The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-03-07
EGYPT OF ANCIENT TINES.
REVELATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF
FIFTY CENTURIES AGO.

EGYPT OF ANCIENT TIMES.
REVELATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF
FIFTY CENTURIES AGO.
I'll. natailsof Every Day Life Disclosed by
the Contents of the Observation-Disclosures
Onion and Women Craven on Stone.
Five thousand years and over ago is
long stretch, but recent investigation
and discovery have revealed good deal
of the surroundings, condition and daily
life of some of the men and women VINO
existed at that time. The land of Egypt
has been most prolific in the disclosures,
the resurrection of things associated
with a race of active human beings on
earth fifty centuries ago being wonder
fuI and interesting, says the st. Louis
Globe Democrat, The houses erected
then are gone, There are traces OF the
foundations of buildings at Tell-el-Amar-
ma. In Middle Egypt, and the courses
of the streets are quite plain but there
ia not much to tell of the architectural
design of the dwellings, except OCCASION
al carvings, With the tombs, however,
it ia different. These were constructed
of stone in a most substantial manner,
as though endurance was one tnlng
aimed at, while the houses were maze OF
mud and wood. In the tombs also was
stored material to picture clearly IN de-
fail the whole life of the nation, suostan'
tiatinp the truth of the adage "Ihe
measure of respect paid the dead IS an
index to the state of civilization OF the
living" In most countries the maj
resting place Is regarded with sorrow
and solemnity, but the Egyptian tomos
show that quite the opposite ieellngs
were INDUCED in within their wallis
Artists have craven the massive stones
with caricatures, and through their skill
left the record of jokes perpetrated on
the people of their time. Especially nave
the wemen been treated with SATIRE
they being eloquently reflected IN the
delights of gossiping with their nelgn-
bors, in the mysteries OF their tollets; 10
fashionable recreations, and all the other
applications distinctively feminine.
Among the beautiful works OF arts
preserved within the sacred confines OF
one sepulchre, and now in the BRUSH
museum, is the throne of Queen hatasu,
1t Is of wood, inlaid with gold and silver.
There are, in nearly all the tomos, mum
bers of wigs that it is believed were
worn more by women than by men.
Some are almost perfect. They are prln-
cipally made of short curls in the upper
part and long plaits below. AS TO the
manner of dressing the hair good IDEA
can be had by studying the statutes
The face is half hidden by curls and
puffs, Wigs for every day wear seem 10
have been made of wool, those OF hair
being reserved for special occasions. In
some of the papyri manuscript found In
the tombs are recipes for hair prepara-
tions. One to prevent the hair from
turning gray directs that the blood OF
black calf be boiled in oil until a salve IS
made, from which the animals color
will pass to the tresses on which IL Is
used. There is also a recommendation
TO dip donkey's tooth in honey II
strengthening wash is wanted. When
at feast it was customary TO place
cakes of on oily composition on the head,
the substance melting and slowly per
meating the locks. To further enhance
their beauty the ladies of aristecratlc
circles would paint green lines under
their eyes, blacken their eyebrows and
lashes and stain their finger nails red
In the museum at Boulak is toilet set
|
and oils, combs, hairpins and cushions
in which large ornamental pins were
stuck. All such things were placed IN
the tomb with the body when a woman
died.
The dress of women at that period was
exceedingly simple compared with the
elaborate care bestowed on the hair and
face. Except at great events women OF
high and low degree went barefoot,
wearing sandals when in full dress. The
sandals were made of palm fiber with a
strap over the foot. The dress itself was
usually plain white in harmony with
the gentleness and poetic character
with which jewellers on the Nile have
always been credited. Herodotus men
tions that Egyptian men have two
vests, the women one, and their linen is
always newly washed" Cleanliness
was made a virtue in all ways. The old
philosophers refer to it in their writings, !
and tablets of stone cut 1000 B. G. repre-.
sent men washing clothing. Under the
earliest known empire in Egypt the wo-
men, from the Queen to the peasant, ]
wore a close-fitting robe supported by
straps over the shoulders and reaching j
to the ankles. There was V opening
in front reaching to the waist. The !
fabric was linen, either white or the ,
yellow of the unbleached cotton of the ,
present Later, when wars had opened
the country to foreign influences, the j
began wearing long, ornamental
robes of transparent stuff. The sculp- !
lures of Abydos and in the tombs of the
Kings at Thebes show them clearly, In !
every instance the lines of the figures
are followed closely, the shape not being ,
and forced as by modern !
dress. Women made no attempt to dis 7
guise their beauty or secure an artificial
contour.
In jewelry, the ancient Egyptians :
showed an Eastern love for color and in q
tricate design, pins and ornaments being /
large and set with precious stones and i
enamels in striking patterns. In some :
OF the old frescoes women are represent r
ed with the upper parts Of their bodies
literally covered by jewels. Some of {
the ornaments were OF religious char !
acter, such as amulets and charms. In :
many collins there have been found the :
jewel known as the Sacred Eye of Horus, :
3 symbol of life and stability, and men. :
tai scarab@us, a copy Of sacred beetle. j
Rings engraved with the forms of gods r
and various emblems have also come to
light IN large numbers. The perfection
Of the art Of the Egyptian goldsmiths is :
shown in the necklaces. The Boulak !
museum has an extensive collection of 4
jewelry belonging to Queen Aahhotep, =
mother Of Aahmes l.. ,,of the eighteenth a
dynasty. The bracelets and necklaces !
are Of open work in gold with Jewels
wrought in enamel. With the jewels !
was buried the Queens mirror OF gilded :
bronze, the ebony handle decorated with
lotus flowers carved from solid gold, T
Bracelets were worn on the upper arm
as well as around the wrist, and gold
rings adored the ankles, while earrings
were often 30 heavy that they had to be =
hung from the wig.
Flowers were worn in great proiusion.
At feasts wreaths of lotus flowers were :
placed on the heads and about the necks
OF guests. Wreaths and bouquets have
always been POUNDS with the mummies, .
the shrouded remains frequently show
ing evidence of having been completely
covered by floral tokens. In the mum
my case of Queen Aahhotep's grandson,
that was exhumed and opened at Cairo,
withered garlands entwIned the shTivel-
ed remains from head TO foot, and in
one blossom was a mummied wasp,
The graves of the boys and girls OF
old Egypt have given up objects even
more interesting and touching than the
Jewels and wigs of the adults in the