DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0309
278 THE LAND OF THE MONUMENTS
neither workmen ever came back ! We wondered
what was the story of that unfinished work ? Had
the king died, or had death carried off the workmen ?
After a most interesting exploration we returned to
the entrance, when we beheld one of the most beau-
tiful sights imaginable. The moon, four days past
the full, rising above the eastern hills, was flooding
the landscape with her soft pure light, illuminating
the giant statues, casting subdued shadows from the
huge figures, and making the river appear like molten
silver wherever her beams rested upon it.
We returned to the temple in the grey light of the
earl)' morning to witness the wondrous effect of the
sunrise within its deep recesses. As the time
approached a warm tinge of rose-coloured light per-
vaded the temple from the door which faces south of
east, and showed the eight statues, forms of Osiris,
four on each side, standing in solemn grandeur.
Suddenly a ray of brilliant golden light darted down
the'entire length of the temple, and illuminated most
splendidly two of the four seated figures carved in the
rock at the extreme end of the sanctuary. Here for
a brief space it seemed to linger, imparting to them
an almost supernatural appearance, then, creeping
back over the northern wall, it disappeared and was
gone, and the temple resumed its normal appearance.
This was our introduction to the glories of Abou-
Simbcl! It was necessary to postpone all further
exploration of this most interesting and wonderful
work until our return from the Second Cataract By
seven o'clock the Amkeh was again steaming south.
The small Temple of Fareg, on the eastern shore,
is partially excavated from the rock ; it was used by
the Copts, who have left frescoes upon its walls.
neither workmen ever came back ! We wondered
what was the story of that unfinished work ? Had
the king died, or had death carried off the workmen ?
After a most interesting exploration we returned to
the entrance, when we beheld one of the most beau-
tiful sights imaginable. The moon, four days past
the full, rising above the eastern hills, was flooding
the landscape with her soft pure light, illuminating
the giant statues, casting subdued shadows from the
huge figures, and making the river appear like molten
silver wherever her beams rested upon it.
We returned to the temple in the grey light of the
earl)' morning to witness the wondrous effect of the
sunrise within its deep recesses. As the time
approached a warm tinge of rose-coloured light per-
vaded the temple from the door which faces south of
east, and showed the eight statues, forms of Osiris,
four on each side, standing in solemn grandeur.
Suddenly a ray of brilliant golden light darted down
the'entire length of the temple, and illuminated most
splendidly two of the four seated figures carved in the
rock at the extreme end of the sanctuary. Here for
a brief space it seemed to linger, imparting to them
an almost supernatural appearance, then, creeping
back over the northern wall, it disappeared and was
gone, and the temple resumed its normal appearance.
This was our introduction to the glories of Abou-
Simbcl! It was necessary to postpone all further
exploration of this most interesting and wonderful
work until our return from the Second Cataract By
seven o'clock the Amkeh was again steaming south.
The small Temple of Fareg, on the eastern shore,
is partially excavated from the rock ; it was used by
the Copts, who have left frescoes upon its walls.