Universitätsbibliothek HeidelbergUniversitätsbibliothek Heidelberg
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Edwards, Amelia B.
A thousand miles up the Nile — New York, [1888]

DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4393#0143

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THEBES AND KARNAK. 123

children screaming for backshish; the dealers exhibiting
strings of imitation scarabs; the donkey boys vociferating
the names and praises of their beasts; all alike regarding
us as their lawful prey.

" Hi, lady ! Yankee-Doodle donkey; try Yankee Doo-
dle !" cries one.

" Far-away Moses !" yells another. " Good donkey—
fast donkey—best donkey in Luxor !"

"This Prince of Wales donkey I" shouts a third, haul-
ing forward a decrepit little weak-kneed, moth-eaten look-
ing animal, about as good to ride ujion as a towel-horse.
"First-rate donkey! splendid donkey! God save the
queen ! Hurrah !"

But neither donkeys nor scarabs are of any importance
in our eyes just now, comjiared with the letters we hope to
find awaiting us on shore. No sooner, therefore, are the
boats made fast than we are all off, some to the British
consulate and some to the poste restante, from both of
which we return rich and happy.

Meanwhile we propose to sjiend only twenty-four "hours
in Luxor. We were to ride round Karnek this first after-
noon ; to cross to Medinct Ilabu and the Bamesseum* to-
morrow morning; and to sail again as soon after midday as
possible. We hope to get a general idea of the topography
of Thebes, and to carry away a superficial impression of
the architectural style of the Pharaohs. It would be but
a glimpse; yet that glimpse was essential. For Thebes
represents the great central period of Egyptian art. The
earlier styles lead up to that point; the later depart from it;
and neither the earlier nor the later are intelligible with-
out it. At the same time, however, travelers bound for
the second cataract do well to put off everything like a
detailed study of Thebes till the time of coming back.
For the present, a rapid survey of the three principal
group of ruins is enough. It supplies the necessary link.
It helps one to a right understanding of Edfu, of Philae,
of Abu Simbel. In a word, it enables one to put things

* This famous building is supposed by some to be identical both
with the Memnonium of Strabo and the tomb of Osymandias as
described by Diodorus Siculus. Champollion, however, following
the sense of the hieroglyphed legends, in which it is styled "The
House of Barneses " (11), has given to it the more appropriate name
of the Hamesseum.
 
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