naos, in holy recess, galleries, sages, for naos, or the proper temple, and included the holy AFRICA. recess, which was called the sekos,' cella, or ady- CHAP. III. tum, in which the image or emblem of the deity, was placed, together with the side adyta. By cluding the referring to the ground-plan it will be seen that or sekos, on leaving the hypostile hall there is a long and adyta. narrow chamber, from which are two small entrances Chambers, to the side-galleries, which are again connected with and pastwo long but smaller chambers between the hall the use of and the pronaos. Passing another doorway we the priests. enter another chamber, with an apartment on each side of it, probably for the use of the priests. In this last-mentioned chamber there is a central doorway, leading to the holy recess, or sekos; and two other doorways also communicate with the two ends of a gallery which runs round the sekos. A doorway in the gallery behind the sekos enabled the priests to walk into a large, but perfectly retired place, all round the sanctuary; and a flight of steps also permitted them to ascend to the roof and enjoy the freshness of the open air. The reader will thus bear in mind that the temple properly consisted of a dromos, a propylaea, including a pylon between two ptera, a court with colonnades, a pronaos, a second pronaos or hypostile hall, and the naos, including the sekos or adytum, and the side adyta; and that numerous other chambers, galleries, and passages for the use of the priests, were apparently included in the sacred walls, whilst an outer wall connected with the propylaea embraced the whole. 2 of the Delta. We now proceed to visit the cities and temples of Topography the Aegyptian Delta, which are mentioned by Herodotus. The city of Bubastis is the first we Bubastis. shall notice. Our author tells us that it contained a Magnificent beautiful temple of the goddess Bubastis, the Ar- Bubastis, or temis of the Greeks; and though many temples Artemis. might have been larger or more costly, yet none were 1 In Greek temples where oracles were given, or where the worship was connected with the mysteries, the cella was called the adytum. 2 The two ptera, or wings, are however called propylaea by Herodotus. CHAP. III. Entirely by water, the en trance. ous site. sure, or te AFRICA. So pleasant to behold. Its site was an island, excepting at the entrance; for two canals branched off from the Nile and flowed round it as far as the surrounded entrance, one on the one side, and one on the other, excepting at without coming in contact.' Each canal was 100 feet wide, and the banks were lined with trees. The temple was situated in the centre of the city, and Conspicu- could be looked down upon from every quarter; for its site had remained, whilst that of the city had been mounded up to a greater height than at any other place throughout Aegypt.2 The sacred enThe enclo closure (or temenus, as it is usually called, but which Herodotus here names ieron) was an exact square, each side measuring one stadia; and it was surrounded by a wall adorned with sculptured figures. by a sculp- The propylaca (or oblong pyramidal moles on each Propylaen side of the pylon or gateway) were ten orgyae or fete sixty feet high, and carved with sculptured figures and adorned six cubits or nine feet high. Within the wall of the tures 9 feet square enclosure a grove of trees was planted round the naos, which included the holy recess, or sekos, trees plant- containing the image of the goddess. A paved road or dromos,' three stadia long and four plethra nue, or dro- broad, led from the propylaea eastward across the mos, three- public market to the temple of Hermes, and was mile long lined on each side by very lofty trees.' menus, a square of 600 feet each way, surrounded tured wall. (ptera) 60 high, with sculp high. Grove of ed round the naos. Paved ave eighths of a and 400 feet broad. 6 1 Thus the temple was surrounded by water excepting at the entrance; the Nile being at its back, and a canal on each side. 2 Criminals, instead of being punished by death, were compelled to heap up mounds against the city to which they belonged (ii. 137). The superior height of the mounds of Bubastis, therefore, casts a decided slur upon the character of its inhabitants; and yet we are told that the festival of the titular goddess was more rigidly observed at Bubastis than that of any other deity in any part of Aegypt (ii. 59). This does not reflect much credit upon the Aegyptian religion, and indeed we find (ii. 60) that drunkenness and indecency were considered to especially belong to this rigidly observed festival. See further on, at chap. v. 3 i. e. about 600 feet. 4 Herodotus simply calls it odoç. Bubastis was the Aegyptian Pasht, the cat-headed goddess, of whom there are several figures in the British Museum. Bubastis is evidently Pi-bast, or Pi-pasht, Pi being merely the Aegyptian article prefixed. Hermes was the Aegyptian Thoth, the ibis-headed god of letters. The Aegyptian mythology is developed and explained in chap. v., to which the reader is referred for a further account of these deities. 