S3Q 



As we advance upwards on the borders of the Nile, 

 frequent instances occur, in which models of Egyptian 

 taste and Grecian excellence, wrought in granite, 

 porphyry, and marble, appear to be struggling into 



lisks, which I have mentioned at Alexandria and Heliopolis, have 

 been described hy various authors. 'The hierogliphicks upon the 

 latter, (which are the same on all sides) are exceedingly fair and 

 legible; and indeed the whole pillar is as entire and beautiful, as if 

 it were newly finished. But the Alexandrian obelisk, lying nearer 

 the sea, and in a moister situation, hath suffered very much ; espe- 

 cially upon that side, ithichfaceth the north ward,"* 



It is by no means improbable that the Alexandrian Obelisks, 

 from their proximity to the sea, and from the circumstance of their 

 having been long prostrate upon the earth and among rubbish, may 

 discover some signs of decomposition, and from this circumstance, 

 most probably, Dr. Clarke has drawn the conclusion, that all gra- 

 nite, or the felspar which forms a constituent of granite, is liable 

 to decomposition. This inference, however, is doubtful, as will 

 appear by a careful and more extensive examination of the 

 subject. 



The obelisks of Cleopatra, and Pompey's pillar, are composed 

 of what is denominated Egyptian granite : (the gr.'inites durus ru- 

 bescens of Linneus) of this kind, most of the granitical monuments, 

 as well as other e(!ifices : in c'vi! architecture, in Egypt, are compos- 

 ed, and were obtained principally from the same quarries, or 

 range of mountains. 



Now although the Alexandrian obelisks exhibit some signs of 

 decomposition, the pillar of On, or the obelisk of Heliopolis, 

 which in all probability is of much greater antiquity, is still less so. 

 The splendid ruins of the temple of Bahbeit, in Egypt, and which 

 are described as being composed of three kinds of granite, discover 



* Shaw's Travels, page 412, 



