EGYPTIAN DISCOVERIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CI, Issue 15397, 14 July 1914, Page 3

EGYPTIAN DISCOVERIES

TREASURE IN A PYRAMID. Great interest has been aroused by the latest discoveries cf Professor Flinders Pctric in Egypt. In a lecture before a large- gathering at University College, Professor Peine pointed out that most of the work of tbe British School of Archaeology in Egypt during the past year was carried out at the mouth of the Fayum, about sixty miles south of Cairo, though successful excavations had been made elsewhere, in tho course of which many valuable remains of the twelfth dyn.-vity had been discovered, a period particularly rich in Egyptian art. There were ropes of amethyst beads, beautiful amulets, goldfish pendants, and amulet eases —all clearly shown on tbe screenas well as striking statuettes in a fine state of preservation. Of special interest was one of the last-named as showing the large head-dress in vogue at the time, which probably accounted lor the size :of the crown discovered and referred to later in the lecture. Twenty-five years ago Professor Petrie found the shaft of the. pyramid about which he now lectured; but' he did not outer at that time. Last year he and his assistants cleared away all the rubbish round the base, baring the rock absolutely. They had. in fact, made a more complete clearance at that point than at any other in the country. Judging from the plan (if tho pyramid, great ingenuity must have been displayed in its construction. Professor Petrie fully described its walls, its large trench filled with sand to preserve the foundation from damage by ram, tbe staircase -of stone giving acorns to the ton of the wall for guards to keep watch, and the- trees which adorned the enclosure on all sides.

Many fine pieces of sculpture were hf re discovered, partiou-larlv interest innbeing those showing live'ducks, and others lying upon the offering tables. Whereas the former were d-- oioted with necks supple with movement, ami ewvs vivid with fe-.ir, the latter were represented with drooning necks and contracted eyes, showing clearly that distinct efforts wore being made in thosrtimes to give artistic, .interpretation of t id actualities, rather than depend on the mere perfunctory copy of objects Tw-o bowls and a tall stand'were found in the pyramid, which were Ihe first unmistakable evidence that such howls and stands were the lamps used at that period Each bowl still contained charred wick within it. whilst th<-. grooves proved the presence of water'at some time to prevent the absorption of oil.

Coming noxt to the main portion of the- discoverey. Professor Petrie «-avo ■an illustration of a granite sarcophagus which bad been attacked, an opening made m the lid, and everything abstracted. A small recess ' near" by Wiiic-h had, in some strnr,"-o way escaped the attention of the pTunder- ; '.s was found to contain vahiab'e The main item was a band of burni.-liefi gold -over an inch wide, with an inlaid cobra in front, and lifter,, rentes each com nosed of four flowers and io;mleaves of open-work. Behind the crown were high plumes of i-old and at the back am! sides gold Ft reamers."