No comments Karnak at Last, 1799
Vivant Denon
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| Karnak |
Unable, by myself, to take the plan of Karnac temple, or make large views of this mass of ruins, which, at first sight resembles the saw-yard of a quarry, or rather piled mountains, my design was to employ the two hours there in making draughts of the historical low-reliefs. . . . . . . The day advanced, and the soldiers had not yet obtained anything to eat: travellers are not like Roman heroes, they sometimes feel the want of refreshment: the sun gained upon them, and it was resolved to sleep at Karnac. . . . [Even so, Denon decided that he would need eight days to make a plan, ‘in the least degree satisfactory.’] I was unable to measure the surface of this group of edifices; but, in encompassing, it several times on horseback, at a full trot, I always performed the ride in twenty-five minutes. [Denon worked on the next day until heat overcame him.] It was so hot that the sun had burned my feet, through my boots; I could remain in one place only by causing my servant to walk between the sun and myself, that the rays might be interrupted, and a litde shade thrown upon me by his body; the stones had acquired so much heat, that, in picking up some comelean agates which are found in great number even within the enclosure of the town, I was so burnt by them, that, in order to carry them, I was obliged to throw them on my handkerchief, as I would have touched hot coals.
Worn out with fatigue, I threw myself down in a little Arabian tomb, which had been prepared for me for the night, and which appeared a delicious chamber, till I was told that, at the time of our passing Karnac before, the throat had there been cut of a Frenchman who had lagged behind the column: the marks of this assassination, still imprinted on the walls filled me with horror; but 1 was laid down, I was sleepy, and so weary that I believe I should not have risen off the dead body itself of the unfortunate victim.