564 GARDENS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 



for giving shade to the four tanks^ or basins placed opposite to each 

 other. These tanks or basins are surrounded by a turf border, and 

 near them tufts of papyrus are depicted as growing in regular order in 

 large vases. To the left of the vineyard are situated the tombs, near 

 which are two temples, surrounded at their base by a sort of balus- 

 trade. The deity who was said to preside over the ancient Egyptian 

 gardens was called Khem, and is supposed to answer to the Grecian 

 Pan. They were also under the protection of Ramo, a goddess 

 sometimes represented as an asp, and sometimes as having the body 

 of a human being and the head of that serpent. Near the temples in 

 this garden is the dwelling-house, which there is no need here to 

 describe. 



The plan of this garden, although in the highest degree curious from 

 its having been formed more than three thousand years ago, must have 

 been very different from what our present notions and tastes would 

 require. No person who laid his garden out on the above-mentioned 

 plan would be considered, at the present time, an ardent lover of 

 nature ; yet the ancient Egyptians are said to have been extremely 

 fond of plants and flowers, and cultivated all the varieties that they 

 could. obtain: so much so, indeed, that it is said they even exacted 

 cohttibutions of rare and foreign plants from nations subjected by 

 them. Wreaths and chaplets were common among them ; their bowls 

 of wine were commonly crowned with wreaths of flowers, and flowers 

 were placed on the table before the host. Indeed at their entertain- 

 ments extravagant sums of money were not unfrequently expended 

 on flowers for decorations. Pliny tells us that it is to this nation 

 that we are indebted for the invention of artificial flowers, which 

 were known by the name of "yEgyptise." Probably much time was 

 spent by this people in the cool and shade of their gardens ; their 

 "kiosks," or summer-houses, seem by the representations of them on 

 the tombs to have been frequently of great size. 



With the vines, figs and other trees grew. Rows of columns, some- 

 times painted, and which supported wooden rafters, divided the vineyard 

 into numerous avenues. The vines were either kept as low bushes or 



