DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9059#0262
MEDINET-ABOU-TEMPLE OF BAMESES III. 243
prisoners in chains, and is accompanied by the
troops. A fourth picture represents him entering
Thebes and offering his prisoners to the gods of
the city.
These large battle scenes occupy the whole
of the lower register of the eastern, southern,
and northern sides of the court. But on the
upper register are represented scenes of a differ-
ent character, which are no less worthy of
attention. The illustrious founder of Egypt-
ology describes them so well that we cannot do
better than reproduce his words. "Rameses,"
says Champollion (Lettres Sorites d'Ugypte, p.
344 of the 1st edition), " quits his palace,
carried in a richly decorated naos, or shrine,
borne by twelve oeris, or military chiefs, whose
heads are adorned with ostrich feathers. The
monarch, decorated with all the marks of his
sovereign power, is seated on an elegant throne,
which golden images of truth and justice over-
shadow with their wings; the sphinx, emblem
of wisdom combined with strength, and the lion,
emblem of courage, stand near the throne, which
they seem to protect. Officers wave around the
naos the customary flabella and fans, young
children of the sacerdotal caste march near the
prisoners in chains, and is accompanied by the
troops. A fourth picture represents him entering
Thebes and offering his prisoners to the gods of
the city.
These large battle scenes occupy the whole
of the lower register of the eastern, southern,
and northern sides of the court. But on the
upper register are represented scenes of a differ-
ent character, which are no less worthy of
attention. The illustrious founder of Egypt-
ology describes them so well that we cannot do
better than reproduce his words. "Rameses,"
says Champollion (Lettres Sorites d'Ugypte, p.
344 of the 1st edition), " quits his palace,
carried in a richly decorated naos, or shrine,
borne by twelve oeris, or military chiefs, whose
heads are adorned with ostrich feathers. The
monarch, decorated with all the marks of his
sovereign power, is seated on an elegant throne,
which golden images of truth and justice over-
shadow with their wings; the sphinx, emblem
of wisdom combined with strength, and the lion,
emblem of courage, stand near the throne, which
they seem to protect. Officers wave around the
naos the customary flabella and fans, young
children of the sacerdotal caste march near the