Wilkinson, John Gardner: The Architecture Of Ancient Egypt: In Which The Columns Are Arranged In Orders, And The Temples Classified; With Remarks On The Early Progress Of Architecture, Etc.; With A Large Volume Of Plates Ilustrative Of The Subject, And Containing The Various Columns And details, From Actual Measurement (Text) (London, 1850)

86 ARCHITECTURE OF EGYPT. PART II.

was that of the temple of Hermopolis, at Osh-
moonayn; which had the royal ovals of Philip
(Aridseus) and Alexander (the son of Alexander
the Great), in whose names Ptolemy Lagus was
Governor of Egypt; and it is highly improbable
that so great an innovation should have been sud-
denly introduced, before the power of the Ptolemies
was established in the country. But what is still
more decisive, respecting the real Egyptian origin
of the large portico, is that instances of it, or its
prototype, are actually found in the oldest monu-
ments ; and no one can examine those of Amada
and Sukkot,* or even the narrow open portico
before the Eastern temple of Samneh, without being
convinced that to similar ancient plans is to be
ascribed the origin of the large porticoes of later
times.

So far were the Egyptians from admitting any
innovation, suggested by foreigners, that even the
most ordinary compliment, of permitting their great
benefactors, the Ptolemies, to appear in a Greek
dress on the monuments, was denied them; and we
only find one instance of a Ptolemy in his own
costume, in a subordinate position, on a gateway at
Karnak; and another, wearing a helmet, at the
entrance of the great Hall of the same building.
Even when Egypt was prostrate before the power
of the Romans, and was a conquered province, the
temples were not allowed to undergo any capri-
cious change; and the arch, the favourite feature

* Vide supra, p. 83, and Plate i, fig. 36.