MANUAL OF EGYPTIAN ARCHAEOLOGY
AND
Guide to the Study of Antiquities in Egypt.
FOR THE USE OF STUDENTS AND TRAVELLERS.
BY
G. MASPERO, D.C.L. OXON.
MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTE OF FRANCE;
PROFESSOR AT THE COLLÈGE DE FRANCE;
EX-DIRECTOR GENERAL OF EGYPTIAN MUSEUMS.
TRANSLATED BY
AMELIA B. EDWARDS.
NEW EDITION, REVISED AND ENLARGED BY THE AUTHOR.
With Three Hundred and Nine Illustrations.
1895.
PREFACE TO THE FOURTH AND REVISED EDITION.
Notwithstanding the fact that Egyptology is now recognised as a science, an exact and communicable knowledge of whose existence and scope it behoves all modern culture to take cognisance, this work of M. Maspero still remains the Handbook of Egyptian Archaeology. But Egyptology is as yet in its infancy; whatever their age, Egyptologists will long die young. Every year, almost every month, fresh material for the study is found, fresh light is thrown upon it by the progress of excavation, exploration, and research. Hence it follows that, in the course of a few years, the standard text-books require considerable addition and modification if they are to be of the greatest value to students, who must always start from the foremost vantage-ground.
The increasing demand for the Egyptian Archaeology by English and American tourists, as well as students, decided the English publishers to issue a new edition in as light and portable a form as possible. This edition is carefully corrected, and contains the enlarged letterpress and many fresh illustrations necessary for incorporating within the book adequate accounts of the main archaeological results of recent Egyptian excavations. M. Maspero has himself revised the work, indicated all the numerous additions, and qualified the expression of any views which he has seen reason to modify in the course of his researches during the past eight years. By the headings of the pages, the descriptive titles of the illustrations, and a minute revision of the index, much has been done to facilitate the use of the volume as a book of reference. In that capacity it will be needed by the student long after he first makes acquaintance with its instructive and abundant illustrations and its luminous condensation of the archaeological facts and conclusions which have been elucidated by Egyptology through the devotion of many an arduous lifetime during the present century, and, not least, by the unremitting labours of M. Maspero.
April, 1895.
PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.
To put this book into English, and thus to hand it on to thousands who might not otherwise have enjoyed it, has been to me a very congenial and interesting task. It would be difficult, I imagine, to point to any work of its scope and character which is better calculated to give lasting delight to all classes of readers. For the skilled archaeologist, its pages contain not only new facts, but new views and new interpretations; while to those who know little, or perhaps nothing, of the subjects under discussion, it will open a fresh and fascinating field of study. It is not enough to say that a handbook of Egyptian Archaeology was much needed, and that Professor Maspero has given us exactly what we required. He has done much more than this. He has given us a picturesque, vivacious, and highly original volume, as delightful as if it were not learned, and as instructive as if it were dull.
As regards the practical side of Archaeology, it ought to be unnecessary to point out that its usefulness is strictly parallel with the usefulness of public museums. To collect and exhibit objects of ancient art and industry is worse than idle if we do not also endeavour to disseminate some knowledge of the history of those arts and industries, and of the processes employed by the artists and craftsmen of the past. Archaeology, no less than love, "adds a precious seeing to the eye"; and without that gain of mental sight, the treasures of our public collections are regarded by the general visitor as mere "curiosities"--flat and stale for the most part, and wholly unprofitable.
I am much indebted to Mr. W.M. Flinders Petrie, author of The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh, for kindly translating the section on "Pyramids," which is entirely from his pen. I have also to thank him for many valuable notes on subjects dealt with in the first three chapters. To avoid confusion, I have numbered these notes, and placed them at the end of the volume.
My acknowledgments are likewise due to Professor Maspero for the care with which he has read the proof-sheets of this version of his work. In departing from his system of orthography (and that of Mr. Petrie) I have been solely guided by the necessities of English readers. I foresee that Egyptian Archaeology will henceforth be the inseparable companion of all English-speaking travellers who visit the Valley of the Nile; hence I have for the most part adopted the spelling of Egyptian proper names as given by the author of "Murray's Handbook for Egypt."
