. Travels in the Upper Egyptian deserts . hat the brilliancy of the painting inthe temple of Amonhotep III. at El Kab is sur-prising ; but here it is still fresher, and has evenmore admirably held its own against the assaultsof time. We see the Pharaoh smiting down hisnegro and Asiatic enemies in the presence ofAmen Ra and Horus of Edfu; we watch him ashe makes offerings to the gods; and to the ceilingthe eye is attracted by the great vultures withspread wings which there hover above one, de-picted in radiant colours rendered more radiantby contrast with the browns and the yellowsof the scener
. Travels in the Upper Egyptian deserts . hat the brilliancy of the painting inthe temple of Amonhotep III. at El Kab is sur-prising ; but here it is still fresher, and has evenmore admirably held its own against the assaultsof time. We see the Pharaoh smiting down hisnegro and Asiatic enemies in the presence ofAmen Ra and Horus of Edfu; we watch him ashe makes offerings to the gods; and to the ceilingthe eye is attracted by the great vultures withspread wings which there hover above one, de-picted in radiant colours rendered more radiantby contrast with the browns and the yellowsof the scenery outside. In the niches at theend of the hall the gods sit in serenity; and,though these figures have been damaged almostbeyond recognition by pious Musslemans, there ARCHAIC DRAWINGS OF SACRED BOATS ON ROCKSNEAR TEMPLE OF WADY ABAD. i, 2, 4, 5, 8, g. North face of cliff, east of Temple.—Page Smaller of two large fallen rocks, east of Temple.—Page , 7, 10. Larger of two fallen rocks, east of Temple.—Page 157. PL. di/Ciu/ Pl. xxix. The Temple of Wady Abad. 157 still clings around them their old majesty, andstill one may find something solemn in theirattitude, so that one almost pays heed to thewarning inscribed on the doorway that a manmust be twice purified before entering the littlesanctuary where they sit. It may be asked why Sety selected this spot forhis temple, for, except that it lies on the route tothe mines, the reason for its location is not at onceapparent. The explanation, however, is not far toseek. This great bluff of rock has a smooth cliff-like surface on its north side, and for the earliesttravellers, as for those of the present day, it hascast a welcome shadow in which one might takethe midday siesta in comfort. Here, scratched orchiselled on the rock, there are very many draw-ings which undoubtedly date from archaic, andeven prehistoric, times. Numerous representationsof curious boats are seen, and their characterjustifies one in supp
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