338 Baron Cuvier's Lectures on the Nutural Sciences. 



the Greeks never imitated their form. The first allusion to the 

 splendid edifices of Egypt occurs in Homer, who speaks of the 

 hundred-gated Thebes, and who, without doubt, by this ex- 

 pression meant the gigantic propylsei placed in the front of 

 temples, of which that city, in fact, contained a great number. 



Most of the edifices which we know must have been built 

 from the year 1000 before Christ to the year 550, the epoch of 

 the invasion of the Persians. In fact, this was the period at 

 which Egypt enjoyed her greatest prosperity. An exaggerated 

 idea, however, would be formed of the power of that country, 

 were we to judge of it only by the number and magnificence of 

 the monuments which have been left to us. It must be remem- 

 bered that there had been a gradual accumulation of them for 

 ages ; for, in a climate always equable, edifices built of granite 

 endure until they are purposely overturned. It ought also to 

 be remembered, that Egypt, from her position mistress of the 

 commerce of Africa, must have acquired immense riches, and 

 that all these riches must have been employed in the valley of 

 the Nile, since beyond it there was nothing but sand. Being 

 unable, tlierefore, to enlarge her territory, she covered it with 

 palaces. A similar concurrence of circumstances produced the 

 same results at Palmyra. Palmyra is an oasis of verdure placed 

 in the midst of the desert. It had no other advantage than 

 that of possessing some springs, but this was enough to induce 

 the caravans which went from the Euphrates to the Mediter- 

 ranean to pass that way. These caravans came laden with the 

 valuable productions of the East ; and during their short abode 

 in the oasis, they left much gold, of which the inhabitants 

 could have made no use, had they not employed the greater 

 part for raising temples and palaces. 



In modem times, Genoa, enriched in the same manner by 

 commerce, and restricted in her territory by the sea and the 

 Appenines, has reproduced, in some degree, the wonders of Pal- 

 myra and Egypt. 



Egypt, during the whole time of her prosperity, remained 

 shut to strangers ; but towards the sixth century before our 

 era, troubles having arisen, and having brought on a civil war, 

 the weaker party sought support in foreign countries, and Psam- 

 meticus first brought auxiliary troops from Asia Minor. It 