Touching my own share in the present volume, I will only say that I have tried to present Professor Maspero's inimitable French in the form of readable English, rather than in a strictly word-for-word translation; and that with the hope of still further extending the usefulness of the book, I have added some foot-note references.
AMELIA B. EDWARDS.
WESTBURY-ON-TRYM,
August, 1887.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
[ARCHITECTURE--CIVIL AND MILITARY.]
§ [1]. HOUSES: Bricks and Brickmaking, Foundations, Materials, Towns, Plans, Decoration
§ [2]. FORTRESSES: Walls, Plans, Migdols, etc.
§ [3]. PUBLIC WORKS: Roads, Bridges, Storehouses, Canals, Lake Moeris, Dams, Reservoirs, Quarries
CHAPTER II.
§ [1]. MATERIALS; PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION: Materials of Temples, Foundations of Temples, Sizes of Blocks, Mortars, Mode of hoisting Blocks, Defective Masonry, Walls, Pavements, Vaultings, Supports, Pillars and Columns, Capitals, Campaniform Capitals, Lotus-bud Capitals, Hathor-headed Capitals
§ [2]. TEMPLES: Temples of the Sphinx, Temples of Elephantine, Temple at El Kab, Temple of Khonsû, Arrangement of Temples, Levels, Crypts, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Philae, The Speos, or Rock-cut Temple, Speos of Horemheb, Rock-cut Temples of Abû Simbel, Temple of Deir el Baharî, Temple of Abydos, Sphinxes, Crio-sphinxes
§ [3]. DECORATION: Principles of Decoration, The Temple a Symbolic Representation of the World, Decoration of Parts nearest the Ground, Dadoes, Bases of Columns, Decoration of Ceilings, Decoration of Architraves, Decoration of Wall-surfaces, Magic Virtues of Decoration, Decoration of Pylons, Statues, Obelisks, Libation-tables, Altars, Shrines, Sacred Boats, Moving Statues of Deities
CHAPTER III.
§ [1]. MASTABAS: Construction of the Mastaba, The Door of the Living, and the Door of the Dead, The Chapel, Wall Decorations, The Double and his Needs, The Serdab, Ka Statues, The Sepulchral Chamber
§ [2]. PYRAMIDS: Plan of the Pyramid comprises three leading features of the Mastaba, Materials of Pyramids, Orientation, Pyramid of Khûfû, Pyramids of Khafra and Menkara, Step Pyramid of Sakkarah, Pyramid of Ûnas, Decoration of Pyramid of Ûnas, Group of Dashûr, Pyramid of Medum
§ [3]. TOMBS OF THE THEBAN EMPIRE; THE ROCK-CUT TOMBS: Pyramid-mastabas of Abydos, Pyramid-mastabas of Drah Abû'l Neggah, Rock-cut Tombs of Beni Hasan and Syene, Rock-cut Tombs of Siût, Wall-decoration of Theban Catacombs, Tombs of the Kings of the Eighteenth Dynasty at Thebes, Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, Royal Catacombs, Tomb of Seti I., Wall-decorations of Royal Catacombs, Funerary Furniture of Catacombs, Ûshabtiû, Amulets, Common Graves of the Poor
CHAPTER IV.
§ [1]. DRAWING AND COMPOSITION: Supposed Canon of Proportion, Drawing Materials, Sketches, Illustrations to the Book of the Dead, Conventional Treatment of Animal and Human Figures, Naturalistic Treatment, Composition, Grouping, Wall-paintings of Tombs, A Funerary Feast, A Domestic Scene, Military Subjects, Perspective, Parallel between a Wall-painting in a Tomb at Sakkarah and the Mosaic of Palestrina
§ [2]. TECHNICAL PROCESSES: The Preparation of Surfaces, Outline, Sculptors' Tools, Iron and Bronze Tools, Impurity of Iron, Methods of Instruction in Sculpture, Models, Methods of cutting Various Stones, Polish, Painted Sculptures, Pigments, Conventional Scale of Colour, Relation of Painting to Sculpture in Ancient Egypt
§ [3]. SCULPTURE: The Great Sphinx, Art of the Memphite School, Wood-panels of Hesi, Funerary Statues, The Portrait-statue and the Double , Chefs d'oeuvre of the Memphite School, The Cross-legged Scribe, Diorite Statue of Khafra, Rahotep and Nefert, The Sheikh el Beled, The Kneeling Scribe, The Dwarf Nemhotep, Royal Statues of the Twelfth Dynasty, Hyksos Sphinxes of Tanis, Theban School of the Eighteenth Dynasty, Colossi of Amenhotep III., New School of Tel el Amarna, Its Superior Grace and Truth, Works of Horemheb, School of the Nineteenth Dynasty, Colossi of Rameses II., Decadence of Art begins with Merenptah, Ethiopian Renaissance, Saïte Renaissance, The Attitudes of Statues, Saïte Innovations, Greek Influence upon Egyptian Art, The Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, The School of Meroë, Extinction of Egyptian Art
CHAPTER V.
