File:Photographic views of Egypt, past and present (1856) (14596707720).jpg

Identifier: photographicview01thom (find matches)
Title: Photographic views of Egypt, past and present
Year: 1856 (1850s)
Authors: Thompson, Joseph Parrish, 1819-1879. (from old catalog)
Subjects:
Publisher: Boston, J. P. Jewett and company Cleveland, Ohio, Jewett, Proctor, and Worthington
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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— yet the interiormagnificence of some of the tombs of private individuals,and the pictures of private houses found upon their walls,show that not all the wealth of ancient Thebes was in itsroyal coffers. Turning to the map, the reader will there find indicatedthe names and localities of the several ruins. Upon thewestern bank are the temples of Medeenet Habou, theMemnonium, and Gournou, with others of less note, — thecolossal statues, andr the principal tombs; on the easternbank are the temples of Luxor and Karnac. The distancefrom Luxor to Karnac is about a mile and a half; thatfrom Luxor to Medeenet Habou is about two and a halfmiles. The river is represented at a moderate stage.During the inundation the land is overflowed as far back asthe colossal statues. Medeenet Habou was a palace-temple of grand propor-tions, surrounded with huge sphinxes, lions, and colossalmen. In the front of the main edifice is an oblong court,flanked on either hand by pyramidal towers, where was the
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TEilPLES AND MONUMENTS. 145 pavilion of tlie king. Although the walls of this structureare much defaced, its sculptures still exhibit some curiousscenes of palace life. The king is seated on a rich divanreceiving the homage and caresses of his wives, who offerhim flowers, amuse him with chess, or cool him with theirfans. The grand area of the temple was adorned withmassive gates, and separated into courts, whose elegantcorridors were decorated with brilliant colors, and its wallscovered with historical and descriptive sculptures. Thepillars of the central court are still standing, and are in astyle of massive beauty. Enough remains of the temple toshow its plan, and the scale of grandeur on which it wasbuilt. Two or three smaller temples, connected with thisby avenues of symbohcal statues, were originally disposedaround the main building as adjuncts. Northward, some three thousand feet, stood the Memno-nium, a temple measuring four hundred feet by one hundredand fifty; its central hal

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