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.

0. 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.

On the west bank of the river the following are the most interesting antiquities :—

I. The Temple of Kûrnah. This temple was built by Seti I. in memory of his father Rameses I.; it was completed by Rameses II., by whom it was re-dedicated to the memory of his father Seti I. Two pylons stood before it, and between them was an avenue of sphinxes. This temple was to all intents and purposes a cenotaph, and as such its position on the edge of the desert, at the entrance to a necropolis, is explained. In the temple were six columns, and on each side were several small chambers. The sculptures on the walls represent Rameses II. making offerings to the gods, among whom are Rameses I. and Seti I. According to an inscription there, it is said that Seti I. went to heaven and was united with the Sun-god before this temple was finished, and that Rameses II. made and fixed the doors, finished the building of the walls, and decorated the interior. The workmanship in certain parts of this temple recalls that of certain parts of Abydos; it is probable that the same artists were employed.

The

II. The Ramesseum. This temple, called also the MEMNONIUM and the tomb of Osymandyas (Diodorus I., iv), was built by Rameses II., in honour of Amen-Rā. As at Ķûrnah, two pylons stood in front of it. first court had a double row of pillars on each side of it; passing up a flight of steps, and through the second. pylon, is a second court, having a double row of round columns on the east and west sides, and a row of pilasters, to which large figures of Rameses II. under the form of Osiris, are attached on the north and south sides. Before the second pylon stood a colossal statue of Rameses II., at least sixty feet high, which has been thrown down (by Cambyses ?), turned over on its back, and mutilated. In the hall are twelve huge columns, arranged in two rows, and thirty-six smaller ones arranged in six rows. On the

interior face of the second pylon are sculptured scenes in the war of Rameses II. against the Cheta, which took place in the fifth year of his reign; in them he is represented slaying the personal attendants of the prince of the Cheta. Elsewhere is the famous scene in which Rameses, having been forsaken by his army, is seen cutting his way through the enemy, and hurling them one after the other into the Orontes near Kadesh. The walls of the temple are ornamented with small battle scenes and reliefs representing the king making offerings to the gods of Thebes. On the ceiling of one of the chambers is an interesting astronomical piece on which the twelve Egyptian months are mentioned.

III. The Colossi.-These two interesting statues were set up in honour of Amenophis III., whom they represent ; they stood in front of the pylon of a calcareous stone temple which was built by this king; this has now entirely disappeared. They were hewn out of a hard grit-stone, and the top of each was about sixty feet above the ground; originally each was monolithic. The statue on the north is the famous Colossus of Memnon, from which a sound was said to issue every morning when the sun rose. The upper part of it was thrown down by an earthquake, it is said, about B.C. 27; the damage was partially repaired during the reign of Septimus Severus, who restored the head and shoulders of the figure by adding to it five layers of stone. When Strabo was at Thebes with Ælius Gallus he heard "a noise at the first hour of the day, but whether proceeding from the base or from the colossus, or produced on purpose by some of those standing round the base, I cannot confidently assert.” It is said that after the colossus was repaired no sound issued from it. Some think that the noise was caused by the sun's rays striking upon the stone, while others believe that a priest hidden in the colossus produced it by striking a stone. The inscriptions show that many distinguished Romans visited the