Evening star., 1901-05-13

! their operations to strike the right place
and find their anticipations confirmed.
! Their labors have brought to light the ruins
Of an obclisk and temple of the fifth dynns-
tY, both standing in u courtyard of con-
siderable extent. The temple was dedicated
to Ra. the sun god and was probably ,:cct-
ed by Seshep-ab-ka, ii king of the tIfth tiy-
nasty, whose cart"nche is found on Il
fragment of the ruins. The king himself is
said to have been buried in one of the
neiShborinG pyramids.
This temple is at present the only one of
It's kind known, and little is left of il but
ruins, and there is some evidence to show
that it was destroyed in very ancient times
probably for other building purposes
pot of gold and silver coins of Philip md
Alexander, which was discovered hidden
among the debris. points to the conclusion
that at the commencement of the Ptolenaic
period the ruins were even then buried in
the sand. There is. however. much to in
tereSt an EgyptOlOSiSt The dOmiDating
feature must have been the obelisk If
which the core of the lower masonry or
pedestal, is almost IL 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. Cn the east side of the
obelisk a massive alabaster altar has Ir,n
found in stu almost in a perfect condition
The center block is very massive circle
set in "a large square with Il step :cadiDt
up to it. At the end of the court ward en-
the northeast side, are nine large basins
altar. Holes in the bottom were cyidnntIy
for carrying off blood or water: IN their
DrlmS smaller holes have been drilled the
use of which can only be conjecturcd j,ciny
possibly Tor llluminationS on ceremonial
occasions Seven more basins similar TO
these have been found, but they are Of
limestone, under the obelisE Oh the north
ern side. OF these, one appears to he n,
stu. and the rest. though they have hecn
shifted were doubt ranged beside Il
parts of the old limestone pavement remain.
ana on the portion that lies between the
oDellSk ana alabaStcr basins shallow
grooves have been cut with a slope toward
, the latter. seemingly intended as cutters
10 carry Off water or blood from the altar
The temple and obelisk are surrounded
by high, square wall of limestone, on the
southeast side of which an inner massage
ran round from the entrance to the south
side of the obelisk. Here it turns at light
dngies ana leads apparently beneath The
obellsk. At this point the explorers are
| now at work, and some interesting dis
covery may await them. Ruins of a row OF
chambers are to be seen on the northn,S Ct
side of the court yard probably Intended
Tor storing the sacred vessels and other
garnfture of the temple. A stele has iust
been found 1t is much broken and of
| granite, but without any Inscription or car
| touche: but that was not an uncommon
| thing in the fourth or fifth dynasty. Two
We're found close to the pyramid of Medium,
put no no inscriptions are on them. large
among the ruins which have been dis
| triputed between the museums of Ghizeh
! and Berlin. Beyond the temple Enclosure
are traces OF town and smaller temple.
| but these have not yet been INVESTIGATED
Outside the temple wall and lying close re-
! side it, is another unique find-that of a
| large sacred boat made of mud bricks. II
has not been entirely dug out and the
| meaning of its being there is not vet
known 1t may have something to do with
| the Egyptian doctrine of the body after
| death being conveyed in the sacred boat to
| the other world. as We so often see pictured
| on the walls of temples