The New York herald., 1879-12-26
EGYPTIAN EXCAVATIONS.

HINTS OF NEW MARvELs FOB THE MUSEUMS OF
THE woRLD-MoNuMENrs OF THE ANCIENT
GLORY OF THEBEs AND MEMPHIS.
At late meeting Of the Academic dos Inscriptions
ct Belles-Lettros important paper was read by
necessary make in Egypt in order to further our
knowledge of Egyptian history. At present we de-
rive our information chiefly from historical inscrp-
tions and funerea tablets II is hardly conceivable
how much is still hidden in the sand. Several
places whore excavations certain to be successful
remain quite unexplored. To these NJ. Mariette d.
rected tho attention of the Academic. reviewing
the three great periods Of Egyptian history
In connection with the places whore excavations
should be made Beginning with the old Empire
very fairly acquainted with the fourth. hfth
and sixth dynasties. The tombs opened at Ghizeh
and Sakkarah by Lepsius and Mariette-Bey have
thrown much light upon the history aud civilization
Of the constructors OF the great pyramids We know
hardly anything about the hrst three dynastes ex-
cept the names Of the kings, who judging from the
pyramid Of Sakkarah the work Of Ouenephes Of the
first dynasty. were very far from being barbarians
On the contrary it is certain that Menes whom
dition reports to have started from This Thinis
in Middle Egypt, and to have founded Memphis,
to that which excited tho admiration of tho
Greeks. NJ Mariette does not hesitate to say that
the history those ancient dynasties might DO dis
covered by excavations made near the pyramids of
Sakkarah, Aboo-Roasch, Aboosir and Meydoom, and
Menes originated and which NJ. Mariet,e be-
leves to be opposite Girzgh. Passing rapidly over
the monuments Of the dynasties Nv. to VI, III. Ma
rietto dwells third group OF monuments, which
he calls 'the group OF the unknown" viz:-the
monuments Of the dynasties VII. to x. From
Of Of the S tenth there is gap Of sao years. which
wo ut present absolutely unable to fill. No
tablet, no fragment a, Of % any kind. remains
king from u series represented by eighteen names
engraved on the.list Of Abydos. We know that two
OF those dynastes were seated at Hcracloopolis, a
large city Of which extensive ruins remain at Ahnas
el Medineh, spot which has been completely neg
iected ny explorers. Is expected shat researches ,,
the gap. ut least to shorten it, and 1t would settle
the question whether some OF those dynasties wero
local and contemporaneous with the sovercigns
reigning ut Thebes or Memphis. At San may be seen
Considerable remains Of city which one Of the
under the sand and the Intel est OF the discoveries
to be made there would extend far beyond tho mar
row circle OF Egyptologists rs It is likely that 1t was
at the Court of ranis that Joceph lived under of
the last yksos kings. With the dynasty
we enter upon the now Empire and tho reigns OF
those warlke kings whose conQuests reached as far
Mesopotama. and who delighted to describe their
battles the walls of the great temples which they
erected In memory OF their victories. A. Marlctte
excavations in connection with this period. II Is
true that somo would be undertakings on very
large scale. He hrst recommends careful survey
of Biban-el Moook and the adjacent Valleys for it
Is certain that have not yet discovered all the
~ S ans
urgently IL the clearing of tho two great Theban
temples Luxor and Medinet Haboo. Every trave Ter
who has been at Thcbes knows how little we SEQ
OF Luxor. Tho tops of pylons and OF immense
columns are just visible above the huts which cover
tho whole area OF tho building; and Egyptologists
look with envy at important Inscriptions, such as
tho poem OF Pcntaour, small part of which only is
accessible. or course the difficulties would bo
great; good part OF tho village Of Luxor including
the house of the British Consul. aud, above all. tho
local mosque. would have to bo pulled down. But
NJ Mnriette met with tho same obstacles at Edfoo,
and ovcrcsmo them. Luxor. q Phamonic temple,
completed under Alexander, would at least equal
importance the Ptolemaic temple Of Edfoo. As for
Mcdinet Haboo, M. Msriette declares that, when
freed from sand aud accessible in all it's parts will
prove the most precious and the most instructive
temple In Egypt 1t is the great historical book Of
the victories Of Ramcses Ill.