DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6551#0139
104
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
occupied by an Arab village are the only remains of Itfou
(Aphroditopolis.) The ruins of Athribis are said to be
at some little distance to the southward, but I did not
visit them. I came back to Shendowee by a circuitous
road, in order to pass the canal at an easier ford, so that
it was night before I arrived at the Nazir's house ; whence
I returned to the boat, and immediately sailed. During
this excursion, I witnessed a ceremony which was new to
me ; one of the attendants happening to meet an acquaint-
ance knelt down on the ground, and made several prostra-
tions, as if at prayer. His friend did the same ; after which
they got up, and embraced with the usual salutations.
\2th. — The temple at Gow-El-Kebeer (Antasopolis)
has been entirely removed, for the sake of the materials.
It was situated in a fertile plain, at present interspersed
with a few scattered hamlets, and supposed to have been
the scene of the fabled contest of Isis with Typhon,
after the death of Osiris. The connexion of this story
with the name of Antaaus is remarkable. The desert
mountains which encircle the place to the eastward, ap-
proach the river at the southern extremity, and also
at the northern, where several grottoes and antient tombs
have been excavated, which, having procured guides, I
proceeded to examine. The fastenings of stone doors,
and the remains of painted stucco were in many places
visible; and also a brick wall, which had the appear-
ance of great antiquity. There was likewise an inclined
passage, which was said to lead to other apartments; and
further on an Egyptian figure in a sitting position had
been sculptured near a grotto, which seemed to have
been a temple, as it contained a stone altar. At some
OPERATIONS CARRIED ON AT GIZEH.
occupied by an Arab village are the only remains of Itfou
(Aphroditopolis.) The ruins of Athribis are said to be
at some little distance to the southward, but I did not
visit them. I came back to Shendowee by a circuitous
road, in order to pass the canal at an easier ford, so that
it was night before I arrived at the Nazir's house ; whence
I returned to the boat, and immediately sailed. During
this excursion, I witnessed a ceremony which was new to
me ; one of the attendants happening to meet an acquaint-
ance knelt down on the ground, and made several prostra-
tions, as if at prayer. His friend did the same ; after which
they got up, and embraced with the usual salutations.
\2th. — The temple at Gow-El-Kebeer (Antasopolis)
has been entirely removed, for the sake of the materials.
It was situated in a fertile plain, at present interspersed
with a few scattered hamlets, and supposed to have been
the scene of the fabled contest of Isis with Typhon,
after the death of Osiris. The connexion of this story
with the name of Antaaus is remarkable. The desert
mountains which encircle the place to the eastward, ap-
proach the river at the southern extremity, and also
at the northern, where several grottoes and antient tombs
have been excavated, which, having procured guides, I
proceeded to examine. The fastenings of stone doors,
and the remains of painted stucco were in many places
visible; and also a brick wall, which had the appear-
ance of great antiquity. There was likewise an inclined
passage, which was said to lead to other apartments; and
further on an Egyptian figure in a sitting position had
been sculptured near a grotto, which seemed to have
been a temple, as it contained a stone altar. At some