EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 17

EGYPT'S PYRAMIDS.

RECENT DISCOVERIES. EXPLORATION AT CITIES. CAIRO. People who are acquainted with the Giza pyramids will be surprised when they visit them this year to find that the area around the second, or Cephren, pyramid has been completely transformed. Professor Selim Hassan, who in the last few years has made highly interesting discoveries in this region on behalf of the Egyptian University, has entirely cleared the area between the pyramid arid its pyramid city and laid bare several mastabas (rectangular tomb constructions) of great importance. The burial places of two mote of Cephren's children have been unearthed just in front of their fathers' pyramid. This makes 14 children so far located. These two sons are Nehetepra meaning "He who belong as Ra-is-satisfied," and Hetepra, meaning "Ra-is-satisfied." In Nehetepra's mastaba are an uninscribed sarcophagus of limestone, alabaster vases, and canopic jars to contain the viscera of the mummy. Inscription Readings. The inscriptions on the walls show by his names and titles that he was a king's son. The inscriptions on' Iletepra's tomb show him as vizier and lector priest of his father. There is no sarcophagus. But both tombs contained mummies of the Ptolemiac period (300 to 30 8.C.), indicating that they were used for reburials later.

Near there is the mastaba of Hetepi, who was one of the 10 Royal counsellors of Upper Egypt and director of the King's fields, river banks, and other works (minister of agriculture and irrigation).

• It is interesting to note the combination of those two administrations, which, apparently, was usual in ancient Egypt, but not to-day, although often suggested.

Hetepi's sarcophagus is of limestone with very large bands of inscriptions on all four sides, giving his names .and titles. On the sides tlicre are also representations of the facade of the Royal palace and other palace scenes rendered most artistically and in such fine, workmanship as to resemble weaving. One curious feature is a picture of the papyrus plant emerging from the earth. All these are very unusual, but' there is one feature hitherto not associated with the Fourth Dynasty. This consists of inscriptions in black ink with sarcophagus representing offerings. Cities Dead and the Living. They, are-' inscribed on the east side of the sarcophagus,* just facing where the dead' man's face would .recline according to ritual, so that when he awakens i" the after life,'he' willThave food available. . ' | Within the tomb there Were firie pottery vases. The upper part included the torso of a statue of the dead man in an unusual posture, with hands crossed. The body was lying on. the floor, having been taken from the sarcophagus when it. was rifled by robbers. In clearing down to the-bedrock Professor Selim found places where groups of six. sometimes 10 to 12, quarrymen sat while they were cutting out the rock before them. The blocks were used for mastabas and inner portions of the pyramids.

The whole area, about half a mile long from the second pyramid to the Valley temple, next to the sphinx, has now boon cleared, making a fine display of the pyramid cities of the dead and the living.