miles from the river, in a narrow valley, between the mountains of Lybia. In the time of Strabo, 17 of these tombs were found, and, in cluding a grotto near the Memnonium, there is still the same number. They will be particularly described in
their proper place.
Such are the outlines of the ancient and justly famed capital of Upper Egypt, as given by learned travellers ; and more especially by Denon, and the French Commis sion of Arts, who examined it with zeal and care, under the protection of an armed force.
Leaving Apollinopolis parva, and Coptos, on the east ern bank of the river, we find Tentyra, situated on the western bank. Here three temples have existed ; the greatest, (see Plate CXLIX.) dedicated to Isis, is upon the same plan as that at Apollinopolis. The facade is 72 paces in breadth, and 145 in length. As the particu lars will be detailed under the head of the Practice of Architecture, we shall here only remark, that there are two fine zodiacs to be seen ; and that the sculpture of the human faces is much superior to that in any other place in Egypt. There was another smaller temple also dedicated to Isis, and a third to Typhon. The ruins of the city of Tentyra are said to cover about a square mile.
In descending the valley, there are still the remains of Panopolis, Lycopolis, and Hermopolis, some of which yet exhibited porticos, having eighteen columns; besides these a multitude of fragments, in various other places, are evidence of temples or palaces having once existed. At Heliopolis, there remain only a solitary sphynx and an obelisk, to mark the scite of the city of the sun, where Moses, Herodotus, and Plato, were instructed in the learning of the Egyptians.
Upon the whole, there are yet, it is said, in existence, in Upper Egypt, five palaces and 34 temples : the most ancient have been constructed chiefly with sand stone, and a few with calcareous stone. Granite was only used in obelisks and colossal statues.
After the seat of empire was removed to Memphis, granite was made use of. The temple of Isis of Balibeit was built of it. Immense masses were extracted and carried from Elephants. The sanctuary of Minerva at Sais. and Latona at Butos, said to be cubes of sixty feet, were floated 600 miles, from Philee and Elephanta.