132. TRAVELS IN UPPER 



CHAP. XLVI. 



Tentyris — Dendera — Emir — Temple of Lis — Z)<?- 

 scriplion of several extraordinary figures — Tro^ 

 chilus of the ancients — Colours — Egyptian village 

 huilt upon the ancient temple — Efforts of barba- 

 rism to destroy it — F'igilance in the boat — Fruits 

 — Situation of Dendera. 



Tentyris, or Tentyra, was formerly a celebrated 

 city of Egypt. It gave its name to the nome 

 Ttntyritus, of which it was the capital. Its en- 

 closure was extensive, and its magnificence caused 

 it to be regarded as one of the most considerable 

 cities. Isis and Venus were honoured with a 

 public worship there, and in this place each of 

 these divinities had a temple. But what rendered 

 it particularly remarkable, was the enmity vv^hich 

 the inhabitants of it have sworn to the crocodile, 

 and the continual wars which they waged with 

 those hideous reptiles. The Tentyrite pursued the 

 crocodile into the water, overtook him, sprung on 

 his back, and forced a stick into his mouth, by 

 means of which, as with a bit, he conducted him 

 to the shore, and there put him to death. 



Near 



