The Washington times., 1916-09-03
FIND MANY RELICS
At TELL EL-AMARNA
Ruins Of One Of Most Ancient
Cities Contribute to Modern
Science.

Among the popular science papers in
the latest Smithsonian annual report is
an article on excavations at Tell ell
Amarna. Egypt, written by the famous
Egyptologist. Prof. DR.. Ludwig Bor-
chardt, director Of the German Institute
OF Egyptian Archaeology, and Illus
trated with Photographic reproductions
Of the localities excavated and some OF
the finds.
Tell ei-Amarna Ia the name given q
number OF house and tomb ruins In
upper Egypt on the east bank OF the
Nile, about 100 miles above Cairo. II
comprises the ruins OF Ekhaton tAkhet-
atom, a city built in about 1850 Is. Z. by
Akhenaton. the young Pharoah Ameno-
pills Nv. az a new capital of his empire.
In place Of Thebes, when he ceased to
worship the Theban gods and turned to
Atom. the sun-god. He was religious
fanatic, and endeavored TO establish a
q new monotheistic religion. which
however. existed only during his reign.
After the death Of Akhsnaton. his court
returned to Thebes. and the city built
by him was abandoned after an exis-
tence OF only twenty to nifty years.
Near Modern Villages.
The excavations are located In the
neighborhod OF the modern villages OF
Hagg Qandii and Et-Till. and have the
form Of a rough T. indicating an origi-
nal city area Of seven kilometers Qour
and one-third miles) by one and one
half kilometers "a little less than
miie). Ihis elongated city was built on
q street parallel to the course OF the
Nile, and extended to the east OF the
main thorougnfare. which still exists as
a connecting road between the modern
villages. ,,,
Dr. Borchardt mentions one dwelling
with two gardens, one within the walls
hidden from the public view. and the
other, In front Of the high wall, sur
| rounded only by low fence SO that the
passers-by could enjoy the trees ana
The largest and best preserved
house excayated during the year was
| that Of General Ra-mose. formerly
known as Ptah-mose before he removed
seems that at this time. with the con-
slant growth Of the sun cult. names
| suggestive Of other, than solar deities
| became unfashionable in good society.
| The house Of the general Is quite close
about the fourth year Of Mmenophis ~,
| but was probably not built until some
| time after the court had moved TO iell
| eI- -Amara, his name being changed when
| II was nearly finished. as Is proved py
| the alterdtiOn On
Doors Framed in Ashlar.
One OF the important things noted
about this house was that all the doors
| were framed In ashlar. or hewn stone
and inscribed with hieroglyphics. New "
| data as regards the 'quaoransuihr
room, hitherto supposed to have beer
the masters room, Was also iutsne. I'm vac,
| that the name Of the mistress OF tht
house appears on the frame or iaist
door to this room. and that wardroo.
or dressing room. with pencnes .o'
the loom OF WIFE The deep hsll'
or dining room Of this dwelling hai
been reproduced in colors and; so tht
author tells US. was pron5ssse', 5sse L s,sci secl
rooms must have been quite pleasant
although they were not very well light
| ed as evidenced by the frequent hnds
of lamps and lamp stands.
Found Models.
In exploring the environs OF th'
studio Of Thutmes. an early native
sculptor, a model of a baboon's hea'
in a material resembling wax and an
other head carved from limestone wer'
found, together with some beautiful
ivory carvings. Other objects un
earthed included a portrait In RELIEF o
Amenophis ~; some impressions IRON
the young Pharoah and his wife;
mask model in limestone; a small table
with a portion Of an Assyrian syllabary
a larger clay tablet covered witt
cuneiform script relating to militar!
Campaign in western Asia. but withou
signature Of the author.
| According to the Smithsonian report
Il is not definitely known where thes
two tablets came from: whether from
the archives Of the house of the roy8
Ietter-writer;" whether they becam
scattered or lost In ancient times. o
possibly that careless peasants o
Ettiil, who discovered the archives d
1887. threw some OF the pieces around
Whatever the origin, suggests the au
thor, It is certain that there is hope o
still further finds Of valuable tablets a
Tell el-Amarna, where research ha'
been abandoned.