DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
173 
tions, on which are sculptured the details of rural 
and domestic economy, navigation, religious and 
funeral ceremonies. The process of embalming is 
minutely described ; the male figures are painted 
red, and the female yellow. Edfou, the ancient 
Apollinopolis Magna, was formerly celebrated for 
the temple of Orus, the Egyptian Apollo, and was 
one of the places where the grand mysteries were 
celebrated. This temple, though it has suffered 
considerable dilapidations, is, after that of Dende- 
ra, the most perfect specimen of Egyptian archi- 
tecture. A few leagues beyond Edfou, the chan- 
nel of the Nile is contracted by the Mountain of 
the Chain, or Gebel ei Silfili, which projects into 
the stream from the western bank. This moun- 
tain is supposed to have derived its name from a 
chain, which, at an early period of the Egyptian 
history, was drawn across the stream, to prevent 
the incursions of the Nubians, who were accus- 
tomed, in their boats, to descend the river, and ra- 
vage the plains of the Thebaid. The rock, which 
consists of freestone, is at this place hollowed into 
sepulchral excavations. . Beyond this narrow pass 
of the river, the ruins of Ombos, now denominated 
Koum Ombu, or the Heap of Ombos, are disco- 
vered, the structures of which seem to have sunk 
beneath the enormous weight of the materials with 
which they were constructed. The remains of two 
temples, which, from the sculptures, seem to have 
