236 Captains Irby and Mangles's Jccounf of the Necropolis 



form. In the upper tier the figures are females, two are wing- 

 ed, and two appear to have been dancing or much in action, 

 witli some instruments lifted above their heads, of which that 

 on the left hand seems to be the Amazonian bipennis. Unfor- 

 tunately the centre figure, which was doubtless the principal 

 one, is too much defaced for her attributes to be determined ; 

 nor is there any thing in the ornaments that could enable us 

 to discover to what divinity the temple has been dedicated. 

 i The principal chamber of the interior is large and remark- 

 ably lofty, but quite plain, with the exception of the door- 

 frames and architraves, of which there are three, one at the 

 further end, and one at each side, all opening into small and 

 plain cells. There is also a lateral chamber on each side, 

 opening from the portico, of a rude form. The centre of the 

 superstructure, which comprises the second storey, is a circular 

 elevation surrounded by columns, with a dome surmounted by 

 an urn. This latter has not escaped or failed to excite the 

 covetousness of the natives. We heard of it as the deposit of 

 a vast treasure, " Hasnah-el-Faraoun,'' (treasure of Pharoah,) 

 as far as Jerusalem ; and that it has been repeatedly aimed at 

 by musket shot there are evident proofs in the marks of bul- 

 lets in the stone. None, however, seems to have succeeded in 

 aiming at it by climbing, which would indeed be a difficult 

 task. The green stains on either side would lead to the sup- 

 position that the handles had been of bronze. It is doubtful 

 whether one of the perforations by a musket ball does not show 

 that the urn is hollow. Above the monument the face of the 

 rock is left overhanging, and it is to this that the excellent 

 preservation of its details is to be ascribed. The half pedi- 

 ments, which terminate the wings of the building, are finish- 

 ed at the top with eagles, which, combined with the style of 

 architecture differing little from the Roman, can leave no 

 doubt that this great effort of art is posterior to the time of 

 Trajan"*s conquest. Some of the heights whose steep sides in- 

 close the area in front of the temple, are rendered accessible, 

 though with great difficulty, by flights of steps cut in them. 

 We found the ascent, in some instances, so steep and slippery 

 that we were obliged to take off our shoes, and also to use our 

 hands nearly as much as we did our feet. 



