DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0073
57
the sculptures with which it is covered, the painting is still vi-
sible, of a very deep red. This may have led to the great temple
of Cnuphis, of which no traces are to be seen. On the subject
of the two small temples that remain, little need be added to the
animated narrative of Denon. In the smallest of them the
only foundation of the pilasters is a small granite block. In the
other the hieroglyphical representations deserve notice, as stri-
kingly emblematic of the generative influence of the Nile over
the flowers, plants, fruits, &c, of Egypt, which are offered to
the deity, as well as of the communication of religious worship
from the countries to the South. Perhaps, likewise, these re-
lated to the worship of the Beneficent Sovereign of the Universe,
the exclusive property of Elephantine—a worship which the
priests dared not disclose to the vulgar, and which, therefore,
shared the fate of the popular superstitions. The sculptures in
this temple have a peculiarity which we observed in no other
part of Egypt. Instead of being engraven in the stone wall, or
relieved from it, they appeared as if formed with a mould in a
fine white plaster, with which the inner walls of the building
were entirely covered over.
The inhabitants here and at Es Souan brought us many Sca-
rabaei, of vitrified porcelain, in the form of rings, the common
badges of the Roman soldiers; together with a variety of coins
of the Ptolemies, of Trajan, Diocletian, Licinius, and Con-
stantius.
We Mere so fortunate as to procure from this island the upper
part of a large granite statue, much resembling the one still to
be seen there, a drawing of which is given in Pococke's Travels.
It represents the deity, who is generally denominated Osiris.
(See Plate IX.) What may be the peculiar meaning of the sym-
bols in his hands, which are crossed over the breast, is still a
i question
the sculptures with which it is covered, the painting is still vi-
sible, of a very deep red. This may have led to the great temple
of Cnuphis, of which no traces are to be seen. On the subject
of the two small temples that remain, little need be added to the
animated narrative of Denon. In the smallest of them the
only foundation of the pilasters is a small granite block. In the
other the hieroglyphical representations deserve notice, as stri-
kingly emblematic of the generative influence of the Nile over
the flowers, plants, fruits, &c, of Egypt, which are offered to
the deity, as well as of the communication of religious worship
from the countries to the South. Perhaps, likewise, these re-
lated to the worship of the Beneficent Sovereign of the Universe,
the exclusive property of Elephantine—a worship which the
priests dared not disclose to the vulgar, and which, therefore,
shared the fate of the popular superstitions. The sculptures in
this temple have a peculiarity which we observed in no other
part of Egypt. Instead of being engraven in the stone wall, or
relieved from it, they appeared as if formed with a mould in a
fine white plaster, with which the inner walls of the building
were entirely covered over.
The inhabitants here and at Es Souan brought us many Sca-
rabaei, of vitrified porcelain, in the form of rings, the common
badges of the Roman soldiers; together with a variety of coins
of the Ptolemies, of Trajan, Diocletian, Licinius, and Con-
stantius.
We Mere so fortunate as to procure from this island the upper
part of a large granite statue, much resembling the one still to
be seen there, a drawing of which is given in Pococke's Travels.
It represents the deity, who is generally denominated Osiris.
(See Plate IX.) What may be the peculiar meaning of the sym-
bols in his hands, which are crossed over the breast, is still a
i question