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)

316 OBELISK AND REMAINS OF [Chap. VI.

to their not having taken into consideration the
elevation of the bed of the river; and we may
fairly conclude that the water now rises exactly
to the same proportionate level as formerly, and
that it will continue to do so for ages to come.

Close to the Meqqeeas is the powder magazine,
which some years ago was accidentally blown up,
and had nearly destroyed what remains of the
nilometer, in consequence of which an order is now
required for the admission of strangers.

The ride to Matareeh, near which are the
mounds of Heliopolis, and the obelisk of Osirtesen
I., occupies about two hours. Tradition speaks of
another obelisk,* which formerly stood opposite to
this; and we may readily credit it, since it was
customary for the Egyptians to place them in pairs
before the entrance of their temples. Beyond them
appears to have been an avenue of sphinxes, which
probably extended to the north-west gate of the
town.f The apexj of the obelisk appears, from its
shape, once to have supported some ornamental
device, probably of metal; and the form of that of

* Pheron, the son of Sesostris, erected other two obelisks
before this temple, one hundred cubits, or one hundred and fifty
feet, in height!—Herodot. ii. 111.

f Fragments of the sphinxes may be seen near the site of this
gate.

\ The apices of the obelisks of Luqsor, and of the smaller
obelisk of Karnak, have a slight convexity at each of the angles;
and, judging from the projection of the sides of the obelisks below
them, were probably covered with bronze, gilt ?