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A pilgrimage to the temples and tombs of Egypt, Nubia, and ...

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TEMPLE OF LUXOR. 145<br />

<strong>the</strong> Roman, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Saracen, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turk, have<br />

in turn overrun <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>, each setting up a wor-<br />

ship as false as <strong>the</strong>ir own. The mitre <strong>of</strong> a third<br />

colossus is just visible above <strong>the</strong> rubbish, on <strong>the</strong><br />

right side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> propylon, in a line with <strong>the</strong> two<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs, <strong>the</strong>reby denoting that originally four <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>m had been placed before <strong>the</strong> entrance. A<br />

little in advance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, <strong>and</strong> so situated as not<br />

<strong>to</strong> obstruct <strong>the</strong> view <strong>of</strong> this stupendous gateway<br />

<strong>and</strong> its silent sentinels, were <strong>the</strong> two famous<br />

obelisks <strong>of</strong> rose-coloured granite—<strong>the</strong> most beau-<br />

tiful that were ever constructed—one <strong>of</strong> which<br />

alone remains here, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r has been removed<br />

<strong>to</strong> a far different scene ! This gr<strong>and</strong> entrance<br />

faces <strong>the</strong> famous avenue <strong>of</strong> sphinxes which leads<br />

<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong> Karnak ; but <strong>to</strong> Karnak we<br />

did not go—we would not mar <strong>the</strong> delight we<br />

anticipate in visiting that wondrous construction<br />

by seeing it in a hurried manner ; <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore<br />

we s<strong>to</strong>pped short at <strong>the</strong> gate <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temple <strong>of</strong><br />

Luxor, <strong>and</strong>, without casting our eyes northward,<br />

resumed our voyage.<br />

I know not whe<strong>the</strong>r I have succeeded in<br />

giving you any intelligible idea <strong>of</strong> what I saw<br />

at Luxor; but so anxious am I that you should<br />

underst<strong>and</strong> all <strong>the</strong> ins <strong>and</strong> outs <strong>of</strong> an <strong>Egypt</strong>ian<br />

temple (as it is certain that you will have <strong>to</strong><br />

VOL. I. L

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