§ [1]. STONE, CLAY, AND GLASS: Precious Stones, Lapidary Art, Beads and Amulets, Scarabaei, Statuettes, Libation Tables, Perfume Vases, Kohl-pots, Pottery, Clay, Glazes, Red and Painted Wares, Ûshabtiû, Funerary Cones, Painted Vases, "Canopic" Vases, Clay Sarcophagi, Glass, Its Chemical Constituents, Clear Glass, Coloured Glass, Imitations of Precious Stones in Glass, Glass Mosaics, Miniature Objects in Coloured Glass, Glass Amulets, Coloured Glass Vases, Enamels, The Theban Blue, The Enamels of Tell el Amarna, Enamelled Ûshabtiû of Amen Ptahmes, Enamelled Tiles of the Step Pyramid at Sakkarah, Enamelled Tiles of Tell el Yahûdeh
§ [2]. WOOD, IVORY, LEATHER; TEXTILE FABRICS: Bone and Ivory, Elephant Tusks, Dyed Ivory, Egyptian Woods, Wooden Statuettes, Statuette of Hori, Statuette of Naï, Wooden Toilet Ornaments, Perfume and Unguent Spoons, Furniture, Chests and Coffers, Mummy-cases, Wooden Effigies on Mummy Cases, Huge Outer Cases of Ahmesnefertari and Aahhotep, Funerary Furniture, Beds, Canopies, Sledges, Chairs, Stools, Thrones, Textiles, Methods of Weaving, Leather, Breast-bands of Mummies, Patchwork Canopy in Coloured Leather of Princess Isiemkheb, Embroideries, Muslins, Celebrated Textiles of Alexandria
§ [3]. METALS: Iron, Lead, Bronze, Constituents of Egyptian Bronze, Domestic Utensils in Bronze, Mirrors, Scissors, Bronze Statuettes, The Stroganoff Bronze, The Posno Bronzes, The Lion of Apries, Gilding, Gold-plating, Gold-leaf, Statues and Statuettes of Precious Metals , The Silver and Golden Cups of General Tahûti, The Silver Vases of Thmûis, Silver Plate, Goldsmith's Work, Richness of Patterns, Jewellery, Funerary Jewellery, Rings, Seal-rings, Chains, The Jewels of Queen Aahhotep, The Ring of Rameses II., The Ear-rings of Rameses IX., The Bracelet of Prince Psar, Conclusion
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
FIGURE
[1]. Brickmaking, tomb of Rekhmara, Eighteenth Dynasty
[2]. House with vaulted floors, Medinet Habû
[3]. Plan of the town of Kahûn, Twelfth Dynasty
[4]. Plan of house, Medinet Habû, Twentieth Dynasty
[5]. Plan of house, Medinet Habû, Twentieth Dynasty
[6]. Façade of house of Second Theban Period
[7]. Plan of house of Second Theban Period
[8]. Restoration of hall in Twelfth Dynasty house, Kahûn
[9]. Box representing a house
[10]. Wall-painting in Twelfth Dynasty house, Kahûn
[11]. View of mansion, tomb of Anna, Eighteenth Dynasty
[12]. Porch of mansion of Second Theban Period
[13]. Porch of mansion of Second Theban Period
[14]. Plan of Theban house and grounds, Eighteenth Dynasty
[15]. A perspective view of same
[16]. Part of palace of Aï, El Amarna tomb, Eighteenth Dynasty
[17]. Perspective view of part of palace of Aï
[18]. Frontage of house, Second Theban Period
[19]. Frontage of house, Second Theban Period
[20]. Central pavilion of house, Second Theban Period
[21]. Ceiling decoration from house at Medinet Habû, Twentieth Dynasty
