DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0134
100
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
upon the mounds of the antient town), at the verge of
the cultivated ground, which seems formerly to have ex-
tended to the mountains, but the space is now covered by
the sands, which have overwhelmed the ruins at this place,
and also those further to the southward, where the plain
is of greater extent. It cannot be supposed that these
magnificent structures were erected in a desert, and as
the sands from the neighbouring mountains were pro-
bably always encroaching, industry must have been as
necessary in this country, as in others less productive,
not only to increase fertility, but to arrest the progress
of the desert by canals, and by other means of irrigation.
Besides the testimony of antient history, fragments of
obelisks, pieces of alabaster, and other costly materials
evince the former splendour of the two buildings, which
alone are at present visible, and even they are so deeply
buried, that they scarcely merit the attention of a cur-
sory traveller. The masonry is good, and the ceilings
of the chambers in the larger one are composed of stones
cut into a coved shape, like those in the gateway at
Thebes. They are adorned with the finest sculpture,
and are surrounded with sepulchral shafts, and the re-f
mains of tombs that have been despoiled of their con-
tents ; but as the famous tablet was found here by Mr.
Bankes, further excavations near the buildings might
possibly lead to interesting discoveries. On returning
to Girjeh I again met the Sheik, with whom I took
coffee, and in the evening sailed for Eckmim. The
officers proceeded to Cairo.
El Birbe, near Girjeh, is supposed to occupy the site
of the antient town (This).
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
upon the mounds of the antient town), at the verge of
the cultivated ground, which seems formerly to have ex-
tended to the mountains, but the space is now covered by
the sands, which have overwhelmed the ruins at this place,
and also those further to the southward, where the plain
is of greater extent. It cannot be supposed that these
magnificent structures were erected in a desert, and as
the sands from the neighbouring mountains were pro-
bably always encroaching, industry must have been as
necessary in this country, as in others less productive,
not only to increase fertility, but to arrest the progress
of the desert by canals, and by other means of irrigation.
Besides the testimony of antient history, fragments of
obelisks, pieces of alabaster, and other costly materials
evince the former splendour of the two buildings, which
alone are at present visible, and even they are so deeply
buried, that they scarcely merit the attention of a cur-
sory traveller. The masonry is good, and the ceilings
of the chambers in the larger one are composed of stones
cut into a coved shape, like those in the gateway at
Thebes. They are adorned with the finest sculpture,
and are surrounded with sepulchral shafts, and the re-f
mains of tombs that have been despoiled of their con-
tents ; but as the famous tablet was found here by Mr.
Bankes, further excavations near the buildings might
possibly lead to interesting discoveries. On returning
to Girjeh I again met the Sheik, with whom I took
coffee, and in the evening sailed for Eckmim. The
officers proceeded to Cairo.
El Birbe, near Girjeh, is supposed to occupy the site
of the antient town (This).