Explorations in Bible lands during the 19th century - H. V. Hilprecht

604 EXPLORATIONS IX BIBLE LANDS
this sanctuary has suffered more than any other temple from
the ravages of time, chiefly through
quarry for many years by the fellaheen.
having been used as a
It was constructed
by King N-user-Re, and called Seshep-eb-Re (" Pleasing
the heart of the Sun-god").
The temple was built exactlv from east to west, rising
upon an artificial platform. A street led up to it from the
town which was situated in the plain. Through a magnificent
gate one entered an open court, at the end of which
the imposing structure of the obelisk presented itself to the
eye.
not less
Before the obelisk there stood a large altar measuring
than twenty bv eighteen and one third feet, entirely
preserved. It consists of a flat and a round middle piece
surrounded bv four huge slabs, which have the form of the
Egyptian hieroglyph for hotep ("sacrifice "). To the right
of the entrance gate, in the open air, nine alabaster basins
had been placed in the court. They are still standing at
the spot where thev were discovered.
been set apart for the killing of the victims, as is
Part of the court had
proved bv
the small furrows still extant through which the blood
flowed. The entire courtyard seems to have been surrounded
bv covered galleries, which in part were adorned
with beautiful reliefs. Although even these are terribly
mutilated, yet enough can be recognized to ascertain that
they represent a festival celebrated under the Pharaoh.
Still finer are the reliefs with which several mortuary
chambers on the southern base of the obelisk were adorned,
belonging to the best specimens of Egyptian relief art
known to us. Especially vivid are the scenes which represent
life in ancient Egypt during the three seasons of the
year. Above all things these reliefs prove that the
houses of the gods of the Old Empire were
fitted out just
the same as those of later times, and did not, as w r as for a
long time believed, show onlv bare walls devoid of every
kind of ornament.