408 Some Account of the Monuments 
of battle a river is seen, into which the fugitives throw them- 
selves, while their countrymen are ready to receive them on the 
oppositive bank. On the left side of the buttress a hero is seen 
of colossal stature seated on a throne elegantly adorned. His 
feet rest on a footstool on which captives are represented. The 
cushions of the seat and of the footstool seem to be precious 
stuffs studded with stars. A procession of twenty-one persons 
in long vestments approach him in a respectful and suppliant 
posture. Hard by we see chariots and warriors with immense 
bucklers. ‘The army to which they seem to belong has a rear- 
guard of infantry and chariots, each carrying a warrior. The 
baggage is assailed by the enemy, but vigorously defended. The 
walls of the peristyle exhibit representations not Jess interesting. 
There is a combat there also. It is a hostile invasion repulsed. 
A river traverses the field of battle, forming numerous sinuosities. 
In several places we see the remains of the blue colour with 
which the river was painted. It waters a fort, the object of the 
movements on both banks. The inhabitants of the fort, how- 
ever, have passed the river. They have beards and long tunics: 
three are in each chariot. 
_ TheEgyptians, on foot or mounted in chariots, are commanded 
by their king and divided into detachments, each having its head 
or chief of ahigher stature than the rest. They overwhelm every 
thing which they meet on their passage, and trample under foot 
the dead and dying. Numbers of the enemy are drowned in 
trying to pass the river. They are pursued by the victors. 
On the walls of the great hall is represented an assault, and 
at the same time the taking of a fort, perhaps the continuation 
of the foregoing battle. At the foot of the wall we see a kind 
of tortoise formed by large bucklers. Behind, and partly under 
this machine, are the warriors, whose feet only are uncovered. 
A ladder is applied: soldiers ascend it. Already is the first of 
the four approaches to the fort gained; the battle continues: 
the besieged throw down stones and burning substances. But 
the issue of the combat is no longer doubtful; and the flag which 
is seen, is perhaps, although pierced with arrows, the signal 
that they wish to surrender. It is to be presumed that the parts 
of the palace which are destroyed, represented the triumph of 
the conqueror: and if this palace be in fact that of Osymandyas, 
described by Diodorus, we should have found a still more inter- 
esting scene,—the supreme tribunal of Egypt, and the grand 
judge having the symbol of truth on his breast. 
The western district between those grand buildings and the 
Libyan chain is not without its monuments. We there sce a 
Temple of Isis, smaller but curious.and well preserved. it is 
here particularly that we remark in all its lustre the pleyiof co- 
ouring 
Pare Oe en ee Pe 
PL, ites 
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