DOI Artikel:
Petrie, William M. Flinders: Progress of Egyptology: excavations at Hierakonpolis; the earliest monuments of egyptian history
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11174#0018
n.-PEOGEESS OF EGYPTOLOGY.
A.—EXCAVATIONS AT HIERAKONPOLIS: THE
EARLIEST MONUMENTS OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY.
The excavations of the Egyptian Research Account were this year at
Hierakonpolis, opposite to El Kab where Mr. Quibell was working last-
year. He was fortunate enough to gain perhaps the most important
results that ever fell to any three months' work. On the site of
the old temple of the city of Nekhen were remains of a temple of the
Xllth Dynasty, and beneath this lay buried a large quantity of votive
offerings of the earliest dynasties.
A group of five small chambers of brick, with massive walls, stood in
the middle of the ancient platform. Under the central chamber was a pit
in which stood complete the sacred image of the hawk, of the Vlth or
the Xllth Dynasty ; the body of copper plates, with a figure of a king
adoring before it, the head and plumage of gold. This is the largest and
earliest piece of gold sculpture yet known. Beneath another chamber
lay buried a hollow statue in copper, over life size, and two other
statuettes in solid copper placed within it. With these was an inscrip-
tion of Pepy I. on copper plate, showing probably their age in the Vlth
Dynasty. Also together was a slate figure of a king seated, with inscrip-
tion on the base, apparently of Khasekhem, King Besh (Ilnd Dyn. ?). All
of these objects are kept at Ghizeh Museum. In the same group was a
seated figure of a lion in polished red pottery, of the same style as the
archaic pottery figures found at Koptos in 1894. Near these chambers
was a great alabaster vase of King Kha-sekhem with personal cartouche
Besh.
The greatest mass of objects was found in votive deposits buried in
the temple enclosure, apparently grouped around a pedestal, probably oE
a statue which has disappeared. Another statue of King Besh was found
here. But the finest monument was an immense palette of slate covered
with reliefs on each side. On one side is shown King Narmer slaying
an enemy, club in hand ; his chamberlain follows bearing his sandals and
A.—EXCAVATIONS AT HIERAKONPOLIS: THE
EARLIEST MONUMENTS OF EGYPTIAN HISTORY.
The excavations of the Egyptian Research Account were this year at
Hierakonpolis, opposite to El Kab where Mr. Quibell was working last-
year. He was fortunate enough to gain perhaps the most important
results that ever fell to any three months' work. On the site of
the old temple of the city of Nekhen were remains of a temple of the
Xllth Dynasty, and beneath this lay buried a large quantity of votive
offerings of the earliest dynasties.
A group of five small chambers of brick, with massive walls, stood in
the middle of the ancient platform. Under the central chamber was a pit
in which stood complete the sacred image of the hawk, of the Vlth or
the Xllth Dynasty ; the body of copper plates, with a figure of a king
adoring before it, the head and plumage of gold. This is the largest and
earliest piece of gold sculpture yet known. Beneath another chamber
lay buried a hollow statue in copper, over life size, and two other
statuettes in solid copper placed within it. With these was an inscrip-
tion of Pepy I. on copper plate, showing probably their age in the Vlth
Dynasty. Also together was a slate figure of a king seated, with inscrip-
tion on the base, apparently of Khasekhem, King Besh (Ilnd Dyn. ?). All
of these objects are kept at Ghizeh Museum. In the same group was a
seated figure of a lion in polished red pottery, of the same style as the
archaic pottery figures found at Koptos in 1894. Near these chambers
was a great alabaster vase of King Kha-sekhem with personal cartouche
Besh.
The greatest mass of objects was found in votive deposits buried in
the temple enclosure, apparently grouped around a pedestal, probably oE
a statue which has disappeared. Another statue of King Besh was found
here. But the finest monument was an immense palette of slate covered
with reliefs on each side. On one side is shown King Narmer slaying
an enemy, club in hand ; his chamberlain follows bearing his sandals and