The New York herald., 1870-02-21
CAIRO, Dec. 27, 1860.

crossed over to the western side at sunrise the
morning to visit the temples at Dcnderan or Ten
tyra. The ruins OF Tentyra are very interestin 9.
One glance AZ the entire temple at this place and the
plan OF an Egyptian temple s forever In the travel
ler,s mind And its sculptures also In the most
perfect state of preservation, SO that after an exam-
nation OF them one may have pretty fair knowl-
edge OF the peculiar worship OF the ancient Egyp-
tlans. Savants say that Tentyra's temple, which is
dedicated TO Athor, the Egyptian Venus, is not an
old temple; that ts oldest portion was the work oil
Cleopatra The figure Of this famous Egyptian queen
found sculptured on the back OF one temple
OF colossal proportions she is here represented
with full fat face but the form Is graceful, and in
spite or the somewhat hypertrOphied appearance OF
her features one inclined TO give her the full need
or praise the tradition OF her beauty demands. And
ntung is II 10 repeat the Shakspearan Words
The city cast
Enthroned in the msrket place did 81 alone
Had gone Cleopatra too,
And made gap in nature
Her son, Neocasar (by Juhus Csesar), is also close
oy her.
The effect Is indeed imposing as standing before
che portlco the grandeur OF It's c0umned space ana
the view OF its INTERIOR or mall and corridor and
sanctuary, bursts upon you. You Will long TO
hurry through 10 examine what is behind the por-
plets tempe-but the exquisite architecture OF the
portico VIII withhold you. Twenty-four columns,
here ana there veined with blue aud purple, support
the porIico. Beyond this there is small hall, where
che sun streams through two apertures slanung
through the roof giving quite strange erect to the
silent sombreness around. Beyond this again Is the
sanctuary OF sanctuaries, sculptured TO the full,
with corridors outside OF 1t opening Into
chambers around tho entire exterior OF the
sanctuary. From chamber 10 the left
night OF two stairs on an inclined plane leads to
che roof Once on the roof which Is OF the same
strength and thickness the walls the architecture
ana uses OF an Egyptian temple are appreciated The
walls are ten feet thick the roof s ABOUT ten leet
Deep and the former rises above the latter several
Ieer like the rampant OF O CASTLE From the roof to
the walls an ascent ls made by stars as well as TO
the propyla ana pyons, secret passages from which
again communicate with the roof anu chambers
below. This Temple Of Athor IL one OF the most
complete Egypt. Every part OF IL VIII repay the
most careful attention. IL VIII make yon long to nger
shere, that fancy may goat upon IT, that you may
carry away q sure aud lasting remembrance OF 1t.
Perhaps, if yOI not an ANTIQUARIAN, you may not
care 10 examine each sculptured ngure ana car
touche for to the upit;ated and all appear the
same. The same offerings appear TO be made by
kings wearing the same kind OF crowns to deities
headed: sfl you win love to stray about It's cool
nails and you will reverence It. However, If you
examine closely, note and compare one cartouche
with another you will find difference In each one.
Those ancient Egyptians were mighty men. They
never laid hands to anything OF public interest un-
less they had thought well OF IT, and then they made
enduring Though the Ptolemles built the portico,
yet over 1000 years long time, and to think that
It Is almost perfect as when Ptoemy constructed
II. Provided that no rough. destroying hand OF
man laid upon 1t 1t will last 1000 years more; for
time possesses no power over the Egyptian temples
the pure air and the warm sun are con5iderate with
them No stern lrosts crack them; no baneiul
winds blow over them no pelting hallstones scourge
Them, once ePected thoy remain enduring and en-
durable Tnat the lofty pyramids OF Gairzeh appear
s,,untv scared must not Be laid to time The ele
ments: but to human agency, 10 Camoyses and Mos
lens; that Abydos Is In RUNS Is attributable 10 tne
rnere are several other interesting ruins at Den
derah. chapel OF Isis lies behind the temple OF
Atnor another ruin lies short distance northeast
Of IL: while all around Is buried in a mountainous
accumulation OF bricks broken pottery and dust
Considerable excavations have been made by Mr.
MarIlette, but nothing much has peen discovered.
They are still progressing, and often the head OF
statue or the capital OF a pillar Is discovered.
together with scores OF images OF earthenware ana
From Denderah to Thebes takes four hours by
steamer. So
Thther ali eyes turn coming up the Nile The runs
are SO vast and the gories OF Thebes have 30 often
been sung by poets and writer's nat all nearS yearn
Tor them 1hebes Is described by Homer az
Pouring her heroes through a hundred gates
Two hundred horsemen and two hundred cars
From each wide portal issuing to the wars
We were permitted to stay al Thebes Two days,
and snail therefore give description OF the runs
~ we saw them Contrary 20 ne the ars
DAY, and the second we employed IN visiting tle
toInbs Of The kugs, Assasseef, Abdel k0ornen tne
Inta afK Il nata 10 a
ana Medeenet Aboo.
THE EAST BANK.
Luxor stands on the east slde within rev yardS
of the landing place Though half flied up by Arab
huts mosque aud the American COnsuF5 house
,ne la @ emnc as one os me rreatest
most important in Thebes, yet IN Guides" u is
spoken or disparagingly. Sir Gardner goes into
= lew details about II, but not as much
ar II merits. because OF the bad effect the
miserable mud hus within has upon IT,
and because they occur the finest and best portion
OF it lnlnk it were cleared the floor that such
view as It's seventy-two columned portico and It's
grand hal would present could not DC rivalied ny
fronting karnak northward, TO the rear portco
the entire length OF this grand temple Is 63o feet
OF Arab huts within the courts erectuany prevent
measurement; but by going III on all fours into
these Arao huts you VIII be startled at the prolus0n
OF capitals which peep from underneath, dcnot-
ing TIE columns that support them. That any VIZ
,aln o. an ARAB heggar should have dared 10 oula
has hut near the magniHcence Of Luxor will be
matter Of wonderment. 1he thought Is apt 10 strike
one That should lsmail khedve scourge every one
OF those people away, alter the eananner OF Him WhC
drove out those VINO polluted the temple at Jeru
salem, ne would be doing very great service u
srt for without the least doubt much would be rount
below 10 enrich mu-elun.
THIS temple placed on higher ground than any
ethers must nave appeared a Ut riva 10 karnak
Tor from its sLupendous pillars, Its obellsg and 1T
pylon may be seel rising magnlnceDty aud proudly
above lie mass OF ruDpsh which cumUers IL. Beior,
tie front pylon stands solitary obeilsk "a re,
rranlIe the mate OF that which STANDS III the Pac
de In Conoorde Paris. 10 The rght and lett are iou
coiossL delaced, SCARED, mutl'ated ana buried
SLs ,ln aJ Lpcs cyowLs. Epter.ng the pyI0n yo