7 ii. 137, 138. I have somewhat transposed the description of Herodotus in order to make it more intelligible to the general reader. the Ionians A little below the city of Bubastis, and on both AFRICA. sides of the Pelusiac mouth, were situated some lands CHAP. III. called Stratopeda, which were given by Psammiti- Ancieat setchus to the Ionians and Carians, who assisted him in tlement of obtaining the kingdom. Amasis subsequently re- and Carimoved the descendants of these settlers to Memphis, where he formed them into a body-guard for himself against the Aegyptians; and Herodotus himself saw their docks and ruined buildings which still remained at the time he visited the place.' ans. of Bubastis of Tel Basta The site of Bubastis is distinctly indicated by Modern site the lofty mounds of Tel Basta, which fully confirm indicated by our author's accounts of the great elevation of the the mounds ancient city, and the position of the temple of Bubastis. The temple is entirely destroyed, but the stones that remain are of the finest red granite. The plan however might possibly be obtained by a little examination, but granite makes capital millstones, and much of it has undoubtedly been carried away by the Arabs. The total length of the temple appears to have been about 500 feet, but its breadth is no longer traceable. The sacred enclosure immediately around it, was, as Herodotus tells us, about 600 feet square; and the outer circuit, including the canals, measured, according to Sir J. G. Wilkinson, 940 feet by 1200, the breadth exceeding the length. The street leading from the temple of Bubastis to that of Hermes has also been identified by Wilkinson, and found to measure 2250 feet in length, that is, from the circuit of one temple to that of the other. This exceeds the three stadia of Herodotus, which would only amount to 1818 feet. On the way is the market-place, or public square, mentioned by Herodotus. It is about 900 feet from the temple of Bubastis, and is now about 200 feet broad, though, if we make due allowance for the fallen houses with which it is encumbered, we may suppose its original size to have been much greater. The temple of Hermes is in a still more ruinous state, and a few blocks of red granite alone mark its site." 1 ii. 154. 2 Wilkinson, Modern Egypt and Thebes, vol. i. AFRICA. Busiris was situated in the centre of the Delta, CHAP. III. and the largest temple in honour of Isis was erected in this city.1 Busiris. Isis. Sais. Apries. Temple of built by Amasis. Colossi, obelisks, sphinxes. 3 Sais contained the splendid and magnificent palace of Apries, and also a large temple of Athene, the Palace of Aegyptian Neith, of which Herodotus has furnished us with some interesting particulars. The beautiful propylaca were built by Amasis, and far surpassed propylaea all others in height and breadth, as well as in the massive dimensions and fine quality of the stones. Amasis also dedicated colossal statues to be erected and andro- in front of the propylaea, and huge men-sphinxes for the dromos or avenue leading to the great entrance. Herodotus himself saw one of these colossal statues, which was 75 feet long; it had been overturned, and was at that time lying on its back." Amasis likewise procured huge stones for repairs. Some of inferior quality were quarried in the Libyan mountains, near Memphis, close by the site of the pyramids. Others of the largest size, and composed of red granite, he brought from Elephantine, which was about 20 days' journey from Sais. One work however attracted the admiration of HeroHuge rock- dotus more than all the others. This was a monomonolith. lith, or chamber hewn out of a single stone. Two chamber, or thousand pilots were occupied for three years in conveying this stupendous rock-chamber from Elephantine. Outside it was twenty-one cubits long, fourteen broad, and eight high. Inside it was eighteen cubits and twenty digits long, twelve cubits wide, and five cubits high. It was placed near the pylon, or gateway, of the sacred enclosure, for 3 ii. 59. 4 ii. 175. 1 ii. 59. For a further account of Isis, called Demeter by the Greeks, see chap. v. 2 ii. 163. 5 ii. 176. The Aegyptian caste of river navigators were called pilots, because the pilot or steersman was the captain or principal man of the vessel. See further on, at chap. vi. 7 This monolith was evidently intended to form the sekos, or adytum, for the reception of the statue or emblem of Neith, the deity to whom the temple was erected. On the outside it was 314 feet in length, 20 feet in breadth, and 12 feet in height; inside it was 27 feet in length, 18 feet in breadth, and 74 feet in height. СНАР. 111. the Saïte Amasis, etc. Amasis would not, from a religious scruple, have it AFRICA. brought within the temenus, because, as some said, the architect heaved a deep sigh from weariness, whilst it was being drawn along. Others however said that it remained outside, because it crushed one of the men who were employed at the levers.' All the kings who had sprung from the Saïte nome Tombs of were buried in the sacred enclosure or temenus. The kings, tombs of Apries and his progenitors were very near Aries, the temple, and on the left hand after passing the gateway. The tomb of Amasis was farther off, but still within the wall of the temenus. It consisted of a large stone chamber, decorated with columns shaped like palm trees, and other ornaments. Inside the chamber were folding doors leading to the sepulchre. The tomb of Osiris was within the same Tomb of enclosure, but behind the naos and extending along the entire wall of the temenus. Large stone obelisks also stood in the temenus, and near them was a circular lake ornamented with a stone margin or facing, Circular about the same size as the circular lake in Delos: lake. and at night, under the name of mysteries, the Aegyptians performed on it a representation of the adventures of that person, (Osiris,) respecting whom Herodotus must observe a discreet silence, though accurately acquainted with the particulars.* 2 Osiris. of Sais iden The site of Sais is sufficiently indicated by some Modern site lofty mounds, a little to the north of the village of tified with Sa-el-Hagar, or Sa of the stone; and the remains of that of Su. the temple of Athene and the circular lake may still be identified. A large enclosure, measuring 2325 feet by 1960, is surrounded by massive walls 70 feet thick, constructed of crude bricks, bound together by layers of reeds. The north side of it is occupied by the lake mentioned by Herodotus; but as this lake is no longer circular, but long and irregular, we may presume that it has, since the time of our author, encroached upon the temenus, which was situated more to the west. Parts of the wall, on Jii. 175. |