of Thebes in Egypt. 383 
The sketch which we are now about to give of the monuments 
still existing, will be more intelligible if. we distinguish them by 
the two sides of the river. ‘The principal of those fine ruins 
bear the names of villages with which the plain is covered: on 
the west bank are those of Medynat-Abou and Kurnu; Luxor 
and Carnoc are on the opposite shore; and we must add Med- 
Amuth, situated at the north-east extremity of the valley, and 
presenting the most distant ruins. As to the size of those monu- 
ments, they resemble each other so much on both banks, that 
opinions are divided as to the preference which ought to be given 
to either. 
I. Monuments which exist in the western Part of the Plain of 
Thebes. 
The monuments of this part of the plain are of different 
Kinds. They form an uninterrupted series from south to north 
near the Libyan chain: there remains thereftre between the 
monuments and the river aspacious plain, which must have been 
covered formerly with private residences, In contemplating 
them we shall go from south to north. 
1, The Circus or Hippodrome *. 
The first objects which here present themselves are the remains 
ef a grand Stadium with a small temple at the southern extremity ; 
but the grand portico which we see on one side of this temple 
inclines us to think that there existed there in ancient times an 
edifice proportioned to those dimensions. The Circus is more 
than 6000 French feet long by 3000 broad. . By the report of 
the French, the area which it presents is equal to that of the 
Champ de Mars at Paris taken seven times, or 624,380 square 
_toises or fathoms: it presented therefore a space sufficient for 
‘the evolutions of animmense army. The whole had an inclosure 
_ which to this day presents a series of hillocks, through which doors 
and passages were made: 39 of these are still reckoned, and 
there must have been formerly nearly 5J. The principal en- 
trance, indicated by a Jarger aperture, was on the east side; 
* Sir W. Hamilton, p. 151, denies the existence of this Circus. He sees 
jn it merely the bed of an ancient canal, also marked by the French. This 
ace, which he values at 2000 yards in length by 40 in breadth, cannot, 
ie says, liave served for a stadium. | Nevertheless the accurate researches 
and the measurements of the I’rench leave né doubt as to the data of their 
text; and J can only account for the errors of the English author, by sup- 
“posing that the inundations, which still continued, prevented him from vi- 
titing the spot completely; or, rather, Has Sir W, Hamilton taken the dou- 
ble inclosure of the eastern side, which leaves a space of 40 yards, for the 
or inclosure of the Circus? This error would be the more easily fallen 
$nto, as the inclosure of the eastern side now exists only in ruins, 
vs the 
