An irregular avenue of sphinxes, considerably
more than a mile in length (about 6,560 feet), connected the northern
entrance of the temple of Luxor with it; but this was only one
of several proud approaches to perhaps the largest assemblage of
buildings that ever was erected. For a minute description of Carnak
we must refer to the plans in the great French work, and to Dr.
Richardson's and Mr. Hamilton's accounts. The irregularities in the
structure and approaches of this building show that the various parts
of it were raised at different periods, for indeed it would have been
impossible for any one sovereign to have completed such a monument in
his life-time; and we know, also, that the great temple at Memphis
received numerous additions during a long succession of ages. Some
parts, both of this temple and of the larger building at Carnak
(sometimes called a palace), have been constructed out of the
materials of earlier buildings, as we see from blocks of stone being
occasionally placed with inverted hieroglyphics. It is impossible
without good drawings and very long descriptions, to give anything
like an adequate idea of the enormous remains of Carnak, among which
we find a hall whose roof of flat stones is sustained by more than
130 pillars, some 26 feet, and others as much as 34 feet, in
circumference. The remains on the western side of the river are,
perhaps, more interesting than those on the east.
Pages:
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59