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.] TIME OF REMESES II. 493

given by Diodorus, of Osymandyas being followed
to war by that animal ;* and on the opposite side the
lion seizes one of the falling captives as he is held
by the victorious monarch.

Ra was the chief deity of the sanctuary, and from
him the ancient town received the name of Ei-Ra,
" the abode of the sun;" but we find that this
"temple of Remeses" was also considered under
the specjal protection of Amunre, and of Thoth.
Pthah likewise held a distinguished place among
the contemplar gods; and this custom of introducing
the divinities of the neighbouring towns was com-
mon both in Egypt and Nubia.

This rock-temple is of a very inferior style, by no
means worthy of the era of the Great Remeses, a
remark which equally applies to those of Sabooa
and Gerf Hossayn. It consists of an area of eight
square pillars; to which succeeds a transverse
corridor faced with four osiride pillars ; a hall, sup-
ported by six square pillars, in two rows; a small
sanctuary ; and two side chambers. At the upper
end of the sanctuary is a niche containing four
sitting figures: but the total depth of the excava-
tion is only about 110 feet.

On the road from Derr to Ibreem, inland, is a
grotto cut in the rock.

Ibreem is situated on a lofty cliif, commanding

* This did not prevent Remeses II. and III., and other Egyp-
tian monarchs, from being represented in the same manner. At
Bayt el Wellee, Remeses is accompanied by a favorite dog.