26 CHRONOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS 



for the building of Rome. Both Theophrastus and Pliny notice the 

 presence of the myrtle in Egypt : where it is still common in gardens. 



The fruit tree figured in one of the tombs at Gurna (Rosselini, II. 

 PI. 68), is possibly intended for the pear (Pyrus communis). — The 

 pear is noticed by Homer and by Virgil ; and according to Forskal and 

 others, is cultivated in Lower Egypt at the present day. 



The tall ornamental tree, figured in garden plans at Gurna (Cham- 

 pollion, PL 174, and Rosselini, II. PI. 68), is possibly intended for the 

 poplar (Populus nigra). — Various ancient writers mention the poplar; 

 and the tree was seen by Forskal and others in the gardens of Lower 

 Egypt. 



According to Champollion, Amenatep III., the fourth king of the 

 Eighteenth Dynasty, opened the quarries at Silsilis; and from this 

 time, sandstone became the favourite building material. The two 

 colossi so conspicuous, still sitting on the plain at Thebes, are statues 

 of this king; but the immense temple once behind them, has been de- 

 stroyed to the foundations, which are now traced with difficulty. 

 Amenatep III. built the great temple at Luxor ; and smaller temples 

 at Elephantine, and at Soleb in Upper Nubia ; he also set up obelisks ; 

 carried on wars in foreign countries ; and the names of some sixty 

 tribes conquered by him, are recorded on the monuments, together 

 with the date of the thirty-sixth year of his reign. 



The flower of the Nelumbium does not occur on the Egyptian monu- 

 ments ; but there is less certainty in regard to the fruit. I repeatedly 

 met with figures resembling this fruit ; as, for instance, the emblem 

 designating Asiatic prisoners. — Herodotus distinctly describes the 

 Nelumbium, and saw the plant growing in Egypt ; where it appears 

 afterwards to have become extinct, and to have been only recently 

 re-introduced. 



According to Lepsius, Amenatep IV., the fifth king of the Eighteenth 

 Dynasty, introduced a foreign religion into Egypt : a portrait of this 

 king occurs in the sculptures at Amarna. 



Her, or Horus, the sixth king of the Eighteenth Dynasty, re-esta- 

 blished the ancient religion. He also made additions to the temples at 

 Luxor and in the Asasif ; constructed cave-temples at Gebel Addah 

 in Nubia, and at Silsilis ; and the date of the seventh year of his 

 reign has been found on the monuments. Champoliron-Figeac de- 

 scribes some finely executed statues of this king, now in the Museum 

 at Turin. 



