DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4103#0040
30
ABYDOS II.
CHAPTER III.
OBJECTS OF THE IVth-XXVIth DYNASTIES.
■
46. PL xiii. The ivory statuette of the
king' of the 1st Dynasty has been already
described, under pi. ii, 3.
The ivory statuette of Khufu is the first figure
of that monarch that has come to light. In
connection with the whole figure here shown,
the more enlarged photographs of the head
should be studied on pi. xiv, 284. Happily,
the /ca-name of Khufu upon the front of the
throne leaves no possible doubt on the identity
of the figure. The work is of extraordinary
delicacy and finish; for even when magnified to
double the size on pi. xiv, it does not suggest
any imperfection or clumsiness, but might have
belonged to a life-size statue. The proportion
of the head is slightly exaggerated ; as, indeed,
is always the case in minute work : but the
character and expression is as well handled as it
might be on any other scale, and is full of power
and vigour. The surface was highly polished ;
much of this polish remains, and the face is
happily quite perfect, except that the end of
the nose is slightly worn. The ear is very true
in form, and correctly placed. The idea which
it conveys to us of the personality of Khufu
agrees with his historical position. We see the
energy, the commanding air, the indomitable
will, and the firm ability of the man who
stamped for ever the character of the Egyptian
monarchy, and outdid all time in the scale of
his works. No other Egyptian king that we
know resembled this head; and it stands apart
in portraiture, though perhaps it may be com-
pared with the energetic face of Justinian, the
great builder and organizer. The figure was
found in the midmost of the three store
chambers marked C in pi. Ii, along with a great
quantity of pieces of wooden statues of the
same age, of which only the films of surface
stucco remained. The head was broken from
the body by the accident of digging, and was
lost in the earth, where it Avas only recovered by
three weeks of incessant sifting.
47. PI. xiv. A fragment of a slate bowl,
280, of King Zet is closely like his work found
in the royal tombs.
281, 282 are early amulets ; the bull's head
was found at 177 level, and therefore of the
1st Dynasty. The beetle amulet was at 120,
and must belong to the time of the earliest
kings. In the town the beetle amulet was of
the same age, but the bull's head amulets
were earlier than that here. (.lb yd us I, li, 4,
5,7.)
283 is a piece of a diorite cup with a figure
of an ox, su and t signs; from their positions
with t not beneath su they are probably part of
the group suten bat}/. The twists of burnt clay,
285-287, have been mentioned already as the
votive offerings thrown into the great ash bed
which was the only religious centre of the
IVth Dynasty. They appear to be the sub-
stitutes for the sacrifices which Khufu had
abolished.
288 is a clay sealing of Userkaf, the only
such known.
289-291 are alabaster vases of the same form;
which, by the inscription of User-en-ra on 289,
may be dated to the Vth Dynasty.
292 is an ink slab of chert highly polished,
ABYDOS II.
CHAPTER III.
OBJECTS OF THE IVth-XXVIth DYNASTIES.
■
46. PL xiii. The ivory statuette of the
king' of the 1st Dynasty has been already
described, under pi. ii, 3.
The ivory statuette of Khufu is the first figure
of that monarch that has come to light. In
connection with the whole figure here shown,
the more enlarged photographs of the head
should be studied on pi. xiv, 284. Happily,
the /ca-name of Khufu upon the front of the
throne leaves no possible doubt on the identity
of the figure. The work is of extraordinary
delicacy and finish; for even when magnified to
double the size on pi. xiv, it does not suggest
any imperfection or clumsiness, but might have
belonged to a life-size statue. The proportion
of the head is slightly exaggerated ; as, indeed,
is always the case in minute work : but the
character and expression is as well handled as it
might be on any other scale, and is full of power
and vigour. The surface was highly polished ;
much of this polish remains, and the face is
happily quite perfect, except that the end of
the nose is slightly worn. The ear is very true
in form, and correctly placed. The idea which
it conveys to us of the personality of Khufu
agrees with his historical position. We see the
energy, the commanding air, the indomitable
will, and the firm ability of the man who
stamped for ever the character of the Egyptian
monarchy, and outdid all time in the scale of
his works. No other Egyptian king that we
know resembled this head; and it stands apart
in portraiture, though perhaps it may be com-
pared with the energetic face of Justinian, the
great builder and organizer. The figure was
found in the midmost of the three store
chambers marked C in pi. Ii, along with a great
quantity of pieces of wooden statues of the
same age, of which only the films of surface
stucco remained. The head was broken from
the body by the accident of digging, and was
lost in the earth, where it Avas only recovered by
three weeks of incessant sifting.
47. PI. xiv. A fragment of a slate bowl,
280, of King Zet is closely like his work found
in the royal tombs.
281, 282 are early amulets ; the bull's head
was found at 177 level, and therefore of the
1st Dynasty. The beetle amulet was at 120,
and must belong to the time of the earliest
kings. In the town the beetle amulet was of
the same age, but the bull's head amulets
were earlier than that here. (.lb yd us I, li, 4,
5,7.)
283 is a piece of a diorite cup with a figure
of an ox, su and t signs; from their positions
with t not beneath su they are probably part of
the group suten bat}/. The twists of burnt clay,
285-287, have been mentioned already as the
votive offerings thrown into the great ash bed
which was the only religious centre of the
IVth Dynasty. They appear to be the sub-
stitutes for the sacrifices which Khufu had
abolished.
288 is a clay sealing of Userkaf, the only
such known.
289-291 are alabaster vases of the same form;
which, by the inscription of User-en-ra on 289,
may be dated to the Vth Dynasty.
292 is an ink slab of chert highly polished,