TREASURES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2530, 16 January 1923, Page 4

TREASURES.

RELICS OF OLD EGYPT.

STORY OF DISCOVERIES. MANY MARVELS OF ART. The Cairo correspondent of the London Times,-in a despatch to his paper, gives interesting details of how Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter unearthed below the tomb of Rameses VI., near Luxor, two rooms containing the funeral paraphernalia of King Tut-anthamen, who reigned about 1350 B.C. He says:— “A sealed outer door was carefully opened then a way was cleared down some 16 steps and along a passage of about 25 feet. A door to the chambers was found to be sealed as the outer door had been, and) as on the outer door, there were traces of reclosing. “With difficulty entrance was gained and when at last the excavators managed to squeeze their way in an extraordinary sight met their eyes, one that they could scarcely credit. “First they saw three magnificent statues, all gilt, with exquisite carving and the heads of a typhon, panther and lion. On these rested beds, beautifully carved, gilt and inlaid with ivory and semi-precious stones and also innumerable boxes of exquisite workmanship. FIND RARE SPECIMENS. “One of these boxes was inlaid with ebony and ivory vvitli gilt inscriptions; another contained emblems of the underworld. On a third which contained royal robes handsomely embroidered with precious stones and golden sandals, were beautifully painted hunting scenes. There was ii stool of ebony inlaid with ivory with most delicately carved ducks’ feet, also a child’s stool of fine workmanship. “Beneath one of the couches was the state throne of King Tut-anth-amen t, probably one of the most beautiful objects of art ever discovered. There was also a heavilygilt chair, with portraits of the king and queen and the whole was encrusted with turquoise, cornelian lapis and other semi-precious stones. “Two life-sized statues of the king, with goldwork holding a golden stick and mace, face each other. They had handsome features and feet and hands'were delicately carved with eyes of glass and a head-dress richly studded with gems. There were also four chariots, the sides of which were encrusted with semi-precious stones and rich gold decoi’ations. A charioteer’s apron of leopard’s skin hung over the seat. “Other noteworthy objects were royal sticks, one of ebony with the head of an Asiatic as a handle in gold. Another was of handsome filagree work. There was also a stool for a throne with Asiatics carved on it denoting that the king had placed his feet on the necks of Asiatic prisoners taken in the war. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. “There were some quaint bronze-

gilt musical instruments and a robing dummy for royal wigs and roles. There were also some exquisite alabaster vases with a very intricate and unknown design, all of one piece, and some handsome blue ligy. ptian faience, and enormous quantities.of provisions, comprising duck and haunches of venison all packed in boxes as was the custom ol the time.

“There were some remarkable wreaths still looking like evergreen, and one of the boxes contained rolls of parchment which are expected to render a mass of information. “A further chamber revealed an indescribable state of contusion. Here furniture, good beds, exquisite boxes and alabaster vases similar to those mentioned in the first chamber were piled high one on top •of the other so closely that it has been impossible to get inside yet. “Numbers of these treasures were in n fairly good state of preservation, but others are in a somewhat precarious condition. The greatest care is being taken in handling them however, and there is every hope that under Mr Carter’s direction most pf them will be preserved. “From the manner in which its contents were disposed it is evident that this cache has not remained untouched since it was buried. There seems no doubt that the wonderful collection of objects formed part of. the funeral paraphernalia of King Tut-anth-anien, \vhose eartouch is seen everywhere in both its forms. It appears that they were moved from the tombs where they were originally placed and in order to preserve them from thieves were transferred for safety to these chambers. “The sealing and blocking of the doors and passages which so lar have been opened suggest that metal robbers had attacked these chambers and that inspectors of Rameses IX. had reason to enter and reclose them. It is known that these royal tombs suffered at the hands of robbers, hut whatever the chambers may have contained originally their contents to-day are sufficient cause for a sensation in the Egyptological world. ' CHANGE OF FAITH.

“This discovery will . clear up many obscure points in regard to the eighteenth dynasty, among others that not only was Somenkhava bo-regent with Akhenaten, hut it appears that he must have died or ceded the throne simultaneously with him. Sepulchral objects of Semenkharn found here hear protocols of both nionnrobs.

Tut-anth-mnon's reign, which was about .1358 8.C., mark's the transition from the Aten faith hack to the worshippers of Amen. Ihe scenes and inscriptions upon his funeral furniture depict the king under both religions, first with the Aten or the sun’s.disc; and secondly under Amen worship, where he calls himself Tutank Hamen, or the living image of Amen.

Wliat adds interest to tins discovery is that there is still a third sealed chamber, which sigir.ticautly the two figures of the king are guarding and which may possibly turn <mt to |,e the actual tomb of King Tut-an-tliiunen with numbers n[ heretics buried with him.”