DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1035#0464
423
Chapter VII.
HERMONTHIS.
On quitting Thebes, the first ruins worthy of
notice are those of Erment, the ancient Hermonthis.
They consist of a small temple, dedicated to Mandoo
by the celebrated Cleopatra, who is accompanied
by Neocaesar or Ceesarion, her son by Julius Caesar :
a reservoir cased with hewn stone, appertaining to
the temple; and a Christian edifice of the time of
the lower empire.
The temple consists of an exterior court, formed
by two rows of columns, connected by intercolumnar
screens; a small transverse colonnade or portico, at
right angles with the former; and the Naos, which
is divided into two chambers.
Ptolemy Neocaesar and his mother have both the
titles of Gods Philometores Philopatores; but the
offerings are mostly made by queen Cleopatra, who
is also represented adoring Basis, the sacred bull * of
Hermonthis. Strabo states that Apollo and Jupiter
were both worshipped here, and that the bull was
also held sacred in this city; but by Apollo he
must allude to Mandoo, not to Aroeris; and Jupiter
was the Amun of the Thebaid.
* It is found on the reverse of the coins of the Hermonthite
nome. Its head is depressed; that of Apis on the Memphite
coins is raised.
Chapter VII.
HERMONTHIS.
On quitting Thebes, the first ruins worthy of
notice are those of Erment, the ancient Hermonthis.
They consist of a small temple, dedicated to Mandoo
by the celebrated Cleopatra, who is accompanied
by Neocaesar or Ceesarion, her son by Julius Caesar :
a reservoir cased with hewn stone, appertaining to
the temple; and a Christian edifice of the time of
the lower empire.
The temple consists of an exterior court, formed
by two rows of columns, connected by intercolumnar
screens; a small transverse colonnade or portico, at
right angles with the former; and the Naos, which
is divided into two chambers.
Ptolemy Neocaesar and his mother have both the
titles of Gods Philometores Philopatores; but the
offerings are mostly made by queen Cleopatra, who
is also represented adoring Basis, the sacred bull * of
Hermonthis. Strabo states that Apollo and Jupiter
were both worshipped here, and that the bull was
also held sacred in this city; but by Apollo he
must allude to Mandoo, not to Aroeris; and Jupiter
was the Amun of the Thebaid.
* It is found on the reverse of the coins of the Hermonthite
nome. Its head is depressed; that of Apis on the Memphite
coins is raised.