DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6638#0015
the monuments discovered.
which were primarily religious building?, but
which could also be converted into military
forts, and thus help in the defence of the
country. This double usefulness of the temple
has, I believe, occasioned the ruin of many. It
was not iconoclasts only who so thoroughly
destroyed the temple of Tanis. Such a com-
plete overthrow demands too much time and
labour to be the work of a fanatical mob.
It is far more probable that in some of the
numerous wars which were waged in the Eastern
Delta, whether under the Roman Empire or
later.1 this well-built stronghold was purposely
destroyed, that it might not fall into the hands
of an enemy.
Further explorations in the Delta will pro-
bably bring to light other monuments of the
Thirtieth Dynasty, which, considering all the
works still remaining, must certainly have been
more powerful than would appear from the
writings of the Greek authors. It is also pos-
sible that the conquest of Egypt by the Per-
sians was less easy and complete than as
described in Diodorus. Several circumstances
lead us to question the correctness of the Greek
historian when he says2 that Nectanebo, after
his defeat, gave up Egypt as lost, gathered his
treasures, and fled to Ethiopia. Probably he
was buried in Egypt. On the shrine of Saft
there is unfortunately no date left. There are
but a few doubtful signs (pi. iii. 4) which may
be the remains of one. The contents of the in-
scription seem, however, to point to a long
reign, at the end of which Nectanebo may have
become vassal or tributary of the great king.
THE MONUMENTS DISCOVERED.
I will describe the monuments of Saft in
chronological order. The first which occiirs is
the colossal statue in black granite of Rameses
1 For instance, in the Bucolic war under M. Aurelius.
Cf. Flinders Petrie, "Tanis," i. p. 41.
2 Lib. xvi. 51.
II. There were two frap-ments in a corn-field
a short way in front of the temple near the
village. One is a foot with part of the leg, the
other is the waist with part of the apr'on (pi.
viii. a). On the buckle of the girdle is engraved
the cartouche of Rameses II. The buckle is
8 inches in length, which gives some idea of the
size of the statue. Such a monument could only
belong to a temple of some importance. We
learn from these scanty remains that RamesesII.
erected at Saft a building of large proportions.
From the nineteenth dynasty we pass over to
the thirtieth, and to its first prince Nekhthorheb,
to whom belongs the granite slab used as a
corner-stone. It is part of a large stele, or of a
wall inscribed on both sides with religious texts
(pi. viii. c. l and c. 2). The sculptures were
executed in several registers. The king is seen
in the attitude of worship, with raised arms,
and there are fragments of his two cartouches.
On one side there is reference made to putting
somebody, very likely a god, on the ^ \\\ ^es
neferu, which is the usual name of the sacred
boats. The style of this fragment, and espe-
cially of the hieroglyphs of the large cartouche,
is remarkably beautiful.
Then follow the monuments of Nectanebo
II., Khejjerkara Nekhtnebef. I begin with the
broken statue which I purchased with great
difficulty from a reluctant fellah in the village.
It is now in the British Museum. It is ail that
remains of a standing statue; head and feet
have been broken off', perhaps intentionally.
On the back of the pillar by which the statue
is supported, is an inscription in two columns,
the signs of which are placed face to face (pi.
viii. b). On the right side, are the names and
titles of the king; on the left, those of the deity
to whom Nectanebo had dedicated his own
statue. That deity was the god of Saft el
Henneh, Sopt or Soptalchem.
The attribute which the king assumes on his
standard is s=>, Thema (pi. i. 1, ii. 1, iv. 1),
which were primarily religious building?, but
which could also be converted into military
forts, and thus help in the defence of the
country. This double usefulness of the temple
has, I believe, occasioned the ruin of many. It
was not iconoclasts only who so thoroughly
destroyed the temple of Tanis. Such a com-
plete overthrow demands too much time and
labour to be the work of a fanatical mob.
It is far more probable that in some of the
numerous wars which were waged in the Eastern
Delta, whether under the Roman Empire or
later.1 this well-built stronghold was purposely
destroyed, that it might not fall into the hands
of an enemy.
Further explorations in the Delta will pro-
bably bring to light other monuments of the
Thirtieth Dynasty, which, considering all the
works still remaining, must certainly have been
more powerful than would appear from the
writings of the Greek authors. It is also pos-
sible that the conquest of Egypt by the Per-
sians was less easy and complete than as
described in Diodorus. Several circumstances
lead us to question the correctness of the Greek
historian when he says2 that Nectanebo, after
his defeat, gave up Egypt as lost, gathered his
treasures, and fled to Ethiopia. Probably he
was buried in Egypt. On the shrine of Saft
there is unfortunately no date left. There are
but a few doubtful signs (pi. iii. 4) which may
be the remains of one. The contents of the in-
scription seem, however, to point to a long
reign, at the end of which Nectanebo may have
become vassal or tributary of the great king.
THE MONUMENTS DISCOVERED.
I will describe the monuments of Saft in
chronological order. The first which occiirs is
the colossal statue in black granite of Rameses
1 For instance, in the Bucolic war under M. Aurelius.
Cf. Flinders Petrie, "Tanis," i. p. 41.
2 Lib. xvi. 51.
II. There were two frap-ments in a corn-field
a short way in front of the temple near the
village. One is a foot with part of the leg, the
other is the waist with part of the apr'on (pi.
viii. a). On the buckle of the girdle is engraved
the cartouche of Rameses II. The buckle is
8 inches in length, which gives some idea of the
size of the statue. Such a monument could only
belong to a temple of some importance. We
learn from these scanty remains that RamesesII.
erected at Saft a building of large proportions.
From the nineteenth dynasty we pass over to
the thirtieth, and to its first prince Nekhthorheb,
to whom belongs the granite slab used as a
corner-stone. It is part of a large stele, or of a
wall inscribed on both sides with religious texts
(pi. viii. c. l and c. 2). The sculptures were
executed in several registers. The king is seen
in the attitude of worship, with raised arms,
and there are fragments of his two cartouches.
On one side there is reference made to putting
somebody, very likely a god, on the ^ \\\ ^es
neferu, which is the usual name of the sacred
boats. The style of this fragment, and espe-
cially of the hieroglyphs of the large cartouche,
is remarkably beautiful.
Then follow the monuments of Nectanebo
II., Khejjerkara Nekhtnebef. I begin with the
broken statue which I purchased with great
difficulty from a reluctant fellah in the village.
It is now in the British Museum. It is ail that
remains of a standing statue; head and feet
have been broken off', perhaps intentionally.
On the back of the pillar by which the statue
is supported, is an inscription in two columns,
the signs of which are placed face to face (pi.
viii. b). On the right side, are the names and
titles of the king; on the left, those of the deity
to whom Nectanebo had dedicated his own
statue. That deity was the god of Saft el
Henneh, Sopt or Soptalchem.
The attribute which the king assumes on his
standard is s=>, Thema (pi. i. 1, ii. 1, iv. 1),