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The beautiful ruins of KOMOMBU in Upper Egypt: the stones that form the roof are of an enormous magnitude

and the columns which support that roof exceed 24 feet in circumference, and are clustered in imitation of the TREES which constituted the ancient GROVE TEMPLES

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form widely different from those of Geza. The first is built in four regular stories, growing less in proportion as they rise higher; and, as the whole is cased, according to Pococke, with hewn stone,* its original covering, and yet is formed with steps for ascending the summit, the same argument, though that argument is by no means proved, will not hold against its being used as an observatory, as has been applied to the greatest pyramid of Geza, viz. that it was once cased over with a smooth sheet of polished marble, which rendered such ascent to its apex scarcely possible. The second, it is very remarkable, is formed precisely after the fashion of the ancient Deogur pyramid, engraved by Mr. Hodges's obliging permission, in this work, of which, the reader may observe, that the body bulges out towards the centre. The third of these pyramids resembles those of Geza, and is of a magnitude not inferior. The second pyramid here described Mr. Norden notices as far the most ancient in appearance of any of the great pyramids of Egypt, and he declares he should without hesitation pronounce it to be so.† This is a circumstance highly deserving the consideration of both the Egyptian and Indian

* Pococke, vol. i. p. 50.

↑ Norden's Travels in Egypt and Nubia, vol. ii. p. 14. VOL. III.

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antiquary. A comparison of the Deogur pyramid with those of Sacarra, engraved in Norden's 61st plate, (for that in Pococke is less accurate,) will convince the reader of the exact uniformity, above asserted to exist, in the style of the architecture of these two most ancient nations.

The most important ruin in the neighbourhood of Thebes is Medinet-Habu, which Pococke considers as the remains of the old Memnonium; but our Egyptian travellers describe that temple as only a vast mass of mouldering vestibules, columns, and colossal statues, extending over near half a league of ground, all entirely subverted, except one most magnificent portal, engraved in Norden's 99th plate, which the Arabs have made the gate of their city, a portal which indeed is truly stupen-. dous, and demonstrates what the structure, when complete, must anciently have been. The next majestic and more perfect edifice is the superb temple of Essnay, the old Latopolis, of which the reader is here presented with a correct engraving from the last-mentioned writer; and the following account of it is principally taken from his own description. The temple of Essnay is an oblong square, and is enclosed on three sides with walls of great thick

ness. The front is open, and presents to view six large fluted columns, having capitals decorated with palm leaves. Eighteen other columns, equally large and beautiful, ranging in regular order behind those in front, support a roof composed of immense slabs of sculptured marble. A channelled border runs all round the top of the edifice; the whole structure is in the highest state of preservation, and is covered, both on the inside and outside, with innumerable hieroglyphics, that seem to be of the most ancient kind. M. Savary, in 1779, visited this august temple, and found it full of the accumulated dung and filth of the cattle which the Arabs fodder in it; for, those barbarians, he adds, do not blush to make cow-stalls of the finest monuments of ancient Egypt.*

On the same plate I have caused to be engraved the ruins of KOMOMBU, the ancient OMBOS. Half buried behind a mountain of sand on one hand, says Mr. Norden, and obscured by many miserable cottages on the other; yet all this does not prevent the curious traveller from being able to contemplate with wonder and delight these beautiful ruins. The building rests upon twenty-three columns, well wrought and adorned with hieroglyphics. The * Letters on Egypt, vol. ii. p. 67.