DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11448#0236
202
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS. [chap, xxvi
On the face of the vertical cliff, a recess is excavated,
to the extent of about a hundred feet in width. From this,
four gigantic figures stand out in very bold relief. Between
the two central stony giants, a lofty doorway opens into a vast
hall, supported by square pillars, each the size of a tower, and
covered with hieroglyphics: just enough painting still glimmers
faintly on these columns to show that they were formerly cover-
ed with it: and the walls are carved into historic figures in
slight relief; these, as our torches threw an uncertain glare over
them, seemed to move, and become instinct with life.
This temple was dedicated to Athor, the lady of Aboccis (the
ancient name of Ipsamboul) ; who is represented within under
the form of the Sacred Cow. This was, however, a mere " chapel
of ease " to the great temple, excavated from a loftier rock about
fifty yards distant. Between these two a deep gorge once ran
to the river, but this is now choked up with sand, in whose
burning waves we waded knee-deep to the Temple of Osiris.
Here, a space of about 100 feet in height is hewn from the
mountain, smooth, except for the reliefs. Along the summit
runs a frieze of little monkeys, in long array ; as if the archi-
tect felt the absurdity of the whole business, or as Byron some-
times finishes off a sublime sentence with a scoff*. Then succeeds
a line of hieroglyphics, and some faintly carved figures, also in
relief; and then four colossal giants that seem to guard the por-
tal. They are seated on thrones (which form with themselves
part of the living rock), and are about sixty feet high. One is
quite perfect, admirably cut, and the proportions accurately pre-
served ; the second is defaced as far as the knee ; the third is
buried in sand to the waist, and the fourth has only the face and
neck visible above the desert's sandy avalanche. The doorway
stands between the two central statues, and is surmounted by a
statue of Isis wearing the moon as a turban.
On entering, the traveller finds himself in a temple which a
few days' work might restore to the state in which it was left just
finished, 3,000 years ago. The dry climate and its extreme soli-
tude have preserved its most delicate details from injury ; be-
sides which, it was hermetically sealed by the desert for thou.
THE CRESCENT AND THE CROSS. [chap, xxvi
On the face of the vertical cliff, a recess is excavated,
to the extent of about a hundred feet in width. From this,
four gigantic figures stand out in very bold relief. Between
the two central stony giants, a lofty doorway opens into a vast
hall, supported by square pillars, each the size of a tower, and
covered with hieroglyphics: just enough painting still glimmers
faintly on these columns to show that they were formerly cover-
ed with it: and the walls are carved into historic figures in
slight relief; these, as our torches threw an uncertain glare over
them, seemed to move, and become instinct with life.
This temple was dedicated to Athor, the lady of Aboccis (the
ancient name of Ipsamboul) ; who is represented within under
the form of the Sacred Cow. This was, however, a mere " chapel
of ease " to the great temple, excavated from a loftier rock about
fifty yards distant. Between these two a deep gorge once ran
to the river, but this is now choked up with sand, in whose
burning waves we waded knee-deep to the Temple of Osiris.
Here, a space of about 100 feet in height is hewn from the
mountain, smooth, except for the reliefs. Along the summit
runs a frieze of little monkeys, in long array ; as if the archi-
tect felt the absurdity of the whole business, or as Byron some-
times finishes off a sublime sentence with a scoff*. Then succeeds
a line of hieroglyphics, and some faintly carved figures, also in
relief; and then four colossal giants that seem to guard the por-
tal. They are seated on thrones (which form with themselves
part of the living rock), and are about sixty feet high. One is
quite perfect, admirably cut, and the proportions accurately pre-
served ; the second is defaced as far as the knee ; the third is
buried in sand to the waist, and the fourth has only the face and
neck visible above the desert's sandy avalanche. The doorway
stands between the two central statues, and is surmounted by a
statue of Isis wearing the moon as a turban.
On entering, the traveller finds himself in a temple which a
few days' work might restore to the state in which it was left just
finished, 3,000 years ago. The dry climate and its extreme soli-
tude have preserved its most delicate details from injury ; be-
sides which, it was hermetically sealed by the desert for thou.