New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-02
One of GlorieS of Memphis
Excavated by DR.. Fisher,
of Philadelphia.
SCARABS, AMULETS
AND GOLD FOUND
Statues and Busts More than
Three thousand Years Old
Brought to Light.
LBy TeI,graph 70 Th. rdbune. ]

Philadelphia, Aug. 1.-The discovery
of a great temple at Memphis, Egypt,
belonging approximately to the period
of Rameses II, is announced by the
University Museum, as a result of the
spring and summer explorations Of
Eckley B. Coke, jr., of the Egyptian
expedition under the leadership of DR..
Fisher, curator Of the museums Egyp-
tian section.
The find is considered Of first i'm
portance and it is hoped, will prove
to be the beginning of further develop
ments in the uncovering Of the history
OF Memphis, which was one of the
great cities of the world, probably the
greatest in the time of Rameses IT.,
more than three thousand years ago,
which is known to have been of great
Importance I've thousand years ago and
probably has history running thous-
ands of years behind THAT era.
The temple was slted over with mud
from the Nile and covered with sand
blown from the desert, so that nothing
remained of the glories which were so
prominent in the days of Herodotus
and which lasted until within a CEN
fury or two Of the Christian era.
The discovery of the great temple,
to students Of history, Is highly valu-
able, bearing out the glowing chron-
icles Of the glory Of the Egypt of
Herodotus. 1t forms another refuta-
ton of recent historians who have
accused him of inserting myths in his
writings.
When the digging began the capitals
of two columns of the great palace
were discovered. After one hundred
expert diggers had spent three months
in careful excavation q great hall Of
columns was unearthed and the exca-
vations were then carried down to the
original soil.
The temple must originally have
been one of the glories of Egypt. In
spite of the work Of time, of sieges
and other distinctions enough survives
to show that it was a magnificent
place. This temple in all its gorgeous
ness was described by Herodotus. A
large inscription indicates that it may
possibly be the temple of Set II, al
though at first 1t was supposed to
have been erected by Menephtah, son
of Rameses H.
Some four thousand specimens were
recovered, small and large, some IF
them of great archaeological i'm
portance. The finds include scarabs,
amulets, gold and silver ornaments,
rings and objects, many ushabtis and
especially many moulds for making
these ushaftis, necklaces and jewels
The larger specimens include some
very fine statues, representing the
finest or nearly the finest in
Egyptian sculpture and several busts
we'll carved in red sandstone, probably
portraits.
There are many inscriptions on the
walls, the columns and the archit-
raves, which are yet to be deciphered.
A number of eminent archaeologists
have visited the site and have warmly
congratulated Dr. Fisher on his re-
markable discoveries, not only Of the
great building, but of the thousands
of art objects, of which many will
come to the University Museum for
permanent exhibition.
Owing to the war excavation IN
OEgypt has almost entirely stopped
except that by the Eckley B. Coke, jr,
expedition, which has been vigorously
pursuing its work and expects to con-
tinue.
The site of Memphis seems to
promise more than any other site IN
Egypt still unexplored.