34 ANCIENT EGYPT. 



The side temple of Rameses III, (J), dedicated to Khons, 

 is very beautiful, and may be regarded as a typical Egyptian 

 structure of the kind, conforming in its general arrangements 

 to the sketch of such a structure already given you. The 

 builder, Rameses III., was a great and capable ruler, who 

 found the kingdom sadly afflicted by civil war, and pressed on 

 all sides by numerous and powerful foes from without. He 

 left it, however, in a contented and prosperous state : an 

 inscription informs us that when he reigned "the weakest 

 woman could go about anywhere without fear of molestation." 

 He united in one person the valour of David and the luxury 

 of Solomon. 



The entrance pylon (K), principally the work of Ptolemy 

 Euergates I., was never finished. It is of great size, being 

 about 370 feet long, and the standing wing is 140 feet high. 

 Huge colossi guard the entrance. 



I have said enough this evening to give you some idea of 

 this mighty fane, as a whole the most remarkable structure of 

 all time. Imagine it as it was in the days of the great 

 Rameses, encircled by its tetjienos, within which were the 

 sacred grove and lake ; the pylons with their streamers, 

 colossi at the portals flanked by obelisks. The temples en- 

 riched with hundreds of statues ; the walls glowing with the 

 dehcious tints of the turquoise and lapis-lazuli ; ceilings 

 studded with stars ; gilded figures of Noot the heavens ; 

 a huge scarabseus with outspread wings ; golden doors, and 

 strange mechanical contrivances. Conceive it then, with its 

 hypethral courts crowded with the citizens of Thebes ; stately 

 processions of priests, headed by the pharaoh, passing through 

 bearing the ark on their way to the sacred lake. Picture all 

 the rich surroundings which must have existed to feed such 

 magnificence — look at it now, a ruin, a refuge-place for bats 

 and jackals, a pic-nic place for tourists. What a lesson on 

 the mutability of human greatness. 



