.'71 



CIVIL ARCHITECTURE. 



- 



Tu decon- 



Pl*TI 



CXLIX. 





height 60 feet. Etch of the column* rrpreseiili a bundle 

 ul the l.itui tied together. 



There appear* to hire been * considerable difference 

 in the form of the ground plans of the Egyptian edifice*. 

 The entrance to Luxor ii composed of two obelisks, 

 which t present rile 70 feet above the surface of the 

 ground, and are understood to be about SO below it ; 

 >loual itatue* of blick granite, each 38 feet high'; 

 and two great molea or misses of building, of an oblong 

 plan, and tapering ride*, 55 feet high, and covered with 

 hieroglyphic*. And so closely are these large masses 

 crowded together, that from the front of the moles to 

 that of the obelisks, the distance is only 14 paces. The 

 edifices at Karnac, Philce, and Hermopolis, have also 

 Urge mole* at their entrances, and the doorways are be- 

 tween their moles. To these succeed courts with peri- 

 style*, or covered passages, which lead to the grand por- 

 tico*. In these instances, the number and magnitude 

 of the parts appeared to have been chiefly had in view ; 

 bat at Tentyra and Latopolis there dors not appear to 

 liave been any of these great objects at the entrance ; it 

 lead* immediately into a beautiful portico, characterised 

 by richness and perfection of workmanship. In some of 

 thcte edifices, the sanctuary is placed at the extremity 

 from the entrance ; and, in oth< rs, it has courts and 

 balls on each side of it. Whether these differences in 

 arrangement arose from a gradual change of style, or 

 whether each form was peculiar to the deity or purpose to 

 which it was appropriated, it is now impossible to deter- 

 mine ; but the perfection of the workmanship at Tentyra, 

 Latopohs, and Apollinopolis, is incontrovertible evi- 

 dence of an improved state of the arts. 



In the outlines and decoration of their columns, the 

 changes have also been very considerable. In the sim- 

 plest, a* those at the entrance of the tombs at Silsilis, 

 (see Plate CXLIX.) they consist of representations of 

 bundles of reeds bound together near the top with a 

 cord, which is wound several times round them, having 

 a square stone laid on their top, forming what is now 

 known by the term abacus ; and the part between this 

 stone and the cord binding, apparently crushed down 

 by the incumbent weight, so as to bulge out a little be- 

 yond the surface of the part which is firmly bound. The 

 first change from this simple mode seems to have been 

 to introduce mere bindings or belts in various parts of 

 the shaft ; and in the divisions between them, to repre- 

 sent alternately reeds and hieroglyphics. The bulged 

 part near the top was also decorated by reeds and 

 hieroglyphics, and sometimes by triangular (lutings. 

 Afterwards, this upper part was formed into elegant 

 vase-shapes, decorated with the stalks, leaves, buds, 

 and bloMoms, of the lotus or lily of the Nile ; and, 

 occasionally, leaves of the palm, vine, papyrus, and 

 date were introduced. (See Plate CL. Fig. 1, 3, 4, 

 5, 6.) At Tentyra, each capital is composed of four 

 heads of the goddess Isis ; and here the abacus, in- 

 stead of being a plain square thin stone, projecting be- 

 youd the surface of the shaft, fas at Silsilis), is of a 

 cubical form, only equal to the diameter of the column, 

 and decorated with hieroglyphics, as was the whole sur- 

 face of the shaft. (See Plate CL. Fig. 2.) At Tcntyra, 

 the shaft was continued, of eq^ual diameter, quite down 

 to the ground ; but at Latopolis, and several other places, 

 it was made narrower, just at the bottom, and was pla- 

 ced upon a square or founded plinth. At the Mem no- 

 mum, in place of columns, human figures are introdu- 

 ced, ai they were afterwards by the Greeks, who pre- 



tended to have inwntcil and named them Caryatides. (See 

 Plate CXI 



In the ^ the shapes remained nearly the 



same ; the extr- opace in which the front 



row of columns of the portico was placed, weie termi- 

 nated by perpendicular fines ; but at the extremities of 

 the facade, the lines at the external angles were always 

 tapering. Upon each angle there \va in astragal, or 

 large bead, which returned horizontally along the top 

 of the lintel or architrav ; this architrave at Tcntyra is 

 three-fourth?, and at Latopolis two thirds of the dia- 

 meter of the column. The general crowning member of 

 the facade a very large cavetto, having a com- 



paratively small projection, and decorated with vertical 

 fluting* or reed' j and, frequently, in this member, and 

 sometimes on the architrav, over the entrance doorway, 

 were sculptured the wing, globe, and serpent. The 

 whole of th.- walls, externally and internally, were co- 

 vered with hieroglyphic* ; and, it appears probable, that 

 the general mass of building was first contruct"d, and 

 the sculptures performed afterwards. The progress of 

 the art { sculpture is very evident, from the different 

 states in which it was found, being, 1st, A simple out- 

 line, cut very deep. 2d, Figures in very low relief, and 

 of rude execution. 3d, Figures very bold and perfect, 

 a* at Tentyra ; and, 4th, A sort of ornament, adopted 

 by the Greeks and Romans, and known, in modern times, 

 by the name of abaraeque ; but in no instance did any 

 of those hieroglyphics or ornaments interfere with the 

 outlines of the building, all of which have been care- 

 fully preserved ; and this circumstance alone, tends, in 

 no small degree, to produce that imposing effect so pe- 

 culiar to Egyptian architecture. 



It has already been observed, that amongst the ancient 

 Egyptians, the sepulchre or tomb was considered their 

 everlasting dwelling, and that the trouble and cxpence 

 bestowed upon it, and upon preserving the bodies of their 

 relations, occupied much of the time and attention of the 

 living. Near principal cities are regularly found exten- 

 sive ranges of tombs. In Upper Egypt, they were form- 

 ed by excavations in the sides of the adjacent rocky 

 mountains, (see Plate CXLIX.), into extensive gal- 

 leries and halls, with smaller apartments f< r sarcophagi 

 and mummies ; and these, in many instances, were de- 

 corated with columns, sculptures and paintings, exe- 

 cuted in the most masterly manner, and forming a strik- 

 ing contrast with the rudeness of the s'urrounding rocky 

 desart. They were also disposed in successive gradations, 

 evidently suited to the different ranks of society. But 

 partaking more of the nature of sculpture than architec- 

 ture, and also forming so extensive and interesting a sub- 

 ject of discussion, they require to be treated separately, 

 which can be done with most propr'ety under the word 

 SEPULCHKE, where not only the Egyptian, but those of 

 other nations, will be fully explained and illustrated. 



The total annihilation of Memphis, Heliopolis, and 

 other structures, at the northern extremity of this won- 

 derful valley, lias left us only the pyramids, the enor- 

 inoiii sphinx, with vestiges of a great causeway, and 

 some tombs, as specimens of the power which reigned 

 in the secend capital ; but these alone, after tin- xpira- 

 tion of 3000 years, are sufficient to excite astoiusi' n-nt. 

 Some particulars relating to them have already been fur- 

 nished in the historical Part ; but a< a full discussion, 

 in all its bearings, does not fall under this article, we 

 must, for that epecies of information, refer the reader 

 to the word PYRAMIBS. 



Practice. 



Caryatid.,. 

 PLATE 

 CXI. IX. 

 Vig. 2. 



Outlines of 

 edi6cet. 



EntaK* 

 ture. 



Sculplurr. 



Tomb?. 



CXLIX. 



Memphis 

 Pyramids. 

 Sphinx. 



