reat builder Rameses III. Probably he
did not really exceed other kings in his activity; but as being the last
of the building kings at the western side of Thebes, his temple has
never been devastated for stone by the claims of later work. The whole
building of Medinet Habu is about 500 ft. long and 160 wide, entirely
the work of one reign. The sculptures of it are mainly occupied with the
campaigns of the king against the Libyans, the Syrians and the negroes,
and are of the greatest importance for the history of Egypt and of the
Mediterranean lands. Another large work was the clearance and rebuilding
of much of the city of Tell el Yehudia, the palace hall of which
contained the celebrated coloured tiles with figures of captives. At
Karnak three temples, to Ammon, Khonsu and Mut, all belong to this
reign. The blighted reigns of the later Ramessides and the priest-kings
did not leave a single great monument, and they are only known by
usurpations of the work of others. The Tanite kings of the XXIst Dynasty
rebuilt the temple of their capital, but did little else. The XXIInd
Dynasty returned to monumental work. Sheshonk I. added a large wall at
Karnak, covered with the record of his Judaean war. Osorkon (Uasarkon)
I. built largely at Bubastis, and Osorkon II. added the great granite
pylon there, covered with scenes of his festival; but at Thebes these
kings only inscribed previous monuments. The Ethiopian (XXVth) dynasty
built mainly in their capital under Mount Barkal, and Shabako and
Tirhaka (Tahrak) also left chapels and a pylon at Thebes; and the latter
added a great colonnade leading up to the temple of Karnak, of which one
column is still standing.

Of the Saite kings there are very few large monuments. Their work was
mainly of limestone and built in the Delta, and hence it has been
entirely swept away. The square fort of brickwork at Daphnae (q.v.) was
built by Psammetichus I. Of Apries (Haa-ab-ra, Hophra) an obelisk and
two monolith shrines are the principal remains. Of Amasis (Aahmes) II.
five great shrines are known; but the other kings of this age have only
left minor works. The Persians kept up Egyptian monuments. Darius I.
quarried largely, and left a series of great granite decrees along his
Suez canal; he also built the great temple in the oasis of Kharga.

The XXXth Dynasty renewed the period of great temples. Nekhtharheb built
the temple of Behbet, now a ruinous heap of immense blocks of granite.
Beside