The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-15
CRAVE SPOILS or BENZ HASAN.
Remarkable Objects Found In Hundreds
Of Egyptian Tennis Recently Explored.

Remarkable Objects Found In Hundreds
q Egyptian Tennis Recently Exploied
From the london Tuaes
Excavations have b'r1 made during the
mat season in the hillside at Ben, hasan. =
site already famous for its painted toinoa ana
early architectural features. iSe!oS toe gal
lery along which these lie there has row h""'
found an extensive metropolis. reh'ar 'at''
both for the preservation OF the lurr'y" NE
its tornbs and for the wealth OF rn"rcrai
which these supplied for illustrating the
burial customs OF TIE Middle Empire at
time when pure Egyptian culture was nearing
its culmin alton
Though the rock-hewn tombs for which
the ate hns become known arc themselves
OF the eleventh and twelfth dynistie-. 1t had
been supposed. from the composition OF place
names mentioned on the walls ard from other
reasons, that the district was already Of i4-
portance at an earlier period dntine back
possibly as far as the Old Empire, II Is
now seen that a gallery of smaller rock tofnbS
at a lower level was hewn probably IN III"
sixth dynasty. These tombs are eight or
ten In number, two OF them being inscribed
In the style and with the names characteristic
OF the period. One OF them. the tomb Of
courtier named Apa. a chief man of his town.
is also decorated in bas relief and with paint
ings Illustrating agricultural and other con-
ventional scenes. The tomb had been re-
used later In the Middle Empire for the burial
OF other persons. and had been subsequently
broken into and plundered. But the thieves
had failed in three instances to observe the
original burials at a lower depth. leaving
them entire with their original deposits Of
alabaster vases and other tomb furniture
undisturbed This tomb Temporarily num-
bered SD will eventually be made accessible
to visitors, being the earliest yet found in
the vicinity.
The other tombs were all Of the early Mid
die Empire-the eleventh and early twelfth
dynasties. Four hundred and ninety-two
Of them were opened and examined These
too, were hewn in the rock. but were OF the
more familiar character known as pit tombs.
In which vertical shaft gives access TO a
small burial chamber Tor chambersl at the
bottom. More than one hundred OF them
had never been previously entered. and their
doors we're now opened for the first time
since they had been closed 1000 years ago
at the time of the interment. In some cases
ts Whole sess sIs eas
a sufilcient number OF cases remained 70
render an unique series OF observations pos
In the tomb Of one Nefer-y. q chief physician.
was seen upon opening tie door which tss
the spd st s ede
Of wooden models Of objects and scenes ia
msr FROM the wall eadn noI no OF Tie The
men standing and swim eihE back in time TO
1is Ssae n the eenTe seSond this
the model Of renary with rs SIX s,S somp p w.,
IN OF sh.s on ar ses andns
Ss a. real sr,n e aof 9 psn ii ana r
sRs roof sss S %heh pereed With throush
which the grain is poured into the Shemh s5
fff ss prs ssn soGTi ssn as
possible TO fill the chamber throw 9Th the open
dS o5., TIT s9ed 81 + he sz
Ste al KTam, behind ne s1sns5y in nh, the
pations also in models of wood man
carries large Offering jar s girl s1pPs s.s
and in the other holds the wings Of two geese
In a group women are engaged in making
and b n ahah sms
oharred embers Of wood. Another well,
s.ecuted group represents the IN making n1So OF
similar 70 that employed in the native indus
Try to-day one seen inside Are eag
npon sr 5ssers Working
al fsont asber Of caSn lie ea.ars
| in a row BY. the side OF the, cofin was u
ssns ss for
square sail. Of which the yards and rigging
we're preserved Two men in Sa ar
a large oar attached at the end OF the shait
to post n1ed in the boat short snsR
for q tiller by which to turn the blade as re-
uuired Finally. the coff1ns themselves were
found to be inscribed on the insides with new
pyramid texts OF the time OF mas
and explains some Of those in which the OBJ
jects were found disturbed or less preserved
Occasionally rarer features are iiustlatu
In the tomb Of one Mehti-srn hat were
number OF warships. In the bow OF one. oy
the side OF the lookout stands negro , SOL.
Are rowing. others are hoisting the sail which
IL preserved Nearer the stern, ana party
under the shade OF Gahd1ISy es naea and S1
shields placed upon II. are seated tSo men
playing a rame OF chess upon table oesween
them sheaf OF spears Is At hand, BUS
pended from bec. ths canopy no,,., III. bo.ts
had double steering oars Their was also
the model OF a white spotted OK led By man.
and In the tomb Of one khety there was fur.
ther shown the actual sacrifice OF an OK Of
Obi Of other sisniheance we're also
"a Tyre, two flutes. and a drum with osIrel
body Of wood and parchment ends bound IN
ths usual netxoIh f.shon g,th tson nE|s.. o.
full much 81 t. well preserved. and some eI-
smples ouriously analogous 70 the Eork done
In the oasee and In higher Egypt to-day
An esis Of n IN sos 81 he %sses
Of stone Of ornamenta! forms. beads OF ime.
thyst carnslian and other stones, as well as
glazed scarabs Of the early kind. and some
quantity Of jewelIy were Also found: ,., -,
the inscriptions and from the tomb furniture
middle Glasses. the minor ofiicials and dis
dnQuished women Of the Locality during tse