DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1033#0022
22
THE CIVILIZATION OF THE XIITH DYNASTY—KAHUN.
the front. Within the building there was—probably
in the facade—a flight of steps leading to the parapet,
of which a portion still lies in the ruins, like the
flight of steps at Khafra's temple at Gizeh. The
greater part of the area appears to have been open,
with probably a colonnade around it, while at the
W. end, or back, of the enclosure stood a highly
decorated chamber. Some sandstone objects stood
in the enclosure, and also a seated statue of the king
in dark grey basalt, rather over life size. Probably
in the back chamber there was a smaller statue in
black granite. One piece of each of these statues
was found. There was also a large amount of fine
wall-sculpture in red granite ; and the space where
the masons wrought this stone lay on the north of
the temple where the ground is still covered with
granite chips and dust, and strewn with broken
hammers of hornstone.
36. In the middle of the temple area a hole 31
inches square was excavated in the rock about four
feet deep, to contain the foundation deposits. Into
this the four sets of objects were thrown, without any
arrangement or order. Each set of models consisted
of a small chisel (PI. XIV, fig. 1), long chisel (fig. 2),
wide chisel (fig. 3), long knife (fig. 4), large pointed
knife (fig. 5), small pointed knife (fig. 6), and hatchet
(fig. 7), all of bronze; a pair of corn rubbers of brown
sandstone (fig. 11); and two strings of carnelian
beads (fig. 8), averaging about a foot in length. Two
or three pieces of green carbonate of copper ore, and
a piece of galena were also thrown in. Over these a
quantity of pottery vessels was placed, of which
types are shown in figs. 13—17. And some baskets,
and straw or fibre, accompanied the deposit. Sand
and earth were then thrown in among the pottery.
Over all a block of stone was let down by ropes
(which passed along grooves in its sides), thus crush-
ing most of the pottery; and On this a second block
was let down, each block almost filling the hole, and
being about 15 inches thick. Thus the excavation
was filled up, and remained undisturbed through all
the destruction that ensued ; the blocks were noticed
in our clearing of the area, broken up and removed
by myself and my men, and all the pottery and
objects carefully taken out—and their position marked
—by my own hands.
The contrasts between this early deposit of the
Xllth dynasty, and the later ones of the XXVIth
dynasty and Ptolemaic times (which are all that were
yet on record) are remarkable. The model tools and
corn rubbers continued to be made in later times, and
the ores were also deposited. But the carnelian beads
quite disappear in after times; while the model
mortars which are always found in the later deposits
do not occur here, nor any of the inscribed plaques.
The reason for burying such objects is yet unex-
plained ; but it seems not unlikely that they were
intended for the use of the kas of the builders, like
the models placed in tombs for the kas of the
deceased. Whether each building had a ka which
needed ghostly repair by the builders' kas is also to
be considered. The carnelian beads are as nearly
uniform as may be, of fine translucent stone, well
polished; their purport seems mysterious in such a
place, and the absence of any variety of size, form,
or material shows that they could scarcely be for
ornament. It may be that they formed a medium of
exchange, or bead-money, at that early period: and
if so we may see an explanation of the use of beads
for burial with mummies.
37. After the Hyksos times and the XVIIIth
dynasty the temple was still standing, probably more
or less injured. But the covetous requirements of
Ramessu 11 proved its destruction; and the royal
masons removed the materials both of the temple,
and of the ka shrine adjoining the pyramid, for build-
ing the temple of Ramessu II at Heracleopolis
(Ahnas el medineh) about ten miles to the south.
They removed the granite in almost entire blocks, as
very few chips of destruction are found on the site ;
and the statues appear to have been also carried
away whole, since only one fragment of each was
found. The limestone was more flaked up in re-
dressing it, and one cartouche of Ramessu in hieratic
was found, scrawled on a joint surface in the temple,
beside a brief hieratic inscription of his roughly
painted on a block at the shrine. Scattered about
among the chips were many beads, bits of glazed
pottery, rings, &c, of the beginning of the XlXth
dynasty, evidently left by the destroyers. While over
at Ahnas I saw lying on the surface a drum of a
granite column of Ramessu II, with the ka name of
Usertesen II remaining upon the joint surface of it.
After another interval, of slightly longer duration, the
place was again visited, in the 7th cent. A.D. by the
Copts, who used it as a burial ground : from their
interments a great quantity of woollen garments, with
woven and embroidered patterns, were found in fine
condition, when—after a third interval—we came on
the ground, and recovered all that could be traced of
its past history.
