Ancient Egyptian Memorials.

Southland Times, Issue 19553, 6 May 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

Ancient Egyptian Memorials.

EIGHTEENTH DYNASTY TREASURES

A contributor to the Times describes the remarkable discovery made by Mr Theodore M. Davies of the tombs of t.lio father and mother of Teio, a woman of mysterious origin and great influence. It is stated that on Sunday, February 12, Mr Davies' workmen came across the descending steps of a tomb midway between the well-known sepulchres of Rameses IV and Rameses Nil. At the foot of the steps was a door cut in Hie rock and blocked with large scones. One of these having been removed a boy was sent through the. opening and quickly' emerged with a gaily painted wand of office in one hand and >the yoke of a chariot thickly plated with gold in the other. Mr Davies then went, through the opening and found himself at the hoad of another flight 'of rock-cut steps at the end of whicli was a second door, also blocked with stones. On the mud plaster were impressions of a royal seal with rows of fettered captives. Museum authorities were at once communicated with and the tomb was opened in the presence of the Duke of Connaught and his suite. It was filled from one end to the other with untouched and richest spoil of ancient Egypt ; mummy cases, encrusted W’ith gold. huge alabaster vases of extjpisite form, chairs, and boxes brilliant with paint and gilding, even a pleasure chariot, with its six spoke wheels still covered by their wooden ty’res were lying piled one upon the other in bewildering profusion.- On the left hand side of the entrance wore the two great , wjooden sarcophagi painted with black and gtold, within which tlbo mummy cases of the occupants of tho tomb, a man and woman, had been placed. The cases were double, the outer -.being completely plated with gold on the outside, except where the face of the mummy was realistically' represented, i while the inside was lined with silver. The inscriptions showed it was the burial place of Yua and Thua, parents of Queen Teie, wife of Amon-hotet 111, and mother of the v heretic-king ” Amci.-hotet IV. Beyond ths coffins nt the western end the ground was covered with large sealed jars cf wine or oil. and shell-like bdxes of blackpainted wood, each of which contained a piece di cooked meat neatly wrapped in black muslin. The leather work belonging to the chariot was as fresh as when it was first made. The canopic jars of alabaster could only' bo matched with difficulty as regards either size or fineness of workmanship. The heads which form their covers are in the best style of Egyptian art, and two other alabaster vases were also of exquisite tqorkmanship.