LUXOR DISCOVERIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3593, 23 January 1923, Page 48

LUXOR DISCOVERIES

CAIRO, January 14. The Government has officially announced that, while it does not wish to hamper Lord Carnarvon in any arrangement that he may make with private individuals it must insist upon strict .impartiality in giving information concerning the contents of Tutankhamen’s tomb to all the journalists at Thebes. Lord Carnarvon contemplated permitting only one journalist to remain with the party. LONDON, January 16. The Morning Post’s correspondent at Luxor says: “The most notable objects taken from Tutankhamen’s tomb yesterday were a wooden bed covered with strips of gold, with a lion’s feet exquisitely carved, and a seat of cane, which is still taut. The ends of the couch are inlaid with golden hieroglyphics, saying: “Lord of Upper and Lower Egypt, Tutankhamen, giver of all life, stability, power, strength, and happiness.” The discoveries include a jewel box containing jewels of great beauty, and priceless brooches, necklaces, and insignia showing the sacred serpent bearing the sun, the disc of which might be fresh from a London jeweller's shop window. BIBLICAL PHARAOH IDENTIFIED. LONDON, January 18. With a great wealth of historical argument, a famous Egyptologist (Mr Arthur Weigall), in an article in the Daily Mail, advances the theory that the Pharaoh of the oppression of Egypt, who knew not Joseph, and whose death is mentioned m the first chapter of Exodus, was none other than. Tutankhamen. Mr Weigall instances the well-known fact that Tutankhamen conducted great building operations, employing many foreign slaves, and says that this corresponds with the Biblical account of the taskmasters.

The Daily Mail points out that if this is true, it is quite likely that Moses himself gazed on the very relics which are now being removed from the tomb. RICH CARVING IN GOLD. LONDON, January 20. The Morning Post’s Luxor correspondent says: “The work of removing and preserving the contents of Tutankhamen's tomb continues. Already fresh air, since November 29, has done more damage than 3272 years’ hermetical confinement. Thp climate of the Valley of the Kings is magnificently dry by day, but is very damp at night. “To-day’s recoveries include quaint eggshaped food receptables, also ducks' eggs and haunches of venison. The odour of these ancient Easter eggs was so marked that they were hurriedly removed to a neighbouring empty tomfc. “One walking-stick is decorated with remarkably line filigree gold work, having 100 little balls of gold to each square inch of the handle. “Another stick has a bearded Asiatic captive carved in gold, similar to the Asiatic captives on the inlaid gold footstool of the Queen’s throne.”