New-York tribune., 1901-04-14
4 UNIQUE TEMPLE FOUND.
FOLLOWING \ CLEw GIVEN BY \ HIEROGLYPIi.c
INSCRIPTION.
From The Egyptian Gazette.

From The Egyptian Gazette.
The excavations now being carried at
Abousir anciently called Busiris according 10
Pllny), under the supervision of Herr Schdfer
and Dr. B"rchardt have led a discovery of Il
unique kind The attention of these explorers
was flrSt attracted to the spot by Il hierOglyph
inscription in the Berlin Museum. which con-
tanned reference to ob-iSh and temple
situated. as they judged, in this locality They
We're fortunate enough at the commencement
of their operations to strike the right place and
find their authorizations confirmed Their Iahors
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 prob
ably erected by Seshep-ab-Ra a king of the
NTH dynasty, whose CartuuChe is found Il
fragment OF the ruins. The king himself is said
I" 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 thcr" is some evidence To show that il was
destroyed in very ancient times, probably for
other building purposes \ pot of gold and silver
coins OF Philip and Alexander. which was dis
covered hidden among the debris. points TO the
conclusion that at the commencement of the
Itolenaic period the ruins even then buried
IN the sand. lheTe Is however. much 10 in
terest an Egypt loGist. The dominating feature
must hav" been the obclisk OF which the core
OF IN" lower masonry. or PEDESTAL is almost all
that remains one or two casing stones are still
in their original positions. which shows that tht
ground course was of red granite. the upper of
white limestone. ON the east side of the obelisk
a massive alabaster altar has been found in stu
almost in perfect condition. The centre block
with a step leading up tn it. At the end Of the
courtyard. on the northeast side. are nine large
basins. nearly perfect. of the same material as
n" altar Holes in the bottom evidently
for carry ing off blood water. in their briuls
smaller holes hav" been drilled the use NJ " hich
can only b.. conjecturcd being possibly for il
lumuatluus on ceremonial occasions Seven
more basins similar to these have been found.
but they are Of limestone under the uhelisk on
TN" northern side. Oi these one AZ pears to he in
STU, and tho rest, though they have been shifted
We're no doubt ranged beside it. Parts of the old
limestone pavement remain. and On the portion
that lies between the ohcliSk and aIahaSter
basins shallow grooves have been cut with
$inp" toward the latter 81 -iningly intended as
cutters u carry of water or blood from the
altar.
The temple and ohelisI are surrounded by 4
nigh Squ:tr" wall "f limestone the southeast
side Of which an inner passage Fan round from
Tn" entrance t. the south side Of the ohtlisk
Tier" 1t turns At night aneicS and leads appar-
emily beneath the obelisk. At this point the
explorers are now at work. and some interesting,
discovery may await them. Ruins of a row OF
chambers are to he seen on tn" northeast side
Of the courtyard. probably intended fc- storing
the sacred vessels and other garniture Of the
temple. y strle has just been found. II is much
broken and of granite. but without any inSCrip-
ticn or Cartour he; out that was not an unconl-
mon thing in the fourth or fifth dynasty. Two
were found close to the Pyramid of Medium. but
no inscriptions are on them. y I.rge number CT
fine frieZes have been found among the ruins
which have been distributed between the mu-
srums of GhiZeh and Berlin. Beyond the temple
inCiOSure traces Of town and a smaller
temple, but these have not yet been investigated.
Outside the temple wall. and lying close beside
1t. is another unique tind-that Of a large sacred
boat made of mud bricks 1t has been en-
tirely dug out. and the meaning of it's benc,
there is not yet known. 1t may have someth hing.
to do with the Egyptian doctrine Of the body
after death being conveyed in the sacred boat to
the otker world 50 often see pictured on
the walls of temples