1	Aegypt: The Ancient World through the Eyes of the Egyptians L.D. Alford Session 6: Tombs and Constructions www.lionelalford.com www.ldalford.com www.aegyptnovel.com
2	Introduction Aegypt Historical fiction novel with a fantasy/suspense driver Idea 1992, start 1992, finished 1994 Published by Copestone in Jan 08 Follows Lieutenant Paul Bolang Time July-Nov 1926 Location Tunisia (French Colony)
3	Class Syllabus 1. Novel, characters, history, politics 2. Tunisia (French colony) and Egypt (British colony) in time and place 3. Paganism and the Egyptian pantheon 4. Egyptian life 5. Egyptian hieroglyphics 6. Egyptian tombs and constructions 7. Legion Etrangere, French Foreign Legion 8. Conclusion
4	The Antechamber
5	The Temple Paul took the marked fragments of stone from his bags, “I found the remains of the temple.” Audrey and Parrain rose to their feet. “Where is it?” they both spoke together, looking about them as if they expected to find themselves standing in the midst of the ruins. “All that is left of it is at the bottom of the precipice.” Paul handed them the stone pieces. “It was thrown out over the cliff into the Chott. The stones lie in a fan directly below the closest point of the foundation from the edge of the plateau.” “So close to us,” Parrain pronounced.
6	The Temple “Can it be seen from the top?” Audrey asked. “That is where I first noticed it,” Paul answered. “But it’s too dark to look now.” “Certainly,” Audrey remarked with his finger upon his nose. “Each piece of the puzzle slips into place. You were right, Lieutenant Bolang; the temple was destroyed and hidden. For perhaps 4000 years this tomb has been unknown, untouched, unseen by mortal man. Ah...tomorrow what shall we find?” Audrey’s face glowed with passion in the flickering firelight. “Think about that, gentlemen. What great items of antiquity shall we discover tomorrow? What wonders shall this tomb reveal?”
7	Temple Function Literal - homes of the gods Every temple dedicated to a god or goddess Worshipped there by temple priests
8	Temple: Function review Servants of gods - The daily temple rituals was performed to honor the gods by paying them courtesy and respect 1- At dawn the priests would intone a hymn that began "Awake in peace, great god" and open the sanctuary door, where the statue of the god was housed 2- A ritual prayer would be spoken four time over the image of the god, giving the gods back his soul so that he could reassert his physical earthly shape.
9	Temple: Function review 3- god's image was cleansed, rubbed with oil, purified, incense burned to fumigate the sanctuary. Image re-dressed in new linen garments of white, red, blue and green colors, perfumes and cosmetics applied to his face, and adorned with jewels. 4- Breakfast meal was then laid out before the shrine and god. Baskets of fruit and jars of beer and wine. All offerings were prepared in temple kitchens, no blood was spilt on god's altar, nor was the animal slaughtered in the sight of god.
10	Temple: Function review 5- Once god had his fill, food removed, and returned to kitchens to be distributed as wages to temple personnel. Image and entire sanctuary sprinkled with water, 5 grains of natron and resin placed on floor, more incense wafted. Doors of the sanctuary were then closed and resealed Natron is a naturally occurring mixture of sodium carbonate decahydrate (Na2CO3·10H2O, soda ash) and about 17% sodium bicarbonate (nahcolite or baking soda, NaHCO3) along with small quantities salt (halite, sodium chloride) and sodium sulfate. White when pure, varying to gray or yellow with impurities. Deposits occur naturally as a part of saline lake beds in arid environments.
11	Temple Evolution Vast temple complexes of the New Kingdom grew out of humble beginnings Local population Built small mud-brick shrine for their own, local deity Chose priests out of their midst to serve it Brought offerings in return for favors and protection Expanded shrine slowly over centuries by adding new wings Eventually state began to administer (replaced mud-brick with stone buildings)
12	Temple Evolution Over time, involvement of general public in the temple ceremonies became small Ordinary people had no access to inner regions of temples which could only be entered after elaborate purification rituals Temple buildings in the New Kingdom Made of stone Walls covered with colored scenes carved onto the stone Generally, showed Pharaoh fighting in battles and perform rituals with gods
13	Temple Evolution Single buildings or great complexes Essential component for any temple was innermost shrine, where statue of god was kept Activities of temple revolved around worship and celebration of god's cult, and religious festivals Around many Temples sacred lakes or pools Allowed both priests and followers attend and perform their religious rites in a state of purity.
