DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11715#0106
THE LAND OF THE PHARAOHS.
Near the Ramesseum are the temples of Medinet-Abu, that is, as it should be under-
stood, the city of Thebes. The largest of this group of buildings was erected by
Rameses m., the last of the great warrior-kings of Egypt, about 1200 B.C. As in the
case of his predecessors, we can trace his history on the walls of the temple. The glow-
ing words of Lord Lindsay do not exaggerate the impressiveness of this marvellous
edifice : " I will only say that all I had anticipated of Egyptian magnificence fell short
of the reality, and that it was here, surveying those Osiride pillars, that splendid corridor,
with its massy circular columns ; those walls lined within and without, with historical
sculpture of the deepest interest, the monarch's wars with the Eastern nations bordering
on the Caspian and Bactriana—study for months, years rather!—it was here, I say, here,
where almost every
peculiarity of
Egyptian architec-
ture is assembled
in perfection, that
I first learnt to ap-
preciate the spirit
of that extraordin-
ary people, and to
feel that poetless
as they were, they
had a national
genius, and had
stamped it on the
works of their
hands, lasting as
the Iliad. Willing
slaves to the vilest
superstition, bonds-
men to form and
circumstance,
adepts in every me-
chanical art that
can add luxury or
comfort to human
the ramesseum, thebes. existence, yet tri-
umphing abroad
over the very Scythians, captives from every quarter of the globe figuring in those long
oblational processions to the sacred shrines in which they delighted, after returning to
their native Nile—that grave, austere, gloomy architecture, sublime in outline and
heavily elaborate in ornament, what a transcript was it of their own character! And
never were pages more graphic. The gathering, the march, the melee—the Pharaoh's
prowess, standing erect, as he always does in his car—no charioteer—the reins attached
to his waist—the arrow drawn to his ear—his horses all fire, springing into the air like
Pegasuses—and then the agony of the dying, transfixed by his darts, the relaxed limbs
of the slain ; and, lastly, the triumphant return, the welcome home, and the offerings of
102
Near the Ramesseum are the temples of Medinet-Abu, that is, as it should be under-
stood, the city of Thebes. The largest of this group of buildings was erected by
Rameses m., the last of the great warrior-kings of Egypt, about 1200 B.C. As in the
case of his predecessors, we can trace his history on the walls of the temple. The glow-
ing words of Lord Lindsay do not exaggerate the impressiveness of this marvellous
edifice : " I will only say that all I had anticipated of Egyptian magnificence fell short
of the reality, and that it was here, surveying those Osiride pillars, that splendid corridor,
with its massy circular columns ; those walls lined within and without, with historical
sculpture of the deepest interest, the monarch's wars with the Eastern nations bordering
on the Caspian and Bactriana—study for months, years rather!—it was here, I say, here,
where almost every
peculiarity of
Egyptian architec-
ture is assembled
in perfection, that
I first learnt to ap-
preciate the spirit
of that extraordin-
ary people, and to
feel that poetless
as they were, they
had a national
genius, and had
stamped it on the
works of their
hands, lasting as
the Iliad. Willing
slaves to the vilest
superstition, bonds-
men to form and
circumstance,
adepts in every me-
chanical art that
can add luxury or
comfort to human
the ramesseum, thebes. existence, yet tri-
umphing abroad
over the very Scythians, captives from every quarter of the globe figuring in those long
oblational processions to the sacred shrines in which they delighted, after returning to
their native Nile—that grave, austere, gloomy architecture, sublime in outline and
heavily elaborate in ornament, what a transcript was it of their own character! And
never were pages more graphic. The gathering, the march, the melee—the Pharaoh's
prowess, standing erect, as he always does in his car—no charioteer—the reins attached
to his waist—the arrow drawn to his ear—his horses all fire, springing into the air like
Pegasuses—and then the agony of the dying, transfixed by his darts, the relaxed limbs
of the slain ; and, lastly, the triumphant return, the welcome home, and the offerings of
102