3/5/2009
105
The Basalt Stone
Finally,
Paul had cleared the framed area of the stone. It was a section
nearly two meters by a meter and a half. Within it was carved
two facing women seated on thrones. They were depicted
in early kingdom style yet with many more details than Paul
had ever seen in this kind of relief. But the most intriguing aspect
of both was their beauty. Paul never set his eyes on such beauty.
Their eyes were luminous, large and slightly slanted, but not in
the usual Egyptian stylistic representation. The lips were well
defined and sensuous. They revealed the thoughts of the women
as he saw no other Egyptian engraving do before. The cheekbones
were evident and high. The nose was straight but not
large. Beauty radiated out of the time-worn relief, and was itself
as disturbing as the rest of the inscriptions.