The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-01-05
The Egyptian TempIe of thu Sun.
Prom Gen. c. ". bar,l,o's Iervs % Haas Jonrn

Prom Gen. c. W. Ddritn0s Letters 20 liars Journal.
On the banks ofthe River Nile near the Second
Cataract, in wild and desoato portion OF Nubil,
remote IRON the habltation OF men stands the grand
old temple OF "Aboo Sip,Iel." This remarkable
s. Rcmcsis the Great" who ruled over Frypt I.sii
years before the Christian Era Its exterior IL com
posed Of solid rock preserved in its natural sbapc,
and for many hundred years the entrance has been
completely covered by the sand Of the desert
ltis only within the present century that this tenn.
pie hiss been reopened; since which time repeated
efforts have been made TO arrest the progress OF the
sand, which persistcnty returns with the frequent
Kha'nsecn winds. to hide the narrow portal
The changed topography OF the country enables
the past; and II e not Improbable that SO long as
Nubian rocks and mountains last, so long VIII
" Aboo Simbel" stand. Al the entrance are two i'm
mense colossi. representing Rcmesis the Second.
They are seated on massive thrones cut into tie
rock IN such manner as to present the appearance
OF grim guard to the sacred temple Their
pedes ais To form an accurate idea or their Sue II
may be well TO state that the of each Colossus
measures three and a half feet, the fore fingers
three feet, and the lower portion OF the arm, from
elbow joint to fnger-end, has measurement of hf-
teen feet.
The height Of the facade of the temple Is estimated
NJ one hundred feet but AZ portioa Of the base
stu remains hidden II is impossible to determine
the precise distance Win accuracy. The interior OF
the temple IL adorned with works Of art peculiar to
the period, with CARVINGS ami hieroglyphies Of an
historical character. The principal hall IS support
cd hy eight Osride pillars while beyond II H.
ond hall, from which diycrge numerous corridors
leading into ten side rooms and the adytnm.
the OF tlie adytum ~ an altar, anu NJ the
upper end are four statutes u relief. Attached TO
the columns In the great hall are eight Coloss each
seventeen feet in height without the cap and ped"s-
tai Upon the walls are numerous pictorial iustra-
tons, In cnlors OF battle scenes and conqu SITS OF
Rcmcsis the Second, A portion OF the sIace Is also
occupied by large tablet containing date OF this
monarch's FIRST years reign.
The coloring OF the figures still remain bright and
beautiful, although more than thirty-Gye centuries
have elapsed since II was executed The character
OF the animals r. faithfully maintained. VI in the
human form there appears 10 exis, failure 10 true
representation. This IL attributed to the fact that
the Egyptian artists were forbidden by RELIGIOUS
proud ce to dcviae from liked and ancient rules.
In a niche over the entrance 20 the audience cham
her is a statue OF IRE" the SUM. who was the god
OF the temple and the protector Of the place To this
statue the king Is represented Offering figure Of
Truth" The lheban trial also occnIies a promi-
nent place here, us wen as Osiris and Isis
From the outer entrance TO the innermost cham
Der OF this temple. the total depth OF the excavation
is about two hundred feet; and not u ray Of sun
the place.
10 visit "Aboo Simbel," VIC were compelled TO
wade kneedeep through sand for distance Of about
q hundred rods up hllE Crawling on hands an
knees through the narrow hole which admitted us
into the interior, We soon found ourselves Ia the
gloomy recesses OF the temple.
Following our Arab guides, who led the way with
flaming torches, we passed through tn Corridors
and rooms already described. In the prosec alton OF
eIrupied by myriads Of bats who, disturbed by tue
flaming torches Of our guides few al us, around and
about us, occasionally striking Us Ia our faces, and
exhibiting unmis akgbe signs of dsapproyal Al hay
ing the precincts of their saCI,d sanctuary so un-
tremendously invaded.