Chap. 14] OT3F.LISKS. 331 



it is also to be found nt Miletus, where, however, it verges 

 somewhat more upon the purple. It admits of being melted 

 by the action of lire, and is fused for the preparation of glass. 

 Thebaic stone, which is sprinkled nil over with spots like 

 gold, is found in Africa, on the side of it which Iks adjacent 

 to Kgypt; the small hones which it supplies being peculiarly 

 adapted, from their natural properties, for grinding the in- 

 gredients used in preparations for the eyes. In the neigh- 

 bourhood of Syenc, too, in Thebais, there is a stone found 

 that is now known as "syenites/' 84 but was formerly called 

 " pyrrhopuiciloii."* 6 



CHAP. 14. OBELISKS. 



Monarchs, too, have entered into a, sort of rivalrv with one 

 another in forming elongated blocks of this stone, known as 

 " obelisks,"" and consecrated to the divinity of the JStin. 

 The blocks had this form given to them in resemblance to 

 the rays of that luminary, which are so called* 5 in the Egyp- 

 tian language. 



Mesphrefr,* 9 who reigned in the City of the Sun, 90 was the 

 first who erected one of these obelisks, being warned to do so 

 in a dream : indeed, there is an inscription upon the obelisk to 

 this effect; for the sculptures and figures which we still see 

 engraved thereon are no other than Egyptian letters. 61 



At a later period other kings had these obelisks hewn. 

 Sesostlies w erected four of them in the above-named city, 

 forty-eight cubits in height. lUiamsesis,^ too, who was 



red heat, for discharging the brown and green tints of glass. See also JB. 

 xxxiv. c. -i'J, and the Note. 



** Syenite i.s the name still given to feldspar, hornblende, nnd quartz, 

 passing into each other by iii>eiiMbie gradations, and resembling granite. 



si Varied with red spots," similar to our red granite. 



b7 t4 Ob( lisci." So called from ofitXionuf, a *' small spit/' in consequence 

 of their tapering form. 



hs Meaning, prjbubly, that in the Egyptian language, the same word is 

 used us Mgnit\inir a " spit" nnd a "ray'"' of light; for it is generally agreed 

 that the word M obeliscus" is of Greek origin. 



* tf Jle does not appear to have been identified ; and the correct reading 

 is doubtful. w lleliopolig, or On, See B. v. c. 11. 



* l These figures or hieroglyphic! did not denote the jihuitctic language of 

 Egypt, but only formed a symbolical writing. 



'' Perhaps the same as * Sesostris." The former reading is ** Sothis." 



93 Ajussun identities him with Kanu-sfs III., a king of the eighteenth dy- 

 nnsty, who reigued B.C. loGl. This was also oue ot the names ot Sesostris 

 the Great. 



