Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

68 TOPOGRAPHY OF THEBES. [Chap. I.

majesty, and have their kingly ovals added to their
names.

Passing through the centre door, on the inner or
north side of this corridor, you arrive at the site of
the portico. On either side of the entrance the
king is attended by his consort, who as usual holds
the sistrum, but her name is not introduced. Some
of the chambers at the back part of the building
remain, and may be visited by descending amidst
the masses of crude brick walls which encumber
them; but the greater part are entirely buried and
concealed.

If the sculptures of the area arrest the attention
of the antiquary, or excite the admiration of the
traveller, those of the exterior of this building are
no less interesting in an historical point of view,
and the north and east walls are covered with a
profusion of the most varied and instructive subjects.

At the north-east extremity of the end wall a
trumpeter assembles the troops, who salute the king
as he passes in his car. In the first compartment
on the east side Remeses advances at a slow pace
in his chariot, attended by fanbearers, and preceded
by his troops. A lion running at the side of the
horses, reminds us of the account given of Osyman-
dyas, who was said to have been accompanied in
war by this animal; and another instance of it is

Egyptian name ouraios, " royal," from ouro, the Egyptian word for
" king," Basilisk has the same meaning " royal."