St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1901-06-08
A UNIQUE TEMPLE FOUND.
clew to Location Giysn by a Hero
gIyphic Inscription.

BuslFls, according TO PAnyl, under
the supervision Of Herr schafer and
DR.. Borchardt, have led, says the
Egyptian Gazette, to discovery OF
! a unique kind. The attention Of these
explorers was first attracted to the
spot by hieroglyphie inscription in
/ the Berlin museum, which contained
! a reference to an obelisk and temple
situated, as they judged, in this To-
cality. They were fortunate enough
at the commencement Of their opera
lions to strike the light place, and find
their anticipatlons confirmed. Their
labors have brought to light the ruins
Of an obelisk and temple Of the fifth
dynasty, both standing in a courtyard
Of considerable extent. The temple
was dedicated to Ra, the sun god,
and was probably erected BY Seshep-
lab-Ra, a king of the fifth dynasty,
whose eartouehe is found on a frag-
ment Of the ruins. The king himself
is said to have been buried IN one Of
the neighboring pyramids.
This temple is at present the only
one of its kind known, and little is left
of it but ruins, and there is some
evidence to show that it was destroyed
in very ancient times, probably for
other building purposes. A pot of
gold and silver coins of Philip and
Alexander, which was discovered hid
den among the debris, points to the
conclusion that atthe commencement
Of the Ptolemaic period the ruins were
even then buried in the sand. There
is, however, much to interest an Egyp-
tologist. The dominating features
must have been the obelisk, of which
theeore Of the lowermasonry, or pedes-
tai, is almost all that remains. One or
two casing stones are still in their
original positions, which shows that
the ground course was Of red granite.
the upper of white limestone. On the
east side Of the obelisk massive ala.
baster altar has been found IN stu al
most in perfect condition. Theeen-
ter block is very massive circle, set
IN large square with q step leading
up to it. At the end Of the courtyard,
on the northeast side, are nine large
basins, nearly perfect, Of the same
material as the altar. Holes il the
bottom were evidently for carrying
off blood or water, il their brims
smaller holes have been drilled, the
use Of which can only be eonjec-
tured, being possibly for illumina-
tlons on ceremonial occasions. Seven
more basins similar to these have been
found, but they are Of limestone, nm
dertheebeliskonthe enorthernside. Of
these one appears to be in stu, and
the rest, though they have been shift
ed, were no doubt ranged beside it.
Parts Of the old limestone pavement
remain. and on the portion that lies
between the obelisk and alabaster ba-
sins shallow grooves have been cut
with a slope toward the latter, seem
ingly intended as a gutter to carry off
water or blood from the altar.
The temple and obe1isk are sur
rounded by huge, square wall Of lime
stone, on the southeast side of which
an inner passage ran round from the
entrance to the south side of the obe-
lisk. Here it turns at right angles
and leads apparently beneath the ODE
lisk. At this point the explorers are
now at work, and some interesting
discoveries may await them. Ruins
of row of chambers are to be seen
on the northeast side Of the courtyard,
probably intended for storing the
sacred vessels and other garniture of |
the temple. A stele has just been
found. It is much broken and of /
granite, but without any inscription
or cartouche; but that was not an /
uncommon thing in the fourth or
fifth dynasty. Two were found close
to the pyramid Of MEDIUM, but
no inscriptions are on them. A
large number of fine friezes have been
found among the ruins, which have
been distributed between the mu-
'eums Of Ghizeh and Berlin. Beyond
he temple inclosure are traces Of
own and a smaller temple, but these
have not yet been investigated. Out
side the temple wall, and lying close
beside i, is another unique find
hat of a large sacred boat made of
mud bricks It has not been entirely
lug out, and the meaning Of It's being
here is not known Il may have
omething to do with the Egyptian
loctrine Of the body after death be-
ng conveyed IN the sacred boatto the
,ther world, as We so often see pic
ured on the walls Of temples.
Telling Your Troyblss.
Z