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)

496 THE COLOSSI. {Chap. VII.

well preserved, evince a beauty of expression, the
more striking, as it is unlooked for, in statues of
such dimensions. I had not an opportunity of as-
certaining their total height, but from the length of
the arm I calculate it to be about sixty feet, requir-
ing a pedestal of at least seven more.* Mr. Hay
has now cleared to the base of the two on the south
side of the door, and admitted the light and air to
the interior, at the same time laying open to viewf
the whole of their height, and restoring to them
their original effect. The grand hall is supported
by eight Osiride pillars, J and to it succeeds a
second hall of four square pillars, a corridor, and
the adytum, with two side chambers. Eight other
rooms open on the grand hall, but they are very
irregularly excavated ;§ and some of them have lofty
benches projecting from the walls. In the centre
of the adytum is an altar, and at the upper end are
four statues in relief. The dimensions of the colossi ||

* The total height of the facade of this temple will he between
ninety and a hundred feet.

f The Greek inscription of the Ionian and Carian soldiers of
Psamaticus, first discovered by Mr. Bankes and Mr. Salt, is algo
exposed to the view of the curious antiquary, as well as some
interesting hieroglyphic tablets.

t The dedication on the architrave over these colossi has been
cut over other hieroglyphics, but I could not discover if they were
of an older king; I think not.

§ Perhaps added at a later period.

| Some of those of the great colossi of the facade are as follow:
the ear, 3 feet 5; forefinger, (»". e. to the fork of middle finger)
3 feet; from inner side of elbow joint to end of middle finger,
15 feet, &c.