THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Janvakv, 



cavetto (something resemlilin<r the trifrlyph) separated the ovals 

 contaiiiiiitr tlie names of tlie kiiips, builders, or restorers of the 

 temple. The sculntured frieze was fre(piently formed by rows of 

 the sacred asp and irhjbe: thus tliey appealed to the devotional 

 feelinffs of the people, or taught them a liistory in every decora- 

 tion. Occasionally, the shafts of the columns were merely coated 

 with white stucco, — and, to <mr great surprise, we sometimes 

 tirid even the beautiful granite of Syene treated in a similar 

 manner. 



\Vhcn sandst(nie was employed, it was necessary to cover it with 

 a smootli, unalisorbeiit compositi(m before painting. In painting, 

 red, Idue, and green was the favourite ccjmbiuation; wlien black 

 was nsed, yellow was always introduced as a contrast. The reds 

 and yellows were ochres; the blue, metallic, prepared from copper; 

 the black, lami>-black; and the white, finely-prepared gypsum or 

 lime: these paints were mixed with water and a little gum, to ren- 

 der them more tenacious.* 



The Egyptians were well acquainted with the manufacture of 

 glass and enamel : a chamber in one of the pyramids of Saggarah 

 is lined with blue porcelain slabs, like Dutch tiles. 



That the Egyptians had a thorough knowledge of the art of 

 masonry is evident — the stonework in the interior of the great 

 ]iyramid of Geezeh has never been surpassed in any age. The 

 shafts of the columns were sometimes carved out of one solid 

 block; but when formed of sandstone, were built in courses vary- 

 ing in number according to the height of the column — Pococke 

 counted seventeen courses in one cidumn. More than one kind of 

 cement was used by the Egyptians: the mortar employed in build- 

 ing the great pyramid was lime mi.xed with sand. Occasionally, 

 the stones were fitted one to another without cement; and in some 

 cases where they have become partially separated, wooden toggles 

 are observed. 



It is singular, that in a country where so little rain falls, the 

 architects should have been so ])articular in fitting the stones that 

 formed the roof; but so attentive were they to this, that besides 

 carefully cementing them together, the interstices were covered 

 with a piece of stime let into a groove of about eight inches 

 in breadth, extending equally on each side of the line of junc- 

 tion. 



I have already noticed the discovery of the arch in the brick 

 pyramid near Thebes; but the most common kind of vault in 

 Egypt was formed by layers of stone projecting one beyond an- 

 other, and capped by a horizontal stone at the summit: the in- 

 verted steps were afterwards hollowed out. In one or two in- 

 stances, the great stones forming the roof have been placed on the 

 supporting columns edgeways, instead of on their face, so as to 

 give a sufficient thickness to allow of their being hollowed out, 

 and thus forming a vaulted ceiling. 



Crio.Sphlni. 



There seems to be some doubt as to %vhether the Spliinx is of 

 Egyptian or Assyrian origin: it occupied the same position in both 

 countries — at the entrance of the palace or temple; and in both 



* The finely painted columnB of Karaac, even now showing In their almost pristine 

 beauty, were tinted in water colour. 



countries expressed the same meaning, being typical of the most 

 perfect union of physical and intellectual ])ower. In Egyjit, it 

 was used as the symbol of the king or governing power. The 

 Egyptian sphinx was of three kinds — the .\ndro-sphinx, or human- 

 headed; the Crio- sphinx, or ram's-he.ided; and the Ilieraeo-sphinx, 

 or hawk-hended: they were all represented with the body of a lion, 

 and a small figure of the king was occasionally placed between the 

 paws. The great sphinx near Mempliis was carved out of the solid 

 rock, in the reign of Thothmosis IV., about 1300 b.c. ; according 

 to Pliny, it measured 63 feet from the ground to the top of the 

 head, was 143 feet in length, and the head round the foreliead 

 102 feet in circumference. An adytum, with an altar for sacrifice, 

 was placed under the chin, so that the wnrshiii))ers walked up the 

 avenue formed by its huge paws; and the smoke of the incense 

 ascended to the nostrils of the monster. 



In their sculpture, as well as their architecture, the Egyp- 

 tians were restricted to the same original forms by religious rules; 

 it is therefore difficult to judge whether, if such had not been 

 the case, they would have been able to delineate the human figure 

 correctly. We know tliey could give the idea of action, from 

 the animated groups in tlie ]iaintings on the tombs. Never- 

 theless, the Egyptian statues have an effect of calm grandeur, 

 and a serenity and benevolence of aspect, that canimt fail to 

 excite a feeling of veneration, as they sit with their hands 

 placed straight on either knee, peacefully looking out into space, 

 and smiling upon the centuries as they ha\e rolled by; or stand 

 with folded arms, bearing the flagellum, as the inflexible judges 

 of human deeds. 



Thebes contained two great palace-temples — El Karnac and 

 Luxor; the palaces of Medinet-Aboo, and the Memnonium 

 or Rameseum, besides other great buildings, as the temple of 

 Dayr-el-Bahree, built by Queen Nitocris, and that called the 

 tomb of Osymandyas, where stand the osirides, improperly called 

 caryatides: it is worthy of remark that these osirides do not 

 sustain the entablature, but are merely attached to the sup- 

 porting pillars. 



The most ancient building is the palace-tomple of Karnac; it 

 was the work of many successive kings, and is now the largest and 

 perhaps the most splendid ruin in the world. The wall of the 

 sacred inclosure would appear to have encompassed an entire city, 

 rather than one edifice. This stupendous structure was founded 

 by t)sirtesen I., upwards of 1600 b.c It was enlarged by Queen 

 Nitocris, who set up the two great obelisks in the court, each 



