56 Major-General Straton's Description of' the 



this day, including the temples on both banks. * The courts 

 were probably the places of assembly. They are from 100 to 

 400 feet long — the propyla from 'JO to 100 feet high — and the 

 gateways 30 to 80 feet in solidity. These masses are inva- 

 riably built with a slope or talus. We shall give the temple 

 of Carnac, situated on the eastern bank. This magnificent 

 temple has many entrances, propyla, and gateways. In front 

 of those gateways are statues of colossal dimensions : avenues 

 of sphinxes conduct to them. One of these avenues is one mile 

 and a quarter in length. Immense porticoes and colonnades, 

 composing forests of columns, conduct to interior gateways. 

 Many of these columns are 36 feet in circumference ; and in 

 front of some of the gateways are colossal statues of granite 

 of the highest polish. The walls and columns are covered with 

 sculpture and painting. We arrive at obelisks of granite, so 

 deeply cut with hieroglyphics, figures, &c. that the modern 

 workman would in vain attempt to imitate them, -f- Further 

 on are obelisks of a greater size, backed by rows of colossal 

 figures, holding the crook and flagellum across the chest. 

 Then follow more obelisks, of great beauty and variety of 

 sculpture. This suite of avenues, porticoes, gateways, and 

 colonnades, and this combination of the arts in colossi, obe- 

 lisks, &c. served to adorn the entrance to a small sanctuary, 

 composed entirely of Thebaic granite, where the God of Gene- 

 ration and Abundance was worshipped. That nothing might 

 be wanting, we find behind the sanctuary a court, most com- 

 modiously laid out in small but elegant apartments, for the 

 use of the priests. 



We commence the description in detail, by the west propy- 

 lon, marked W on the plan, Plate II. An avenue of sphinxes 

 leads to the gateway. These sphinxes have the ram's head, 

 and lion's body, (called the Kriosphinx,) J and hold be- 

 tween their paws a small figure with the crook and flagellum. 



" The lines of Homer are well known. See First Iliad, 382. 



•f The ancient Egyptians must either have had a temper lor their tools 

 unknown to us, or a process by friction, requiring great time and extraor- 

 dinary perseverance. 



X The Kriosphinx is supposed, by some authors, to denote the conjunc- 

 tion of the sun and moon in Aries. 



