Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-06
LAST LABOR OF
]. P. MORGAN
FOR ARTS SAKE
Professor Lythogoe Describes the
Excavations in Egypt to Enrich
the Metropolitan.
Special Cable to The Atlanta Georgian.
BY CAMILLE CIANFARRA.


ROME. April 5.-When at Cairo, rs
commissioner from the international
News Service to report on the real
condition of the late ]. Pierpont Nor
gan's health, l obtained a valuable
interview with Professor Albert N.
Lythgoe, curator of Egyptian art at
the New York Metropolitan Museum,
who is experimenting the excavations
at the American archaeological con
cessions in Egypt.
A peculiar interest attaches itself
TO this work. for it vas to watch the
progress of these excavations that Mr..
Morgan paid his last visit to Egypt
and il was while with Professor Lyth-
goe AT the head of his labOrs. that the
progress of Mr.. Morgan's fatal malady
became painfully apparent.
1t is also interesting to note that the
first American archaeological eXpedi-
ton came to Egypt some fourteen
years ago, under the auspices of the
University Of California and, thanks
to a liberal donation by Mrs. Phoebe
Hearst, the findings, which We're many
and valuable, are all at Berkley. in
the following years the Hearst eXpe-
ditiOns and those Of other institutions
in America began scientific work in
upper Egypt, and in 1906 the Metro
politan Museum took up Egyptian eX-
cavationS. and the development OF its
Egyptian collections on a larger scale
than ever before
To Rival Old World Exhibits.
According to Professor Lythgoe, the
Egyptian section Of the metropolitan
Museum Of Art of New York. which
already occupies an important posi-
ton among similar institutions of the
Old World, will in few years rival
either that of Berlin or Cairo and will
be almost unique when the present
program of excavations is completed.
The American lublic,' said Pro-
fCsSOr LythgOe. knows little or Moth
ing Of the work we are doing here.
Just now we are excayating at three
different places and 800 native labor
ers are employed under the direction
of a staff of eight Americans.
The work al the pyramid Of the
IiSth, which was begun in 1906, has
never been abandoned. At present We
are eNCavating there a temple of the
middle dynasty, 200O Il. G, which has
already given us many important eX
amplCs of painted temple relief and
other material. We are also eXcavat-
ing IN the oasis of Kargeh and AT
Thebes, on the western bank of the
Nile. opposite Luxor.
Valuable Finds at Kargsh.
AT kargeh we are now engaged i'm
clearing temple erected by Darius
during the Persian occupation of
Egypt i'm the firth century, b. G. These
excavations have given us some eN-
oellent results, as we have taken GU.
from the explored part of the hug
building a number Of valuable reliefs
OF painted sandstone, exceedingly well
preserved. also architectural details,
capitals, columns and holdings
which are among the best specimens
Of Egyptian decorative arts.
AT Thebes we have our richest and
largest concession. such. perhaps, ds
few other nations have been able 20
secure. In fact, our concession COM
prises not only "a large metropolis, but
also the remains OF several temples
and of a palace. which was construct
ed by King AmenhOtep III, as a sum
mer residence for his wife, Queen Tyi,
on the shore of a pleasure lake which
he also dug for the queen.
Ancient Frescoes Found.
From this palace the expedition
has recovered large number of small
objects i'm glass and faience ana also
many examples of Wen preserved wall
frescoes representing flying ducks
and pigeons. cotton and papy-
rus plants and other decorative mo-
tives which adorn the apartment Of
Queen Tyi These frescoes have been
divided between the Cairo museum
and the Metropolitan
This year the work Of the cxpedI-
ton at Thebes win be concentrated
particularly on thorough exploration
..r d. r. F.
near the well known temple called tie
RammasSrum, where we expect tO
make some important discoveries