LUXOR’S SECRETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 509, 12 November 1928, Page 11

LUXOR’S SECRETS

NEW EXPLORATION EXPEDITION TO ARMANT i The Egypt Exploration Society is j about to embark on a new exploration near Luxor which will take ; several years to complete. | It is intended to excavate the tombs of the sacred bulls of the ancient town of Armant, which are believed to be burial places of royal wealth and splendour. The bulls were the most important of Egyptian sacred animals, being associated with the giving of life and regarded as reincarnations of the gods. They were worshipped with awe. I and at death mourned like royalty. : Priests organised burials at costly I expense, the animals being buried (in magnificent tombs with chapels built over them. Their tombstones were inscribed with statements of their i ages, their enthronement and death, j The whereabouts of the bulls’ j tombs at Armant have already been discovered by Mr. Robert Mond, and ' the site has been safeguarded against vendal diggers. Largely through the generosity of Mr. Robert Mond. a brother of Lord Melchett. money is available for digding during the coming winter. “There is little doubt that these tombs will provide material of the greatest value and importance,” says a well-known Egyptologist. “Last year Mr. Mond and Mr. Emery discovered the burial place of cows, the mothers of the bulls, but details of the work have not yet been published. “The value of the work, however, may be judged by the fact that the

Egypt Exploration Society contemplate this big scheme in spite of the fact that they cannot retain anything they find. “Under the new regulations everything must stop in Egypt, and the only way excavators can get relics is by paying the Goveernment a big price for the very things they have to spend money to find! “The restrictions have had a severe i effect on excavation work in Egypt* ! Noted people like Sir Flinders Petrie : will have nothing to do with it, and ' municipal and university • museums i decline to put up money when they j are entirely deprived of the hope of | a few for their collections.” | The Egypt Exploration Society has i issued an appeal for funds to ensure ! the completion of the new work.