[Illustration:  356.jpg The Coffin Of Thutmosis I.]

     Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph in the possession
     of Emil Brugsch-Bey.

This is what I teach to mortals who shall live in centuries to come, and whose hearts shall inquire concerning the monument which I have raised to my father, speaking and exclaiming as they contemplate it:  as for me, when I sat in the palace and thought upon him who created me, my heart prompted me to raise to him two obelisks of electrum, whose apices should pierce the firmaments, before the noble gateway which is between the two great pylons of the King Thutmosis I. And my heart led me to address these words to those who shall see my monuments in after-years and who shall speak of my great deeds:  Beware of saying, ’I know not, I know not why it was resolved to carve this mountain wholly of gold!’ These two obelisks, My Majesty has made them of electrum for my father Anion, that my name may remain and live on in this temple for ever and ever; for this single block of granite has been cut, without let or obstacle, at the desire of My Majesty, between the first of the second month of Pirifc of the Vth year, and the 30th of the fourth month of Shomu of the VIth year, which makes seven months from the day when they began to, quarry it.  One of these two monoliths is still standing among the ruins of Karnak, and the grace of its outline, the finish of its hieroglyphics, and the beauty of the figures which cover it, amply justify the pride which the queen and her brother felt in contemplating it.

[Illustration:  356b Avenue Of Rams And Pylon At Karnak]

[Illustration:  356b-text]

[Illustration:  357.jpg THE STATUE OF SANMUT]

Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph by M. de Mortens:  the original is in the Berlin Museum, whither Lepsius brought it.  Sanmut is squatting and holding between his arras and knees the young king Thut-mosis III,, whose head with the youthful side lock appears from under his chin.

The tops of the pyramids were gilt, so that “they could be seen from both banks of the river,” and “their brilliancy lit up the two lands of Egypt:”  needless to say these metal apices have long disappeared.

[Illustration:  338.jpg Page Image]

     Drawn by Fauoher-Gudin, from a photograph by Beato.

Later on, in the the queen’s reign, Amon enjoined a work which was more difficult to carry out.  On a day when Hatshopsitu had gone to the temple to offer prayers, “her supplications arose up before the throne of the Lord of Karnak, and a command was heard in the sanctuary, a behest of the god himself, that the ways which lead to Puanit should be explored, and that the roads to the ‘Ladders of Incense’ should be trodden."*