The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09
PRESENTS TO Pope LEO
Gifts Sent From Egypt by the
Reigning Sovereign.
Objects of Antiquity From the Land
of the Khcdive-A Funeral boat
Contemporary With the Patriarch
Abrnha neutrality-suspicious. Cover of
Ptolcmy PeriOd-Vase From Abydus

The Khedive of Egypt has lately sent
| in gift to Leo NH series of antique
| and valuable objects discovered in that
| most ancient land. The bearer of these
| gifts has been Monsignor francesca So
caro-, titular Archbishop of Amida, who
went recently to Egypt charged with a
| special mission to the Catholic COpts.
The selection of the objects sent 10
Rome, says Commentators Orazio Maruc-
chi. the director of the Egyptian Museum
in the Vatican, is due to the courtesy OF
the illustrious director of the Cairo Mu-
scum, Prof Maspero, and the vice direc-
tor of the same, Emile Brugsch Bey.
These two names give character OF gen.
uineness to the objects they recomme nd
The consignment OF the articles was made
to Monsignor Francesca Della Folpe, ma
jor domo of Leo XIII, and superintendent
of the Pontifcial Museums.
Among the authoritative German writ
ers on the history of Egypt, in which the
life and manners of that ancient land and
its career through the earlier ages are
set before the world is DR.. Henry
al
learned man who is now vice director Of
Carlo Museum. The former. while d's-
claiming the vocation or the ability Of a
professional historian, contented himself
with the modest and subordinate merit
of being Il conscientious interpreter OF
the words of past age. The learning
which he accumulated will contribute to
the Interpretation of the objects now pre-
scented to the Vatican Museum.
Prof. Marucch, who is profound
Psychologist, says that the objects just
are very important, as they supply much
of what was wanting to the chronological
continuity of the collection.
Among the newly acquired objects is
vase in terra Gotta, coming from Abydus,
in Upper Egypt. 1t bears impressed upon
it seal OF a digritary Of the First Dy-
TASTY, to which dynasty is generally at
tributed by Egyptologists the very respec-
table antiquity of over 1000 years before
Christ. Other vases of varied forms date
frcm the archaic period OF Egyptian his
tory.
A sepulchral 'stele.' or inscribed stone
bears long hieroglyphic inscription re-
lating to person deceased called "Apahir-
sesenbef," belonging to the Sixth Dynasty
that is to say, to $500 years before Christ
a funeral boat in wood of small dimen-
sions, with six tiny figures of rowers
painted in various coiOrs. and admirably
preserved. belongs to the Twelfth Dynasty
Such boats have frequently been found in
Egyptian tombs, where they were placed
with religious motive-that of represent
ing the boat of the sun, in which it was
thought that the souls of the dead who
were justified in the Judgment of Osiris
comDleted their Journey toward happiness.
FMS o.. Eaut httle hlat belonging 20 the
TE.l5,l Dynasty iaay he regarded as con
temi r V.th the patriarch Abraham.
Otter Interesting objects are "sLele"
bearing hierogIyphics that prove It 20 be
0t the Thirteenth Dyngsty. a block Of
sandstone bearing The osstpucha Of the
Pharaoh Amcuophis ~. fifteen centuries
before tro Christian ef-,. a stone table
with the representation OF sacred offerings
for funeral sacrifices; fragment of
bas-relief excellent in style. representing
a grand court dignitary. vested in his
formal costume and seated before n table
covered with sacred offerings. Marucchi
notes that this monument is OF great in
terest in an artistic point Of view and
belongs to the grandest period Of Egyp-
tian civilization; it is furnished. besides.
with hieroglyphic inscription, and may
be considered as contemporary with Noses
Another interesting article is a large
wooden box marvelously preserved, des-
tlned TO contain the Itinerary StatCetteS
which were placed close to the mummies
to represent the benefcent genii, who
should assist the deceased in the trials
to which he was subjected before reach
ing happiness. This box. as is evidenced
by the hieroglyphics on it, belongs TO the
time of King Solomon.
The cover of a sarcophagus OF times Of
the Ptolemies-that is to say. after the
conquest of Alexander the Great-shows
the influence of the foreigners on Egyp-
tian art in notable manner
Finally, Coptic sepulchral "stele" be-
longs 10 the last period of Egyptian his
tory, that OF Christian Egypt, five cen
turtles after the beginning OF the Christian
era. 1t bears various symbols and mono
grammatic crosses and a part of the in
scription with the well-knOwn Greek for
mula which is translated in Latin: Memo
immortalis in hac vita
These gifts b55to"Tji On Lto Xii wifi
be placed. according TO their date and
kind, in separate halls of the Egyptian
Museum in the Vatican. and after this
arrangement is completed Commenda tore
Marucchi will publish complete descrip-
ton of them, with translations of the
hierog!yphcs, and this will form an ap-
pendix to his catalogue of the Egyptian
Museum published last year.