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ments of this wonder-bearing country, has two colossal pyramidal
Propyla, one between the Dromos and Pronaos, another between
the Pronaos and the Portico, and a smaller one leading into the
Sekos or Adytum.

None of these Propyla are in lines parallel to each other, but
all of them, as well as the Dromos, turning from the body of
the temple each about one point towards the East. This
irregularity, which makes the building very complex, was pro-
bably owing to the form of the island, or to the varying state of
the rocky foundation. Several of the parts, too, seem to have
been built at different periods; though this alone would not be
sufficient to account for the fact, nor can we give the Egyptians
credit for a premeditated purpose to bestow on the building a
more picturesque character when viewed from a distance. At
the southern extremity of the dromos is a small detached temple
with a few columns surmounted with the head of Isis; it stands
close to the edge of the bank of the river, where are likewise
two small obelisks, one only of which is standing, having some
Greek inscriptions cut on it. The western wall of this temple,
and the corresponding wall of the dromos, are supported by a
very strong foundation, built from below the level of the water
to the pavement of the dromos; this solid and massy structure
is continued the whole length of the temple, and is visible also
in other parts of the island, where the bank is steep, and where
it was required to support either buildings or soil. Here and
there flights of steps arc hewn out from the wall to facilitate
the communication between the temple and the water.

No part of any of the existing monuments of Egypt is so well
calculated to give to a traveller an adequate idea of their magni-
ficence, as the portico of this temple, which consisted of twelve
columns, four in front, and three deep. The capitals represent

varied