Berkley, E.: The pharaohs and their people: scenes of old Egyptian life and history (New York, [1883])

176 EGYPTIAN TEMPLES.

foundation of which had been laid by Amenem-
hat i., not long after the close of the civil wars,
and before the Hyksos invasion.

However the Egyptian temples might differ
in size or splendour, the idea and plan were alike
—so that it has been said, ' If you have seen
one temple, you have seen all.' A wall of
enclosure surrounded the precincts, which were
adorned with trees, flowers, and artificial lakes.
The temple itself was approached by an
avenue of sphinxes. Before the entrance stood
obelisks and colossal statues. On either side
of the gateway rose the pylons—massive towers,
broader at the base than at the summit; they
were covered with pictorial and sculptured
representations of the great events of the day,
and above them rose the tall masts of cedar
wood, whence floated the gay streamers on
days of festival and rejoicing. Passing through
between the pylons, a vast court was entered,
surrounded by columns and open to the sky.
Beyond were halls, the roofs supported on
pillars, and in these the light glimmered but
faintly amidst the forest of majestic columns.
Each hall or court was of less size than the one