DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4191#0018
1
10
EL BERSHEH.
its breadth lay directly beneath the floor of the
chamber, the latter was only a little over 3 feet
thick. The gallery terminated at 55 feet, and
was consequently driven in slightly beyond the
shrine. The latter, being of small dimensions,
left the tomb constructor ample space, as soon
as the gallery had been carried beyond the end
of the main chamber, to make an extension or
niche on the east side of the gallery in the
direction of the shrine, perhaps for the recep-
tion of the coffin or its furniture. The depth
of the niche was 2\ feet, and its height was
not more than half that of the gallery itself.
In the middle of the gallery at this spot was a
small square excavation in the floor, which
perhaps was intended to receive part of the
funeral outfit.
Present Condition.
The principal injuries to the architectural
features of the tomb are due to the earth-
quake, which drove the upper strata in the
tomb south-westward; the columns were dis-
placed, and the whole mass of rock over the
portico, including its painted ceiling, has fallen
down in a confused heap. The right-hand
wall is fairly perfect, excepting at the top,
where the movement of the strata has shat-
tered it.
The left-hand wall has been almost quarried
away. It seems probable that this had been
done before the earthquake took place, as the
quarrymen did not remove any part of the
fallen rock. The mass of rock forming the
back wall of the portico and front wall of the
main chamber has been cracked in several
places, and driven outwards. The side walls
have also been cracked, and great masses
have detached themselves from the right-hand
wall, and lie in confusion on the floor, while
here also the tops of the walls have been
shattered. The shrine is practically uninjured
as far as architectural features are concerned.
The clever concealment of the mummy-pit
must have exercised many would-be violators of
the tomb. On the arrival of the expedition it
was found that in the main chamber pits had
been dug in four places through the debris
and into the solid rock; probably some of
these pits date from very ancient times. One
great hole in the axis of the chamber had
been extended right and left until it touched
the lower gallery ; probably the tomb chamber
was robbed through this forced entrance. It
was utilised by the expedition in clearing the
mummy-pit, working from it first to the inner
end and then outwards to the ancient entrance,
which had probably been hidden for many
centuries.
The greater part of the debris in the tomb
was successfully cleared, and its nature ascer-
tained ; the rubbish was thrown outside, and
the sculptured and painted fragments sorted.
Only a few large blocks had to be examined
without being raised or moved. Of the columns,
the bases were found in situ; portions of the
capitals still clung to the fallen and ruined
architrave, and the shafts lay shattered amongst
the debris.
2. SYSTEM OF DECORATION.
The decoration of the tomb is as usual con-
fined to the upper chambers, and consists of
(1) painting applied to the limestone, the
surface of which had been finely prepared for
its reception with a very thin coating or wash
of stucco, and (2) sculpture in very low relief ;
but in some cases the two methods were
combined.
The jambs and lintel of the facade and the
columns and architrave of the portico were
painted pink (see pi. iv.) and marbled with
pale green in order to resemble rose granite.
The hieroglyphic inscriptions upon the jambs
and architrave were incised and painted green
(see pi. iv.).
l#t entirely*
fhe scenes oef
H and proto
0 of coloun
lie hieroglyph
incised. Tie i.
the doorway to
gy coloured
columns. The
them were pan
of tl
to the si
chamber
of blue
:] inches wide:
black lines, ea
The ceiling
rated similarl
that the nam
tudinally dew
hieroglyphs l
pi. vi.).
rectang-
bytl
fee, This
yellow chec
A/
10
EL BERSHEH.
its breadth lay directly beneath the floor of the
chamber, the latter was only a little over 3 feet
thick. The gallery terminated at 55 feet, and
was consequently driven in slightly beyond the
shrine. The latter, being of small dimensions,
left the tomb constructor ample space, as soon
as the gallery had been carried beyond the end
of the main chamber, to make an extension or
niche on the east side of the gallery in the
direction of the shrine, perhaps for the recep-
tion of the coffin or its furniture. The depth
of the niche was 2\ feet, and its height was
not more than half that of the gallery itself.
In the middle of the gallery at this spot was a
small square excavation in the floor, which
perhaps was intended to receive part of the
funeral outfit.
Present Condition.
The principal injuries to the architectural
features of the tomb are due to the earth-
quake, which drove the upper strata in the
tomb south-westward; the columns were dis-
placed, and the whole mass of rock over the
portico, including its painted ceiling, has fallen
down in a confused heap. The right-hand
wall is fairly perfect, excepting at the top,
where the movement of the strata has shat-
tered it.
The left-hand wall has been almost quarried
away. It seems probable that this had been
done before the earthquake took place, as the
quarrymen did not remove any part of the
fallen rock. The mass of rock forming the
back wall of the portico and front wall of the
main chamber has been cracked in several
places, and driven outwards. The side walls
have also been cracked, and great masses
have detached themselves from the right-hand
wall, and lie in confusion on the floor, while
here also the tops of the walls have been
shattered. The shrine is practically uninjured
as far as architectural features are concerned.
The clever concealment of the mummy-pit
must have exercised many would-be violators of
the tomb. On the arrival of the expedition it
was found that in the main chamber pits had
been dug in four places through the debris
and into the solid rock; probably some of
these pits date from very ancient times. One
great hole in the axis of the chamber had
been extended right and left until it touched
the lower gallery ; probably the tomb chamber
was robbed through this forced entrance. It
was utilised by the expedition in clearing the
mummy-pit, working from it first to the inner
end and then outwards to the ancient entrance,
which had probably been hidden for many
centuries.
The greater part of the debris in the tomb
was successfully cleared, and its nature ascer-
tained ; the rubbish was thrown outside, and
the sculptured and painted fragments sorted.
Only a few large blocks had to be examined
without being raised or moved. Of the columns,
the bases were found in situ; portions of the
capitals still clung to the fallen and ruined
architrave, and the shafts lay shattered amongst
the debris.
2. SYSTEM OF DECORATION.
The decoration of the tomb is as usual con-
fined to the upper chambers, and consists of
(1) painting applied to the limestone, the
surface of which had been finely prepared for
its reception with a very thin coating or wash
of stucco, and (2) sculpture in very low relief ;
but in some cases the two methods were
combined.
The jambs and lintel of the facade and the
columns and architrave of the portico were
painted pink (see pi. iv.) and marbled with
pale green in order to resemble rose granite.
The hieroglyphic inscriptions upon the jambs
and architrave were incised and painted green
(see pi. iv.).
l#t entirely*
fhe scenes oef
H and proto
0 of coloun
lie hieroglyph
incised. Tie i.
the doorway to
gy coloured
columns. The
them were pan
of tl
to the si
chamber
of blue
:] inches wide:
black lines, ea
The ceiling
rated similarl
that the nam
tudinally dew
hieroglyphs l
pi. vi.).
rectang-
bytl
fee, This
yellow chec
A/