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)

100

Chapter II.

BAB, OR BIBAN EL MOLOOK, "THE GATE" OB
" GATES OF THE KINGS."

This traditional name is applied by some to the
tombs themselves, by others to the narrow gorge at
the entrance of the inner part of the valley, but
M. Champollion, I believe, derives it from Bi-
ban-ouroou,* " the hypogeums of the kings." If it
be necessary to consider it of Egyptian origin, must
we not rather read (Pi) be n melchi, to adapt the
similarity of name to the language from which
we derive it ? For my own part I consider it purely
Arabic,! nor was melchi used by the Egyptians
but to denote an inferior and dependent prince or
viceroy.

I do not propose to give a detailed account of
these interesting catacombs, nor pretend to offer to
the reader an explanation of the sculptures, whose
interpretation our limited acquaintance with the
Egyptian mysteries, to which they frequently allude,
necessarily renders as yet uncertain and conjectural,
and which differ so widely from the more intelli-
gible subjects of the temples.

* Is bib an Egyptian word ? Be or pi be is " the tomb."
t Melek, in Arabic, signifies " king," from the verb " to pos-
sess :" thus " memlook," "a slave," or one " possessed " by another.