directed, for ascersaining the locality, and even the very remains of
the temple itself: and this concurrent circumstance will be held in
mind, whilst certain details in the description given us of the ruins
discovered at Siwah, are examined and brought to the test, by reference
to such few particulars as are recorded by ancient writers concerning
the temple of Ammon.
The general description of the materials, of the architecture, and
of the sculptures, may render it unnecessary to prolong this essay;
by discussing the question of when, and by whom was the building
erected ? Those who may yet entertain a doubt, that it was a most
ancient Egyptian edifice, are referred to the writings of Norden, of
Pocock, of Lucas, and above all, to the treatise of Major Rennell
above cited. The annotator ventures to assume the fact1;; and
merely add, t o fjtlv rejtevog tpcuriv IfipvruirSui Ametov rov SfejJpjfeM Diod.
Sic. Tom. II. Ed. Wesseling. page 198.
So much as to the building and its antiquity being taken for
granted; the following comment will advert to circumstances exclusively
noticed by Mr. Horneman, and which may lead to further
inferences, as to its original purpose and designation.
First, In ascertaining the supposed remains of an oracular temple,
vestiges of the adytum, would be an object of particular research :
and perhaps such may be discovered in that part of Mr. Horneman’s
description, where he mentions the different levels o f the basement or
floor of the ancient edifice at Siwah.
Hen. Steph. in Thesaur. art. “ Adytum,” ¿Sujov, locus secretior
templi, ad quem non nisi sacerdotibus dabatur accessus, nam ex
eo oracula reddebantur.
The adytum, was not only a recess, rendered secret by the reverential
awe which forbad approach of the vulgar; but was actually
a kind of crypt, or place of concealment: among the prodigies forerunning
the victories of Caesar in Asia, “ Pergami in occultis ac
remotis templi, quae Graeci alfla. appellant, tympana sonueire. Bell.
Civil, lib. iii. cap. 105.
In the itinerary of Pausanias, the ctluja of the oracular temples
appear to have been sunk beneath, and under the basement or floor
of the building. This was so generally the case, that in Bceoticis, the
word adytum is used as synonymous for the cave of Trophonius. In
Corinthracis, cap. i. the entrance and passage to the adytum of
Palaemon at Chronium, is represented as subterraneous ; .’Igi $e xa)
aXKo ctiujqv xttXxftevov, xetSoiog is eg otujo uVo yewg. edit. Kuhn. p. 113, and
in the Achakis,, the entrance of the adytum of the temple of Minerva,
at Pelleni, is from under the base of the statue of the goddess,
and the recess is hyperbolically represented, as penetrating to the
very centre of the earth.
The purposes of these crypts, or concealed recesses in the oracuT
lar temples, may, readily be surmised: and to conduct their oracle
with proper mystery and imposition of respect, is was a necessary
policy in the priesthood, to prevent any visit or examination of these
hallowed places-l the hand of the deity was denounced as punishing
the trespasser with instant death. Of the many examples that offer,
we will take one from Egypt: Pausanias in Phocicis, mentions,
“ That a Roman Prefect having from impious curiosity, sent a
person to. inspect the adytum of Isis at« Captos, the unhallowed
intruder was struck dead on the spot.