198 
DESCRIPTIONS OF EGYPT. 
were often placed agreeably to the laws of per-* 
8pective. It is remarkable that they did not, as 
their destination might lead us to expect, repre- 
sent always solemn, or even serious subjects. 
They exhibited often pompous and shewy pro- 
cessions, sometimes even rope-dancing, and ani- 
mals placing themselves in ludicrous attitudes. 
At Medinet Abu, in the neighbourhood of 
Carnac, Denon examined those two colossal sta- 
tues which bear the name of Memnon. So gi- 
gantic is their height, as to make them be disco- 
vered at the distance of four leagues. Their atti- 
tude, however, is not graceful, and they are en- 
tirely destitute of expression. 
The next ruins, very deserving of attention, 
are those of Edfu, the ancient ApoUinopolis Parva, 
of which drawings had already been given by 
Pococke and Norden. Our traveller viewed them 
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 Phite, which he had an 
opportunity of minutely examining. The sur- 
face, about six hundred yards in length, and one 
hundred and twenty in breadth, is almost entirely 
covered with the remains of ancient ediRces. 
Denon conceived that he discovered the remains 
