would otherwise have arisen between the different neighbouring provinces, and to 
maintain peace, the wily priests generally introduced the gods of the adjoining nomes 
as contemplars; so that, from one end of Egypt to the other was a connected chain 
of worship — the religious adoration of each nome dovetailed into those adjoining from 
the sea to Meroe. 
The sculpture of the Egyptians offers portraits, more especially that of their kings, 
varied according to the age of the monarch and consequent change in his personal 
appearance. The gods, however, do not appear (when represented with human heads) 
to have had any distinction of feature, but are, in nearly every instance, represented 
with the face of the reigning monarch—a species of flattery somewhat Oriental. Thus 
the figures of Osiris in the great rock-cut Temple of Aboo-Simbel, and all other 
temples erected or sculptured in his reign, bear the noble features of the great Remeses 
(the Sesostris of Herodotus). 
Notes by J. S. Perring, Esq. 
ISLAND OF PHILyE, LOOKING DOWN THE NILE. 
This beautiful Island, and the objects which enrich it, seen from any point of view, 
furnish a subject to the artist; and he would find in Philse alone materials to fill a 
portfolio. Beauty is its characteristic; for however much the ancient structures of 
Egypt may, by their vastness and extent, and the magnitude of their composing parts, 
cause us to reflect upon the powers employed to construct and arrange them, and 
thus impress us deeply with emotions of the sublime—in beauty, Philge, with its 
temples, has no rival on its sacred river. 
In this view the masses of granite are seen which are covered with sculptured 
inscriptions, the beautiful hypsethral Temple, the obelisk which contains inscriptions of 
great interest, part of the cloistered court, and, towering over all, the great propylon. 
On this side, too, is the usual harbour where the boats of travellers are secured, and 
the materials for the picturesque on this Island are here seen perhaps in the greatest 
profusion; granitic rocks and ruined temples, broken and beautiful forms of natural 
and artificial embankments, and the refreshing verdure of the palms and sycamores, 
contrasted with the arid and burning sands, which descend on the banks of the Nile 
even to the water’s edge, give an air of enchantment to this spot, selected for the 
eternal repose of Osiris, of “ him who sleeps in Phils.” 
This Island is now destitute of resident inhabitants. The remains of Arab huts 
desecrate the courts, recesses, and even summits of their temples. Philse appears not 
long since to have been inhabited, but the few Nubians who were there have been 
expelled by order of their tyrant governors. 
