Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 1.djvu/534

 482 NORTH-EAST AFEICA. proceeded to demolish the temple of Serapis without any other difficulty than those which he found in the weight and solidity of the materials. But these objects proved so insuperable, that he was obliged to leave the foundations, and to content himself to reduce the •difice itself to a heap of rubbish, a part of which was soon afterwards cleared away to make room for a church in honour of the Christian martyrs. The valuable library of Alexandria was pillaged and destroyed, and near twenty years afterwards the appearance of the empty shelves excited the regret and indignation of every spectator whose mind was not totally darkened by religious prejudice. The colossal statue of Serapis was involved in the ruin of his temple and religion." On the eminence where the Serapeura has left nothing but a shapeless heap of debris, a solitary pillar about 100 feet high still stands like a monument of death amid the surrounding decay. This is the pillar popularly known as " Pompey's Column," although if not actually built, it was certainly restored in honour of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Originally it may probably have formed part of the Serapeura. The capital has been hollowed out, either to receive the pedestal of some statue, or possibly in early Christian times to serve as an aerial chamber for some Egyptian rival of Simon Stylites. Near the beach to the north-west of the city, the proximity of ancient ruins was till lately indicated by an obelisk of pink granite usually known as "Cleopatra's Needle," although it was originally brought from Heliopolis and re-erected in Alexandria during the reign of Augustus, consequently some time subsequent to the death of the Egyptian queen. A few years ago it was again transported, this time to London, where it now adorns the new granite embankment on the left side of the Thames. Another " needle," after lying for some generations half buried in the sands, has been removed to the New World, ambitious to have her share in the spoils of Egypt. Presented by the Egjrptian Government to the municipality of New York, it has been set up in the Central Park of that city. The equestrian statue of Mohammed Ali, standing on the elongated *' Consul's Square " in the heart of the European quarter, is a sorry compensation for all the works of art wantonly destroyed in past times. The city was even again threatened with destruction during its bombardment by the English in the year 1882. On this occasion Fort Cafarelli was demolished by the British guns, and after the attack the work of destruction was continued during the night by incendiaries and plunderers, instigated by Mahommedan fanaticism. Even two years after the catas- trophe some of the best-built and wealthiest quarters still presented a lamentable appearance. Enormous heaps of rough stonework, the remains of ruined houses, lined both sides of the streets, where every gust of wind raised dense clouds of lime-dust. In many places where the work of destruction had been complete, the district presented the aspect rather of a quarry than of an inhabited town. The work of restoration was long delayed by the state of imcertainty prevailing amongst the mercantile classes, and by the ruin of so many owners of house property, who had long to wait for the promised indemnities. The flags of the