The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-09-07
ANOTHER SPHINX FOUND.
Its Tail Stuck Out of Water-Iogged
Plain of Memphis

Another sphinx, Weighing ninety
tons, and carved from a single block
OF alabaster. has been unearthed at
point between the world famed Co
lossi, on the water logged plains of
Memphis, in Egypt For hundreds of
years it has lain in a recumbent posi-
ton buried beneath the sands of the
road to Sakkareh. Today it is half
exposed to view, and next year it is to
be raised to a vertical position above
the water line.
This newly found sphinx was be-
trayed in its hiding place by its tail,
which Mr.. Mackay, one of the stu
dents of the British school in Egypt.
discovered about a year ago. This
year, when the water on the plain
subsidized, the complete figure was ex-
some fourteen feet in height and TWEEN
ty-six feet in length. Alabaster being
a rock foreign to the neighborhood,
the new sphinx ranks as the largest
that has ever been transported. The
figure bears no inscription, but is con-
sidered by Professor Flinders Petrie,,
director of the British school in
Egypt. to have. been carved about
1900 B. c. Many other remarka BILE
discoveries, taking the mind back IS
far as $500 B. c., and lifting the veil
of centuries from Egypts romantic
story, have also been made by the
same school, and, with the exception
of a red granite group of Rameses II
and the god Ptah, which will be sent
direct to the Ny Carlsberg Museum at
Copenhagen, and few other details,
are now on exhibition at University
college. Cover street. They include
many objects quite new to Egyptolo-
gists.
Among these are collins made of
basket work, reeds or withies, sandal
trays an axe handle, in which the grip
is composed of delicately knotted
string, a pot of unburnt incense for a
fire offering of 1000 B. C.. and num-
erolIs pieces of timber, showing "
their formation the principles of build
ing construction that were in vogue
nearly 5000 years B. c.
Most of the relics came from.
Tarkhan, an extensive Gem etery about
35 miles south of Cairo which dates
from the earliest historic age down to
the pyramid period. The site is the
most ,lortherly upon which Professor
Petrie has conducted excavations. and
the results have been most gratifying.
In spite of the great antiquity of the
graves, the objects found are in a re-
markable state of preservation. There
are bedsteads with hoof-like feet.
which, although nearly 5000 years
old. look capa BILE of sustaining a fair
weight today, and long rolls of soft
linen cloth, also 5000 years old, but
as tough and pliable as any modern
texture straight from the loom. One
of the witty hampers, now in the Cal
70 museum, although of the same age
had the small leaf buds of the withies
still showing when it was found. Some
of the bedSteads even retain the rush
webbing and plated palm fibre.
The graves of the early Egyptians
were always well provided with such
| necessaries as were thought essentia
for the spirit of the departed when il
| again materialized. Consequently, the
relics from Tarkhan include headrests
| (some of them carved out of trees
| trained specially into peculiar shapes)
sandals, large jars of food, and various
! vessels of gypsum and semi-transpar-
| ent alabaster. Some of the vases bear
| the name of Mena, the earliest known
Egyptian King. They are considered
by some experts to be a tribute CORE
| spending to the modern floral wreath
A beautiful piece of work consists
| of a ribbon" of beads so threaded as
| to form Ineligible hieroglyphics. The
| discoverer of this relic informed OH
representative that quite extensive por-
| tions of beaded dress material were
| also discovered. and are on the way
| to England. Among the numerous
| minor articles that demand attention
| is New Years bottle. small two
| handled piece of pottery supposed, hy
| the inscription that it bears, to be the
| customary type of New Year present
| to the head of the house
Evidence is also provided of the lack