SEN MUT—-AN EGYPTIAN CRICHTON 41 
A graphic description of the Nile Valley. as seen from the 
upper terrace, was next given. Hemmed in by the mountains east 
and west the great heban plain is heart-shaped, and the Nile 
courses through the centre. The fertile valley was teeming with an 
enormous wealth of agricultural produce, and through the groves 
of palms, sycamores, tamarisks and orange trees could be seen the 
towers, obelisks and temples of Luxor, Thebes, Karnak, Asher, 
Gournul, the tombs of her kings, Medinet Habou, with an avenue of 
sphinxes two miles long. 
The river, crowded with fleets of war and merchant vessels, 
the pleasure barges with gorgeous silk sails, queer river craft 
and funeral boats, and the gorgeous barges of the many gods; whilst 
just below the temple was the great parade-ground, more than five 
times greater than the Champs Elysées, wiere, to the blare of trumpet, 
and throb of drum, and shrill notes of the fifes, horsemen, 
charioteers, and infantry practised their drill; or gigantic fetes 
were held, and all the fun of the fair--from thimble-rigging to 
games like Aunt Sally were plaved—and sports of wrestling, single- 
stick, tournaments, races, &c., were in full go. 
MUT URT IN ASHER. 
The largest building Sen Mut designed was at Asher, about 
two miles from Karnak. This temple was erected to the honour 
and memory of the Queen’s mother, and dedicated to Mut Urt, 
v.e., the Great Mother of the gods. Unlike the unique temple pre- 
viously noticed this followed the conventional plan. An avenue of 
sphinxes led up to the first pylon, or gateway—-this was 93ft. high 
and 35ft. wide. After this came a double row of Secket statues, 
i.e., the lion-headed sun god, then a second pylon, over which was 
carved an enormous vulture, with outspread wing, and carrying the 
ank, or sign of life, in its talons. The vulture was the symbol of 
mist. This second pylon opened into a colonnaded court, from 
which great copper doors afforded entrance to the hypostyle assembly 
Hall; beyond the latter was the inner temple, the crypt of which 
served as the Treasury. At the end of the temple stood a great 
shrine of gold and ebony, with smaller shrines of alabaster and 
marble on each side. Right and left were many chapels and 
chambers, forming library, laboratory, store-rooms for vestments, 
bureges, canopies, chambers for the scribes, priests, &c, 
