The sacrifices were of animals and vegetables with the pouring out of wine and the burning of incense. The temples were gigantic structures grouped together. They were generally approached by avenues of sphinxes. The great temples are almost all found in Upper Egypt, while the pyramids are in Lower Egypt. The inhabitants of Egypt were once the greatest nation of earth, and they built temples corresponding to their greatness. Thebes, in Upper Egypt, was once a greater city than Babylon, or Rome, or London. It was built on both sides of the River Nile. To it all the surrounding nations flocked. The temples of Thebes have, in magnificent grandeur and majestic beauty, probably never been surpassed in any later age. Of these temples, Luxor and Karnak were the greatest. Between these two stretched in avenue of 140 gigantic columns, each twelve feet in diameter, their massive sides covered with sculptures. The columns were so great that we cannot understand how they could be cut out of the quarries and brought the 140 miles that they must pass over to get to Thebes. Karnak was the work of generations. It was 2,500 years in building. Abraham must have seen Karnak when he journeyed to Egypt. Moses must have been familiar with its courts. The messengers of Israel, who in after ages sought alliance with powerful Egypt, must have looked upon its columns and walls. Karnak was a cluster of temples. The central one was 1,108 feet long and 300 feet broad. The circuit of its walls, says a Roman historian who saw it in all its glory, was a mile and a half. Near Thebes are the statues of Memnon, which were said to sing when the rays of the rising sun touched their lips. Possibly the breeze of the early morning struck upon some concealed musical contrivance in the statue and produced the sound. [Illustration: THE SINGING MEMNON.] [Illustration: RUINS OF THE SPLENDID TEMPLES OF THEBES.] [Illustration: THE SPHINX AND THE PYRAMIDS.]