DESCRIPTIONS 0$ EGYf>T. 
with very particular admiration. Though not so 
vast as those of Thebes, they appeared superior in 
elegance to any, except those of Tentyra, and in 
some respects even to them. 
The progress of the French army carried our 
traveller to the island of Philse, which he had an 
opportunity of minutely examining. The surface, 
about six hundred yards in length, and one hundred 
and twenty in breadth, is almost entirely covered 
with the remains of ancient edifices. Denon con- 
ceived, that he discovered the remains of eight 
temples, erected at different periods, and in dif- 
ferent styles of architecture. Each successive edi- 
fice had been built so as not to injure those pre- 
viously standing ; but, at the same time, without 
any attention to make it harmonize with them. 
An extreme confusion of styles was thus produ- 
ced, which, however, produced often picturesque 
and striking effects. From the observations here 
made, Denon inferred, that the ancient Egyptians 
first built their walls in a rude state, then smooth- 
ed them, next added the hieroglyphics, and finally 
adorned them with stucco and paint. He found 
parts of edifices in all these successive stages. He 
observed also nine species of capitals, all which, to 
his true Egyptian taste, appeared beautiful. 
As the French army did not extend its head- 
quarters to the southward of Syene, our traveller 
had no opportunity of tracing higher those won- 