14	Temple Evolution Temples owned Land Livestock Received donations Received taxes Support large armies of priests and servants
15	Temple Components Five components found in all Egyptian temples 1- Pylons: Large gates of temple, carved and painted with scenes of Pharaoh, gods and goddesses In front of the pylons obelisks and statues of Pharaohs
16	Pylons
17	Aegypt Temple torn down 1- Pylons: Large gates of temple, carved and painted with scenes of Pharaoh, gods and goddesses In front of the pylons obelisks and statues of Pharaohs Basalt Plug
18	Temple Components 2- Outer Court: Large open Hall, decorated walls showed scenes of Pharaoh and gods Transitional purpose, served as interface between outside world and sanctified regions deeper within People only allowed to enter Outer Courtyard on festival days Sometimes a second pylon led to Hypostyle hall deeper inside
19	Courtyards
20	Aegypt 2- Outer Court: Large open Hall, decorated walls showed scenes of Pharaoh and gods Sometimes a second pylon led to Hypostyle hall deeper inside Inner hall
21	Temple Components 3- Hypostyle Hall: Large colonnaded hall entirely roofed except for central aisle lit by windows Scenes of religious rituals carved into walls capital of the massive column often in shape of papyrus Flower Only priests and Pharaohs allowed to enter the hypostyle hall Used for religious rituals
22	Hypostyle Hall
23	Aegypt 3- Hypostyle Hall: Large colonnaded hall entirely roofed except for central aisle lit by windows Scenes of religious rituals carved into walls capital of the massive column often in shape of papyrus Flower The Antechamber
24	Temple Components 4- Sanctuary: Sanctuary most special and important part of the temple Very dark and relatively small room Only High Priest and Pharaoh could ever enter In middle of sanctuary stood shrine with statue of god
25	Sanctuary
26	Aegypt 4- Sanctuary: Very dark and relatively small room In middle of sanctuary stood shrine with statue of god The Tomb
27	Temple Components 5- Sacred Lake: Most temple precincts included sacred lake Archaeologists excavated a number of these in temples of New Kingdom Priests used water from sacred lake to perform rituals in the temple Remember critical aspect of bathing to people and temple
28	Sacred Lake
29	Aegypt 5- Sacred Lake: Priests used water from sacred lake to perform rituals in the temple Chotts
30	Temple Layout
31	Tombs Two annotated ancient tomb plans principal sources Plan of the tomb of Rameses IV (KV 2) Papyrus Egyptian Museum, Turin (cat. 1885) Drawing of tomb plan from corridor D to corridor K and side chambers behind burial chamber J Other side of papyrus, series of hieratic notes give measurements of a tomb from entryway A to pillared chamber F Likely tomb KV 9, initiated under Rameses V
32	Tombs Complete plan of KV 6 Limestone ostracon Discovered in KV 9 or KV 6 by Georges Daressy in 1888 Egyptian Museum, Cairo (CG 25184), Hieratic labels now difficult to read Probably not a plan to guide tomb builders but a record of completed work Equivalent of modern engineering "as-built" drawing An ostracon (Greek: όστρακον ostrakon, plural όστρακα ostraka) is a piece of pottery (or stone), usually broken off from a vase or other earthenware vessel. In archaeology, ostraca may contain scratched-in words or other forms of writing which may give clues as to the time when the piece was in use.
33	Tombs Other ancient sources shed light on ancient terminology Papyri and ostraca found either in the Valley of the Kings or at Dayr al Madinah Reports on tomb construction activities Majority of documents date to Dynasties 19 and 20 Cannot say for certain if the same terminology was also used earlier Hieratic is a cursive writing system used in pharaonic Egypt that developed alongside the hieroglyphic system, to which it is intimately related. It was primarily written in ink with a reed brush on papyrus, allowing scribes to write quickly without resorting to time consuming hieroglyphs
34	Plan of tomb of Rameses IV
35	Tombs God's Passage of Empty/Open Path Sometimes translated as "the god's passage of the way of Shu" or more accurately, "the open air passage" (literally "the god's passage of the empty/open path") Term on Cairo ostracon corresponds to entryway A When used in the Rameside period, entryway a ramp cut into hillside, open to sky, and leading to first gate
36	God's Passage of Empty/Open Path
37	Tombs The Passage of Ra "The passage of Ra" or "the passage of the sun" Name given to first corridor B on Cairo ostracon "The first god's passage of the sun's path" is another name given to the first corridor
38	Tombs Second God's Passage and Niches in Which Gods of East and West Rest Second corridor C sometimes called "second god's passage." Two recesses in C called "the niches in which the gods of the east and west rest." Seems to indicate figures of deities should be placed in them, none have been found Figures representing some of 74 forms of sun god in Litany of Ra painted in these niches, beginning with KV 17 until KV 2
39	Second God's Passage and Niches in Which Gods of East and West Rest
40	Tombs The Two Doorkeepers' Rooms Two rectangular recesses at end of third corridor D, near floor, called "the two doorkeepers' rooms."
