Egypt Through The Stereoscope

A Journey Through The Land Of The Pharaohs

by James Henry Breasted | 1908 | 103,705 words

Examines how stereographs were used as a means of virtual travel. Focuses on James Henry Breasted's "Egypt through the Stereoscope" (1905, 1908). Provides context for resources in the Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA). Part 3 of a 4 part course called "History through the Stereoscope."...

Position 67 - Plain Of Thebes And The Colossi Of Memnon Seen At The South From The Roof Of The Ramesseum, Thebes

We have stepped back a little from our former position, and turned toward the south (the right), and we are now looking directly southward toward the colossi of Amenophis III (Map 9). The trees which form that broken line against the faint background of the distant eastern cliffs mark the course of the river, whose shores they fringe. Hence Luxor is now out of range of vision on the left, while the western cliffs are on our right outside of our prospect.

The level fields are dotted here and there with threshing floors, and in the grove of acacias before us is the favorite well of all the neighboring herdsmen. Yonder in the midst of the broad plain are the solitary colossi, looking out upon the Nile as they have done for nearly 3,500 years. At a considerable distance behind them, you notice a low, dark mass, just in line with a heap of white straw from one of the threshing floors. That dark pile is all that remains of the temple that once stood behind the colossi, where now you see the level fields.

There lies a huge slab with an inscription describing the temple and dedicating it to Amon, and marking, as it states, the place where the king stood in the performance of the temple ritual. The foundations of the building are undoubtedly still there under the accumulated Nile deposits at least six feet deep; but they have never been excavated. There is no doubt but that excavations on this spot would bring many inscriptions and other important monuments to light.

The territory between us and the colossi was excavated by Petrie, resulting in the discovery of the remains of the temples of Thutmosis IV, Queen Tewosret, and Merneptah, who destroyed the temple of Amenophis III behind the colossi for his building materials, as we have before noted. They stood out here on ground just out of range on our right, but they have now vanished, so that Petrie was able only to follow the ground plan.

Here at our feet, as we stand upon the higher roof of the central aisle of the Ramesseum, are the roofing blocks of the side aisles on the south side of the hypostyle. Our native servant has thrown himself down full length upon them, regardless of the broiling sun and the fact that the roof is heated through and through by the suns of countless tropical days, until it glows like a furnace, and the hand shrinks from touching it.

With myriads of flies swarming into his eyes and ears he slumbers peacefully while we make our observations from the roof of the temple. Incidentally he makes a very good standard for measuring these roofing blocks; disregarding his outstretched arms, the block on which he lies is nearly four times his length, so that we may call it some 18 to 19 feet in length.

If we return to Position 65 to look at this hall from the first pylon again, bear this fact in mind and it will much increase your appreciation of the size of the building as a whole. And as you do so look up again at the cliffs behind the temple, for among the tombs and in one of the tomb chambers up there we shall now make a short visit.

Our next position and field of vision are determined by the lines numbered 68, which start near the centre of Map 9, and branch toward the lower left-hand corner or toward the south.

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