Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 148, Vol. III, October 30, 1886Various
History
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 148, Vol. III, October 30, 1886
Various
Periodicals
It is but a month or two ago that people of an archæological turn of
mind were delighted with the tidings sent home by the Egypt Exploration
Fund of the discovery of Pharaoh’s House in Tahpanhes. An account of
the wonderful old ruin and its reliques of a past civilisation has
been already given; but it may interest many to know that a number of
antiquities have been collected and sent home, and have recently been
on view at the Archæological Institute at Oxford Mansion. It will be
remembered that the ruins were as much those of a military fortress as
of a royal residence, and the objects recovered are almost entirely
those which would be likely to be found in either of two such places.
The first things of interest are the foundation deposits, from under
the four corners of the castle, which consist of small vessels, little
tablets engraved with the name and titles of the royal founder,
Psammetichus I., specimens of ore, &c. The chief articles of jewelry
are earrings, rings, amulets, and engraved stones bearing traces of
Greek workmanship, having been probably manufactured by Greek jewellers
in the town of Tahpanhes, or Daphnæ. Numbers of small weights have been
turned up while digging among the ruins, which it is thought were for
weighing the gold and precious stones previous to purchase.
Rome, too, has left her mark among the charred remains of this ancient
stronghold, and some rings with names inscribed upon them, and ten gems
of good Roman work, prove an intercourse with that nation. There is
a little silver shrine case in which is a beautiful statuette of the
Egyptian war-god, Mentu. Possibly, it may have once been a talisman
belonging to Pharaoh Hophra. A silver ram’s head and gold handle
complete the list of the most important specimens of jewelry.
Among the domestic treasures are a long knife, fourteen inches long
and quite flat; this comes from Pharaoh’s kitchen; so also do the
small frying-pans, and some bowls, bottles, dishes, plates and cups,
all of which date from B.C. 550, and were probably used daily by the
royal household. An old brasier and some ring-stands have also been
brought home. From the butler’s pantry come amphoræ stoppers, stamped
with the cartouches of Psammetichus I., Necho, Psammetichus II., and
Aahmes. These were clay stoppers, sealed by the inspector, and then
plastered over and stamped with the royal oval. Ten specimens of these
Mr Petrie has sent home. Arrow-heads, a sword-handle and part of the
blade, a horse’s bit of twisted pattern, some spikes from the top of
a Sardinian mercenary’s helmet, knives and lances, and some fragments
of scale-armour, show that the old castle had once been a military
stronghold.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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