DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5538#0052
32 PHARAOHS, FELLAHS, AND EXPLORERS.
dred or six hundred and fifty years before the Christian era.
"Within this enclosure were clustered not only the temples
of the gods, but the treasury and storehouses of the citi-
zens, who were essentially a trading and manufacturing com-
munity. In a later age Ptolemy Philadelphus appears to
have filled up a breach in this wall with a great building
and gate-way, and it was under the four corners of this gate-
way that the masonic deposits of the royal builder were
found. Under each corner, upon the dark clay of the soil,
had been laid a little bed of white sand; and in this bed of
white sand, which Mr. Petrie scraped away with his own
hands, he found a whole series of diminutive models laid in
a specially prepared hole, upon which sand had afterwards
been poured in such wise as completely to cover the objects
beneath.
These objects were of three kinds; namely, models of tools,
models of materials, and models commemorative of the cere-
mony performed in laying the foundations. There was, for
instance, a model hoe for digging out the ground; a model
rake, such as those used for making mortar; a model adze; a
model chisel; a tiny trowel for spreading the mortar; a model
hatchet for shaping the beams; and four little alabaster pegs
—models of those used to mark out the four corners of the
building. These were the models of tools.
Then came models of articles used in the masonic cere-
mony : a model mortar and pair of corn-rubbers, a pair of
model libation-vases, and four model cups in glazed pottery.
These, probably, had reference to some rite in which offerings
of bread, oil, and wine were made. Also, there was found
with them a model sacrificial knife and axe, such as might be
used for the slaying of victims. These were the ceremonial
objects.
Finally, there were samples of materials : a model brick of
Xile clay; a tiny plaque of .glazed-ware ; other plaques of la-
pis lazuli, agate, jasper, turquoise, and obsidian; a Liliputian
ingot of iron; and other ingots of copper, silver, lead, and gold.
The largest of these are less than a domino, and the majority
dred or six hundred and fifty years before the Christian era.
"Within this enclosure were clustered not only the temples
of the gods, but the treasury and storehouses of the citi-
zens, who were essentially a trading and manufacturing com-
munity. In a later age Ptolemy Philadelphus appears to
have filled up a breach in this wall with a great building
and gate-way, and it was under the four corners of this gate-
way that the masonic deposits of the royal builder were
found. Under each corner, upon the dark clay of the soil,
had been laid a little bed of white sand; and in this bed of
white sand, which Mr. Petrie scraped away with his own
hands, he found a whole series of diminutive models laid in
a specially prepared hole, upon which sand had afterwards
been poured in such wise as completely to cover the objects
beneath.
These objects were of three kinds; namely, models of tools,
models of materials, and models commemorative of the cere-
mony performed in laying the foundations. There was, for
instance, a model hoe for digging out the ground; a model
rake, such as those used for making mortar; a model adze; a
model chisel; a tiny trowel for spreading the mortar; a model
hatchet for shaping the beams; and four little alabaster pegs
—models of those used to mark out the four corners of the
building. These were the models of tools.
Then came models of articles used in the masonic cere-
mony : a model mortar and pair of corn-rubbers, a pair of
model libation-vases, and four model cups in glazed pottery.
These, probably, had reference to some rite in which offerings
of bread, oil, and wine were made. Also, there was found
with them a model sacrificial knife and axe, such as might be
used for the slaying of victims. These were the ceremonial
objects.
Finally, there were samples of materials : a model brick of
Xile clay; a tiny plaque of .glazed-ware ; other plaques of la-
pis lazuli, agate, jasper, turquoise, and obsidian; a Liliputian
ingot of iron; and other ingots of copper, silver, lead, and gold.
The largest of these are less than a domino, and the majority