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Ancient Thebes.

nE of the most remarkable cities of

any age was that of Thebes, which

was once the capital of Egypt.

It was in its glory a great many

years ago, and now it is but a large mass

of ruins. It was called “the city of a

hundred gates,” and was a theme of

admiration throughout the world. The

ruins extend about eight miles along the

Nile, from each bank to the base of the

neighboring mountains on both sides.

The whole circumference of these ruins is
upward of twenty-seven miles.

The most remarkable objects on the
eastern side are the tombs of Carnac and
Luxor; and on the western side are the
Memnonium, or the palace of Memnon,
two colossal statues, the sepulchres of the
kings, and the temple of Medinet Abu.
The statue of Memnon, situated in this
place, was supposed, as you may have
heard, by the superstitious people of an-

cient times, to utter responses to those
who consulted it, through the medium of
the priests. It is true that a singular
sound proceeded from this statue. Trav-
elers who visited Thebes as late as the
fourth century after Christ, bear witness
to this fact. But how the noise was
made was then, and, for aught I know,
still is a mystery. According to the
foolish notions of the ancient Egyptians,
the statue was in the habit of uttering a
joyful sound, every day, when the sun
rose, and of making mournful music when
it set. They believed, too, that it even
shed tears.

The highest glory of Thebes belongs to
a period prior to the date of authentic
history. It is impossible to tell when the
city was founded. The ancient accounts
of it come to us through the medium of
poetry or tradition; and they would have
a strong odor of fable, were it not for the