the present and former Levels of Egypt. 217 



covered by the alluvial deposits of the inundation. Their re- 

 lative positions may be better understood from the plan No. 4, 

 in the plate, where it will be seen that before the temple A 

 are the tablets BC, and 420 feet beyond are the fragments of 

 a colossus, E ; then at the distance of 220 feet is another 

 fallen colossus, G, and as a pendent to it a group of compa- 

 ratively small figures cut out of a single block at F ; the co- 

 lossi H I, which are still standing, being 300 feet further for- 

 ward, and appearing to terminate the dromos. 



The temple is now surrounded by alluvial soil, and the water 

 and mud of the inundation extend to the distance of 600 feet 

 behind it. But when erected, about the year 1420 B. C, not 

 only the body of the temple, but the dromos, or paved road 

 leading to it, as well as the base of the colossi H I, were above 

 the reach of the inundation, and the statues at F, which are 

 still erect in their original position, were exposed to view, 

 though now bm-ied to their waist in the alluvial deposit. 



Indeed, I believe this dromos to have been a continuation 

 of the " royal street," mentioned in some papyri found at 

 Thebes, which, crossing the western portion of the city, com- 

 municated by means of a ferry with the temple of Luxoi", 

 founded by the same Amunoph, on the other side of the river ; 

 as the great dromos of Sphinxes, connecting the temples of 

 Luxor and Karnak, formed the main street in the eastern dis- 

 trict of Thebes. 



The colossi H I are 47 * feet high, with the pedestal 

 GO, but the alluvial deposit has accumulated, around them 

 to the height of from 6 feet 10 inches to 7 feet, so that they 

 now stand only 53 feet above the plain. t This was ascer- 

 tained by excavating to the base of the pedestal ; and hav- 

 ing penetrated beneath it, 1 found that it stood, not on 

 alluvial ground, but on the soil of the desert, which was 

 paved with sandstone blocks, serving as substructions for 

 the colossus and the dromos. The lower side of the pedestal 

 had not been cut smooth, but was left of a round irregiUar 

 shape, extending 3 feet 10 inches below the level of the paved 



* By sextant, I make the western colossus 47 feet, and the other, by iictual 

 Ineaeurcmont, 47 feet 9 inches. 



t The ground has sunk at the base, and the statue inclines a little to one? 

 tide, 80 that it is difficult to ascertain the exact height of the pedestal. 



