DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 155 
ancient monarchs of Egypt deserted Thebes, and 
her hundred gates, to reside in this new capital, 
around which soon arose the pyramids, the proudest 
monuments of antiquity. Memphis flourished for 
many ages, and even survived the ravages of the 
Persian Gambyses. The founding of Alexandria 
was the first incident fatal to its greatness, and the 
capital of Middle Egypt began to experience the 
fate of Thebes. In the reign of Augustus, Mem- 
phis, though deserted by many of its inhabi- 
tants, still continued the second city of Egypt, a 
rank which it seems to have maintained till its 
final destruction by the Arabs under Amrou. 
After a long and obstinate defence, it was taken 
by storm, rased to the ground, and the name of 
Misr, by which it was known to the Arabs, trans- 
ferred to Fostat. * At some distance, above the 
province of Feium, the ancient Crocodilopolis, af- 
terwards denominated Arsinoe, commences. Here 
the western mountainous ridge, which accompanies, 
the course of the Nile from the cataracts, suddenly 
bends towards the desert, and returning, forms in 
its bosom an immense basin, containing the lake 
Moeris, which Strabo describes with a degree of 
enthusiasm, as resembling the sea in its extent, in 
its colour, and in the shores by which it is sur- 
r~ — , f 
* Abulfedae Deseript. iEgypt, p. .23. 
