DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14563#0239
BKICK-1IAKIXG.
203
and stuffed and painted arm-chairs. Here are vases of por-
celain ; leopard skins, prepared for ornaments ; basins and
ewers ; fans, and embroidered articles ; specimens of which,
are in Dr. Abbott's museum. In another are portrayed
agricultural employments. Here we see an inundation of
the Nile; the process of sowing and of reaping; the com-
mon fruits of the country, grapes and dates ; also birds and
eggs. We find the same rude plow already described as in
common use. In some tombs we learn the popular sports :
wrestling, dancing, gymnastic exercises, fishing, and the
chase. In others are seen triumphal processions; represent-
ing kings and conquered nations, or religious ceremonials.
Captives are seen beheaded, or with their right hands cut
off. From one tomb I copied a sculpture of a negro slave
with marked physiognomy. Slaves are frequently depicted ;
one female slave is seen in the disagreeable act of holding a
ewer to her mistress, who is relieving herself of a surfeit of
food. Comical touches and caricatures are often introduced
in these decorations.
One of the most interesting tombs at Thebes is that of
Jiockscere, " the overseer of public buildings," under Thoth-
mes III. — probably the Pharaoh of the Exodus. I have
already spoken of this monarch as a great architect, and the
subjects represented on the walls of this tomb illustrate this
fact. It was appropriate that the tomb of his master-builder
should be illustrated by such subjects. Here the monarch
is seen presenting obelisks to the divinity, and these obe-
lisks are found at this day in the temple of Karnac. Here,
too, is depicted the tvhole process of urichmahing — the slaves
of the king shaping the mud of the Nile into crude brick,
just as the fellahs are seen doing at this day. Taskmasters
with whips are stationed at intervals among the workmen, a
pictorial representation of the scenes that daily occurred
among the Israelites in their cruel bondage. The picture is
203
and stuffed and painted arm-chairs. Here are vases of por-
celain ; leopard skins, prepared for ornaments ; basins and
ewers ; fans, and embroidered articles ; specimens of which,
are in Dr. Abbott's museum. In another are portrayed
agricultural employments. Here we see an inundation of
the Nile; the process of sowing and of reaping; the com-
mon fruits of the country, grapes and dates ; also birds and
eggs. We find the same rude plow already described as in
common use. In some tombs we learn the popular sports :
wrestling, dancing, gymnastic exercises, fishing, and the
chase. In others are seen triumphal processions; represent-
ing kings and conquered nations, or religious ceremonials.
Captives are seen beheaded, or with their right hands cut
off. From one tomb I copied a sculpture of a negro slave
with marked physiognomy. Slaves are frequently depicted ;
one female slave is seen in the disagreeable act of holding a
ewer to her mistress, who is relieving herself of a surfeit of
food. Comical touches and caricatures are often introduced
in these decorations.
One of the most interesting tombs at Thebes is that of
Jiockscere, " the overseer of public buildings," under Thoth-
mes III. — probably the Pharaoh of the Exodus. I have
already spoken of this monarch as a great architect, and the
subjects represented on the walls of this tomb illustrate this
fact. It was appropriate that the tomb of his master-builder
should be illustrated by such subjects. Here the monarch
is seen presenting obelisks to the divinity, and these obe-
lisks are found at this day in the temple of Karnac. Here,
too, is depicted the tvhole process of urichmahing — the slaves
of the king shaping the mud of the Nile into crude brick,
just as the fellahs are seen doing at this day. Taskmasters
with whips are stationed at intervals among the workmen, a
pictorial representation of the scenes that daily occurred
among the Israelites in their cruel bondage. The picture is