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)

Chap. VII.] THE PORTICO. 427

Whatever may have been the date of the inner
portion of this temple, the portico merely presents
the names* of some of the early Caesars; those of
Tiberius Claudius Caesar Germanicus, and Auto-
crator Csesar Vespasianus, occurring in the dedica-
tion over the entrance; and those of Trajan, Adrian,
and Antoninus, in the interior.

On the ceiling is a zodiac, similar to that of
Dendera; and upon the pilasters, on either side of
the front row of columns, are several lines of hiero-
glyphics, which are interesting from their contain-
ing the names of the Egyptian months. But these,
as well as the general effect of this noble edifice,
are now concealed from the view by a dismal brick
wall; which, though it protects the cotton of the
pasha, almost entirely excludes the light so neces-
sary to enable the spectator to judge of the beauty
of the interior.

Extensive mounds sufficiently prove the size and
consequence of ancient Latopolis, but no other
remains are now visible, except the stone quay on
the east side, which is of Roman date, as is evi-
dent from the style of the building; though I may
add, in confirmation of this conjecture, that Mr.
Bankes is said to have discovered a Greek inscrip-
tion upon it, mentioning the time of its erection.

Near the village of El Helieh, on the opposite

* Mention is also made of Thothmes III., by whom the original
temple was perhaps founded.