DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0100
84
stone. In its form and dress it resembled that ne.iv the Pyramids,
and was 17 feet long, 7 high, and 5 feet broad. At the entrance
of a fifth quarry were the Ebauches of two colossal Crio-
sphynxcs, like those which form the avenues leading to the temples
at Thebes. Close to one of them we were struck with the appear-
ance of an immense block of stone, equal to a cube of 18 feet,
supported by a small column 3 feet in diameter, of soft white
earth. The Egyptians seem to have gratified their vanity by
leaving these singular masses in extraordinary positions, to arrest
the admiration of posterity, and to present at every step, and
in every shape, monuments of bold design and great mechanic
powers. Here were several blocks cut out, with half-finished
lines of hieroglyphics, and architectural ornaments ; some in-
tended for entablatures, cornices, small propyla, &c. : enough
to cast a degree of doubt on the general truth of the asser-
tion, that their buildings were first raised as rude unformed
masses, and the sculptures afterwards executed on the walls.
At a little distance from these quarries we came to a prodigious
cavern, the gloom and grandeur of which were more imposing
than all we had yet seen : the front is irregular, the roof hanging
overfor a great distance unsupported. Further in, it rests onsquare
pilasters, 12 feet in the side, and 20 feet high. The first cham-
ber of the cavern is 300 feet long, by 100 wide; adjoining to
this is another nearly of the same size; and a little further to
the North-east are three others, with which the mountain is ter-
minated abruptly, in a wide and open plain, bounded by the
Tiver, and by the range of hills to the East. On our return to
the water-side we passed several mummy pits choked up with
sand ; and the foundations of an Egyptian Temple, clearly marking
out the site of some antient town, to which, however, it is diffi-
cult to assign positively any name. Pliny is the only antient
author who mentions a nome between those of Ombos and
Apollinopolis;
stone. In its form and dress it resembled that ne.iv the Pyramids,
and was 17 feet long, 7 high, and 5 feet broad. At the entrance
of a fifth quarry were the Ebauches of two colossal Crio-
sphynxcs, like those which form the avenues leading to the temples
at Thebes. Close to one of them we were struck with the appear-
ance of an immense block of stone, equal to a cube of 18 feet,
supported by a small column 3 feet in diameter, of soft white
earth. The Egyptians seem to have gratified their vanity by
leaving these singular masses in extraordinary positions, to arrest
the admiration of posterity, and to present at every step, and
in every shape, monuments of bold design and great mechanic
powers. Here were several blocks cut out, with half-finished
lines of hieroglyphics, and architectural ornaments ; some in-
tended for entablatures, cornices, small propyla, &c. : enough
to cast a degree of doubt on the general truth of the asser-
tion, that their buildings were first raised as rude unformed
masses, and the sculptures afterwards executed on the walls.
At a little distance from these quarries we came to a prodigious
cavern, the gloom and grandeur of which were more imposing
than all we had yet seen : the front is irregular, the roof hanging
overfor a great distance unsupported. Further in, it rests onsquare
pilasters, 12 feet in the side, and 20 feet high. The first cham-
ber of the cavern is 300 feet long, by 100 wide; adjoining to
this is another nearly of the same size; and a little further to
the North-east are three others, with which the mountain is ter-
minated abruptly, in a wide and open plain, bounded by the
Tiver, and by the range of hills to the East. On our return to
the water-side we passed several mummy pits choked up with
sand ; and the foundations of an Egyptian Temple, clearly marking
out the site of some antient town, to which, however, it is diffi-
cult to assign positively any name. Pliny is the only antient
author who mentions a nome between those of Ombos and
Apollinopolis;