THEBES. Towne and cities of this name occur in several parts of the ancient world, but the two which are most renowned in history are the Egyptian and the Bccotian Thebes.
The Egyptian Thebes, in the Bible called No, or No Amman, was situated in the central part of Upper Egypt, on both hanks of the Nile. The city extended on each side from the river to the foot of the hills which inclose the valley of the Nile. This gigantic; city, whose ruins still excite astonishment, was believed to be the most indent town of Egypt, and the original metropolis of Egypt. Its original circumference is stated to have been 140 stadia. its most fiearishing period avows to have been about se. 1000, when it was the mantel of all 4ypt, and whcu, according to Ilerodotne and Arietotles the whole country of Egypt bore the name of Thebes. During that period, which probably comprises several centuries, Thebes was the residence of the Egyptian kings, whose tombs are still extant in the rocks on the western aide of the city, and extend even to the holden of the desert Homer (' Iliad,' ix. 351, ko.) speaks of the splendour, creators., and wealth of Thebes, and calls it "the city with a hundred gates, each of which sent out two hundred men with horses and chariots." During the invaalon of Egypt by the Persians under Cambyess, Thebes, like other towns, suffered very severely, especially the private dwellings, which were for the most part constructed of wood, while the great architectural works defied the flames as much as they have defied the slower influence of time. After this caters trophe the city appears never to have recovered its former greatness. During the time of the Ptolemies, when the seat of government was ID the northern extremity of the country, Thebes appears to have been uegleeted by the Egyptian kings. In the reign of Ptolemy Lathyrus, about ex. 86, it. revolted, and after a siege of three years it was taken and plundered by the Greeks. As early as the time of Strabo, when its name had been changed to Diospolia (' City of Jove'), and the circuit of the city, which could still be traced, amounted to 80 steal, the plus couusted of a number of villages, and what remained of the ancient city consisted chiefly of temples. Under the
Homan domiuiou something appears to have been done to preserve the venerable city; but new calamities broke iu upon it when Chris tianity was introduced into Upper Egypt., and the Christians in their religions seal destroyed as much as they could of the works of the ancient idolaters. At present, the site of the city is occupied by four principal villsges—Luxur and Caruso on the eastern, and Gournou and Ilorlimet-Abou on the western side of the river. The buildings and sculptures still extant are the most ancient of any that exist in Egypt, and are the best and most genuine specimens of Egyptian art and architecture ; for we have every reason to believe that by far the greatest part of them were executed before Egypt had yet experienced the influence of the Greeks, that is, loug before the Persinu invasion. (se. The ruins, chiefly coexisting of temples, colossi, sphinxes, and obelisks, occupy nearly the whole extent of the valley of the Nile, a space of six miles from east to west ; and on the western side, where the ruins of the city end, there begins, as it were, the city of the deal, the tombs in the rock. with their paintings, which are still as fresh as if they had been made only a few days ago.
At Luxor, near the river, are the remains of a temple, the entrance to which is through a magnificent propylon, or gateway, consisting of two pyramidal moles, the lower part of which is now concealed by Accumulated sand, but which probably form a propylon as large as that of Caruso, hereafter described. I u front of the prupylon, which I.s covered with elaborate sculptures, stood two of the most perfect obelisks known to exist; one about 82 feet high, the other 76 feet, and from 8 to 10 feet wide at the base. The smaller obelisk was reulueed by the French in 1831, and erected iu the Place de la Concorde, in Paris., on October 25, 1836.