DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0090
RETURN FROM UPPER EGYPT.
59
stone-quarries, which contained the Greek inscriptions
mentioned by Mr. Wilkinson, also a Roman bust, and a
most beautiful doorway decorated with the winged globe,
sacred serpents, &c, in the finest taste.5
An hypaethral building, apparently unfinished, is finely
situated on an adjacent eminence, with its front towards
the river facing east-south-east. It is ornamented with
many hieroglyphics, and the four columns towards the
northern and southern sides are quadriform, and deco-
rated with the head of Isis ; while, towards the eastern
and western, they have Egyptian capitals. The advan-
tage of a slight breeze enabled us to proceed, we passed
several buildings of burnt brick, and arrived at the Temple
of Debode (the antient Parembole) in the evening. The
river is here a noble stream, and on the eastern side a
5 The Greeks, and also the Romans appear in many instances to
have followed the example of the antient Egyptians in their numerous
inscriptions; and it is extraordinary with what care and expense the
latter have recorded upon stone, and even upon granite occurrences
apjiarently of small importance — such as the individual circumstances
of private funerals, the excavation of stones from a quarry, the offerings
of private individuals, &c.; and amongst other instances the successful
petition of the priests at Philaj to obtain exemption from military con-
tributions was even thought worthy of being inscribed upon the pedestal
of an obelisk. If such trifles as these were handed down to posterity, it
does not seem probable that the important events of history would have
been forgotten, particularly by a people, who boasted of their accuracy
in these matters. This, however, can only be ascertained by a much
more extensive and accurate knowledge of hieroglyphics than has at
present been acquired. It may here be remarked, that several of the
tombs, temples, and other monuments appear to have been inscribed by
degrees, and at different times after their erection, probably as the events
recorded successively took place.
59
stone-quarries, which contained the Greek inscriptions
mentioned by Mr. Wilkinson, also a Roman bust, and a
most beautiful doorway decorated with the winged globe,
sacred serpents, &c, in the finest taste.5
An hypaethral building, apparently unfinished, is finely
situated on an adjacent eminence, with its front towards
the river facing east-south-east. It is ornamented with
many hieroglyphics, and the four columns towards the
northern and southern sides are quadriform, and deco-
rated with the head of Isis ; while, towards the eastern
and western, they have Egyptian capitals. The advan-
tage of a slight breeze enabled us to proceed, we passed
several buildings of burnt brick, and arrived at the Temple
of Debode (the antient Parembole) in the evening. The
river is here a noble stream, and on the eastern side a
5 The Greeks, and also the Romans appear in many instances to
have followed the example of the antient Egyptians in their numerous
inscriptions; and it is extraordinary with what care and expense the
latter have recorded upon stone, and even upon granite occurrences
apjiarently of small importance — such as the individual circumstances
of private funerals, the excavation of stones from a quarry, the offerings
of private individuals, &c.; and amongst other instances the successful
petition of the priests at Philaj to obtain exemption from military con-
tributions was even thought worthy of being inscribed upon the pedestal
of an obelisk. If such trifles as these were handed down to posterity, it
does not seem probable that the important events of history would have
been forgotten, particularly by a people, who boasted of their accuracy
in these matters. This, however, can only be ascertained by a much
more extensive and accurate knowledge of hieroglyphics than has at
present been acquired. It may here be remarked, that several of the
tombs, temples, and other monuments appear to have been inscribed by
degrees, and at different times after their erection, probably as the events
recorded successively took place.