Study of the Neiv York Obelisk as a Decayed Boulder. 113 



Holies as a glittering spot of light upon the end-wall — for a few 

 moments only, it may be, and then vanished away. So began the 

 first day of Thoth, the first month of the Egyptian year. The 

 orientation of the axis, over a quarter mile in length, of the mag- 

 nificent Solar Temple of Amen-Ra, at Karnak, has been determined 

 with an amplitude of W. 26° N.,^ and that of Abydos, W. 27° N. 

 The latitude of Karnak is about 26° N., and that of An about 30° 

 N., which (according to an approximate calculation made for me by 

 Prof. J. K. Eees, of the Astronomical Observatory at Columbia 

 College, New York) would add about one degree to the amplitude 

 of the sun-setting point at the summer solstice. 



Although, therefore, not a single stone remains of the ancient 

 Sun Temple of An, it appears quite certain that its axis was directed 

 to W. 27° N., and to that point faced the front side of the New 

 York Obelisk, over thirty-five centuries ago, 



8. The mutilation of the Obelisk by fire. 



After standing, probably undisturbed, for about 1050 years, the 

 Persian Invasion of Egypt occurred, during which, about 525 B. C, 

 the city and Temple of An were destroyed, as related by the geo- 

 grapher Strabo,^ who visited Egypt 24 B. C: 



"There, too, is Heliopolis, situated on a large mound. ... At 

 present the city is entirely deserted. It has an ancient temple con- 

 structed after the Egyptian manner, bearing many proofs of the 

 madness and sacrilegious acts 'of Cambyses, who did very great 

 injury to the temples, partly by fire, partly by violence, mutilating 

 in some cases and applying fire in others. In this manner he in-, 

 jured the obelisks, two of which that were not entirely spoilt were 

 transported to Rome. There are others, both here and at Thebes 

 (the present Diospolis), some of which are standing, much corroded 

 by fire, and others lying on the ground.'^ 



There are two reasons for believing that our Obelisk and its com- 

 panion would particularly attract the fierce indignation and attack 

 of the Persians, perhaps above all the others which gave to the city 

 its name of the "City of Obelisks:" first, their prominent position 

 before the fa(;ade of the Temple of the Sun : secondly, the names 

 of the two kings repeatedly inscribed in cartouches, among the 

 hieroglyphs over every side of these two shafts. 



' Compare Map No. 1, Wilkinson, Thebes and Pyramids. 

 2 Book XVII, i, 27. 



