LUXOR TREASURES

Otago Witness, Issue 3596, 13 February 1923, Page 21

LUXOR TREASURES

- TUTANKHAMEN’S TOMB. LONDON, February 6. The Luxor correspondent of the United Press Association reports that the spectators were thrilled on the withdrawal of a brilliant chariot from Tutankhamen’s tomb. The body was made of wood. It is covered inside and outside and embossed with gold, and. decorated with golden rosettes and bands of inlaid semiprecious stones or coloured glass. The centre panel bears cartouches of Tutankhamen round the inside of the front edge projecting inwards, and there is an openwork frieze of wood with cut-out figures, presumably ’representing Tutankhamen's prisoners of war, apparently Asiatics. Part of the vehicle is decayed, but is not beyond repair. February 6The Luxor correspondent of the United Press Association says that while the sentimental interest in the historical treasures is unabated, twentieth century commercial interest is commencing to be asserted. Lord Carnarvon and Mr Carter are inundated with telegrams and letters from all over the world—from glovemakers requesting the child’s glove or photographs of it, from seedsmen desiring seeds from the tomb, from textile manufacturers asking for designs for use in weaving, and from provision dealers asking for parcels of the mummified foods (which they apparently expect to be tinned;. Shoemakers want designs of the rOyal slippers, kinema. film photographers are importuning for special concessions. A number of communications requested souvenirs such a« beads, grain, seed, or leaves from ‘the funeral bouquets. February 7. The Luxor correspondent of the tlnited Press Association states that it was re-

ported that the seals on the inner cham ber included those of Rameses, but an inspection shows that this is incorrect, the latest being Roremeb’s seals, which shows that any robberies from the actual tomb must have occurred within eight years of Tutankhamen’s death. It is known that such robberies occurred about that time, but these were mere pilfering compared with the wholesale plundering which began about 1100 b.c. Tutankhamen s tomb probably escaped because during the two intervening centuries it was overlain and lost. The clearance of the annexe, which has not yet been touched, presents difficulties. It is crowded with furniture and other objects, as seen through the robbers' hole.. Strictly, this*, work should begin forthwith, as the opening of the outer door lets in air, and probably the contents are suffering, but it will require several months’ work, arid it is unlikely that the opening of the actual tomb can be de layed for so long.