114 SCIOPTICON MANUAL. 



Near the Pyramids, more wondrous and more awful 

 than all else in the land of Egypt, there sits the lonely 

 Sphinx. This monument, so imposing in its aspect, even 

 in the mutilated state to which it has been reduced, has 

 always excited the admiration of those who possessed 

 sufficient knowledge of art to appreciate its merits at' a 

 first glance. The contemplative turn of the eye, the 

 mild expression of the mouth, and the beautiful dispos- 

 ition of the drapery at the angle of the forehead suffi- 

 ciently attest the admirable' skill of the artist by whom 

 it was executed. 



HELIOPOLIS. Heliopolis,the sacred city, the On, where 

 Joseph's wife, Asenath, lived. A few scattered blocks, a 

 solitary obelisk covered with hieroglyphics, these, with 

 some mounds of sand and rubbish, are all that is left to 

 mark the site of the once priestly city. 



THE SIMOOM. In crossing the desert travelers are 

 frequently exposed to the Simoom or sand storm. Its 

 approach is indicated by a redness in the air, the sky is 

 suddenly overcast, clouds of hot sand obscure every- 

 thing, and often render further progress for the time 

 impossible. The whole caravan, camels and men, then 

 lie prostrate on the ground till it passes over. 



COLOSSAL STATUES OF THEBES. The Colossi of the 

 plain. These immense sitting figures, fifty-three feet 

 above the plain, which has buried their pedestals, were 

 erected by Amunoph III, and were originally in front of 

 a large temple, of which only the ground-plan remains. 

 The more distant statue is the vocal Mcmnon of history. 

 An inscription made by one of the Eoman emperors 

 records the hearing of musical sounds. 



