Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

dm. xix. THE BUILDINGS OF SETI I. 253

patronage in the most worthy manner by the creation
of real master-pieces. The Hall of Columns at Karnak,
m so far as it was carried out during the king's life, and
the temple of Osiris at Abydos are works of the highest
order, the splendour of which consists, above all else,
m the beauty of the sculpture, even to the hieroglyphic
characters. The celebrated tomb also of Seti is one of
the most remarkable achievements of Theban art. It
is the one called after the name of its discoverer,
' Belzoni's tomb,' and to this day forms the chief point
of attraction to visitors to the Valley of the Tombs of
the Kings at Thebes. It contains an abundance of
pictures and inscriptions, which are chiefly mytho-
logical, but which also involve a special significance in
relation to astronomy, as do the very instructive roof-
pictures of the so-called Golden Chamber. Unique in
its kind is the mythological substance of a long text,
found in a side chamber of the same tomb, and which
(as M. Naville has proved) has for its subject a descrip-
tion of the destruction of the corrupt human race.

As Seti had erected one of the most splendid works
to the god Amen on the right bank of the Theban
metropolis, so also at his command there rose on the
western bank of the river that wonderful temple, which
he dedicated to the memory of his deceased father
Ra-messu I. I mean the ' Memnonium' of Seti at Old
Curnah. In many places on this monument, which
belonged to the West country and consequently to
the realm of Osiris, the king avoids giving himself
the name of Seti. He calls himself generally Usiri, or
Usiri Seti. The sanctuary bore the designation of ' the
splendid temple-building of King Meneptah Seti, in the
city of Amen, on the western side of Thebes ;' frequently
also with the addition ' in sight of Apet.' The temple
was dedicated to his deceased father, to the gods of