DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0096
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APPENDIX.
the time when the roof was huilt, although it may have gradually
led to the invention of it. Sir J. G. Wilkinson considers that the
oldest stone arch, which had been discovered when he wrote his
book containing Observations on Thebes, and a General View of
Egypt (see p. 337), had been built in the time of Psammeticus II.
(about 600 years before Christ), and the arch in Campbell's Tomb
at Gizeh was of about the same date. There is said, however,
to be an arch in the portico of a Pyramid at Meroe, inscribed
with the cartouche of Tirhaka, about 700 years before Christ.
The different methods, by which ceilings were formed, before
the invention of the arch, have been already described, Vol. I.
p. 219. Porticoes are said by MM. Caillaud and Waddington,
to have been attached to the Pyramids in Ethiopia ; but this
is the only one hitherto discovered in Lower Egypt. Near this
place, and at the depth of about 4 feet 6 inches, above fifty
bodies were found, ten of which were mummies, embalmed
and deposited in the usual manner. The others were much
decayed, and had been buried in their clothes, and in some
instances were bound round with common cord, and laid in
wooden coffins, or amongst a few branches of date-trees. Some
of the clothes were woollen, others coarse linen, with a fringed
border of bright scarlet worsted. The heads were covered with
bright red net-work. Mr. Perring imagined that these bodies
had belonged to a pastoral people, probably to Bedouins, and that
they had been interred, together with the mummies, at a very
early period, before the introduction of Christianity. One of the
embalmed bodies was in a decayed wooden coffin, and near it a
reed flute was found. About a foot lower, a piece of cross-band
moulding, slabs containing coloured and well-executed sculptures,
which recorded the dedication of an offering, and part of a car-
touche, were also dug up. Five or six bodies had been placed over
these fragments, and one, enclosed in a coffin, was found in a
small tomb constructed with the bricks of the Pyramid, in which
had been placed a piece of glass like the bottom of a wine-glass,
and a pair of brass armlets. Two mummies, handsomely deco-
rated, and wrapped up, were laid in sarcophagi made of coarse
earthenware, the ends of which were circular; and upon the lids,
which were composed of two pieces, faces had been rudely painted.
The mummies, upon exposure, crumbled into dust. They did not
appear to contain the idols, and small figures usually found in
Egyptians' tombs; but Mr. Perring collected some bronze nails,
the bracelets and the earrings of a child, and, from the body of a
female some beads, buttons, and bronze pins.
APPENDIX.
the time when the roof was huilt, although it may have gradually
led to the invention of it. Sir J. G. Wilkinson considers that the
oldest stone arch, which had been discovered when he wrote his
book containing Observations on Thebes, and a General View of
Egypt (see p. 337), had been built in the time of Psammeticus II.
(about 600 years before Christ), and the arch in Campbell's Tomb
at Gizeh was of about the same date. There is said, however,
to be an arch in the portico of a Pyramid at Meroe, inscribed
with the cartouche of Tirhaka, about 700 years before Christ.
The different methods, by which ceilings were formed, before
the invention of the arch, have been already described, Vol. I.
p. 219. Porticoes are said by MM. Caillaud and Waddington,
to have been attached to the Pyramids in Ethiopia ; but this
is the only one hitherto discovered in Lower Egypt. Near this
place, and at the depth of about 4 feet 6 inches, above fifty
bodies were found, ten of which were mummies, embalmed
and deposited in the usual manner. The others were much
decayed, and had been buried in their clothes, and in some
instances were bound round with common cord, and laid in
wooden coffins, or amongst a few branches of date-trees. Some
of the clothes were woollen, others coarse linen, with a fringed
border of bright scarlet worsted. The heads were covered with
bright red net-work. Mr. Perring imagined that these bodies
had belonged to a pastoral people, probably to Bedouins, and that
they had been interred, together with the mummies, at a very
early period, before the introduction of Christianity. One of the
embalmed bodies was in a decayed wooden coffin, and near it a
reed flute was found. About a foot lower, a piece of cross-band
moulding, slabs containing coloured and well-executed sculptures,
which recorded the dedication of an offering, and part of a car-
touche, were also dug up. Five or six bodies had been placed over
these fragments, and one, enclosed in a coffin, was found in a
small tomb constructed with the bricks of the Pyramid, in which
had been placed a piece of glass like the bottom of a wine-glass,
and a pair of brass armlets. Two mummies, handsomely deco-
rated, and wrapped up, were laid in sarcophagi made of coarse
earthenware, the ends of which were circular; and upon the lids,
which were composed of two pieces, faces had been rudely painted.
The mummies, upon exposure, crumbled into dust. They did not
appear to contain the idols, and small figures usually found in
Egyptians' tombs; but Mr. Perring collected some bronze nails,
the bracelets and the earrings of a child, and, from the body of a
female some beads, buttons, and bronze pins.