This volume contains twelve chapters, written at various times and in various places, each dealing with some subject drawn from the great treasury of Ancient Egypt. Some of the chapters have appeared as articles in magazines. Chapters iv., v., and viii. were published in 'Blackwood's Magazine'; chapter vii. in 'Putnam's Magazine' and the 'Pall Mall Magazine'; and chapter ix. in the 'Century Magazine.' I have to thank the editors for allowing me to reprint them here. The remaining seven chapters have been written specially for this volume. LUXOR, UPPER EGYPT, _November_ 1910. CONTENTS. PART I.--THE VALUE OF THE TREASURY. CHAP. PAGE I. THE VALUE OF ARCHAEOLOGY 3 II. THE EGYPTIAN EMPIRE 26 III. THE NECESSITY OF ARCHAEOLOGY TO THE GAIETY OF THE WORLD 55 PART II.--STUDIES IN THE TREASURY. IV. THE TEMPERAMENT OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS 81 V. THE MISFORTUNES OF WENAMON 112 VI. THE STORY OF THE SHIPWRECKED SAILOR 138 PART III.--RESEARCHES IN THE TREASURY. VII. RECENT EXCAVATIONS IN EGYPT 165 VIII. THE TOMB OF TIY AND AKHNATON 185 IX. THE TOMB OF HOREMHEB 209 PART IV.--THE PRESERVATION OF THE TREASURY. X. THEBAN THIEVES 239 XI. THE FLOODING OF LOWER NUBIA 262* XII. ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE OPEN 281** * Transcriber's note: Original text incorrectly lists page number "261". **Transcriber's note: Original text incorrectly lists page number "282". ILLUSTRATIONS. PLATE PAGE A STATUE OF THE HAWK-GOD HORUS IN FRONT OF THE TEMPLE OF EDFU. THE AUTHOR STANDS BESIDE IT _Frontispiece_ I. THE MUMMY OF RAMESES II. OF DYNASTY XIX. 10 II. WOOD AND ENAMEL JEWEL-CASE DISCOVERED IN THE TOMB OF YUAA AND TUAU. AN EXAMPLE OF THE FURNITURE OF ONE OF THE BEST PERIODS OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ART 17 III. HEAVY GOLD EARRINGS OF QUEEN TAUSERT OF DYNASTY XX. AN EXAMPLE OF THE WORK OF ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GOLDSMITHS 22 IV. IN THE PALM-GROVES NEAR SAKKARA, EGYPT 36 V. THE MUMMY OF SETY I. OF DYNASTY XIX. 48