[22]. Ceiling decoration, Twelfth Dynasty style
[23]. Ceiling decoration, tomb of Aimadûa, Twentieth Dynasty
[24]. Door of house, Sixth Dynasty tomb
[25]. Façade of Fourth Dynasty house, sarcophagus of Khûfû Poskhû
[26]. Plan of second fortress at Abydos, Eleventh or Twelfth Dynasty
[27]. Walls of same fortress, restored
[28]. Façade of fort, tomb at Beni Hasan, Twelfth Dynasty
[29]. Plan of main gate, second fortress of Abydos
[30]. Plan of S.E. gate of same
[31]. Plan of gate, fortress of Kom el Ahmar
[32]. Plan of walled city at El Kab
[33]. Plan of walled city at Kom Ombo
[34]. Plan of fortress of Kûmmeh
[35]. Plan of fortress of Semneh
[36]. Section of platform of same
[37]. Syrian fort, elevation
[38]. Town walls of Dapûr
[39]. City of Kaclesh, Ramesseum
[40]. Plan of pavilion of Medinet Habû, Twentieth Dynasty
[41]. Elevation of same
[42]. Canal and bridge of Zarû, Karnak, Nineteenth Dynasty
[43]. Cellar with amphorae
[44]. Granary
[45]. Plan of Store City of Pithom, Nineteenth Dynasty
[46]. Store-chambers of the Ramesseum
[47]. Dike at Wady Gerraweh
[48]. Section of same dike
[49]. Quarries of Silsilis
[50]. Draught of Hathor capital, quarry of Gebel Abûfeydeh
[51]. Transport of blocks, stela of Ahmes, Tûrrah, Eighteenth Dynasty
[52]. Masonry in temple of Seti I., Abydos
[53]. Temple wall with cornice
[54]. Niche and doorway in temple of Seti I., Abydos
[55]. Pavement in same temple
[56]. "Corbelled" vault in same temple
[57]. Hathor pillar in temple of Abû Simbel, Nineteenth Dynasty
[58]. Pillar of Amenhotep III., Karnak
[59]. Sixteen-sided pillars, Karnak
[60]. Fluted pillar, Kalabsheh
[61]. Polygonal Hathor-headed pillar, El Kab
[62]. Column with square die, Contra Esneh
[63]. Column with campaniform capital, Ramesseum
[64]. Inverted campaniform capital, Karnak
[65]. Palm capital, Bubastis
[66]. Compound capital
[67]. Ornate capitals, Ptolemaic
[68]. Lotus-bud column, Beni Hasan, Twelfth Dynasty
[69]. Lotus-bud column, processional hall of Thothmes HI., Karnak
[70]. Column in aisle of Hypostyle Hall, Karnak
[71]. Hathor-head capital, Ptolemaic
[72]. Campaniform and Hathor-headed capital, Philae
[73]. Section of Hypostyle Hall, Karnak
[74]. Plan of the temple of the Sphinx
[75]. South temple of Elephantine
[76]. Plan of temple of Amenhotep III., El Kab
[77]. Plan of temple of Hathor, Deir el Medineh
[78]. Plan of temple of Khonsû, Karnak
[79]. Pylon with masts, wall-scene, temple of Khonsû, Karnak
[80]. Ramesseum, restored
[81]. Plan of sanctuary at Denderah
[82]. Pronaos, temple of Edfû
[83]. Plan of same temple
[84]. Plan of temple of Karnak in reign of Amenhotep III
[85]. Plan of Hypostyle Hall, Karnak
[86]. Plan of great temple, Luxor
[87]. Plan of buildings on island of Philae
[88]. Plan of Speos, Kalaat Addah
[89]. Plan of Speos, Gebel Silsileh
[90]. Plan of Great Speos, Abû Simbel
[91]. Plan of Speos of Hathor, Abû Simbel
