It is well to inquire here whether the dates of the various temples as determined by the methods dwelt on in previous chapters can throw any light upon the inquiry. Here I must re-state that in almost every case the date of foundation so determined precedes the generally-received date, which invariably has reference to a stone building, while in all probability the first structure was a brick shrine merely. In support of this view I may state that the looking after ruined shrines was recognised as one of the duties of kingship. "I have caused monuments to be raised to the gods; I have embellished their sanctuaries that they may last to posterity; I have kept up their temples; I have restored again what was fallen down, and have taken care of that which was erected in former times."[126] Not only did Thothmes III. find the original temple of Amen-Rā built in brick, but he found the temple at Semneh in brick also, and he rebuilt it in memory of Usertsen III.[127] In the following table I bring together the foundation dates I have found most probable, bearing the above and many other considerations in mind. The dates are, of course, only provisional, since local data are in many cases wanting. Where no information is forthcoming as to the height of the horizon visible along the temple axis, I have assumed hills 1° high, and used the dates printed in heavy type in Chapter XXX. TABLE OF TEMPLES BUILT TO N. AND S. STARS. ──────┬────────────────────────┬───────────────────────┬────────────── │ Northern Stars. │ Southern stars. │ ──────┼─────┬─────┬─────┬──────┼──────┬─────┬─────┬────┼────────────── Years │ α │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │Ursa │ γ │ │ │ │ α │ │ │ B.C. │Maj- │Drac-│Cap- │Spica.│Phact.│Cent-│Can- │Sir-│Remarks. │oris.│onis.│ella.│ │ │auri.│opus.│ius.│ ──────┼─────┼─────┼─────┼──────┼──────┼─────┼─────┼────┼────────────── [6400]│ │ │ │ │ │ │1, 2,│ │ 1 2 │ │ │ │ │ │ │3, 4.│ │ ?Edfû, Philæ,. │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 3 4 5400 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ Amada, Semneh 5300 │ │ │ 1 │ │ │ │ │ │ 1. Memphis. │ │ │ 2 │ │ │ │ │ │ 2. Annu. 5200 │ 1 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1. Annu. 5100 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 5000 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 4900 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 4800 │ 1 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1. Denderah. 4700 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 4600 │ │ 1 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 1. Redesieh. 4500 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ 4400 │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │