DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3990#0007
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Engineer, is an Egyptologist of considerable repute, and has, moreover, already made his name known by his contributions to our scientific knowledge in
Egypt. Tt was felt by all that, if his services could be secured for the above work, the best guarantee possible would have been given for its satisfactory
completion. The Director-General of the Museum Department, to whom 1 referred the matter, cordially accepted the proposal, and application for Captain
Lyons's services was made to the Egyptian War Office. The demand was granted ; and the Ministry of Public Works having provided the required funds
from its own budget, work was commenced upon the island in October, 1895, and brought to a conclusion in April, 1896.
How entirely Captain Lyons has justified his selection must, I think, be allowed, not only by those who visited the works in progress during the past
winter, but by everyone who studies his present report.
While leaving discussion of the archaeological results obtained to those competent to describe them, I must bear testimony to the manner in which
Captain Lyons has carried out those portions of the work which more immediately concern me.
He has thoroughly cleared away the salted soil under which great portions of the buildings were buried, and while executing such repairs as were
indispensable for the security of the monuments, he has left each and all of these latter exactly as he found it, and has not removed a single stone from the
site. The consequence is that, in the future, those desirous of studying the details of these temples can do so in a manner which has hitherto been impossible.
The repairs to the buildings have been carried out in such an unobtrusive manner that the eye is nowhere offended by a glaring contrast between the old
work and the new. The Coptic remains upon the island have been entirely excavated, and now offer facilities for the most thorough study to those interested
in relics of this particular period of Egyptian history. Finally, Captain Lyons has prepared such a complete set of plans and photographs of the ruins that,
were they to disappear to-morrow, the scientific world would still possess a record of each detail of their outline and construction.
As has been before stated, the chief object of the recent investigation was to examine the foundations of the temples and their power to resist
subsidence if temporarily submerged. Captain Lyons's researches have proved that, if certain precautions be taken, little or no danger will exist, even
should the water yearly rise and fall around the bases of the structures.
In Chapter VIII. of his report, he indicates, in a general manner, the measures which he considers advisable for securing the safety of the different
buildings, should the construction of the reservoir become an accomplished fact. He proposes sundry repairs to the quay wall, including the reconstruction
of certain parts of its length. He further advises that the underground spaces between the cross walls which support the pavement of the west colonnade,
should be filled up with rough stone masonry. He counsels the same procedure with regard to the crypts of the great temple of Isis, but in this case his
suggestion is made solely with a view to preventing the accumulation of stagnant water in the vaults, these crypts being in every case constructed upon
the solid rock. Finally, he outlines certain general but minor repairs which he considers to be advisable.
In February last, I visited the ruins in Captain Lyons's company and can, from personal observation, thoroughly endorse the soundness of all his
proposals. Nothing strikes one so forcibly, after seeing his excavations, as the great depth to which the foundations of all the main buildings descend,
contrary to the general practice of the ancient Egyptian architects.
As regards the Isis temple, the level reached is, in every instance, that of the bed rock. Consequently there is nearly as great a depth of masonry
below the ground surface as there is height above it. Even in the case of the great pylon, the depth of the foundation is some five metres, so that the
masonry already descends below the level permanently saturated by infiltration, and consequently the conditions of equilibrium of the structure will be
unchanged even should the water level be very considerably raised.
It may then, 1 think, be safely asserted that upon the completion of the repairs suggested by Captain Lyons, any fear of subsidence in these buildings,
consequent upon a rise of the water level, may be rejected as baseless. When the time shall come for the construction of the Assuan dam, these repairs will
l
Engineer, is an Egyptologist of considerable repute, and has, moreover, already made his name known by his contributions to our scientific knowledge in
Egypt. Tt was felt by all that, if his services could be secured for the above work, the best guarantee possible would have been given for its satisfactory
completion. The Director-General of the Museum Department, to whom 1 referred the matter, cordially accepted the proposal, and application for Captain
Lyons's services was made to the Egyptian War Office. The demand was granted ; and the Ministry of Public Works having provided the required funds
from its own budget, work was commenced upon the island in October, 1895, and brought to a conclusion in April, 1896.
How entirely Captain Lyons has justified his selection must, I think, be allowed, not only by those who visited the works in progress during the past
winter, but by everyone who studies his present report.
While leaving discussion of the archaeological results obtained to those competent to describe them, I must bear testimony to the manner in which
Captain Lyons has carried out those portions of the work which more immediately concern me.
He has thoroughly cleared away the salted soil under which great portions of the buildings were buried, and while executing such repairs as were
indispensable for the security of the monuments, he has left each and all of these latter exactly as he found it, and has not removed a single stone from the
site. The consequence is that, in the future, those desirous of studying the details of these temples can do so in a manner which has hitherto been impossible.
The repairs to the buildings have been carried out in such an unobtrusive manner that the eye is nowhere offended by a glaring contrast between the old
work and the new. The Coptic remains upon the island have been entirely excavated, and now offer facilities for the most thorough study to those interested
in relics of this particular period of Egyptian history. Finally, Captain Lyons has prepared such a complete set of plans and photographs of the ruins that,
were they to disappear to-morrow, the scientific world would still possess a record of each detail of their outline and construction.
As has been before stated, the chief object of the recent investigation was to examine the foundations of the temples and their power to resist
subsidence if temporarily submerged. Captain Lyons's researches have proved that, if certain precautions be taken, little or no danger will exist, even
should the water yearly rise and fall around the bases of the structures.
In Chapter VIII. of his report, he indicates, in a general manner, the measures which he considers advisable for securing the safety of the different
buildings, should the construction of the reservoir become an accomplished fact. He proposes sundry repairs to the quay wall, including the reconstruction
of certain parts of its length. He further advises that the underground spaces between the cross walls which support the pavement of the west colonnade,
should be filled up with rough stone masonry. He counsels the same procedure with regard to the crypts of the great temple of Isis, but in this case his
suggestion is made solely with a view to preventing the accumulation of stagnant water in the vaults, these crypts being in every case constructed upon
the solid rock. Finally, he outlines certain general but minor repairs which he considers to be advisable.
In February last, I visited the ruins in Captain Lyons's company and can, from personal observation, thoroughly endorse the soundness of all his
proposals. Nothing strikes one so forcibly, after seeing his excavations, as the great depth to which the foundations of all the main buildings descend,
contrary to the general practice of the ancient Egyptian architects.
As regards the Isis temple, the level reached is, in every instance, that of the bed rock. Consequently there is nearly as great a depth of masonry
below the ground surface as there is height above it. Even in the case of the great pylon, the depth of the foundation is some five metres, so that the
masonry already descends below the level permanently saturated by infiltration, and consequently the conditions of equilibrium of the structure will be
unchanged even should the water level be very considerably raised.
It may then, 1 think, be safely asserted that upon the completion of the repairs suggested by Captain Lyons, any fear of subsidence in these buildings,
consequent upon a rise of the water level, may be rejected as baseless. When the time shall come for the construction of the Assuan dam, these repairs will