Caesar Domitianus Augustus. ୨ 9.1000 A UT (0) KR (A) T (0) R (Autlertr) Imperatore Hinoglyphics on the Pamphilian Obelisk with translations according to Champollions phonetic System. These are the tie Ovals whose translation by Kircher is quoted. W.H.LIZARE. LITH. TRANSACTIONS OF THE ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF SCOTLAND, SESSION 1855-56. No. VII. ON THE MONUMENTAL EDIFICES OF THE EGYPTIAN S. BY THOMAS L. DONALDSON, PH. D., M.I.A.B. PROFESSOR OF ARCHITECTURE AND CONSTRUCTION IN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE, ETC. [Read at a Meeting of the Institute in Glasgow, held on 24th March 1856.] WOTTON, a writer of the seventeenth century, and who was distinguished by his love of architecture and a shrewd appreciation of the beauty of art, has observed, that architecture needs no apology where there are noble men and noble minds. In an assembly therefore like the present, met for the purpose of hearing something on Egyptian Edifices, it were an idle waste of time to occupy your attention by any prefatory remarks, with the view to enhance a subject already possessing so many claims on the admiration and respect of well cultivated minds. The theme of this evening's discourse is, on "The Manners and Customs of the Egyptians, as Illustrated in their Buildings." It embraces a period of more than 2000 years before VOL. V. M the Christian era. Its monuments on the shores of the fruitful Nile extend from Alexandria on the Mediterranean to the second cataract in Nubia, a distance from north to south of 1000 miles. It comprehends the wonders Ghizeh, Memphis, and Thebes- the islands of Philoe and Elephanta, and the gigantic excavations of Aboo Simbul and Girsché. With such ample matter, I pretend only to point out some of the leading features-to touch upon some of the more prominent workings of man's intelligence in that country and at various epochs. I shall leave to you, in your subsequent leisure, and in your observation of the illustrations which you already possess, to pursue the course of thought which I shall suggest. All writers on Egypt seem to be agreed, that the earliest specimens of the architecture of this ancient people are to be found in the tombs of that country, and that the character of their temples and other monumental edifices is to be assigned to these types. In fact, there seemed to be a religious veneration for antiquity, which led them to retain the same forms and customs which prevailed in former periods, and from which they would not depart. We shall be safe, therefore, in giving a description of tombs comparatively recent, yet still two or three thousand years old, as they were doubtless identical in arrangement and decoration with those of more ancient times. Near Thebes is the rocky valley of Biban-El-Molook, which was the necropolis or burial place of the royal family of a certain period; and the famous work of the French on Egypt, and the publications of Champollion Figeac, as also the elaborate descriptions of Belzoni, make us acquainted with these venerable monuments of Egyptian art. At the farther end of the valley is a narrow opening, evidently made by the labour of man, and bearing traces |