Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-01

EDGAK Z. FOLK.
are representations Of the famous bat
/ tie OF Ramses with the Hittites at Ka-
desh. OF which 1 spoke last week. AS
stated. Ramses came near being annihi-
lated in that battle, but here again, as
on the temple of Luxor, he represents
himself as a great conqueror. On the
walls are portions OF an epic poem by
Pentaour. The same poem in fragmen-
tary condition is on the temple OF Ably
dos. and may be seen in complete form
/ IN the Louvre and in the British NIL
scum. II has been published in English.
In a colonnade hall. with four couples Of
pepyrus-bud columns are a roof decorat-
ed with astronomical representations,
showing that they knew something Of the
science OF astronomy 1850 years ago. Also
there is mention made on the walls that
the columns and the walls OF this cham
, Der are constructed OF hard stone" and
that here were deposited the books OF
Thoth, the god Of learning. This was
evidently the library room, showing that
they had books of some kind back there.
In one room there once stood a colos-
sal statue Of Ramses II, seated on a
throne in the usual attitude of Egyptian
figures, indicating the tranquility Ramses
enjoyed after his victory 90 at Kadesh.
The Colossus has been thrown down, II
is said by Cambyses. But enough of 1t
remains even in its ruins TO indicate its
magnitude. The total height Of the
statue was 81 feet The torso is entire.
One ear that remains is three and a
half feet long. The circumference of the
elbow is II l-2 feet. From these figures
you can gain some idea Of the size of
the whole Colossus. How such mass
OF stone, which must have weighed loo
tons, could have been transported and
how 1t could have been overthrown are
both mysteries. In one room Of the
Ramesseum are to be found bricks with
the cartouche or signet OF Ramses upon
them. They are made with straw, but
they may be some of the very bricks
made by the children of Israel. and this
house, or at least this room in the house,
may have been built by them. / think 1t
more probable that their labors were
around old Memphis, as that was near
the land of Goshen. where they lived.
But Il is not at all impossible, or even
improbable that Pharaoh may have car
ried some Of the children of Israel who
were then his slaves. to Thebes to build
his temple and palace for him.
THE MEDINET HABU.
This was the temple OF Ramses Ill as
the Ramesseum was Of Ramses II. It is
divided into two parts. the pavilion and
the temple. The pavilion was probably
used as temporary quarters for the king
The second part is the main temple. On
the walls are representations OF the king
triumphing over his enemies, with the
most bombastic self-praIse, in the usual
Pharaoh style. Piles Of the hands of
Sc NJ 1T A.
bodies are represented as cut of and laid
at his feet. His enemies are also repre-
sented as standing before him with
their hands tied behind their backs. On
the outside walls are some very fine
hunting scenes in which the king is
shown as killing all sorts OF animals,
such as bulls, gazelles, etc.
TEMPLE OF THE DEIR-EL-BAHRI.
This is the latest discovery in rhebes
The excavation was begun in 1898 by Dr.
Naville and is still going on. Enough
has been excavated. though. to show it's
character and to make some very inter-
esting revelations. It's plan is different
from that OF any other temple in Egypt
II is situated at the foot Of the mountain
which separates the fertile valley from
the desert. 1t is on the east side Of the
mountain, next to the city, and was
built into the mountain IN four terraces
cut IN TIC SlOpC VI ElOuuldln.
OF steps lead from one terrace to an
other. The temple was built by Queen
Hat-a-su, OF whose obelisk in the Kar-
max temple spoke last week. She was
at once the sister, wife and coregent Of
Thotmes III. and was known as the
peaceful queen. The third terrace is the
main one. On the walls of that are
sculptures Of the expedition which Queen
Hat-s-su sent to the Holy Land, with
A~4n har 20 v6ah e
ties OF incense and demonstrating
trees. together with a picture OF the
Ave ships which compose the expedition.
Inscriptions inform us that the ships are
loaded with untold quantities of precious
wood. grains OF the incense gum, living
trees bearing fresh incense, grains, eb-
ony, gold and silver. grey hounds col
ored panther skins and native children,
and conclude with the statement that
nothing like II had ever been done under
any Egyptian king. Here is a picture
OF Queen Hat-a-su drinking milk direct
ly from the sacred cow. In several
places the queen had had herself depict
ed with a beard, whether TO indicate a
manly character or because she was
afraid future generations would not give
her due credit for her deeds. II she was
represented as a woman, I am not quite
sure At any rate, there was a little
family quarrel between herself and her
brother-husband, who had her expelled
from the throne and tried to obliterate
the name of his sister-wife entirely from
the walls. He had her figure. beard and
, all, chiselsd off. They seem to have
played a kind Of see-saw on the throne,
first one and then the other occupying 1t.
But he had the last chance. as she died
I first, and he destroyed all illusions to
her as far as possible. inserting his own
name for hers. II was the irony Of fate
that his efforts to obliterate the memory
Of his sister-wife only made him ridicu-
/ lous to the world while they did not sue
coed in obliterating her. Her figure,
beard and all, IS there on the walls, in
outline, Just as the chisel left II, and al
most as distinct as II 1t had remained
raised as at first.
THE DISCOVERY OF THE ROYAL
| MUAfAIIES.
But the most important thing In con-
nection with the temple of Deir-el-Bahri
was the discovery near there OF the Roy
a. Mummies'' as they are called. The
story OF their discovery is quite an in
] teresting one. In 1881 some Arabs were
digging in the mountain side not far
| from this temple. In doing so they struck
q shat.. one-of them by tho mama ef