The IVth to VIth Dynasties are best known by the series of pyramids (see
PYRAMID) in the region of Memphis. Beyond these tombs, and the temples
attached to them, there are very few fixed monuments; of Cheops and Pepi
I. there are temple foundations at Abydos (q.v.), and a few blocks on
other sites; of Neuserre (Raenuser) there is a sun temple at Abusir; and
of several kings there were tablets in Sinai, now in the Cairo Museum. A
few tablets of the IXth Dynasty have been found at Sakkara, and a tomb
of a prince at Assiut. Of the XIth Dynasty is the terrace-temple of
Menthotp III. recently excavated at Thebes: also foundations of this
king and of Sankhkere at Abydos. In the XIIth Dynasty there is the
celebrated red granite obelisk of Heliopolis, one of a pair erected by
Senwosri (Senusert) I. in front of his temple which has now vanished.
Another large obelisk of red granite, 41 ft. high, remains in the Fayum.
The most important pictorial tombs of Beni Hasan belong to this age; the
great princes appear to have largely quarried stone for their palaces,
and to have cut the quarry in the form of a regular chamber, which
served for the tomb chapel. These great rock chambers were covered with
paintings, which show a large range of the daily life and civilization.
The pyramids and temples of Senwosri II. and III. and Amenemhe III.
remain at Illahun, Dahshur and Hawara. The latter was the celebrated
Labyrinth, which has been entirely quarried away, so that only banks of
chips and a few blocks remain. At the first of these sites is the most
perfect early town, of which hundreds of houses still remain. Of
Senwosri III. there are the forts and temples above the second cataract
at Semna and Kumma. Of the Hyksos age there are the scanty remains of a
great fortified camp at Tell el-Yehudia.

In the XVIIIth to XXth Dynasties we reach the great period of monuments.
Of Amasis (Aahmes) and Amenophis I. there are but fragments left in
later buildings; and of the latter a great quantity of sculpture has
been recovered at Karnak. The great temple of Karnak had existed since
the XIth Dynasty or earlier, but the existing structure was begun under
Tethmosis (Tahutmes) I., and two of the great pylons and one obelisk of
his remain in place. He also built the simple and dignified temple of
Medinet Habu at Thebes, which was afterward overshadowed by the
grandiose work of Rameses III. The next generation--Tethmosis II. and
Hatshepsut--added to the