flank it on the north and south are the work of Thothmes III., but Seti II., Rameses III., and Rameses IV. have added their cartouches to them. On this pylon are inscribed a large number of geographical names of interest. Passing through it, the visitor finds himself in a vestibule which leads into a red granite oblong chamber, inscribed with the name of Philip III. of Macedon, which is often said to have formed the sanctuary. In the chambers on each side of it are found the names of Amenophis I., Thothmes I., Thothmes II., Hatshepset, and Thothmes III. The sanctuary stood in the centre of the large court beyond the two oblong red granite pedestals. In ancient days, when Thebes was pillaged by her conquerors, it would seem that special care was taken to uproot not only the shrine, but the very foundations upon which it rested. Some fragments of columns inscribed with the name of Usertsen I. found there prove, however, that its foundation dates from the reign of this king. Beyond the sanctuary court is a large building of the time of Thothmes III. In it was found the famous Tablet of Ancestors, now in Paris, where this king is seen making offerings to a number of his royal ancestors. On the north side of the building is the chamber in which he made his offerings, and on the east side is a chamber where he adored the hawk, the emblem of the Sun-god Rā; this latter chamber was restored by Alexander IV. Behind the great temple, and quite distinct from it, was another small temple. On the south side of the great temple was a lake which was filled by infiltration from the Nile; it appears only to have been used for processional purposes, as water for ablutionary and other purposes was drawn from the well on the north side of the interior of the temple. The lake was dug during the reign. of Thothmes III., and its stone quays probably belong to the same period.

Passing through the gate at the southern end of the

passage in which stands the obelisk of Ḥātshepset, a long avenue with four pylons is entered; the first was built by Thothmes III., the second by Thothmes I., and the third and fourth by Heru-em-heb. Between these last two, on the east side stood a temple built by Amenophis II. On the north side of the Great Temple are the ruins of two smaller buildings which belong to the time of the XXVIth dynasty.

The outside of the north wall of the Great Hall of Columns is ornamented with some interesting scenes from the battles of Seti I. against the peoples who lived to the northeast of Syria and in Mesopotamia, called Shasu, Rutennu, and Charu. The king is represented as having conquered all these people, and returning to Thebes laden with much spoil and bringing many captives. It is doubtful if the events really took place in the order in which they are depicted; but the fidelity to nature, and the spirit and skill with which these bas-reliefs have been executed, make them some of the most remarkable sculptures known. The scene in which Seti I. is shown grasping the hair of the heads of a number of people, in the act of slaying them, is symbolic.

The outside of the south wall is ornamented with a large scene in which Shashanq (Shishak), the first king of the XXIInd dynasty, is represented smiting a group of kneeling prisoners; the god Åmen, in the form of a woman, is standing by presenting him with weapons of war. Here also are 150 cartouches, surmounted with heads, in which are written the names of the towns captured by Shishak. The type of features given to these heads by the sculptor shows that the vanquished peoples belonged to a branch of the great Semitic family. The hieroglyphics in one of the cartouches were supposed to read "the king of Judah," and to represent Jeroboam, who was vanquished by Shishak; it has now been proved conclusively that they form the name of a place called Iuta-melek. Passing along to the

Karnak under the Ptolemies. From Mariette, Karnak, Pl. VII.

A. Walls standing before the time of Thothmes I.

B. Pylons built by Thothmes I.

c. Walls and obelisks of Hatshepset.

D. Walls, pylon, etc., of Thothmes III.

E. Gateway of Thothmes IV.

F. Pylon of Amenophis III.

G. Pylon of Rameses I.

H. Walls and columns of Seti I.

1. Columns, walls, and statues of Rameses II.

J. Temple of Seti II.

K. Temple of Rameses III.

L. Gateway of Rameses IX.

M. Pillars and walls of the XXIInd dynasty.

N. Pillars of Tirhakah.

o. Corridor of Philip III. of Macedon.

P. Chamber and shrine of Alexander II,

Q. Pylon built by the Ptolemies.

east, the visitor comes to a wall at right angles to the first, upon which is inscribed a copy of the poem of Pen-ta-urt, celebrating the victory of Rameses II. over the Cheta, in the fifth year of his reign; and on the west side of the wall is a stele on which is set forth a copy of the offensive and defensive treaty between this king and the prince of the Cheta.

The inscriptions on the magnificent ruins at Karnak show that from the time of Usertsen I., B.C. 2433, to that of Alexander IV., B.C. 312 (?), the religious centre* of Upper Egypt was at Thebes, and that the most powerful of the kings of Egypt who reigned during this period spared neither pains nor expense in adding to and beautifying the temples there.

The fury of the elements, the attacks of Egypt's enemies, and above all the annual inundation of the Nile, have helped to throw down these splendid buildings. The days are not far distant when, unless energetic measures are taken meanwhile, a large number of the columns in the wonderful hall of Seti I. must fall, and in their fall will do irreparable damage to the other parts of the building. It is much to be hoped that the public opinion of the civilized world will not allow these deeply interesting relics of a mighty nation to perish before their eyes. Steps should at once be taken to keep out the inundation, and if possible the tottering columns and walls should be strengthened.

* The short-lived heresy of the worship of the disk of the Sun instead of that of Amen-Ra would not interfere with the general popularity of Theban temples.