DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26300#0106
PART I.
iEGYPTIACA.
73
was a naked memorial; but the Column was certainly
*
furmounted by the Statue of him to whofe honour it
was erected.
But here we confefs, that we are unable to advance
farther than to point out Him, who was the likelieft and
worthieft to hand on this unrivalled Column. The gi-
gantic Image of Serapis was placed within the Temple.
The Obelifk reared by Philadelphus was a memorial of
connubial love. But this Monarch was alfo celebrated
for piety towards his Parents, whofe Statues he was
efpecially careful to multiply and adorn u. Whom then
can we fuppofe to have occupied this diftinguifhed place
before the Temple of Serapis, and in the view of the
whole city, but him who was the firft Monarch of his
family, and under whofe aufpices the tutelar deity was
introduced into Egypt ?
In the courfe of this Inquiry I have often felt the
want of that evidence, which might hill be obtained,
were the Site of this renowned Temple diligently invef-
tigated by able men. In the million of the National
Inftitute I entertained a hope, that at leaft fome better
u MhtjI tplxa. y.x\ TS’are] SvuSeoi; e'i<rtx.T0 vwi’
’Ei/ s’ aura; wffixaAAea? fl’tT EAtpai/Ti
"logvtrsv, srolvTicrcrui E7ri^S'on/oia'iv oi^uyif.
Theocritus, Idyll, xvii. ver. 123, &c.
iEGYPTIACA.
73
was a naked memorial; but the Column was certainly
*
furmounted by the Statue of him to whofe honour it
was erected.
But here we confefs, that we are unable to advance
farther than to point out Him, who was the likelieft and
worthieft to hand on this unrivalled Column. The gi-
gantic Image of Serapis was placed within the Temple.
The Obelifk reared by Philadelphus was a memorial of
connubial love. But this Monarch was alfo celebrated
for piety towards his Parents, whofe Statues he was
efpecially careful to multiply and adorn u. Whom then
can we fuppofe to have occupied this diftinguifhed place
before the Temple of Serapis, and in the view of the
whole city, but him who was the firft Monarch of his
family, and under whofe aufpices the tutelar deity was
introduced into Egypt ?
In the courfe of this Inquiry I have often felt the
want of that evidence, which might hill be obtained,
were the Site of this renowned Temple diligently invef-
tigated by able men. In the million of the National
Inftitute I entertained a hope, that at leaft fome better
u MhtjI tplxa. y.x\ TS’are] SvuSeoi; e'i<rtx.T0 vwi’
’Ei/ s’ aura; wffixaAAea? fl’tT EAtpai/Ti
"logvtrsv, srolvTicrcrui E7ri^S'on/oia'iv oi^uyif.
Theocritus, Idyll, xvii. ver. 123, &c.