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 Ra; 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 Hatshepset, 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 Amen, 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 passage in which stands the obelisk of Ḥatshepset, 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 Ḥeru-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. Here 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 Amen, in the form of a woman, is standing by presenting him with weapons of war. 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 |