The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-10-27

AoyuOS In an article when appeared
IN the October number of The Quar-
terly Bulletin, the official publication
OF the Iowa Masonic library. Follow
Ing is DIR. Stearns' article:
Located seven miles west Of the Nile
and some thirty miles from Thebes is
the site Of ancient AbydOs. Favored
of the god Osiris, reputed site of his
tomb. and marked by ruins as inter
esting as they were once obscure, this
spot has long been a mecca for tour
list and SaVant Here, so runs the
legend, murdered by his evil brother.
Set, Osiris, patron of agriculture. was
buried. And at Ab-idu, accordingly
proud Pharaohs were wont to direct
that their mortal remains rest for at
least a short time before final con-
signmont to the ave
Here, too, was a well or cistern. a
means whereby offerings to the god
might be dispatched direct to the 9th
er world. This we'll was in some mys-
terious way fed by the Abydos canal:
It's waters were mighty and most
terrible, and full of great roarings;
the god who guarded it was Is-ha-
hetep, and he allowed non to approach
it. The ground about it was called
the region of offerings, the holy land.
the mountain Of Amentet.' OF this
well StrabO says: There was a des-
cent to the water which was situated
AZ d 81 uCpliI, lHIouSH all dItIlSu
passage built of single stones of re-
markable size and workmanship. A
canal led to the place from he Nile
and near it was a grove of Egyptian
Acanthus trees dedicated to Apollo"
The locating of this we'll will give us,
it is believed, not the palace of Mem
non, as Strabo fables, but the very
temple of Osiris. Though now filled
with sand the spot must exist some
where in the plain Of Omm-el-Gaab.
The remains of AbydOS include:
|. A series of royal tOmbS from the
first dynasty down, the earliest stand
ing a mile or more back in the desert.
2. A series Of private tombs begin
ming also with the first dynasty.
3. a series of temples dating from
the earliest times down to about 500,
B. C.
a.. A group Of forts dating. some of
them, at least to the second dynasty.
5. The object of present archaeO-
logical search, the site Of the burial OF
Osiris.
The glory Of Abydos began to wave
sometime in the tWenty-frst dynasty.
About 900 B. c., in the reign of Anna
sis, came a great revival. The temple
and it's services were restored. The
royal physician, Pep-ta-nef-net, inter-
ested his royal master, raised funds
and superintended much of the work.
ne pullI ~ SUI . lClIiJlNS ptOfA 'NN
a silver-gold shrine. and implements
for service made of gold, silver, etc. He
built U-Pek and set up it's affairs, n
cleaned out the famous well or ~cistern,
and planted trees about it. He eStab-
Ilished a regular supply Of food for the
|, temple, he settled the slaves there.
male and female; he endowed the
temple with 1000 stat Of land with it's
hocks and herds, and peasant dwell
ers. He re-established the offerings,
planted date groves and vineyards, re-
stored the library and built a sacred
barge. He revived the Miracle play of
Osiris, and took the leading part IN
which the representative of Horus
beats back the foes Of his father,
Osiris Z
This site just prospected by Lejeore
and Amelineau, was considerably eX-
cavated by Marietta. In 1901-02 the
place was visited by Petrie and suffici-
emf excavation done to assure his
trained eye of it's archaeological value.
The following year the work was con-
tinued by Miss Murray. Since 1901,
barring the periods spent by him at
Deirel- Bahari, the work has been con-
Quoted by Professor Naville.
The past season, 1912-13, at Abydos
has been one Of phenomenal interest.
Aside from the great finds there are
smaller ones Of absorbing interest. In
1919 lilSlo was % ENAiAA ~
most interesting construction. 1t was
at first thought to be a pottery kiln,
but the heat could not have been Suf-
ficient to fire the large jars much less
the smaller ones they contained. Nor
for similar reasons was the kiln used
for glazing purposes. The porosity OF
the jars precIudes the idea of brewing
brought to light a large number OF
these jars-in all eight or more Of
! these kilns. Each consists of two rows
ranging east and west, each large jar
supported by fre-bricks. To save
. space the rows are, as it were, dove
tailed together. The best preserved
example contains thirty-seVen jars, ar
ranged in rows of nineteen and eigh-
teen respectively. The walls Of the
kiln. of firebars from an older kiln,
were built we'll up to the tops of the
jars, and stocking holes were provided
at intervals. Remains of a roof APP
peared. In the bottom of each jar,
securely fastened, was a smaller jar
! whose purpose, perhaps, was to keep
the grain from burning in the bottom
of the jar.
The large jars were well filled with
sand, in which were found small
blackened substances which mlcros-
copic investigation showed to be grains
, of wheat or rye. Further light is shed
DS d current tISlOIl dI1lStlS III f"
layers Of Abydos. When a family is
{ out Of grain and the harvest is not
| yet ripe, the heads are gathered, parch-
ed in the oven, pounded on a fiat stone,
and made into bread.
The tombs reveal a wonderful story
; of the life of the people. The food they
| ate, the jars and dishes they used, the
, articles Of apparel they wore. Balkle
} has ittingly said that the diadems OF
these royal ladies are of the most e%-
quisite lightness and grace, combined
with a skill in workmanship which
would do honor to the most cunning
, craftsman of the present day Worthy
to stand beside them are the great
, %pectorals, or breast ornaments, bear
ing the names Of Senusert ii,
1 III, and Amenemhat III, with their
brilliant designs in cloisonne. where
beautiful colored stones, lapis~laZull.
: carnelian and green feldspar take the
. place of eHamels. Among the hnds OF
, the Egypt Exploration fund was a rope
:, of amethysts, q four foot chain OF
gems worthy a place among royal
treasures. From the seasons dig come
fother shorter, but scarce less precious
r necklaces or carnelians. A magnifi
l cent m case (not from Abydos),
found by Petrie a few years since
/ shows no fewer than four fine neck
! Iaces. all of different design, abou the
neck of a figure of the deceased paint
v ed on the coffin lid.
: A feature of vital interest is the
tombs Of Abydos. The earliest burials
s are oval tombs with crouched bodies
: surrounded by pots once filled witt
: food for the dead. These are crude
weapons of stone, flint and ornaments
of bone, ivory, stone n other more
valuable material. The earliest roya