DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0110
RETURN FROM UPPER EGYPT.
79
most antient Egyptian architecture, and were the pro-
totype of the Greek Doric ; nor can any one, I think,
see these pillars, and those at Benihassen, without being
of the same opinion, and without being convinced that
the Greeks took with them from Egypt amongst other
sciences, those of architecture and of sculpture, and, as
has been already stated, the art also of colouring the
interior of their temples upon stucco. It should likewise
be remembered that the Doric was the oldest order in
both Egypt, and in Greece. Some of the blocks com-
posing these columns are three feet seven inches in
diameter, and have been fitted together by pommels and
corresponding cavities,8 their fiutings are nine inches
wide. In an adjoining temple, the capitals of the co-
lumns have the appearance of being inverted; and at
right angles to this, another building contains many of
the Doric columns nearly in a perfect state. Beyond
these temples are magnificent propylasa,9 through which
the distant mountains and bright blue sky are seen
with great effect; and on all sides vast mounds of ruined
materials, enormous masses of solid masonry, fragments
of columns and of architraves, attest the former splen-
dour of this extraordinary place, and at the same time
the wonderful efforts that have been made to destroy
it. On the exterior of the northern wall of the Great
Temple are the famous battle scenes, which are also
8 The same fastenings are to be observed in some of the architraves
at Stonehenge.
9 It is extremely probable, as Mr. Wilkinson observes, that Homer's
itxToftTrvXui may allude to these portals; and, also, that from them tri-
umphal arches were derived.
79
most antient Egyptian architecture, and were the pro-
totype of the Greek Doric ; nor can any one, I think,
see these pillars, and those at Benihassen, without being
of the same opinion, and without being convinced that
the Greeks took with them from Egypt amongst other
sciences, those of architecture and of sculpture, and, as
has been already stated, the art also of colouring the
interior of their temples upon stucco. It should likewise
be remembered that the Doric was the oldest order in
both Egypt, and in Greece. Some of the blocks com-
posing these columns are three feet seven inches in
diameter, and have been fitted together by pommels and
corresponding cavities,8 their fiutings are nine inches
wide. In an adjoining temple, the capitals of the co-
lumns have the appearance of being inverted; and at
right angles to this, another building contains many of
the Doric columns nearly in a perfect state. Beyond
these temples are magnificent propylasa,9 through which
the distant mountains and bright blue sky are seen
with great effect; and on all sides vast mounds of ruined
materials, enormous masses of solid masonry, fragments
of columns and of architraves, attest the former splen-
dour of this extraordinary place, and at the same time
the wonderful efforts that have been made to destroy
it. On the exterior of the northern wall of the Great
Temple are the famous battle scenes, which are also
8 The same fastenings are to be observed in some of the architraves
at Stonehenge.
9 It is extremely probable, as Mr. Wilkinson observes, that Homer's
itxToftTrvXui may allude to these portals; and, also, that from them tri-
umphal arches were derived.