DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4669#0423
388 THE LAND OF THE MONUMENTS
incidents, as at Abou-Simbel, where space afforded
the artist the opportunity of extending the limits of
his picture. No artist can reproduce any work exactly ;
machinery alone turns out the precise facsimile, ad
libitum ! We paid several visits to these ruins, and
were increasingly impressed with their grandeur the
more we became acquainted with them. Near to the
Ramesseum are some curious arches in brickwork of
considerable antiquity. The enormous extent of the
great necropolis of Western Thebes with its tombs and
mummy pits on ever}- side is surprising. The donkeys
pick their way with great sagacity, avoiding suspicious
places and holes with which the ground abounds.
DEIR-EL-MEDINEH.
The small, funereal temple which stands at the
base of the cliffs to the west of the Ramesseum was
rebuilt about the year 222 B.C. by Ptolemy Philopator,
the fourth monarch of the Greek Dynasty. IK- died
before he had completed the work, which was finished
by his successors Philometor I. and Euergetes II.
The first temple which stood upon this spot was
erected during the reign of Amenophis III., and a
royal decree assured its continual maintenance. It
was dedicated to Amen-Ra, and to I lathor as " The
Lady of the West," and stood near to the entrance
of the valley in which are found the tombs of the
queens. Within the hill beyond and around the
temple were the tombs of the ancient inhabitants
of Thebes. This region bore the name of ka-ck
, which signifies "The Town of thy Ka."
The temple was called Ha-ka-ek—"The Temple, or
incidents, as at Abou-Simbel, where space afforded
the artist the opportunity of extending the limits of
his picture. No artist can reproduce any work exactly ;
machinery alone turns out the precise facsimile, ad
libitum ! We paid several visits to these ruins, and
were increasingly impressed with their grandeur the
more we became acquainted with them. Near to the
Ramesseum are some curious arches in brickwork of
considerable antiquity. The enormous extent of the
great necropolis of Western Thebes with its tombs and
mummy pits on ever}- side is surprising. The donkeys
pick their way with great sagacity, avoiding suspicious
places and holes with which the ground abounds.
DEIR-EL-MEDINEH.
The small, funereal temple which stands at the
base of the cliffs to the west of the Ramesseum was
rebuilt about the year 222 B.C. by Ptolemy Philopator,
the fourth monarch of the Greek Dynasty. IK- died
before he had completed the work, which was finished
by his successors Philometor I. and Euergetes II.
The first temple which stood upon this spot was
erected during the reign of Amenophis III., and a
royal decree assured its continual maintenance. It
was dedicated to Amen-Ra, and to I lathor as " The
Lady of the West," and stood near to the entrance
of the valley in which are found the tombs of the
queens. Within the hill beyond and around the
temple were the tombs of the ancient inhabitants
of Thebes. This region bore the name of ka-ck
, which signifies "The Town of thy Ka."
The temple was called Ha-ka-ek—"The Temple, or