MR PETRIE IN THE FAYUM. Clearance of the Pyramid of Amenemhat III.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 371, 25 May 1889, Page 4

MR PETRIE IN THE FA YUM. Clearance of the Pyramid of Amenemhat 111.

Mr Pktkie some months ago succeeded in cutting an entranco into the sepulchral chamber of Amenemhat 111. That chamber contained two empty sarcophagi. A fragment of wrought alabaster inscribed with the throne name of Amenemhafc ID., had also been found; thus> confirming a foregone conclusion, and identifying 1 the founder of the pyramid with tho builder of the neighbouring labyrinth. Since then Mr b*etrie has systematically searched every accessible part of the structure, turned every lallen block, and cleared the drifted sand, mud and debris of ages from such of the passages as are above the water level. The pyramid has thus been made to give up its last se.Tets ; and these, if nob startling, are historically and archccologically interesting. The mystery of the smaller sarcophagus is solved. It wa& clearly an after-thought, having been contrived, by the mere addition of head and foot pieces, between the side of the large sarcophagus and tho wall of the chamber. Mr Petrie at first conjectured that it was made for the Kings son and succossor, Amenemhafc IV., or possibly for the King's daughter, Sebaknefrtt, who succeeded her brother, Amenemhat IV., and ended the twelfth dynasty. It now proves lo have been made for another daughte 1 , Princess Pbahnefru, who probably died about the same time as her father ; or, at all events, provious to the closing ot hid pyramid. This princess is new to history ; her name ia Pfcahnefru, or " tho perfections: ot Ptah," being composed on tho same lines as that of her surviving! ister, Sebaknefru, or "the perfections of Sebak." A large alabaster vessel 18 inches in length, curiously carvod in the &hape of half a trussed duck, and engraved with Ja hieroglyphic inscription signifying " Tho royal daughter Pfcahnefru," was found in one of the passages a day or two after the opening of the pyramid, and with it three similar vessels, smallor and quite plain. Two day=later, as the work of clearance went on, a superb alabastor table of olterings, surrounded by tho broken fragments of nine more alabaster duck va&es, was unearthed from beneath the rubbish in a kind of anteroom adjoining 1 the sepulchral chamber. This beautiful work of ancient art is described by Mr Petrie as 'a rect angular block measuring 2b\ inches in length by 17 inches in breadth and 9 inches in thickness. It is bordered all round by a funerary invocation of the ordinary type, praying tor oblations of food and drink for the *Ka of the royal daughter Ptahnefru ; the enclosed surface being carved in low relief with 110 representations of miniature vases, bowls, cups, plates, loaves, cakes, birds, fruits and the like. Each object has its name engraved beside or above it, thus giving a list ot between 70 and 80 varieties of wines, poultry, cakes, etc , and placing us in possession of the complete menu of a royal funerary feast b.c. 2,800. Oddly enough, the ducks, geese, and other birds shown in this interesting list are represented without legs, probably for economy of space. Mr Petrie says :—: — There is a flake off one corner of the block, but it is otherwise as perfect as the day when It was first engraved. It is- a lovely monument, new in its details, and new as to the princess whom it commemorates. It also shows that Ptahnefru must have been the daughter of Amenemhat 111. and sister of Sebaknefu. We had a hatd job to get it out of the pyramid, a.^, ife weighed 4001b., and had to be hauled up all ports of corners. Being alabaster, not a rub or a knock could be allowed upon it. The mummies of the great Pharaoh and his daughter wore burnt to a 3 hes by the original spoilers of the pyramid, who shall &ay how many centuries ago? Mr Petrie carefully cleared out the two sarcophagi with his own hands (both being under water), and found at the bottom of each nothing but a deposit of charcoal mixed with grains of quartz, and a quantity of scales of mica. The charcoal showed that the woodon mummy cases and their occupants had been burnt ; but the quartz giains and mica scales puzzled him sorely. Tho discovery ot a line lapis-la/uli inlay, carved in the torm of a false beard of the kind represented on Ihe chins of god 3 and Pharaohs, explained the mystery a day or two later. It showed that the destroyed mummy cases had been decorated with the mosaic ornamontation in fine stones, which, when calcined, would have produced precisely the residuum found in the charcoal. The scattered fragments of some six or eight alabaster bowls and vases were also recover- d from the rubbish on the flooded lloor of the sepulchral chamber. These represent the funerary vessels of the Great Pharaoh himself, whose throne-name was found on a fragment fished out of the water when the chamber was first opened, The nowlydiscovered pieces are mostly inscribed ; and as they are apparently mendablo their legends may once more bo read, and will possibly be of historical inteie&t. These fragments, together with an extraordinary number ot broken amphora; of Roman date, complete the brief list of objects dibcovered inside this pyramid, which it has cost the explorer so much time and labour to open. The sepulchral chamber of Amencmhab 111. proves to havo had no dooi and no entrance. Tho large sarcophagus must have been placed in position, and the smaller one constructed, betoro the whole of the roofing slabs were laid on, the exit ha\ing been closed when the funerary rites were ended by dropping the last slab into its place. As these slabs weigh from 40 to 50 tons each, the security of the dead might well be deemed eternal. The presence of the Roman amphora: shows, however, that the j passage from the labyrinth was open in the time of the Ciusars ; and it is possible that the pyramid may have remained inviolate up to that period, Ifow many centuries may have elapsed between the raid of the last plunderer and the systematic siege carried on by Mr Petrie is beyond the reach of conjecture; but; it may safely be predicted that the last restingplace of the Labyrinfch-Jfharoali is nob likely to be invaded by many futuie travellers. Its last treasures being removed, tho spoiler will no longer be tempted. Its problem being solved, it offers no enterprise to the man of science. Neither will it long remain accessible to the mer«3 tourist. The passage from the labyrinth will soon be choked again, and its place will be forgotten ; and Mr Petrie's tunnel, which was never very safe, and is now very dangerous, will shortly cavo in, if it has not done so already. In the meanwhile Mr Petrie, whose appetite for pyramids seems to grow I y whab it feeds upon, has removed to lllalrftn, there to attack another of these stuj endona royal sepulchres, which according to old tra« dition and modern report, ha& ne^ or been opened,—* London Timos.' I