I stood at last in front of the most beautiful Temple in Egypt ... In every situation in which it is viewed it is a picture. It has breadth in all its parts, the pillars are large, massy and in form exquisite. Though half buried it is more beautiful than if laid open and reminds me of Piranesi etchings of the Forum in Rome ... The Facade or Portico of the Pronos is the most exquisite in form I have ever seen and every capital being different does not take from its beauty but in my opinion rather enhances it. The Colonnade runs entirely around the Dromos, with every pillar different; and although much defaced and mutilated it is even in its ruin beautiful...

UPPER EGYPT
by David Roberts, 1840