240 



birth, from hillocks of sand and ruins, and seem 

 to say to the gazing traveller, save us from this womb 

 of oblivion, and we shall survive the wreck of time ! 

 With such examples, and with half ruined temples, 

 the cities of Bubastis, Oxyrynchus, Memphis, Luxor. 

 Tentyrse, Thebes, and many others are tilled ; the ma- 

 no signs of decomposition, although the date of its construction, or 

 the period of its execution is unknown. All the hieroglyphicks ap- 

 pear in the highest state of preservation, and " nothing could be 

 more admirably executed than the bas relievo of this part of the 

 temple, which probably formed the front of the wings ; the polish 

 remained perfect on the faces."* The three massive columns of 

 granite with their capitals and entablatures,, discovered at Alexan- 

 dria, " have resisted the ravages of time, and of the stilt more 

 destructive caprice of the present masters of the country."t 



The two stupendous obelisks, described by Denon as standing 

 at the entrance of Luxor, and which are of the same kind, or rose 

 coloured granite, are, with all their figures, represented as entire 

 and perfect. The quarries, likewise, from which the ancient 

 Egyptians obtained the granite, for those and other stupendous 

 works, exhibit traces of the ancient workmanship, " as fresh as if 

 they had been left but the day before."! 



In this instance, no mention is made of the marks of decompo- 

 sition of the felspar. Moreover, the beautiful obelisk, of the same 

 granite, and which was removed by Caius Csesar, from Egypt to 

 Rome, remains entire, ** without having experienced any altera-' 

 tion/' although executed more than three thousand years ago. 



* Lord Valencia's Travels, Vol.. Ill, page 436. 

 f Do. do do do 461. 



* Denon's Travels, Vol III, page 206- 



Pallassau, Mineral des Pyrennees, page 143- 



