216 Notices respecting New Books. 



finest compositions that ever was made l)y the Egyptians, lor 

 nothing like it can be seen in any part of Egyjit. It conbists of 

 four fignres as large as life. The god Osiris sitting on his throne 

 receiving the homages of a hero, who is introduced by a hawk- 

 headed deity. Behind the throne is a female figure as if in at- 

 tendance on the great god. The whole group is surrounded by 

 hieroglyphics, and inclosed in a frame richlv adorned with sym- 

 bolical figures. The winged globe is above, with the wings spread 

 over all, and a line of serpents crowns the whole. The figures 

 and jjaintings arc in such perfect preservation, that they give 

 the most correct idea of their ornaments and decorations. (Plate 

 19 is copied from this composition.) 



" Straight forward is the entrance into another chamber with 

 two pillars. The wall of this place is outlined, ready for the 

 sculptor to cut out his figure. It is here that we may plainly 

 see the manner in which the artist prepared the figure on the 

 wall ready to be cut ; and it is almost impossible to give, a de- 

 scription of the various figures which adorn the walls and pillars 

 of this chamber. There are great varieties of symbolical figures 

 of men, women, and animals, apparently intending to represent 

 the different exploits of the hero to whom the tomb was de- 

 dicated. 



" On going out of this chamber into the first hall is a stair- 

 case, which leads into a lower passage, the entrance into which 

 is decorated with two figures, one on each side, a male and a fe- 

 niale,as large as life. The female appears to represent Isis,having, 

 as usifal, the horns and globe on her head. She seems ready 

 to receive the hero, who is about to enter the regions of im- 

 mortality. The garments of this figure are so well preserved, 

 that nothing which has yet been brought before the public can 

 give a more correct idea of Egyptian costume. The figure of 

 the hero is covered with a veil, or transparent linen, folded over 

 his shoulder, and covering his whole body, which gives him a 

 very graceful appearance. Isis is apparently covered with a net, 

 every mesh of which contains some hieroglyphic, serving to em- 

 bellish the dress of the goddess. The necklace, bracelets, brit, 

 and other ornaments, are so well arranged, that they produce 

 the most pleasing effect, particularly by the artificial lights, all 

 being intended to conduce to this purpose (shown in Plate 18). 



*' On the wall to the left, on entering this passage, is a sitting 

 figure of the size of life : it is the hero himself on his throne, hav- 

 ing the sceptre in iiis right hand, while the left is stretched over an 

 altar, on which are twenty divisions (shown in Plate 1). A plate in 

 the form of an Egyptian temple is hung to his neck by a string. It 

 contains an obelisk and two deities — one on each side of it. Plates 

 of this kind have been much sought after, as they appear to have 



been 



