PHARAOH'S TOMB

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 8

PHARAOH'S TOMB

EICH 1)1 SCO YEP, Y GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES CHAMBER BENEATH TEMPLE [ FR"W OITR OWN CORRKSPOXDEXT] LONDON", March 5 Not since the discovery of Tutankhamen in 1922 has such t a wealth of material of ancient Egypt been found as that contained in the tomb of Pharaoh Psusennes, which was first opened a fortnight ago in San el Ha gar. in the West Nile Delta. Dr. Etienne Drioton, Director-Gen-eral of the Egyptian Government Antiquities Department, believes that the discovery is second only in importance to that of the hoy Pharaoh's tomb. Historically, he believes it is just as important. Sir Flinders Petrie and other famous archaeologists had explored the same site frequently before without result, i Professor Pierre Montet, of Strasbourg University, toiled on the spot patiently for ten years before coming across it. Ancient City o! Tanis San el Hagar is the ancient city of Tanis, which was built by Rameses 11. about '*6oo years ago, first as a holiday resort and then as a port. All that is left of the once flourishing city, to which Moses is said to have led the Israelites in the exodus from Egypt, arc a few tombs and the. remains of tho great temple Rameses built. It was under the temple that Professor Montet found the entrance to the tomb by a shaft 4ft. deep. This led into a small ante-room, which gave on to a 6ft. passage. The walls of the burial chamber are entirely of decorated rcse | granite. The room is about 22ft. long. 9ft. wide and 9ft. high. The sarcophagus, in pink granite, fills up half the room. Rectangular in shape, it measures lift, by 7ft., and is 4ft. deep It is beautifully carved. Coffin of Gold The Pharaoh is represented on the outside as the god Osiris lying on his back with a kneeling goddess supporting his head and protecting him with outstretched arms. There are also three other coffins, one in black granite, another in silver and the last in gold. The silver o»e is carved to the likeness of the king, the head being crowned with the double golden crown of Lower and Upper Egypt- The arms were folded across the chest, one hand holding a golden | sceptre and the other a flail. The face has a noble expression and is of a young man, indicating that it probably was cast before the Pharaoh's death.

There are numerous religious inscriptions and much jewellery in the coffins. More than 20 golden bracelets were found recording the genealogical tree of the king's family. An exquisite gold necklace strung with rubies and scarabs was around his neck. Golden Table and Plate Round the sarcophagus was a golden table laid out with plates, dishes and spoons and 20 golden vases. There was also a large chalice in the form of a lotus flower, a long-necked bottle, jugs and silver cups. All these are now being treated by a special staff of skilled chemists, who are assisting Professor Montet in preserving them for exhibition at Cairo Museum. The discovery is important historically, because it will enable hisi torians to fill gaps in the recorded knowledge of the last period of ancient 1 Egyptian civilisation.