58 REV. r. A. WALKER, D.D., F.L.S., ON 



was obtained for tlie most part from the time-honoured 

 quarries of Syene or Assouan, •which had been worked for 

 centuries for the purpose of obtaining mateiial wherewith 

 to construct the greater part of the colossal edifices of 

 Egypt. Thirdly, tliat red granite was far more frequently 

 and extensively employed in these buildings than either 

 blue or black granite. Fourthly, that the red granite of 

 Syene must on no account be confounded with the syenite 

 of geologists, which is composed of different minerals, and 

 probably likewise in different proportions, as the syenite of 

 geologists also derives its local habitation and its name 

 from the vale of Syene. Fifthly, that tlie modern name of 

 Assouan stands in relation to the ancient appellation of 

 Syene precisely as Stasthe does to the older name of 

 Athens. A prefix has been added in each case, and the 

 ultimate syllable has been dropped. Stasthe, in point of 

 fact, is a corruption of e? ra? 'A6^va^ (" To the Athens.") 

 Sixthly, that the famous red granite quarries of Syene are 

 situate at the north end of the valley, just outside the 

 modern Arab town of Assouan, though strata of the same 

 may likewise be noticed throughout the extent of the valley, 

 and that the true syenite occurs in the middle of the vale, 

 and is not nearly so common, plentiful, or generally dis- 

 tributed as red granite. Seventlily, that whereas in Corn- 

 wall, or at Peterhead, as I understand, it is impossible to 

 obtain a monolith of red granite without a flaw (or what 

 geologists term a fault) intervening of greater length than 

 30 feet. Some of the monolith obelisks, certain ones 

 standing, others now fallen, reach, or did reach, a height of 

 upwards of 100 feet, and even of 110 feet, in Upper Egypt. 

 The grain, the colour, and the pattern of the granite will of 

 covu'se vary somewhat according to its particular quarry and 

 country, whether Cornish, Shap, or Aberdeen — whether 

 brought from Sweden, or collected on the banks of the 

 Nile. The Shap granite would seem to present a notable 

 variation, the red preponderating therein, and occurring in 

 large patches or blotches. There are some specimens, again 

 — and I think I recollect coming across such in Sweden — 

 w'herein an almost imperceptible gradation of tint is mani- 

 fested, and the black and white are just suffused with the 

 palest pink. 



It Avould be superfluous, tedious, and in point of fact 

 impossible, to enumerate all the creations of Egyptian art 

 for which, throughout the centuries, the variegated stone of 



