DOI Artikel:
Griffith, Francis Ll.: Progress of Egyptology: archaeology, hieroglyphic studies, etc.
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12053#0045
Archaeology, Hieroglyphic Studies, Etc.
29
has been considering the practicability of reproducing the reliefs upon
Egyptian monuments by the aid of photography, in place of the more
usual methods of work whereby the correct representation of the scenes is
dependent on the accuracy of a draughtsman. No very serious obstacles
seemed to stand in the way of this system of reproduction, and it was
decided that the tomb of Gem-ne-ka should form the first subject to
which the new process should be applied. Acting under the directions of
Freiherr von Bissing, therefore, Mr. Arthur Weigall, some time on the
staff of the Egypt Exploration Fund, took up his residence at Sakkara
in October of last year. A large camera had been constructed by Stiege-
manu, of Berlin, carrying plates 24 x 30 centimetres in size, and with this
the work was undertaken. Photographs were taken of all the reliefs, about
sixty plates being employed for the purpose. Besides this, a complete
classification of the scenes was made, consisting of a pen-and-ink facsimile
drawing of every different animal and object which occurred in them; and
similarly every form of hieroglyph was drawn. For the purpose of showing
the methods of building at the period every block of stone was separately
measured and planned; and the usual plans, sections, and restorations were
made. In order to prevent the possibility of any misinterpretation of the
scenes a very minute description was made without reference to the photo-
graphs ; and thus, not only is each detail reproduced as the lens of the
camera has seen it, but also it is described as the human eye has observed
it under several varying lights and shadows.
" The publication is to be produced in two volumes, the first of which
will be on sale, it is hoped, before Christmas. For the coming year
Freiherr von Bissing and Mr. Weigall will be occupied upon the publication
of the important mastaba of Mereruka, the largest tomb in the necropolis."
Miss M. A. Murray kindly contributes the following account of the
work of which she was in charge for the Research Account at Saqqara :—
"The Egyptian Research Account last winter devoted some of its resources
to opening and copying a few of the tombs at Saqqara which Marietta had
excavated and which are published in "Les Mastabas." Two artists, Miss
Hansard and Miss Mothersole, volunteered to help ; and, thanks to their
artistic skill and steady work, it was possible to copy in facsimile ten
tombs, nine at Saqqara and one taken from Saqqara and now in the Cairo
Museum. Of these ten tombs seven are recorded by Mariette; three,
though opened by him, are not mentioned in his book. The names of the
tombs are as follows, the numbers refer to Mariette's Mastabas :—Seker-
kha-bau (A. 2), Sheikh el Beled (C. 8), Ka-em-hest (unpublished), Ptah-
lietep and Ptahhetep-desher (C. b' and 7), Sekhcm-ka (unpublished),
29
has been considering the practicability of reproducing the reliefs upon
Egyptian monuments by the aid of photography, in place of the more
usual methods of work whereby the correct representation of the scenes is
dependent on the accuracy of a draughtsman. No very serious obstacles
seemed to stand in the way of this system of reproduction, and it was
decided that the tomb of Gem-ne-ka should form the first subject to
which the new process should be applied. Acting under the directions of
Freiherr von Bissing, therefore, Mr. Arthur Weigall, some time on the
staff of the Egypt Exploration Fund, took up his residence at Sakkara
in October of last year. A large camera had been constructed by Stiege-
manu, of Berlin, carrying plates 24 x 30 centimetres in size, and with this
the work was undertaken. Photographs were taken of all the reliefs, about
sixty plates being employed for the purpose. Besides this, a complete
classification of the scenes was made, consisting of a pen-and-ink facsimile
drawing of every different animal and object which occurred in them; and
similarly every form of hieroglyph was drawn. For the purpose of showing
the methods of building at the period every block of stone was separately
measured and planned; and the usual plans, sections, and restorations were
made. In order to prevent the possibility of any misinterpretation of the
scenes a very minute description was made without reference to the photo-
graphs ; and thus, not only is each detail reproduced as the lens of the
camera has seen it, but also it is described as the human eye has observed
it under several varying lights and shadows.
" The publication is to be produced in two volumes, the first of which
will be on sale, it is hoped, before Christmas. For the coming year
Freiherr von Bissing and Mr. Weigall will be occupied upon the publication
of the important mastaba of Mereruka, the largest tomb in the necropolis."
Miss M. A. Murray kindly contributes the following account of the
work of which she was in charge for the Research Account at Saqqara :—
"The Egyptian Research Account last winter devoted some of its resources
to opening and copying a few of the tombs at Saqqara which Marietta had
excavated and which are published in "Les Mastabas." Two artists, Miss
Hansard and Miss Mothersole, volunteered to help ; and, thanks to their
artistic skill and steady work, it was possible to copy in facsimile ten
tombs, nine at Saqqara and one taken from Saqqara and now in the Cairo
Museum. Of these ten tombs seven are recorded by Mariette; three,
though opened by him, are not mentioned in his book. The names of the
tombs are as follows, the numbers refer to Mariette's Mastabas :—Seker-
kha-bau (A. 2), Sheikh el Beled (C. 8), Ka-em-hest (unpublished), Ptah-
lietep and Ptahhetep-desher (C. b' and 7), Sekhcm-ka (unpublished),