Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...These places were most likely intended for prize contentions, particularly chariot courses, and also for assembling and exercising the troops, who, under a Sesos tris and other conquerors, started from this place on their route, and returned here in triumph after a victory had been gained. 2. The racecourse is followed towards the north by the antiquities of Medinet Abou running along the border of a small sandy tract, which blends with the Libyan mountain-chain. Proceeding from south to north, I comprise under this division: a. a palace and temple directly at the northern end of the racecourse: b. the colossus of Memnon, together with others near it; and the remains of a building which appears to be the Memnonium of Strabo: c. the palace and tomb of Osymandyas, frequently called Memnonium. All these monuments lie nearly at the foot of the Libyan ridge, about one thousand five hundred toises from the Nile. First, the palace, a pavilion connected with it, and the temple. It is highly interesting to meet in this place with buildings, whose structure clearly shows that they were not proper temples, but merely dwellings most probably occupied by the king. The pavilion is a building of two stories, containing many saloons and apartments, and numerous windows. The situation is so well chosen, that it commands a view not only of all the monuments of Medinet Abou, but also of those on the other side of the Nile, and of the whole plain in which Thebes was built. Every thing, even the decorations which cover the walls, seem to indicate that this was the usual residence of the king. The subjects represented, differ from those in the temples, as they are intermingled with scenes of domestic life. This edifice is unfortunately a good deal injured, but...