LUXOR DISCOVERIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 19

LUXOR DISCOVERIES

COURT BEAUTY OF 2CCO B.C. LONDON, January 21. Advices from Luxor state that interest in the tomb of Tutankhamen has been temporarily diverted by an American archaeologist's discovery of the body of an Egyptian princess, who was apparently one of the court beauties of the first Theban dynasty. 2000 B.C. It is marvellously preserved. The teeth are intact, and the neck and bosom arc delicately tatooed with the emblems ot' the caste of the nobility. Slight indentations on the neck, wrists, fingers, and ankles indicate that the necklace, bracelets. ,and ring* were stolen bv vandals. The narrow waist, slender hips, and immature and delicate appearance suggest that she died young. There is a scar from a hot iron on the abdomen. Medical men are of opinion that the princess succumbed from serious organic disease, which in days of old was treated bv violent fomentations. The body is being sent to the Cairo medical laboratory for pathological examination. SUPPORT BIBLICAL HISTORY. LONDON. January 22. Among the discoveries in Tutankhamen’s tomb are numbers of figures of prisoners in relief. Professor Weigall, writing in the Daily Mail, says : “The captives are of Sometic origin, and are possibly the actual Israelites of Exodus. The massing of the ob iects in the tomb has been attributed to Tutankhamen, who was childless, and had no heir to whom to hknd on his possessions.” Professor Weigall stresses the extraordinary fact that at that, period of history there wa,s a recurrent failure of the male line. Akhanaton. Tutank hamen, and Horemheb successively had no son. He *-emarks that Biblical students will find in this confirmation of the Exodus story of the death of the first-born. WORLD’S FIRST GLOVE. LONDON, January 22. Tlie Times’s Luxor correspondent records a unique discovery. Among the last fragments of fabric in a box containing the king's robes was found a perfect glove. This is the first Egyptian glcve that has been found, and the oldest ever discovered by many thousands of years. It is made of the finest fabric, and was evidently worn by the king when he was a child, as it still shows evidence of the hand of an infant of three or four years

of age. It is probably a gauntlet that was worn by the king when he was being taught archery. VALUABLE TREASURES FOUND. LONDON, January 27. The latest message* from Luxor state that the vestibule of Tutankhamen’s tomb has been almost cleared, though two magnificent gold couches, accrued with carved lions and hippopotami, remain, as well a 3 two chariots inlaid with Cornelian lapis lazuli. Theso articles are among the greatest treasures yet revealed in the tomb. Dr Howard Carter has gone to Cairo to arrange with Lord Carnarvon for the early opening of the inner tomb, where, it is hoped, Pharaoh’s body may be found. It will be slow work breaking'down the wall, as Dr Carter wishes to preserve the Royal seals intact. Two black-and-gold statues of the King still guard the walled-up entrance to the inner chamber and also a smaller figure intended to serve as Pharaoh's deputy when manual work wa* required in the Kingdom of Osiris. Ihe Egyptian Gazette of December 5, in referring to the discovery of the cache, states that Tutankhamen was tho penultimate King of the XVIII Dynasty who reigneff about 1350 b.c. It is situated below the level of the tomb of Ramoses VI, quite close to the road. A short steep shaft leads to a small chamber rough hewn in the rock and. devoid of all mural decoration. J his is literally packed with the personal belongings of the king hidden by the priests soon after his death. It appears the cache was reopened from time to time by the priests, possibly to add to its contents, and after such openings it was resealed. The last resealing was performed in the reign of Rameses IX. so that it has remained undisturbed for 3000 years. Articles are piled up one on top of the other around all four walls, leaving scarcely any floor space. Everything remains just as when found, save that three boxes have been gently moved to one side in order to clear a small space.