DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.811#0036
RESTORATION OF N. LUSTRAL BASIN 9
bowls of types now known to belong to the initial phase, a, of M. M. Ill and
exactly answering to similar remains found in the basin itself. In the same
deposit, which seems to have belonged to some kind of Sacristy or Treasury
in that part of the Area, was found the inscribed lid of an alabastron bearing
the name and titles of the Hyksos King Khyan.1
It is clear that both the stone vessels found in this deposit and those
derived from the sunken basin had a sacral character and certain thick-
walled vessels of greyish clay found on or near its floor, as in other similar
basins, had served for the oil or unguents used for the anointing. The
evidence of the use of ' holy-water sprinklers ',2 resembling the aspergilla
of the Roman Pontifices and still in use in the early Christian Church, makes
it probable that some sprinkling of this kind was also included among the
lustral rites performed in these sunken basins. For this they were quite
adapted, though they could not well have been used for holding water.
In this connexion the recurrence of solid stone basins of various
materials, resembling fonts, to be described later on in this Section 3 may be
thought to have a special significance.
Restoration of Northern 'Lustral Basin'.
In order permanently to preserve the fine gypsum material of the Restored
interior of the Northern Lustral Basin4 I decided, as a part of the cam- elevation
paign of conservation, to replace its roof and the supporting columns above 2fIj"s.tral
its balustrade. This work, begun in 1928 and concluded in 1929, was en-
trusted to Mr. Piet de Jong (see Figs. 3 and 4 and Suppl. PI. XXXII). From
fallen remains of the painted stucco it has even been possible to restore
its general effect on the walls, including the somewhat sombre blue fields
above and, below, black panels speckled with white, in imitation of stone-
work.5 This sombre colouring was in keeping with the chthonic cult within.
This little structure—now a jewel of the site—was bordered- by open
spaces on its Western and Northern sides, on which it was probably lighted,
as indicated in the restored plan, by small upper windows. The researches of
1929 showed that the N.E. corner of the building abutted on a small portico,
the substructure of the central column of which was brought out. This faced
the Initiatory Area and was entered by the N. doorway of the Entrance Court
(see Plan, Fig. 2). A stone bench probably occupied the recess behind.
1 Ibid., i, p. 419 seqq., and Figs. 304 a, b. of the basin and staircase at the time of its
- 2 See ibid., ii, Pt. II, pp. 792-5. excavation see P. of M., i, p. 407, Fig. 292.
3 See below, pp. 25, 26 and Fig. 13. 5 Compare the M. M. Ill a fresco, ibid., i,
1 For Mr. Theodore Fyfe's admirable sketch p. 446, Fig. 321.
bowls of types now known to belong to the initial phase, a, of M. M. Ill and
exactly answering to similar remains found in the basin itself. In the same
deposit, which seems to have belonged to some kind of Sacristy or Treasury
in that part of the Area, was found the inscribed lid of an alabastron bearing
the name and titles of the Hyksos King Khyan.1
It is clear that both the stone vessels found in this deposit and those
derived from the sunken basin had a sacral character and certain thick-
walled vessels of greyish clay found on or near its floor, as in other similar
basins, had served for the oil or unguents used for the anointing. The
evidence of the use of ' holy-water sprinklers ',2 resembling the aspergilla
of the Roman Pontifices and still in use in the early Christian Church, makes
it probable that some sprinkling of this kind was also included among the
lustral rites performed in these sunken basins. For this they were quite
adapted, though they could not well have been used for holding water.
In this connexion the recurrence of solid stone basins of various
materials, resembling fonts, to be described later on in this Section 3 may be
thought to have a special significance.
Restoration of Northern 'Lustral Basin'.
In order permanently to preserve the fine gypsum material of the Restored
interior of the Northern Lustral Basin4 I decided, as a part of the cam- elevation
paign of conservation, to replace its roof and the supporting columns above 2fIj"s.tral
its balustrade. This work, begun in 1928 and concluded in 1929, was en-
trusted to Mr. Piet de Jong (see Figs. 3 and 4 and Suppl. PI. XXXII). From
fallen remains of the painted stucco it has even been possible to restore
its general effect on the walls, including the somewhat sombre blue fields
above and, below, black panels speckled with white, in imitation of stone-
work.5 This sombre colouring was in keeping with the chthonic cult within.
This little structure—now a jewel of the site—was bordered- by open
spaces on its Western and Northern sides, on which it was probably lighted,
as indicated in the restored plan, by small upper windows. The researches of
1929 showed that the N.E. corner of the building abutted on a small portico,
the substructure of the central column of which was brought out. This faced
the Initiatory Area and was entered by the N. doorway of the Entrance Court
(see Plan, Fig. 2). A stone bench probably occupied the recess behind.
1 Ibid., i, p. 419 seqq., and Figs. 304 a, b. of the basin and staircase at the time of its
- 2 See ibid., ii, Pt. II, pp. 792-5. excavation see P. of M., i, p. 407, Fig. 292.
3 See below, pp. 25, 26 and Fig. 13. 5 Compare the M. M. Ill a fresco, ibid., i,
1 For Mr. Theodore Fyfe's admirable sketch p. 446, Fig. 321.