DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3389#0029
SUNDIAL AND INSCRIPTIONS
21
curved lines running through the six hours are so
placed that the shadow of a gnomon whose tip
reached the mid line at the equinox would fall on
the outer line at the winter solstice. The inner curve
however, would agree with it on February 13 and
October 30, and if intended for the summer solstice
it would be in error. As the dial stands in the
photograph, the south is to the left edge of the page,
the right-hand edge is vertical, and the upper slope
points to the pole at an angle of 31J °, the latitude of
Alexandria being 31° 12'. The errors of the hour
lines are not more than would be expected in work
of this time. On the top sloping face are two lines
drawn near the edge. One is parallel to the edge,
and therefore the true north line. The other meets
it at an angle of 40 48' + 5', and seems as if intended
to be used for setting the dial true by pointing it to
a pole-star at greatest elongation west. The only
star which this could agree with in Roman times is
5 or a Ursae minoris, which, though of fourth magni-
tude, would be easily found by being in line with the
two front stars of the Bear. This star was nearest to
the pole at 530 B.C., being then 4^° distant, and by
100 A.D. it was 5° 19' distant. But as the observation
was probably not exact to more than half a degree,
and very likely a distance observed in Greek times
was carried on into Roman usage, no exactitude is
to be looked for in the precise amount. Enough to
say that a line on a polar plane, which is 40 48'
askew, would serve fairly in Roman times to adjust
a dial at the greatest elongation of the pole star,
which is the only position for accurate observa-
tion without elaborate instruments. I am indebted
to Mr. E. B. Knobel and the Rev. F. A. Jones for
notes on this star.
Figs. 13, 14 are two of a group of baskets found
stacked together in a large jar ; this stood in a
chamber north-east of the pyramid, near the mum-
mies 17-19. The baskets were tender when found,
but by dipping them in hot rice-water they have been
put in safe condition. Probably they were left behind
after holding a funeral feast in the cemetery. Pis.
xvii and xviii are described in the previous chapter.
46. PL xix. The limestone figure, 1, should
rather be in the second volume, The Labyrinth, as the
copy of inscription and translation is given there. It
is of an official of the xixth dynasty, before the age
dealt with here. (Manchester.)
The bulls' skulls, 2, 3, were found in a group of
bones of four oxen lying all together buried in the
corner of a chamber at the feet of portrait mummy
No. 1. Three of them had wide horns, and one had
lyre horns. When found they appeared as if they
must have been a funeral sacrifice of Roman age ; as
work went on, no such sacrifices appeared connected
with other late burials; and after some exposure
there was seen the mouth of a square shaft below
them. They are probably therefore offerings piled
over a pit tomb of the xiith dynasty; and a Roman
tomb chamber has been built above them, and
burials placed beside them. (Nat. Hist. Mus., S.
Kensington.)
Two small limestone altars were found in the
cemetery. One partly broken had figures of offerers
on the end, 4 ; and a ba bird by a sycomore tree, 5,
at one side of the spout. The inscriptions are illegible.
A larger altar had groups of offerings on the top, 6 ;
and figures making offerings to Osiris, Isis, and Neb-
hat, 7, on the side. (Ny Carlsberg.)
47. PI, xx. A limestone head, about two-thirds
of life size, was found in a chamber, to the north-east
of the pyramid. This is just where in 1888 I
recorded on the plan (Hawara, xxv) that there was a
Roman statue, which was headless. Unhappily the
statue has disappeared before the head was found to
render it of value. The work of this, though mechani-
cal, has kept to fairly good Greek traditions. The
eyes have been of black and white glass, as on
mummy cases ; the black centres are now lost, and
only indicated by the flat circle on the white. The
nose and upper lip had been anciently broken off,
and then remodelled in plaster, which is of rare
occurrence. (Ny Carlsberg.)
The tomb steles 2 to 8 are of usual types, and I
am indebted to Prof. Ernest Gardner for reading
some of them.
2. The figures are of Akhilion and his wife ador-
ing the hawk-headed Ra, and a figure with the crown
of Lower Egypt, which might be Neit or a king.
"To Ra-Moeris the twice great God, by Akhilion
son of Akousilos, for himself and his wife and his
children. Year io, Thoth 8." (Cambridge.)
3. Though much is lost this is seen to record the
death of a lady at the age of 50 with her twin chil-
dren, " farewell to both of them, farewell also to thee."
There is nothing to show that she died at the same
time as the twins; it might be put up by a widower
on his wife's death, commemorating their children who
died before. (Cambridge.)
