Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-15
CITY OF TIIEREg.
BT A TRAVELLER IN EGYPT.

TRAVELLER IN EGYPT.
Tbebes must have been the greatest and most mag
nifcent city in Egypt. Almost 90 old as the food
and splendid amphheatte, and adorning both banks OF
the Nile; it was in extent, wealth and arc iscural
gory, the flower and crown Of ancient civilization
Nearly thousand years before Christ Homer sang of
its hundred gates, and Of the sacred pre- phet
speak Oft as being popu0us,' or containing null
titude." No visit it's present unparalleled
ruins linger among the gorgeous mausoeums Of its
kings and princes without being deeply impressed with
sense OF is former vastness ard grandeur and the
contrast suggested by tie present tribes miserable
repres of Arab filth and squadness is over
whelmingly powerful, and the imagination is continual
~ struggling to restore and re people the city, and look
upon its spendor devastated by the Persian
couqaeEor. But these mournul relics and its 1ster
dssciatlon teach most impressive lessons.
Thousands Of yes-s have rolled along,
And behed empires in pride;
Ard Witnessed sec ms Of crime end wrong,
iii men py Ia!ioDs died.
Thousands Of summer suns have Rhone
Till earth grew bright beneath their sway,
Since thou, untenaEtcd and lone,
vert rendered to decay.
Some OF tbe mud cabins in the present village OF
Ii bes built among and upon the grand old ruins
If e temp lie Of Luxor. Magnificent columns, covered
With hierogiyhcs, and still standing in their original
positions, are flied around ard ha-cotered with the
J.
trey obscured by the wTetched novels that cluster
about Them and Can be cny by entering these re-
pugVe abodes, amla yeipi0g ours, braying donk vs.
cacklicg fowls and dirty Arabs. But as yoa look up
on these old pillars of stone exqaisitey chseed wander
through the balls that yet remain, and survey their vast
geteWsys AMI COLOSSAL Statutes you feel that they who
built them were OF genius aud power. Ooe OF the
most bsQniiui Obj eta here obelsk of red granite
more then btee thousand years DID, and yet it's APP
peareoce and lis h;eoglyPhics ere still fresh and
impaired
mile ard q half north of Luxor are the ruins of the
grard5st temple il Egypt If not in the world 1t is
impossible 80 describe it. II is the temple of Karnak
One must il, he will have adequate idea of its
astonishing magnitude and beauty Sucn an array Of |
gates, t0ols. columus obeisks and saues is perfect
marvel Think OF temple, including its various halls
aid apartments, twelve hundred feet long, and abou
I'VE bundfe ed let wide lis massive walls rising like pal
iaades, and its mm pillars like forests with aven-
ues leading to itroto each pon Of the compass along
which III Instances for miles ranged double
rows of colossal Phinxs Of gray red and black gran
ite.
The ediGce is said to have occupied about IS acres
it having been enlarged from time to time. In the
grand ball there etill standing 100 columns
aDe feet IN DIAMETER ard many OF them 60 feet high
All are covered with various berogyphical sculptures
and paintings, whose c0lors still bright, alter the
lapse Of Leariy forty centuries. La place you zee
a group of Jews led captive by an Egyptian King
he characters interpreted agree with The Bible &C
count Of ShshDk vic20ry over tie King OF Jadah,
vcrifcation Oi the eacred record Profound and var
Gus ones reflections be wan3ers amidst these
sublime relics fan columns broken obelisks and shat
tered sphinxes What immense pr0cessions q people
once marched along these avenues, gathered IN these
balls, and wOshped at the E:rne OF Ammon What
treasures have the v0arCs laviahed upon their gods.
Grand the temples Of Luxor and Kernnk there
ere Others the opposite West side OF the river
well worthy OF belonging 10 the city Of hundred gates
Paesi0g two miles over fertile plain, once pert
Of Tbe5as, and yo come first TO the temple Of Kooneb
sr thtr on is the famous Memnonium and still beyond
10 cluster OF temples called Ne3enet haboc. / group
Ill these together though each deserves separate de-
3crjption for they certainly grand old structures
cich in immense columns and various sculptures and
paintings u'laings, of which the very ruins are
remend0ue.' La the last is ball which was remodel.
I'd and used church by tie curly Christians Here
set apart in q heather temple tor the
hip OF the God Here the diRcpes Of Jesus once
fared ayers il His name, ard sang hymns to his
)2aiss..
Ga the border CT the eras1 vale Of lan not far from
he temples last alluded to, two colossal statues in
sitting posture, about sixty feet high one OF which,
hat On the right as you approach from the river the
crowned Vocal Memn0n. 1t is an immense figure OF
semeses and reputed give forth musical sound
It the rising of tie 1T visited by emperors,
philosophers and poets from all distance being attract
d by its fame. One OF O1r Arab guides clmed up to
secluded spot lis head, where he struck stone
hat had flint and peculiar jingle. This may explain
be od end wonderful vocal phenomenon. The statue 8
y it's side is nameess. Together trey form striking
bjects On being approached from the river.
A the Memnouum there is still larger statue of
semases once single block of granite hut now thrown
own and broken into several pieces II marVels,
well be mey at the human power that made, tran
po ted, and set such stup ndous m0numents it is
caIcsiy less matter OF Wonter how those early nVa-
els could 80 thoroughly ahatter then.