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FLINDERS PETRIE

EGYPTOLOGIST AND MUSICIAN.

GIFT FOR EXPLORATION. Sir Flinders Petrie, the great Egyptologist, who died recently, was christened Matthew after his grandfather, Matthew Flinders, the explorer, whose name is forever linked to cur history, Thea Cowan writes in the “Sydney Morning Herald.” When he was 13 he insisted on a small audience of his near relatives listening while he lectured to them on the angle of the Pyramids! Thus, precociously, he showed his bent.

In after years he went to Egypt; and his particular gift for exploration soon made him famous. He was appointed to the Amelia B. Edwards seat for Egyptology at University College, London. There, every year, he exhibited the treasures he had collected.

One of Petrie’s greatest discoveries was the whole groundwork of a city which had been meticulously described by Josephus, the historian. The existence of this city had formerly been in doubt; many had dismissed it as fabulous.

During the exhibitions at University College, which all the intelligentsia of London thronged to see, the professor gave lectures on his various finds, which often included ornaments of intrinsic value, such as gold necklaces and other trinkets. Numerous were the various inshptis, i.e„ little figures which were found in the mummy cases and were supposed to typify part of the human body. These ranged from cheap earthenware to more costly figures covered with the beautiful enamel which Petrie found had been made from the crushed turquoises which are so plentiful in Egypt. From fragments of papyri he pieced together whole histories of the civilisation of the people of Egypt, and much Biblical history which had been discredited by Voltaire and many other sceptics. .He also traced the source of our numerals to the Phoenicians. He was a talented musician, and while playing a sonata temporarily relaxed from his all-absorbing interest. He had neither time nor inclination for any other sort of amusement. _ I

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAITA19420929.2.72

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1942, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
317

FLINDERS PETRIE Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1942, Page 6

FLINDERS PETRIE Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1942, Page 6

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