"WHITE FACED”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16780, 8 July 1922, Page 3

"WHITE FACED”

HIGH PRIESTESS OF ANCIENT THEBES. ROMANTIC FIND IN EGYPT. New York Herald.”) Mile Ten-zu has just arrived iu America. Few people ol to-day know -Milo len-zu or know that almost three thousand years ago she was one of the m.osu lamous ol beautjiui young women, lovely iu charm and character, as haugiity as tiie proudest debutante may bo, and yet gracious and generous, rue fame of her beauty had reached from her native city, and from many miles in all directions there came each day new admirers to kneel at her bare ieet and press their lips upon her slender fingers in token ol their admiration. -Viiie Ten-zu comes to America in the shape of a mummy. She has been acquired by the Philadelphia Commercial Museum, under whose auspices the Egyptian Exploration Fund lias been carrying on some noteworthy explorations in the neighbourhood of Thebes in upper Egypt. This mummy is distinctly remarkable in that it one of the two mummies with a white face so far discovered. In the wrappings there have been found hieroglyphics which almost identify Mile Ten-zu, although the identification is vague and really not altogether dependable so far. A BEAUTIFUL PRIESTESS. However, enough is known to assure us that Mile Ten-zu was a priestess, and a beautiful one. Comparison with present day conditions is, of course, difficult in this case, but the authorities at the Philadelphia Museum are certain that the p position the young woman whose mummified remains they aro now examining held in old Egypt was a- position of even far greater importance than that held to-day by a member of the United States eSnate. This white faced mummy was found in a magnificent tomb in Thebes, in a part of the cemetery devoted to persons of high rank. Only one other white faced mummy has ever been discovered. It hiLs been known for some time that only women who attained outstanding distinction for their religious characters and powers were ever prepared for burial with whitened face. The fact that only two have so far been found indicates, indeed, that such ft distinction was one that was rare, and indicated a rank and power that very few' ever attained. Ordinary priestesses, as with ordinary men and women, of Egypt, were buried with faces of the mummy case painted in various colours, generally with a, vase similar to the flesh tone and with decorations of rod and gold. REVERED BY THE PEOPLE OF THEBES. The period, of Mile Ten-zu has been definitely placed at about 600 8.C.. during a Ptolemaic reign. There were certain papyri found in the burial urns near the excavated tomb in which this mummy was discovered which in dicated that this young woman, had been one of the principal priestesses at the Temple of Amon. and that she had been greatly revered by the people, of Thebes, and that her death had been almost a. matter of national mourning. There were no inscriptions on her tomb or among her wrappings which definitely disclosed her name. However. a most remarkable circumstance ■was revealed shortly after the arrival of the mummy at Philadelphia. An old painting of a Mile Ten-zu, a high priestess of Amon, was discovered. Almost this painting might have been a photograph of the mummy case just unearthed. The painting, of course, was the creation of an artist’s imagination. He had gained his inspiration. hwever, fr ma careful perusal of old papyri previously discovered in the same tomb near Thebes. In these papyri was found a description of the principal priestesses of the period of 600 8.C.. and she was identified as Ten-zu. So detailed was this description, written by some ancient scribe that the artist felt he could almost paint a faithful likeness. His painting, which became a masterpiece, was the result. DAILY LIFE OF PRIESTESS. When the white faced mummy was compared to this beautiful painting of Tea-zu, Priestess of Thebes., no doubt remained—in romantic minds at least --that Ten-zu, herself, had been unearthed and had been brought to this country to repose in the halls of the Philadelphia Museum. So we may almost authentically turn to the ancient description of the daily life of the great Priestess Ten-zu, and reading that be almost sure that we arc reading the life of the white faced mamm\ whose remains may be touched by the visitor to the museum in Philadelphia At the time of this Ten-zu religion was the principal factor in tho life of the Egyptians. Hence, the rank and high honor in which a woman who served a god was held. The power of the great Amon, the deity who reigned throughout Upper Egypt, is almost in•conceiable now. Innumerable temples of gorgeous opulence were built throughout the entire land, but the most famous of them all which revealed his influence was the temple at Thebes. The priestess ruled on an equal basis with that of the high priest- Her life in the famous Temple of Thebes, made more luxurious by the fact that for centuries past Thebes had been the dwelling place of the reigning sovereigns, forms part of the mysterious lore of Egypt which has made it the source of continual speculation by scientists, poets and the dreamers of the world. AVhat this woman whose mummy now confronts the gaze of thousands of curious spectators really did during the course of her daily life ; how she lived, and in what manner she amused herself nd ruled in the temple is a narrative of great interest to tho world. LIFE OF INTRIGUE AND DANGER. She reigned supreme as tiie favourite of Amon, and her good will was sought by the leading members of the court as well as by the high priests of the temple. The high priestess of the

god, while sacred and not to be touched by mortal beings, was naturally the favourite ol the FmjuTor. lier decision in matters of state, even in war and political lmu rover m\ s , was considered V, itli .In : Icfcrei accorded to Ptolemy, and her life was one of intrigue and danger. Despite the high rank she held, perhaps because of it. Ton-zu was noi al- j lo ■ o outsidf I the 1 mule , es.. j and. while she reigned, supreme in lie; - j palace and her power was admitted j outside the temple walls, she was vir- j tually a prisoner, and it was only • during the rites of service that .she could either see or be- scon by men and women of the outside wor*..:. Archaeologists have not as yet translated all tho symbols that literally cov- j ered the cloth of gold shroud over the white faced mummy. Those identified, however, are of great value as showing the* esteem in which this woman was held. Tho other objects found with the body also have their significance. There were four ibises, the sacred bird of the -k&yplians, and one hawk, each in its ! 'own separate case. One, of the ibis j cases has been opened and the body of | the bird has been found to be thoroughly petrified, with tiie feathers still in almost perfect condition. Large mini, bers ot tho .hi* were kept in captivity m tll( * Egyptian temples and thev were considered necessary to tho numerous