The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-12-15
PRARAOH'S HOUSE.

Dom q Oh Cn6 neiCS heCOnuy COlleCteu
and Forwarded tn Europe.
It is but a month or two ago thatpeo-
pie of an archaeological turn of mind
were delighted with the tidings sent
home by the Egypt Exploration Fund
of the discovery of Pharaoh's House in
Tahpanhes An account of the WONDER
full old ruin and its reliques of past
civilization has been already given; but
it may interest many to know that a
number of antiquities have been col
lected and sent home. and have recent
ly been on view at the Archaeological
Institute at Oxford Mansion. 1t will
BIZ remembered that the ruins were as
much those of military fortress as of
royal residence, and the objects recov-
cred are almost entirely those which
would be likely to be found in either Of
two such places.
The first things of interest are the
foundation deposits, from under the
four corners of the castle, which con-
sist of small vessels, little tablets en-
graved with the name and titles Of the
royal founder, Psammetichus l., speci-
mems of ore, etc. The chief articles of
jewelry are earrings. rings, amulets
and engraved stones bearing traces of
Greek workmanship, having probably
been manufactured by Greek jewelers.
in the town of Tahpanhes, or Daphne.
Numbers OF small weights have been
turned up while digging among the
ruins, which it is thought were for
weighing the gold and precious stones
previous to purchase.
Rome, too, has left her mark among
the charred remains of this ancient
stronghold, and some rings with names
inscribed upon them, and ten gems OF
good Roman work, prove an inter-
course with that nation. There is a.
little silver shrine case in which is a
beautiful statuette of the Egyptian war
god, Mentu. Possibly, it may have
once been talisman belonging to
Pharaoh Hophra. A silver ram head
and gold handle complete the list of the
most important specimens of jewelry.
Among the domestic treasures are a
long knife, fourteen inches long and
quite flat. This comes from Pharaoh $
Kitchen; so also do the small irving
pans and some bowls. bottles. dishes,
plates and cups, all of which date from
b. C. $50, and were probably used daily
by the royal household. An old brasier
and some ring-stands have also been
brought home. From the butler $
pantry come amphora shoppers,
stamped with the cartouches of Psam-
metichusI l., Necho, Psammetichus H.,
and Aahmes. These were clay
shoppers, sealed by the inspector, and
then plastered over and stamped with
the royal oval. Ten specimens of these
Mr.. Petr;e has sent home. Arrow
heads, sword-handle and part of tht
blade, a horses bit of twisted pattern
some spikes from the top of Sandman
mercenary's helmet, knives and lances
and some fragments of scale-armour
show that the old castle had once been {
military stronghold.
This Is but an outline, showing tn,
kind OF specimens found among tn,
ruins of Ell Kasr ell Bint ell Yahudi 9TH
Castle of the Jews Daughter), an,
serve to add to the innumerable proof
| If proof were needed of the advances
civilization of the ancient Egyptians. /
is believed that those antiquities vii
eventually be divided between the muse
UNI at Boulak (Cairo), the British Mu
scum and the Museum of Fine Arts a
Boston u. Chambers Journal.