[92]. Plan of upper portion of temple of Deir el Baharî
[93]. Plan of temple of Seti I., Abydos
[94]. Crio-sphinx from temple of Wady Es Sabûah
[95]. Couchant ram, from Avenue of Sphinxes, Karnak
[96], [97], [98], [99], [100], [101]. Decorative designs from Denderah
[102]. Decorative group of Nile gods
[103]. Dado decoration, hall of Thothmes III., Karnak
[104]. Ceiling decoration, tomb of Bakenrenf, Twenty-sixth Dynasty
[105]. Zodiacal circle of Denderah
[106]. Frieze of uraei and cartouches
[107]. Wall-scene from temple of Denderah
[108]. Obelisk of Heliopolis, Twelfth Dynasty
[109]. Obelisk of Begig, Twelfth Dynasty
[110]. "Table of offerings" from Karnak
[111]. Limestone altar from Menshîyeh
[112]. Wooden naos, in Turin Museum
[113]. A mastaba
[114]. False door in mastaba
[115]. Plan of forecourt, mastaba of Kaäpir
[116]. Plan of forecourt, mastaba of Neferhotep
[117]. Door in mastaba façade
[118]. Portico and door of mastaba
[119]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Khabiûsokari
[120]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Ti
[121]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Shepsesptah
[122]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Affi
[123]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Thenti
[124]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Red Scribe
[125]. Plan of chapel, mastaba of Ptahhotep
[126]. Stela in mastaba of Merrûka
[127]. Wall-scene from mastaba of Ptahhotep
[128]. Wall-scene from mastaba of Ûrkhûû
[129]. Wall-scene from mastaba of Ptahhotep
[130]. Plan of serdab in mastaba at Gizeh
[131]. Plan of serdab and chapel in mastaba of Rahotep
[132]. Plan of serdab and chapel in mastaba of Thenti
[133]. Section of mastaba showing shaft and vault, at Gizeh
[134]. Section of mastaba, at Sakkarah
[135]. Wall-scene from mastaba of Nenka
[136]. Section of Great Pyramid
[137]. The Step Pyramid of Sakkarah
[138]. Plan and section of pyramid of Ûnas
[139]. Portcullis and passage, pyramid of Ûnas
[140]. Section of pyramid of Ûnas
[141]. Mastabat el Faraûn
[142]. Pyramid of Medûm
[143]. Section of passage and vault in pyramid of Medûm
[144]. Section of "vaulted" brick pyramid, Abydos, Eleventh Dynasty
[145]. Section of "vaulted" tomb, Abydos
[146]. Plan of tomb, Abydos
[147]. Theban tomb with pyramidion, wall-scene, tomb at Sheikh Abd el Gûrneh
[148]. Similar tomb
[149]. Section of Apis tomb, Eighteenth Dynasty
[150]. Tombs in cliff opposite Asûan
[151]. Façade of rock-cut tomb of Khnûmhotep, Beni Hasan, Twelfth Dynasty
[152]. Façade of rock-cut tomb, Asûan
[153]. Plan of tomb of Khnûmhotep, Beni Hasan, Twelfth Dynasty
[154]. Plan of unfinished tomb, Beni Hasan, Twelfth Dynasty
[155]. Wall-scene, tomb of Manna, Nineteenth Dynasty
[156]. Plan of tomb of Rameses IV.
[157]. Plan of tomb of Rameses IV., from Turin papyrus
[158]. Plan of tomb of Seti I.
[159]. Fields of Aalû, wall-scene, tomb of Rameses III.
