DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6359#0240
222
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
captives. It would seem, however, from the monuments, that
some native laborers were employed, though the majority
there represented are foreigners.
As to the use of strata, it is proved, by an examination
of tbe bricks brought by Rosellini from Thebes, bearing the
stamp of Thothmes IV., the fifth king of the eighteenth dy-
nasty. " The bricks " (says Rosellini) " which are now found
in Egypt belonging to the same period, always have straw
mingled with them, although in some of those that are most
carefully made, it is found in very small quantities." Another
writer, quoted by Hengstenberg, Prokesch, says, "The bricks
(of the first pyramid at Dashoor) are of fine clay from the
Nile, mingled with chopped straw. This intermixture gives
the bricks an astonishing durability."
In connection with this subject of brick-making in Egyp^
a most interesting painting was found by Rosellini, at Thebes,
in the tomb of Roschere. He did not hesitate to call his com-
ments on it, " explanation of a picture representing the He-
brews as they were engaged in making brick." We present a
copy of it, from Wilkinson's drawing, and cannot but consider
it one of the most interesting of the pictorial representations
yet found in Egypt, even should it be supposed not to repre-
sent the Hebrews. Wilkinson's copy is too small to bring out
all the details as Rosellini's representation does : we will first
give Rosellini's description.
« Of the laborers," (says he,) " some are employed in trans-
porting the clay in vessels ; some in intermingling it with the
straw; others are taking the bricks out of the form and placing
them in rows; still others, with a piece of wood upon their
backs and ropes on each side, carry away the bricks already
burned or dried. Their dissimilarity to the Egyptians appears
EGYPT AND ITS MONUMENTS.
captives. It would seem, however, from the monuments, that
some native laborers were employed, though the majority
there represented are foreigners.
As to the use of strata, it is proved, by an examination
of tbe bricks brought by Rosellini from Thebes, bearing the
stamp of Thothmes IV., the fifth king of the eighteenth dy-
nasty. " The bricks " (says Rosellini) " which are now found
in Egypt belonging to the same period, always have straw
mingled with them, although in some of those that are most
carefully made, it is found in very small quantities." Another
writer, quoted by Hengstenberg, Prokesch, says, "The bricks
(of the first pyramid at Dashoor) are of fine clay from the
Nile, mingled with chopped straw. This intermixture gives
the bricks an astonishing durability."
In connection with this subject of brick-making in Egyp^
a most interesting painting was found by Rosellini, at Thebes,
in the tomb of Roschere. He did not hesitate to call his com-
ments on it, " explanation of a picture representing the He-
brews as they were engaged in making brick." We present a
copy of it, from Wilkinson's drawing, and cannot but consider
it one of the most interesting of the pictorial representations
yet found in Egypt, even should it be supposed not to repre-
sent the Hebrews. Wilkinson's copy is too small to bring out
all the details as Rosellini's representation does : we will first
give Rosellini's description.
« Of the laborers," (says he,) " some are employed in trans-
porting the clay in vessels ; some in intermingling it with the
straw; others are taking the bricks out of the form and placing
them in rows; still others, with a piece of wood upon their
backs and ropes on each side, carry away the bricks already
burned or dried. Their dissimilarity to the Egyptians appears