David Robert Authentic Quarto Edition Duo-Toned Tinted Lithograph Published in 1856 London, Middle East Architecture: Plate 158, Colossal Statue, Entrance to Luxor Temple

Plate 158, Colossal Statue At The  Entrance to The Temple Of Luxor Plate 158 from Volume 4 of  Roberts' The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt & Nubia. A view of one of the colossal statues of Ramesses II in the archaeological site of Luxor, Egypt. The Arabic town of Luxor stands on the site of the pharaonic capital of Thebes during the New Kingdom. The city of Thebes included numerous cult shrines and temples, most notably the massive temple complex of the chief god of Thebes, Amun. Despite falling into ruin during the period of Persian control of Egypt, the city experienced a renaissance after the conquest of Alexander the Great. Despite the administration of Egypt being shifted to Alexandria, Thebes remained a critical cultural and religious hub in the Greek and Roman periods. Roberts' view shows the colossal statue of Ramesses the Great buried up to its chest in sand and Nile silt. He wears a striped head-dress, as well as the dual crown of upper and lower Egypt, though th