DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.29898#0159
Bk. I. Ch. 1Y.
KINGDOM OF THE PHARAOHS.
by colossi, backecl by piers ; and Thothmes III. erected behind it a,
palace or temple, which is one of the niost singular buildings in
Egypt. The hall is 110 ft. long by 55 in width internally, the roof is
supported by two rows of massive square columns, and two of circular
pillars of most exceptional form, the capitals of which are reversed,
10 20 30 40 50
21. Section of Palace of Tkothmes III., Thebes.
and somewhat resembling the form usually found in Assyria, but
nowhere else in Egypt. Like almost all Egyptian halls, it was lighted
from the roof in the manner shown in the section. With all these
additions, the temple was a complete whole, 540 ft. in lengthby 280 in
width, at the time when the Sun-worshippers broke in upon the regular
succession of the great 18th dynasty.
When the original line was resumed, Meneptah commenced the
building of the great hall, which he nearly completed. Rameses, the
first king of the 19th dynasty, built the small temple in front; and
the so-called Bubastite kings of the 22nd dynasty added the great
court in front, completing the building to the extent we now find it.
We have thus, as in some of our medkeval cathedrals, in this one
temple a complete history of the style during the whole of its most
flourishing period ; and, either for interest or for beauty, it forms such
a series as no other country, and no other age, can produce. Besides
those buildings mentioned above, there are other temples to the north,
to the east, and more especially to the south, and pylons connecting
these, ancl avenues of sphinxes extending for miles, and enclosing-
walls, and tanks, and embankments—making up such a group as no
city ever possessed before or since. St. Peter’s, with its colonnades,
ancl the Vatican, make up an immense mass, but as insignificant in
extent as in style when compared with this glory of ancient Thebes
and its surrounding temples.
The culminating point and climax of all this group of building is
the hypostyle hall of Meneptah. The plan and section of its central
portion on the next page, both to the usual scale, will explain its general
arrangement; but no language can convey an iclea of its beauty, and
no artist has yet been able to reproduce its form so as to convey to
wn,
KINGDOM OF THE PHARAOHS.
by colossi, backecl by piers ; and Thothmes III. erected behind it a,
palace or temple, which is one of the niost singular buildings in
Egypt. The hall is 110 ft. long by 55 in width internally, the roof is
supported by two rows of massive square columns, and two of circular
pillars of most exceptional form, the capitals of which are reversed,
10 20 30 40 50
21. Section of Palace of Tkothmes III., Thebes.
and somewhat resembling the form usually found in Assyria, but
nowhere else in Egypt. Like almost all Egyptian halls, it was lighted
from the roof in the manner shown in the section. With all these
additions, the temple was a complete whole, 540 ft. in lengthby 280 in
width, at the time when the Sun-worshippers broke in upon the regular
succession of the great 18th dynasty.
When the original line was resumed, Meneptah commenced the
building of the great hall, which he nearly completed. Rameses, the
first king of the 19th dynasty, built the small temple in front; and
the so-called Bubastite kings of the 22nd dynasty added the great
court in front, completing the building to the extent we now find it.
We have thus, as in some of our medkeval cathedrals, in this one
temple a complete history of the style during the whole of its most
flourishing period ; and, either for interest or for beauty, it forms such
a series as no other country, and no other age, can produce. Besides
those buildings mentioned above, there are other temples to the north,
to the east, and more especially to the south, and pylons connecting
these, ancl avenues of sphinxes extending for miles, and enclosing-
walls, and tanks, and embankments—making up such a group as no
city ever possessed before or since. St. Peter’s, with its colonnades,
ancl the Vatican, make up an immense mass, but as insignificant in
extent as in style when compared with this glory of ancient Thebes
and its surrounding temples.
The culminating point and climax of all this group of building is
the hypostyle hall of Meneptah. The plan and section of its central
portion on the next page, both to the usual scale, will explain its general
arrangement; but no language can convey an iclea of its beauty, and
no artist has yet been able to reproduce its form so as to convey to
wn,