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Countries of the World: Thebes

There are more to the S., as far as Fayoom. Then there are the monuments of Thebes, its obelisks, its temples. While of Thebes itself there are scarcely any traces left, its tombs and temples, with their sculpture and paintings, give evidence of the wonderful genius of its people. Near Thebes, at what is the old Hermonthis, stands a temple built by Cleopatra. In S. Egypt, near the boundaries, and in the river Nile, is the beautiful island of Philæ.

Here stands the temple of Isis, and here is the tomb of Osiris.

HISTORY. It is impossible to conjecture the duration of the prehistoric age of Egypt. The ancient history begins with the first dynasty of Menes, who founded the city of Memphis. It is impossible here to follow down the succeeding dynasties, and the varying fortunes of the Pharaohs, to their final overthrow by Artaxerxas, about B. C. 340. The monarchy has an unexampled duration of over 3000 years. than 2000 years have since passed, and though Egypt has from time to time been independent, not one native prince has sat on the throne of the Pharaohs.