"I will not try to describe the impression that the temple, and in particular its portico, made on us," Champollion wrote. "The separate dimensions of the structure can be measured, but it is quite impossible to give an idea of the whole. We stayed there two hours, filled with ecstasy. Led by our native guide, we wandered through the halls and tried to read the inscriptions on the outside in the glittering moonlight."

Based on the context clues in the excerpt, a portico is most likely

a porch or walkway attached to a building.
an ancient unit of measurement.
a group of people traveling together.
a seaside village or town.