At the north end of the temple facade stood the
THE CIVILIZATION OF THE XIITH DYNASTY—KAHUN.
the front. Within the building there was—probably
in the facade—a flight of steps leading to the parapet,
of which a portion still lies in the ruins, like the
flight of steps at Khafra's temple at Gizeh. The
greater part of the area appears to have been open,
with probably a colonnade around it, while at the
W. end, or back, of the enclosure stood a highly
decorated chamber. Some sandstone objects stood
in the enclosure, and also a seated statue of the king
in dark grey basalt, rather over life size. Probably
in the back chamber there was a smaller statue in
black granite. One piece of each of these statues
was found. There was also a large amount of fine
wall-sculpture in red granite ; and the space where
the masons wrought this stone lay on the north of
the temple where the ground is still covered with
granite chips and dust, and strewn with broken
hammers of hornstone.
36. In the middle of the temple area a hole 31
inches square was excavated in the rock about four
feet deep, to contain the foundation deposits. Into
this the four sets of objects were thrown, without any
arrangement or order. Each set of models consisted
of a small chisel (PI. XIV, fig. 1), long chisel (fig. 2),
wide chisel (fig. 3), long knife (fig. 4), large pointed
knife (fig. 5), small pointed knife (fig. 6), and hatchet
(fig. 7), all of bronze; a pair of corn rubbers of brown
sandstone (fig. 11); and two strings of carnelian
beads (fig. 8), averaging about a foot in length. Two
or three pieces of green carbonate of copper ore, and
a piece of galena were also thrown in. Over these a
quantity of pottery vessels was placed, of which
types are shown in figs. 13—17. And some baskets,
and straw or fibre, accompanied the deposit. Sand
and earth were then thrown in among the pottery.
Over all a block of stone was let down by ropes
(which passed along grooves in its sides), thus crush-
ing most of the pottery; and On this a second block
was let down, each block almost filling the hole, and
being about 15 inches thick. Thus the excavation
was filled up, and remained undisturbed through all
the destruction that ensued ; the blocks were noticed
in our clearing of the area, broken up and removed
by myself and my men, and all the pottery and
objects carefully taken out—and their position marked
—by my own hands.
The contrasts between this early deposit of the
Xllth dynasty, and the later ones of the XXVIth
dynasty and Ptolemaic times (which are all that were
yet on record) are remarkable. The model tools and
corn rubbers continued to be made in later times, and
the ores were also deposited. But the carnelian beads
quite disappear in after times; while the model
mortars which are always found in the later deposits
do not occur here, nor any of the inscribed plaques.
The reason for burying such objects is yet unex-
plained ; but it seems not unlikely that they were
intended for the use of the kas of the builders, like
the models placed in tombs for the kas of the
deceased. Whether each building had a ka which
needed ghostly repair by the builders' kas is also to
be considered. The carnelian beads are as nearly
uniform as may be, of fine translucent stone, well
polished; their purport seems mysterious in such a
place, and the absence of any variety of size, form,
or material shows that they could scarcely be for
ornament. It may be that they formed a medium of
exchange, or bead-money, at that early period: and
if so we may see an explanation of the use of beads
for burial with mummies.
37. After the Hyksos times and the XVIIIth
dynasty the temple was still standing, probably more
or less injured. But the covetous requirements of
Ramessu 11 proved its destruction; and the royal
masons removed the materials both of the temple,
and of the ka shrine adjoining the pyramid, for build-
ing the temple of Ramessu II at Heracleopolis
(Ahnas el medineh) about ten miles to the south.
They removed the granite in almost entire blocks, as
very few chips of destruction are found on the site ;
and the statues appear to have been also carried
away whole, since only one fragment of each was
found. The limestone was more flaked up in re-
dressing it, and one cartouche of Ramessu in hieratic
was found, scrawled on a joint surface in the temple,
beside a brief hieratic inscription of his roughly
painted on a block at the shrine. Scattered about
among the chips were many beads, bits of glazed
pottery, rings, &c, of the beginning of the XlXth
dynasty, evidently left by the destroyers. While over
at Ahnas I saw lying on the surface a drum of a
granite column of Ramessu II, with the ka name of
Usertesen II remaining upon the joint surface of it.
After another interval, of slightly longer duration, the
place was again visited, in the 7th cent. A.D. by the
Copts, who used it as a burial ground : from their
interments a great quantity of woollen garments, with
woven and embroidered patterns, were found in fine
condition, when—after a third interval—we came on
the ground, and recovered all that could be traced of
its past history.
At the north end of the temple facade stood the