EGYPT’S TOMBS

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19887, 16 May 1936, Page 26 (Supplement)

EGYPT’S TOMBS

TREASURES OF 2700 B.C.

LIGHT ON THE FIRST DYNASTY, j (Times Air Mail Service). ! LONDON, April 25. ] To-day I accompanied the Premier, | Ali Maher Pasha, when he inspected i the tomb of Knum Ba Ef, son of Chefren, King of the Fourth Dynasty. The tomb was discovered by Prof. Selim Hassan, of Cairo University, | among the Great Pyramids of Giza, writes the Cairo correspondent of the j Daily Telegraph. King Chefren lived about 2700 8.C., j and to-day we saw treasures dating j to that period. We entered through a doorway on ' the north side of the mastaba—the! low, stone building sheltering the tomb. Facing the mastaba is an enormous courtyard. From the doorway the gigaqtic limestone slabs which had blocked it had now been removed. We descended 10 steps into a small antechamber and from there entered the chamber of the tomb. The chamber is some four yards square, but the roof is so low that we had to stand with bowed heads. In the light of a large arc lamp we saw before us a rough limestone sarcophagus, covered with a heavy lid, and filling one-third of the chamber. Oldest Mummy. Our first thought was how such an > enormous coffin, much bigger than the | doorway by which we had entered could have been brought in. Prof, j Hassan, however, explained that it had ; been passed down a shaft from the | roof of the mastaba. This was after- , wards closed. Nevertheless, it is still amazing to! think that so vast a stone could be i manipulated in so small a space. { Our eyes were then caught by a I most beautiful alabaster headrest! standing on the lid of the coffin and ; in perfect condition. On the gi-ound , at our feet were the bones of the i bull sacrificed at the burial. Nearer the sarcophagus lay four red jars. Beside them were miniature toilet articles, including a lamp and a razor. There was also a dinner set. All were of copper and most exquisitely made. Prof. Hassan told us there was another tomb, still intact, containing the mummified body of a woman of the Fourth Dynasty. This may be the oldest mummy known. We also visited the tomb of the daughter of Chefren-, where was found a beautiful carving of her head. Tomb of Vizier. To-day I was also enabled to inspect the mastaba at Sakkara, where Mr W. B. Emery discovered chambers throwing new light on the First Dynasty. Here was excavated the tomb of a notable named Hemaka, a vizier under King Den, approximately 4300 B.C. This mastaba covers an area of 15,000 sq. ft. The tomb itself is some j 25ft. below the surface level in the living rock. Access to it is down a sloping stairway consisting of steps, partly brick J and partly cut into the rock. The J steps had a gateway at the ground i level. Three portcullises blocked their ; course. In the lowest a part had been cut away by robbers who looted the j tomb soon after the burial. The two higher ones are also miss- j ing. At the bottom of the stairway to I the tomb is a large courtyard from i which lead two other rooms connect- \ ing with a third, where was deposited ! funerary furniture and ritualistic era- [ blems for the care of the soul of the i dead. All the chambers have now been ! opened and a gang of men were busy ; on clearing work to-day. In one chain- i ber pieces of raw flint were found. ! Countless wine-jars were in the, tombs. There were layers often of 200 in one chamber. More than 2000 j of these have been examined for j marks, which have been copied, since j they play an important part in records.