The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-06

of all sizes Everywhere we see
traces Of the wedges with which the
granite was split.
we found several large millstones
such as were used recently for wine
or oil presses; they were nearly fin
ished. We had to get them out IT
the way, but they weigh several tons;
the removal of fragments even still
larger delays good deal the work
Of digging. We have not yet reached
the pavement. but we are very near.
and we shall then be able to Judge
of the fun effect OF these gigantic
constructions.
I'm the outer wall OF the two coll
onades Is a series of cells all alike,
six Of which have already been dis
covered. and Of which there must
have been no fewer than sixteen.
They are not very large. A tall man
can hardly stand in them. They were
closed with wooden doors, the holes
Of the hinges still to be seen. 1t
seems probable that they are the I'm
ages of what the Book of the Dead
calls the cells in the celestial abode
of Osiris. Otherwise there Is abso-
lutely nothing on the walls or pillars
of the colonades. This complete abs
senee of signs is one of the charac-
teristics of the building Of the time
of the pyramids. as well as the style
Of the masonry and the use of CO.
lossal stones
Nearing the Tomb.
THE middle nave leads to the end
wall not very far from Sets temple.
1t ia in red sandstone, and there only
we found sculptures with the name Of
Menephtah. They are decided rune
~ ta txxt4 -
the two principal amuiets put near
the deceased. 1t was clear that we
were near tomb. In fact. quite be-
low Is a small door not larger than
those of the cells, which was closed
by blocks of stone. When we had re-
moved them we crept into large
hall very similar to that at the en-
trance. having the same width as
the temple, twenty meters, and
length of five meters. Its sianting
roof is made of large blocks This
hall is In a perfect state OF preserva-
ton. On one side and part Of thu
ceiling are engraved or painted fun
erary scenes Of the time of Seti I.
I'm temple which has been a
quarry for centuries we cannot hope
to discover anything having value.
What shows that 1t was the burial
place of Osiris are the texts on the
walls, the end of the book. which
may be called the Book OF the I'm
derworld."
Srrabo, describing what he called
having a great similarity with the
labyrinth, except that 1t was on q
smaller scale. said:
Some OF the most striking parts
of the labyrinth were the covered
ways rooted with single stones Of ex-
traordinary size, pillars also OF sim
gle stone and walls constructed OF
stones not inferior in size to those
pillars
An Insolyable Problem.
''It is exactly what we see in one
temple and at present this is the
only place in Egypt where such con-
struction may be seen. 1t Is not
surprising that Osiris may have had
such a huge tomb. When we see that
the kings did not hesitate to build the
pyramids in order to hide and safe
guard their bodies we may fancy that
they would not do less for what they
supposed to be the body or part Of
the body of one Of their gods. Was
1t contained In q sarcophagus? Was
1t head only. or body? We prob
ably shall never know. :.
Next winter the travellers going to
AbydoS will have to go behind the
Temple OF Seti, and they will be I'm
pressed by the sight OF one Of the
oldest constructions In Egypt. slightly
modified by the nineteenth dynasty.
but certainly due to the most ancient
rulers. They will admire the maJes-
tic simplicity OF this monument, which
was absolutely unknown until now.
Its discovery shows that the soil OF
Egypt may still conceal large monu-
ments hidden under a great depth
OF sand. 1t L. the second time that
the work Of the Egypt Exploration
fund has revealed a building unique
in its character and the existence OF
which was not suspected. A result
such as that of this winter will. 1t Is
to be hoped. arouse the interest of
the friends Of antiquity. They will
realize the Importance OK excavations /
Of thia kind which bring to light such