HIDDEN HOARD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3657, 25 June 1927, Page 4

HIDDEN HOARD

TON OF GOLD AND JEWELS. TOMB DISCOVERIES. Two wonderful discoveries of treasure in ancient tombs were reported recently from Constantinople and Egypt. The British expedition which is trying to reconstruct the glorious past of Byzantium, on the site of the ancient Hippodrome, near the famous Mosque of St. Sophia, in Stamboul, Constantinople, have discovered a mummy of a Byzantine chariot driver or jockey. A case weighing over a ton containing gold and precious jewels, said to be part of the treasure of the most famous of Byzantine Emperors, Constantine the Great. A small pyramid like those in Egypt. A statue of Venus. The Egyptian discoveries near the Pyramids at Ghiza 'include the tomb of a rich dwarf who was wedded to a princess. Excavations liitve been in progress for over a week in the Stamboul district of Sultan Ahmed, where the Hippodrome is situated. While digging between the Serpent column (originally brought to Byzantium by the Emperor Constantine in 329 A.D. from Delphi. Greece) and the seconjd obelisk, the pickaxe of a labourer struck something hard. This proved to he a small pyramid. Further excavations at the base revealed the following Greek inscription : “Here died Justinius, the most valiant and the most renowned chariot conductor of the Hippodrome. “For the glory of His Majesty the King and the Hippodrome and Ids remembrance are perpetuated in this spot.” On one side of the pyramid a small metal door was discovered, black with age. Tt was opened, and inside was discovered a sacroplmgus containing the mummived body of Justinius. Further search brought to light the statue of Venus, a sculptured stone monster, a fish made in stone, and a stone figure resembling a dragon. *, The discovery of many tombs of the 4th Dynasty by the Vienna Academy’s excavators at the Pyramids at Ghiza is described in a communique from the Ministry of Public Works. One of these tombs contained a stone coffer, in which was a magnificent group of painted limestone representing the owner of the tomb, Senab by name, with his wife Sontities and their two children. Senab appears as a dwarf. On his sunken body rests a large head with a very expressive face, his little arms lie against his breast, and his short legs are tucked under him. Besides him sits his wife, whose slim form is in striking contrast to Iter husband’s squat aspect. This strange marriage is perhaps explained by the supposition that Sentites belonged to an impoverished branch of the former Royal Family, while Sena!) was richly blessed with wordlv goods. He boasts b)f possessing 1015 oxen, 10,206 she asses, 10,000 cows, 10,205 goats, 12,017 asses and 10,205 sheep.