170 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
domestic economy, navigation, religious and fu- 
neral ceremonies. The process of embalming is 
minutely described j 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 suf- 
fered considerable dilapidations, is, after that of 
Dendera, the most perfect specimen of Egyptian 
architecture. A few leagues beyond Edfou, the 
channel of the Nile is contracted by the Moun- 
tain of the Chain, or Gebel el Silfili, which pro- 
jects into the stream from the western bank. 
This mountain 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 accustomed, in their boats, to descend 
the river, and ravage the plains of the Thebaid. 
The rock, which consists of freestone, is at this 
place hollowed into sepulchral excavations. Be- 
yond this narrow pass of the river, the ruins of Om- 
bos, now denominated Koum Ombu, or the Heap 
of Ombos, are discovered, the structures of which 
seem to have sunk beneath the enormous weight 
of the materials witli which they were construct- 
ed. The remains of two temples, which, from 
the sculptures, seem to have been devoted to the 
