The Monuments of Upper Egypt. A translation of the 'Itinéraire de la Haute Égypte,' of A. Mariette-Bey. By Alphonse Mariette

Front matter

THE MONUMENTS OF UPPEB EGYPT THE MONUMENTS OF UPPER EGYPT A TR__NSLA_ION OF THE "ITINEBAIKE DE LA HAUTE EGYPTE " OF AUGUSTE MARIETTE-BEY B_ ALPHONSE MARIETTE. Non Jovti ira, nee ,'gnes, Nee poterit ferrum, nee edax abolere velustas. OriD. Alexandria and Cairo: A. MOUKES. London : TEUBNEB & Co. 1877. (All rights reserved.) TTNWIN BROTHERS, PRINTERS BY WATER POWER. THE TBANSLATOB'S PEEFACE. An unpretending little volume was published in 1869 under the title of Itineraire des Invites de S. A. le Khedive aux Fetes de VInaugura tion du Canal de Suez. The very title of the work is a record of the great historical event which gathered together many distinguished personages in Egypt. The Itineraire met with all the favour it deserved, and a first edition having been rapidly exhausted, a second one, with some slight altera tions, appeared in 1872.

It soon became evident, however, that as the majority of regular tourists on the Nile belong to the two great English-speaking nations, an English edition of the Itineraire would not prove otherwise than acceptable. At Mariette-Bey's request, being myself no stranger to Egypt, I readily undertook the required translation into English — a somewhat difficult task, in which THE TRANSLATOR'S

Preface

. VI I was encouraged, however, by my brother's kindly expressed opinion that I would be all the better qualified for it by my genuine sympathy with the whole subject. I have endeavoured to be faithful to the original text, keeping in view the author's idiosyncrasy, and I have but seldom thought fit to avail myself of the discretionary power that had been given me. My task, I need scarcely say, has been a pleasant one, and I shall feel amply repaid for the trouble incurred if I can but think that I have in the very re motest degree contributed to popularise Egypt's wonders, and to bring them and their English and American visitors into closer intercourse. As stated in the second French edition, this little work does not pretend to replace Murray's Handbook for Travellers in Egypt, especially now that that excellent guide has been revised by a most competent writer.

The aim of this volume is altogether different ; it deals exclusively with the antiquities, and its sole object is to intro duce the visitor to the Monuments of Upper Egypt, and to supply him with such information as will best enable him to understand their meaning. THE TRANSLATOR'S

PREFACE.

. VII In conclusion, I would take this opportunity of appealing earnestly to all travellers in Upper Egypt. For the sake of science, for the sake of those who will come after us — and I will add, in sheer justice to him whose persevering labours and truly heroic exertions have brought to light so many hidden treasures, I would entreat all visitors to Sakkarah, Abydos, Denderah, Thebes, etc., to watch with a jealous care over the integrity of monuments which no educated man can gaze upon without the keenest interest, and to prevent, as far as in their power lies, any further desecration of those relics of a glorious past. ALPH. MABIETTE. King's College, London, May, 1877. CONTENTS.