41	The Two Doorkeepers' Rooms
42	Tombs The Hall of Hindering/Waiting Corresponds to chamber/well chamber E Term in Turin plan and Cairo ostracon Well shafts no longer cut into floor Name interpreted to mean hindering access when applied to actual shaft excavated in floor of chamber
43	The Hall of Hindering/Waiting
44	Tombs The Chariot Hall Name given to pillared chamber F Association with chariots unknown Chamber could accommodate chariots, especially if partly dismantled, KV 62 Evidence of chariots found in KV 22, KV 43, and KV 46 None localized in this chamber, because of tomb robbers. Cairo ostracon, chamber's name partly preserved as "the hall…treasury"
45	The Chariot Hall
46	Tombs Opening (?) of Dragging Turin plan designates start of a ramp running from end of third corridor D of KV 2, through chamber E, to the floor of the burial chamber J Would have served as sarcophagus slide. Cairo ostracon, the descent in F partly preserved as "the descent…"
47	Opening (?) of Dragging
48	Tombs House of Gold Wherein One Rests Burial chamber J Turin plan, term thought to allude either to yellow background color of the walls in KV 2 or gold coffins and gilded shrines like those found in KV62
49	House of Gold Wherein One Rests
50	Tombs Treasury Turin papyrus, refers to chambers that lie beyond the burial chamber Might also be translated as "store room“
51	Treasury
52	Tombs Straight line constructions Face East - Ra All very similar Tomb in Aegypt similar but specifically different Face West – Osirus Modified construction due to purpose
53	Aegypt
54	Tunisia
55	Tunisia
56	Tunisia
57	Tunisia Fort Saint Chott Djerid Chott Melrhir Tozeur Nefta Tomerzu Sabria Douz
58	Foundation
59	Synopsis Beginning of the dig Breakthrough Discovery of the corridors The basalt plug The seal on the basalt plug The northern corridor The rubbing
60	Clearing
61	Synopsis The rubbing The discovery of the northern entrance The discovery of the Antechamber The Temple The Tomb To be continued…
62	Northern Corridor
63	The Antechamber
64	Aegypt The blade rose again. The steel twinkled with the proximity of the torch and fell with a blood red flash. The pick struck the stone solidly and let off a dull hollow ring that echoed throughout the chamber. At the heavy blow, the block seemed to fall forward, and then, it disappeared from sight. Like the loosing of the key block of one of the wooden puzzles that could be bought for three francs in the market at Nefta, a whole section of the wall began to fall inward. With an angry roar, the stone blocks fell away from the opening and into the space behind. The dust of ages burst upward, obscuring the men’s sight like a miniature Kassime, and then, as if the now opened room had been sealed, the air rushed past them in a gentle wind, thankfully pulling the dust from the antechamber into the tomb.
65	Aegypt Paul had a glimpse of golden finery—a gilded sarcophagus that flashed, for a moment, like the head of the pick in the torchlight. The roiling dust hid it almost immediately, and still no one moved. No one made a sound. They were all frozen in place by their anticipation. A heady excitement filled them as they waited for the air to settle. Paul’s heart pounded, he thought all those around him should be able to hear its frenzied beating, but he could only feel it himself because the stillness and silence of the room was resolute. A great fear began to build in Paul. His fear grew as the flickering torchlight was suddenly filled with glittering motes like gold dust rising in the fall of the stones. The men, as one, let out a heavy sigh of awe, and Paul could make out, outlined in the gold, a full meter wide by two meter high opening in the wall.
66	Aegypt At that moment, instead of settling further, the glittering dust seemed to rise, engulfing them in as tangible a darkness as that produced by the Kassime. Outlined in the murk, the torches shone like bright stars. Paul couldn’t even discern the men holding them. Then without warning, the torches dimmed and went dark altogether. There was not a breath of wind. The lights had gone as though the golden darkness snuffed them out. Paul felt the dust like a suffocating blanket around him. He could barely breathe. His chest felt constricted. Paul gasped and heard the blood rushing in his ears. His body felt separated from existence. The stillness was broken in an instant: the darkness proved too much for the superstition of the native workers, and Paul heard their cries and felt their passage from the chamber as they clambered over one another to leave. The darkness made this difficult, and their frenzy sounded in his ears for a long time.
67	Aegypt He almost followed them, but stood his ground, fearful and sweating, not sure if he were now awaiting death alone or still in company. When the sounds of the fleeing natives had passed beyond the range of Paul’s hearing, he was enfolded again in silence. The air that had been hot suddenly chilled. Paul heard a footstep from inside the newly opened tomb. It was soft and light like a dancer’s bare foot against the stone. Paul heard a soft breath beside him. He felt a warm touch—a gentle caress. Amid the sudden coolness, the passage of warmth came directly out of the depths of the tomb. The feeling brought the hairs on the back of his neck up like the hackles of an angry dog.
68	Aegypt “Audrey,” Paul hissed. “Audrey,” he spoke louder. “Yes?” the answer was choked. “Parrain?” “Oui.” “Williams?” “Yes.” “Have any of you moved?” Three nos came out of the blackness. The sound of a naked foot on stone came again to Paul. He turned toward the sound and toward the passageway out of the antechamber.
69	The Tomb
70	Summary Overview of the Novel Not finished… Give you a chance to catch up Met the major characters Not all…
71	Next Time Legion Etrangere, French Foreign Legion