Evening star., 1905-11-04
RUINS OF Ell AMARNA
AN EGYPTIAN VERSATILE ON
THE NILES BANKS.
Excavations Have Allowed a Very Ac-
curate Picture to Be Drawn Of
Ancient City.
From the London Globe.

Twelve years ago, on a lovely spring
morning. I was walking along the east bank
of the Nile. near to the village OF HadjI
Qandil, some hundred and eighty miles
above Cairo. The land around was a wide
amphitheater of sand some twelve miles
across. shut in by the Arabian hills, and
almost. except near the river. an arid ex-
panse of sand. There was awakening
of life; pigeons rose from the beanfields In
hundreds and a belated gazelle stole up
from the watering place and made swiftly
for the hills LAUNDERING buffaloes We're
being fastened TO the water wheels. and
the women were around the wells. Away
from the river all was s.ill and silent.
Once, however, that sandy. plain was all
alive with busy men and women. Where
low heaps of sand break the monotony OF
the plain there once stood a splendid tenn
pie and royal palace, while the houses
of priests and officials. together with shops
and bazaars, formed busy city. Though
little remains of this once beautiful place.
there are, fortunately. preserved monu-
ments by which we are enabled TO recon-
struct the town and the life OF the king
and It's people in wonderful manner. The
Arabian hills form the wall OF this circus,
and the sides of these are the site of many
splendid tombs of the city officials. 1t is
no ordinary city We have to deal with;
unique in Its origin, history and religion,
1t forms the record of a remarkable epi-
sode In oriental history and the memorial
of the dominant will and power of one of
the most astonishing women of the east.
A Religious Revolution.
The recovery and publication of the ma
teriai from which to restore the picture is
due to the work of Mr.. n. de G. Davies.
who has for many months been engaged
in copying the sculptures ard inscriptions
in these great tombs, which have now been
published by the Egypt exploration fund.
Before describing these splendid sculptures
word must be said as TO the origin OF this
city. Amenophis III (B c. 1900 had during
his reign married a number of Asiatic
wives, among them being Til. apparently a
princess of Mitanni or northern Mesopota-
mia. The foreign element in the Theban
royal harem became so powerful that a
religious revolution broke out and an at
tempt, for time successful was made TO
replace the great worship of Amen-Ra. king
of the gods, by that of the Aten or Solar
Disk" For a time only was 1t powerful
IN Thebes, and on the accession of the
youthful ruler Amenophis w, who was rig
IDLY under the control of his imperious
mother, the position became so serious that
the King and court removed from Thebes to
a new city which was built upon this plain
of Ell Amarna. The idea of this abandon
ment or the southern capital originated
with the queen mother, and that she took
an active part in the work Is shown by her
name being inscribed with all her titles
upon the central pillar of the great quarry
from which the stone for the royal and
scared edifces was obtained
The priest of the tombs was that Mery-Ra
VINO was the high priest of the Atendisk in
the city of Akh Aten. 1.-THE glory of the
tl uisk, he was also fan bearer on the
kings right hand" royal -chancelIor, "a
sole companion privy councillor" ON
entering the stately portico of the tomb
ana passing into the columned entrance
nan nan we see at once we have quite differ
valn
are found near Thebes. The tombs of Merry
Ra or Paneshey are, we find on entering
Neritable rock cut mansions consisting OF
several stately halls and chambers Still
more marked Is the difference in the lavish
fnurai decorations The walls are nor COW
ereu with weird scenes from the Books ~
the DEAD or the underworld nor do they
deinI depnc. scenes In the domestic life of the
uepaIted. Each tomb, from its decora tons
nlgnt be royal tomb. The king and his
family dominate everything As Mr. Davies
remarks: His wife and children. his tam
s auection, are here portrayed in detail.'
whose tomb It is oi'i'iai
IN the tomb of Mery-Ra we have a n;c-
,ure or the house where the king t,eit.
ahna ait,ol ana II must have been a beautifuI
aooue. beIore the entrance was large
tanK surrounded by trees There are many
courts and cool coionnades while a nict,,r
esaue tSeas ga garden full of flowers and shady
the owner and his family might enior AZ
treasures OF home life in the eynines In
.e .he tomD OF Paneshi we have Representa-
non non OF the temple of the Aten. and full de-
tails of the service It differs frono th.
Theban temples in many respects '-''
Life Of the Royal Family
The offerings were fruit and flowers
oxen were LED TO the temple wreathed and
decorated with flowers, and the king and
the queen and the young princesses came
hr-tt
incense and sweet smelling gums Jndaa,,
II Is remarkab BILE how great a part the haa,1'
tIes OF nature form in the temple service
The most striking feature. however of
tnese taoleaus is the freedom of life, and
the way in which the royal family mingled
with the people. Seated on the balconY Of
the palace we see the king with his arm
round the neck of the queen throwing down
presen.s or collars and ornaments to the
crowd below, OF often holding the hand Of
one or the little princesses and throwing
punches of flowers to the children In the
street. One group Of dancing children in
pieated skirts seems almost modern In its
realism; Very touching is one scene depict
Ing choir of blind men performing before
the king. Led by harper and a leader
VINO Keeps time by clapping his hands,
these poor sightless men seem to be sing
ing the praises OF the bright god of light,
whose rays they cannot see. The execu-
ton OF the work is wonderful, considering
ITS antiquity. In other sculptures we see
the king and the queen driving across the
plain in their chariots. preceded by running |
footmen
Throughout the whole Of this gallery OF |
ancient pictures we strike no sad note. The |
shadow Of death. ever present In the tombs |
Of the Memphic and Theban age. Is BAN |
ished; all Is love and Joy and pleasure OF |
life. The period is unique one In ancient |
history. and finds its modern parallel In |
the life Of the French court at Versailles. |
But the life was short one. The king |
died and was buried in great tomb In the |
hills. and there was no direct heir to the |
throne. During this life of pleasure the |
affairs OF state had been neglected. the |
great conquests In Syria and In Nubia were |
slipping from the hands of this effeminate |
Pharaoh, and 1T was not until the Thedan |
power once more regained its supremacy |
that Egypt became the ruler of the ancient |
world. Still. however, the epoch is full OF |
matter of interest to the historian and the |
archaeologist, and these beautiful repro |
ductions will long form the standard au-
thority upon interesting an episode IN |
the ever-changing panorama of Egyptian |
history With the fall of the hereto line |
the city was abandoned. and the sand of |
the desert spread It's veil over this ancient |
city of beauty and pleasure.
Students Must Have High Ideals.