4. " Soukhas, Nomographos, lived 64 years, grief-
less. The son Soukhas (lived) 35 years." (Not-
tingham.) It is possible that this is the S . . . . s
21
curved lines running through the six hours are so
placed that the shadow of a gnomon whose tip
reached the mid line at the equinox would fall on
the outer line at the winter solstice. The inner curve
however, would agree with it on February 13 and
October 30, and if intended for the summer solstice
it would be in error. As the dial stands in the
photograph, the south is to the left edge of the page,
the right-hand edge is vertical, and the upper slope
points to the pole at an angle of 31J °, the latitude of
Alexandria being 31° 12'. The errors of the hour
lines are not more than would be expected in work
of this time. On the top sloping face are two lines
drawn near the edge. One is parallel to the edge,
and therefore the true north line. The other meets
it at an angle of 40 48' + 5', and seems as if intended
to be used for setting the dial true by pointing it to
a pole-star at greatest elongation west. The only
star which this could agree with in Roman times is
5 or a Ursae minoris, which, though of fourth magni-
tude, would be easily found by being in line with the
two front stars of the Bear. This star was nearest to
the pole at 530 B.C., being then 4^° distant, and by
100 A.D. it was 5° 19' distant. But as the observation
was probably not exact to more than half a degree,
and very likely a distance observed in Greek times
was carried on into Roman usage, no exactitude is
to be looked for in the precise amount. Enough to
say that a line on a polar plane, which is 40 48'
askew, would serve fairly in Roman times to adjust
a dial at the greatest elongation of the pole star,
which is the only position for accurate observa-
tion without elaborate instruments. I am indebted
to Mr. E. B. Knobel and the Rev. F. A. Jones for
notes on this star.
Figs. 13, 14 are two of a group of baskets found
stacked together in a large jar ; this stood in a
chamber north-east of the pyramid, near the mum-
mies 17-19. The baskets were tender when found,
but by dipping them in hot rice-water they have been
put in safe condition. Probably they were left behind
after holding a funeral feast in the cemetery. Pis.
xvii and xviii are described in the previous chapter.
46. PL xix. The limestone figure, 1, should
rather be in the second volume, The Labyrinth, as the
copy of inscription and translation is given there. It
is of an official of the xixth dynasty, before the age
dealt with here. (Manchester.)
The bulls' skulls, 2, 3, were found in a group of
bones of four oxen lying all together buried in the
corner of a chamber at the feet of portrait mummy
No. 1. Three of them had wide horns, and one had
lyre horns. When found they appeared as if they
must have been a funeral sacrifice of Roman age ; as
work went on, no such sacrifices appeared connected
with other late burials; and after some exposure
there was seen the mouth of a square shaft below
them. They are probably therefore offerings piled
over a pit tomb of the xiith dynasty; and a Roman
tomb chamber has been built above them, and
burials placed beside them. (Nat. Hist. Mus., S.
Kensington.)
Two small limestone altars were found in the
cemetery. One partly broken had figures of offerers
on the end, 4 ; and a ba bird by a sycomore tree, 5,
at one side of the spout. The inscriptions are illegible.
A larger altar had groups of offerings on the top, 6 ;
and figures making offerings to Osiris, Isis, and Neb-
hat, 7, on the side. (Ny Carlsberg.)
47. PI, xx. A limestone head, about two-thirds
of life size, was found in a chamber, to the north-east
of the pyramid. This is just where in 1888 I
recorded on the plan (Hawara, xxv) that there was a
Roman statue, which was headless. Unhappily the
statue has disappeared before the head was found to
render it of value. The work of this, though mechani-
cal, has kept to fairly good Greek traditions. The
eyes have been of black and white glass, as on
mummy cases ; the black centres are now lost, and
only indicated by the flat circle on the white. The
nose and upper lip had been anciently broken off,
and then remodelled in plaster, which is of rare
occurrence. (Ny Carlsberg.)
The tomb steles 2 to 8 are of usual types, and I
am indebted to Prof. Ernest Gardner for reading
some of them.
2. The figures are of Akhilion and his wife ador-
ing the hawk-headed Ra, and a figure with the crown
of Lower Egypt, which might be Neit or a king.
"To Ra-Moeris the twice great God, by Akhilion
son of Akousilos, for himself and his wife and his
children. Year io, Thoth 8." (Cambridge.)
3. Though much is lost this is seen to record the
death of a lady at the age of 50 with her twin chil-
dren, " farewell to both of them, farewell also to thee."
There is nothing to show that she died at the same
time as the twins; it might be put up by a widower
on his wife's death, commemorating their children who
died before. (Cambridge.)
4. " Soukhas, Nomographos, lived 64 years, grief-
less. The son Soukhas (lived) 35 years." (Not-
tingham.) It is possible that this is the S . . . . s