New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
THE UONDERS OF EGYPT

The work of the Egypt Exploration Fund
during the last year has been mainly OF
archaeological value The results were re-
counted ten days ago by NJ. Naville, the famous
discoverer of the treasure city of PithOm, in
an address delivered before the Society of Arts
in London. Excavations were made in the
mounds of Tel-cl- Yahoodieh, near Beliefs, and
in the ruins Of the temple of Bubastis. The
explorers purpose in the first instance was to
ascertain whether it was the site of the Hebrew
town built by the high priest Onias, who fled
before the persecution of the Syrian King,
Antiochus Epiphanes. and also to discover the
name Of the original Egyptian city. The
evidence disclosed by the spade was not con-
elusive in either respect The inscriptions I'M
carthed contained no references either to the
ancient name or to Onias, but decisive proof
was furnished Of Hebrew occupation by the
discovery of metropolis one mile from the
mounds. There were no traces of mummifica-
ton nor ornament of any kind. and the bodies
had been inferred with bricks under the heads,
which was distinctive mark of Hebrew burial.
incidentally monuments were unearthed of the
kings of the nineteenth and later dynasties,
with two statues of Rameses H., the Pharaoh
Of the Bondage. and many ancient inscriptions
of that and later period.
The excavations at Tel-el-Yahoodieh were
designed chiefly to corroboratc the account
given by Josephus of the construction OF
Hebrew temple by Onias in the time of Ptolcmy
Philometor and his halfsster, Cleopatra. Nj.
Navilc's subsequent work at Bubastis, which
was mere successful brought to light the col
umns and foundations of The great temple de-
.cribcd by Herodotus as! the most beautiful
in Egypt The ruins here were very ancient.
columns with palm and lotus capitals pointing
as far back as the twelfth dynasty. The oldest
monument was cartouche of Pcpi l.. Pharaoh
of the sixth dynasty Of the remote pyramid
period, and fragments Of colossal statues, re-
mains of shrnes and cartouches of Uscrtescn
Ill., Ramescs III. and OsorkOn H. were found.
The temple, which had been considered hope
iessly lost was identified in its ruins, its area
was determined. and very large number OF
most interesting inscriptions were disclosed.
Only one-third of the work of turning the
massive blocks of stone in the search for IN
scrptions was done, the remainder being re-
served for another seasons labOrs; but con-
elusive evidence was furnished in the fIczes
discovered by NJ. Naville of the Egyptian
origin of the Panathcnaic frezcs and Of other
characteristic features Of Greek architecture.
These results. while tending to confirm the
historical accuracy of Joscphus and IIerodotus
rather than to throw light upon moOted prob
lens Of the Pcntatcuch, are of the highest
archaeological importance and amply justify the
recent appeals of the Egypt Exploration
Society for financial aid in prosecuting its
work. The previous discovery CT the brick
treasure vaults of Pithom built for Ramcses III
by the Israelites had demonstrated the accuracy
of that older historian Moses, and had settled
the vcxed question of the starting point of
the Exodus. The trcnching conducted by Mr..
Pctrie at Tanis had laid bare the ancient city
of Zoan, where Joseph was Prime Minister and
where Moses delivered the divine message to
Menephtah, the Pharaoh of the Exodus. These
excavations. with the discovery Of the Royal
mummics in the cavern-tomb near Thebes,
and tic accumuating evidence of inscriptions
on stone and OF hieroglyphics on papyrus and
mummy bandages. have brought into clearer
light the ancient mysteries not only OF Egypt
but of the Hebrew Scriptures. Much work
remains to be done at Bubastis and Matariyct,
the suburb of the temple town of Heliopois,
or On. where Joseph's father-in law was a
priest and where Moses probably was educated;
at Migdol and other points on the supposed
route Of the Exodus and in many other quar-
tiers. The Egypt Exploration Fund is justly
entitled to moro generous financial support IN
England and America than it now receives.