[160]. Pestle and mortar for grinding colours
[161]. Comic sketch on ostrakon
[162]. Vignette from Book of the Dead, Saïte period
[163]. Vignette from Book of the Dead, papyrus of Hûnefer
[164], [165]. Wall-scenes, tomb of Khnûmhotep, Beni Hasan
[166]. Wall-scene, tomb, Eighteenth Dynasty
[167]. Wall-scene, tomb of Horemheb
[168]. Wall-scene, Theban tomb, Ramesside period
[169]. Wall-scene, tomb of Horemheb
[170]. Wall-scene, Ramesseum
[171]. Wall-scene, Medinet Habû
[172]. Wall-scene, Ramesseum
[173]. Wall-scene, Ramesseum
[174]. Wall-scene, tomb of Rekhmara
[175]. Wall-scene, tomb of Rekhmara
[176]. Wall-scene, mastaba of Ptahhotep
[177]. Palestrina mosaic
[178]. Sculptor's sketch, Ancient Empire tomb
[179]. Sculptor's sketch, Ancient Empire tomb
[180]. Sculptor's correction, Medinet Habû, Twentieth Dynasty
[181]. Bow drill
[182]. Sculptor's trial-piece, Eighteenth Dynasty
[183]. The Great Sphinx of Gizeh
[184]. Wooden panel, mastaba of Hesî
[185]. Cross-legged scribe, in the Louvre, Ancient Empire
[186]. Cross-legged scribe, at Gizeh, Ancient Empire
[187]. King Khafra
[188]. The "Sheikh el Beled" (Raemka), Ancient Empire
[189]. Rahotep, Ancient Empire
[190]. Nefert, wife of Rahotep, Ancient Empire
[191]. Head of the "Sheikh el Beled," Ancient Empire
[192]. Wife of the "Sheikh el Beled," Ancient Empire
[193]. The kneeling scribe, at Gizeh. Ancient Empire
[194]. A bread-maker, Ancient Empire
[195]. The dwarf Nemhotep, Ancient Empire
[196]. One of the Tanis sphinxes, Hyksos period
[197]. Bas-relief head of Seti I.
[198]. Amen and Horemheb
[199]. Head of a queen, Eighteenth Dynasty
[200]. Head of Horemheb
[201]. Colossal statue of Rameses 11.
[202]. Queen Ameniritis.
[203]. Thûeris, Saïte period
[204]. Hathor cow, Saïte period
[205]. Pedishashi, Saïte period
[206]. Head of a scribe, Saïte period
[207]. Colossus of Alexander II.
[208]. Hor, Graeco-Egyptian
[209]. Group from Naga, Ethiopian School
[210]. Ta amulet
[211]. Frog amulet
[212]. Ûat amulet
[213]. Ûta amulet
[214]. A scarab
[215], [216], [217]. Perfume vases, alabaster
[218]. Perfume vase, alabaster
[219]. Vase for antimony powder
[220]. Turin vases, pottery
[221], [222], [223]. Decorated vases, pottery
[224]. Glass-blowers, wall-scene, Twelfth Dynasty
[225], 226. Parti-cloured glass vases
[227]. Parti-coloured glass vase
[228]. Glass goblets of Nesikhonsû
[229]. Hippopotamus in blue glaze
[230], [231]. Theban glazed ware
[232]. Cup, glazed ware
[233]. Interior decoration of bowl, Eighteenth Dynasty
[234]. Lenticular vase, glazed ware, Saïte period
[235]. Tiled chamber in Step Pyramid of Sakkarah
[236]. Tile from same
[237]. Tile, Tell el Yahûdeh, Twentieth Dynasty
[238]. Tile, Tell el Yahûdeh, Twentieth Dynasty
[239]. Inlaid tiles, Tell el Yahûdeh, Twentieth Dynasty
[240], [241]. Relief tiles, Tell el Yahûdeh, Twentieth Dynasty
[242]. Spoon
[243]. Wooden statuette of officer, Eighteenth Dynasty
[244]. Wooden statuette of priest, Eighteenth Dynasty
[245]. Wooden statuette of Naï
[246], [247], [248], [249], [250], [251], [252], [253], [254]. Wooden perfume and unguent spoons
[255]. Fire-sticks, bow, and unfinished drill- stock, Twelfth Dynasty
[256]. Dolls, Twelfth Dynasty
[257]. Tops, tip-cat, and toy boat, Twelfth Dynasty
[261]. Construction of a mummy-case, wall- scene, Eighteenth Dynasty
[262]. Mask of Twenty-first Dynasty coffin of Rameses II
[263]. Mummy-case of Queen Ahmesnefertari
[264]. Panel portrait from the Fayûm, Graeco- Roman
[265]. Carved and painted mummy-canopy
[266]. Canopied mummy-couch, Graeco-Roman
[267]. Mummy-sledge and canopy
[268]. Inlaid chair, Eleventh Dynasty
[269]. Inlaid stool, Eleventh Dynasty
[270]. Throne-chair, wall-scene, Twentieth Dynasty