DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11448#0237
tfHAP. XXVI.]
IPSAMBOUL.
203
sands of years, until Burckhardt discovered it, and Mr., flay
cleared away its protecting sands.
A vast and gloomy hall, such as Eblis might have given
Vathek audience in, receives you on passing from the flaming
sunshine into that shadowy portal. It is some time before the
eye can ascertain its dimensions through the imposing gloom :
but gradually there reveals itself, around and above you, a vast
aisle, with pillars formed of eight colossal giants, upon whom the
light of heaven has never shone. These images of Osiris are
backed by^enormous pillars, behind which run two great galle-
ries, and in these torchlight alone enabled us to peruse a series of
sculptures in relief, representing the triumphs of Rameses the
Second, or Sesostris. The painting, which once enhanced the
effect of these spirited representations, is not dimmed, but
crumbled away; where it exists, the colors are as vivid as
ever.
This unequalled hall is one hundred feet in length; and eight
lesser chambers, all sculptured, open from it to the right and
left. Straight on is a low door-way, opening into a second hall
of similar height, supported by four square pillars, and within all,
is the adytum, in which is a simple altar of the living rock,
behind which there are four large figures seated on rocky
thrones. This inner shrine is hewn at least one hundred yards
into the rock; and here, in the silent depths of that great moun-
tain, these awful Idols, and their mysterious altar of human
sacrifice, had a very solemn and imposing effect. The statues
seemed to sit there waiting for some great summons which should
reanimate them., and Isaiah's apostrophe to Belshazzar came
vividly upon my mind, as I gazed on these " kings of the earth
who lie in glory, every one in his own house."
We wandered through many chambers, in which the air is so
calm and undisturbed, that the very smell of the torches of the
last explorers of these caverns was perceptible.
After leaving Ipsamboul, we crossed over to a cavern in the
opposite cliff, where is also hewn a rock-temple, called Gebal
Adha, which was used in later times as a Christian church. It
was a curious sight to see images of our Saviour and the Virgin
blazoned in glowing colors on these walls and roofs, surrounded
IPSAMBOUL.
203
sands of years, until Burckhardt discovered it, and Mr., flay
cleared away its protecting sands.
A vast and gloomy hall, such as Eblis might have given
Vathek audience in, receives you on passing from the flaming
sunshine into that shadowy portal. It is some time before the
eye can ascertain its dimensions through the imposing gloom :
but gradually there reveals itself, around and above you, a vast
aisle, with pillars formed of eight colossal giants, upon whom the
light of heaven has never shone. These images of Osiris are
backed by^enormous pillars, behind which run two great galle-
ries, and in these torchlight alone enabled us to peruse a series of
sculptures in relief, representing the triumphs of Rameses the
Second, or Sesostris. The painting, which once enhanced the
effect of these spirited representations, is not dimmed, but
crumbled away; where it exists, the colors are as vivid as
ever.
This unequalled hall is one hundred feet in length; and eight
lesser chambers, all sculptured, open from it to the right and
left. Straight on is a low door-way, opening into a second hall
of similar height, supported by four square pillars, and within all,
is the adytum, in which is a simple altar of the living rock,
behind which there are four large figures seated on rocky
thrones. This inner shrine is hewn at least one hundred yards
into the rock; and here, in the silent depths of that great moun-
tain, these awful Idols, and their mysterious altar of human
sacrifice, had a very solemn and imposing effect. The statues
seemed to sit there waiting for some great summons which should
reanimate them., and Isaiah's apostrophe to Belshazzar came
vividly upon my mind, as I gazed on these " kings of the earth
who lie in glory, every one in his own house."
We wandered through many chambers, in which the air is so
calm and undisturbed, that the very smell of the torches of the
last explorers of these caverns was perceptible.
After leaving Ipsamboul, we crossed over to a cavern in the
opposite cliff, where is also hewn a rock-temple, called Gebal
Adha, which was used in later times as a Christian church. It
was a curious sight to see images of our Saviour and the Virgin
blazoned in glowing colors on these walls and roofs, surrounded