DOI Artikel:
Griffith, Francis Ll.: Progress of Egyptology: archaeology, hieroglyphic studies, etc
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12055#0031
Archaeology, Hieroglyphic Studies,
Etc.
19
it seems still permissible to ask whether there are not factors in the problem
which we can only guess at, but which vitiate all the present calculations.
Great changes have been made in the chief inspectorships of the
Service des Antiquites. In the spring of 1904 Mr. Carter was in charge
of Thebes and Upper Egypt, and Mr. Quibell of Middle and Lower
Egypt. Later these two gentlemen exchanged places, and the inspectorate
was strengthened by the creation of a new province, consisting of the
mudiriehs of Minia, Asyut, and G-irga, under M. Lefebvre, Mr. Carter
taking the Delta with the Faiyum and the mudirieh of Beni Suef. In
the spring of 1905 a further change took place : Mr. Quibell left Thebes
and was put in charge of the excavations for the G-overnment at Sakkara,
with authority over a wide area around this supremely important centre ;
Mr. Carter took Lower Egypt, M. Lefebvre Middle Egypt, and
Mr. Weigall was appointed for Upper Egypt.
Prof. Maspero describes the work of the Service des Antiquites in
1903-4 in the Comptcs Rendus de I'Academie (1904, p. 548). Inter
alia he records that at Edfu 82 metres of the west wall of the temple
were taken down and rebuilt; at El Kab the tombs were consolidated.
Negotiations were begun to allow of the clearance of the temple of
Esneh. At Zauyet el Aryan, south of Gizeh, the important discovery
was made of tombs of the earliest dynasties, and in them objects bearing
the name of the Serpent King (Zet, 1st Dynasty).
According to M. Maspeeo's report on the condition of Philae (Annales
dn Service des Antiquites, v. 250), embodying those of M. Pourtau,
Mr. Carter, and Signor Barsaxti, there has been no mishap during the
year. A crack appeared in one of the walls, but has been mended, and is
not of an alarming nature. M. Fourtau, as a mineralogist, finds that
the sandstone, far from being weakened, is greatly strengthened by being
charged with water, that the water cannot act upon it chemically to any
appreciable degree, and believes that the salts in the stone must diminish
and ultimately disappear with the repeated soalungs : little of these salts
can ever reach above the height of the highest water level (where we most
apprehended danger). The incrustations this year were much less than in
1902-3 ; they have again been carefully removed. The scheme of raising
the height of the dam has been abandoned for the present (it being-
doubtful whether the present structure could bear the additional strain
Etc.
19
it seems still permissible to ask whether there are not factors in the problem
which we can only guess at, but which vitiate all the present calculations.
Great changes have been made in the chief inspectorships of the
Service des Antiquites. In the spring of 1904 Mr. Carter was in charge
of Thebes and Upper Egypt, and Mr. Quibell of Middle and Lower
Egypt. Later these two gentlemen exchanged places, and the inspectorate
was strengthened by the creation of a new province, consisting of the
mudiriehs of Minia, Asyut, and G-irga, under M. Lefebvre, Mr. Carter
taking the Delta with the Faiyum and the mudirieh of Beni Suef. In
the spring of 1905 a further change took place : Mr. Quibell left Thebes
and was put in charge of the excavations for the G-overnment at Sakkara,
with authority over a wide area around this supremely important centre ;
Mr. Carter took Lower Egypt, M. Lefebvre Middle Egypt, and
Mr. Weigall was appointed for Upper Egypt.
Prof. Maspero describes the work of the Service des Antiquites in
1903-4 in the Comptcs Rendus de I'Academie (1904, p. 548). Inter
alia he records that at Edfu 82 metres of the west wall of the temple
were taken down and rebuilt; at El Kab the tombs were consolidated.
Negotiations were begun to allow of the clearance of the temple of
Esneh. At Zauyet el Aryan, south of Gizeh, the important discovery
was made of tombs of the earliest dynasties, and in them objects bearing
the name of the Serpent King (Zet, 1st Dynasty).
According to M. Maspeeo's report on the condition of Philae (Annales
dn Service des Antiquites, v. 250), embodying those of M. Pourtau,
Mr. Carter, and Signor Barsaxti, there has been no mishap during the
year. A crack appeared in one of the walls, but has been mended, and is
not of an alarming nature. M. Fourtau, as a mineralogist, finds that
the sandstone, far from being weakened, is greatly strengthened by being
charged with water, that the water cannot act upon it chemically to any
appreciable degree, and believes that the salts in the stone must diminish
and ultimately disappear with the repeated soalungs : little of these salts
can ever reach above the height of the highest water level (where we most
apprehended danger). The incrustations this year were much less than in
1902-3 ; they have again been carefully removed. The scheme of raising
the height of the dam has been abandoned for the present (it being-
doubtful whether the present structure could bear the additional strain