Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-03
WONDERS OF EGYPT.
Discoveries Made Daring tbs Past Yea
New York Tribune.


Discoveries Made Daring tbs Past Year
! New York Tribune.
The work OF the Egypt Exploration
Fund during the last year has been main.
ly of archaeological value. The results
were recounted ten days ego by NJ. Ms
vile, the famous discoverer OF the treas
ure city OF Pithom, In an address deliv-
cred before the Society Of Arts in Lon
don. Excavations were made in the
mounds of Tel -Yshoodieh, near Bel
beis, and in the ruins of the temple OF
! Bubastis. The explorers purpose in
the first instance was 10 ascertain
whether it was the site Of the Hebrew
town built by the high priest Oniss, who
died before the persecution of the Syrian
King, Antiochus Epiph,n e, ard
also to discover the name
OF the original Egyptian city. The evil
dence disclosed by the spade was not
conclusive 10 either respect. The inscrip-
tioDs unearthed contained no references
either to the ancient name or to OniSs,
but decisive proof WAS furnished OF He
brew occupation by the discovery of q
| metropolis one mile from the mound
There were no traces of mummi tication
nor ornament of any kind, and the bodies
had been inferred with bricks under the
heads, which was distinctive marx of
Hebrew burial. Incidentally monuments
were unearthed of the kings of the nine
teenth and later dynasties, with two
statues Of Rameses H., the Pnaroah Of
the Bondage. and many ancient inscrip-
tiens Of that and q later period.
The excavations a. Tel-el-Yahocdieh
were designed chiefly to corroborate the
account given by JosephUs CT the con-
struction of a Hebrew temple By Onias in
the time of Ptolemy Philometer and his
half-sister, Cleopatra. IL. NsVille's sub
sequent work at Bubastis, which was
more successful, brought to light the
columns and foundations of the great
temple described 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 monu-
ment WAS cartouche Of Pepi L, Phs
raoh of the sixth dynasty of the
remote pyramid period and frsg-
ments Of colossal statues, re-
mains OF shrines and .cartouches OF User
teseu Ill, Rameses II. and OsorkoH H.
were found. The temple, which had
been considered hopelessly lost, was iden-
tilted in it's ruins, its sreG was determined
end very large number of most interest
ing Inscriptions were disclosed. Only
one-third of the work of turning the mas
sIVe blocks OF stone in the search for in
ecriptions was done, the remainder being
reserved for another seasons lsbor. But
conclusive evidence was furnished in the
WI dicr0uGroG hu Of ho
Egyptian origin of the PArathelsic frleZes
and OF other characteristic features Of
Greek architecture.
These results, while tending to confirm
the historical accuracy of Josephus and
Herodotus rather than to throw light
upon mooted problems Of the Pentateuch,
are Of the highest arch biological impor-
lance and amply justify toe recent appesls
Of the Egypt Exploration Society for foam
cial aid In prosecuting its work. TIE
previous discovery OF the brick treasu
vaults Of Pithom built fer Rameses II. =
the Isrselites, had demonstrated the &C
curacy OF that older historian, Moses, and
had settled the vexed question Of the
starting point Of the exodus. The trench
ing conducted by Mr.. Petrie at Tanis had
laid bare the ancient city Of
Z0ar, where Joseph was Prime
Minister and where Moses deliv-
cred the divine message to Men
ephtah, the Pharaoh Of the Exodus. These
excsYstionsEith the discovery of the
royal mumnries in the cavern tomb near
Thebee, and the accumulsting evidence Of
inscriptions on stone and Of hiercglyphics
or papyrus and mummy bandsges have
brought into clearer light the ancient
mysteries not only of EgJp. but Of the
Hebrew Scriptures. Much work remains
to be done at Bubastis and Mstsriyet, the
suburb Of the temple town Of Hetlopolis,
or On, where Joseph's fsther-in-
law WAS a priest, and where
Moses probably was educated; st
Migdol and other points on the supposed
route Of the Exodus; and IN many other
quarters. Tho Egypt exploration fund is
justly entitled TO more generous financial
support in England and America than it
cow receives.