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Pharaoh’s Secrets Revealed in King Tutankhamen’s Tomb

Civilization Transcending That of Greek Masters Discovered by Excavations of Egyptologists

Sheer dogged persistence has after weary years of endeavor brought to light the secret of the Pharaohs, revealed in the superb civilization of ancient Thebes and possibly set back to date when man first came into being upon the earth by many thousands of years.

Howard Carter, formerly with the Davies Egyptologist’s expedition, who was acting as director of the more recent one of Lord Carnarvon, became convinced as the excavation work progressed that one of the three missing tombs of the ancient Pharaohs was in the vicinity of the far-famed burial place of Ramses VI, which thousands of tourists visit annually. In spite of many setbacks and despite the discouragement of Lord Carnarvon himself, who was on the point of giving up in despair, he persisted and fairly drove the investigators back to the work.

Marvels of Ancients Exposed

His reward after a 33-year search, the tomb of Tutankhamen, the only one ever discovered which has not been visited by robbers, was opened exposing to light treasures almost beyond measure, wealth running into the millions, beautifully carved vases with stone flowers rivaling those of glass in the Peabody Museum at Harvard University, portraits so delicately made, and statues so perfect that they reveal a civilization and culture which so far transcends that of the later Greek maters as to stamp them as tyros.

Directly below the tomb of Rameses VI was found the outer chamber. There were the royal seal with the figures of the King and Queen carved in illuminated wood and arranged according to funeral customs of the ancient Thebans. Here were couches exquisitely carved and chariots which showed use, finely inlaid with precious stones and gold crowns with the royal serpent in gold twined about them. The statues of the royal pair had sold gold shoes, and an incomparably beautiful throne, richly inlaid, with a portrait of the King high on its back faced them on the opposite wall.

That King Tutankhamen had changed his religion was evident for the golden sun was pictured shining down on his shoulder and on those of his consort in spite of the fact that history records that he was once the ruler of the lower Nile and a believer in many gods, of which his father was supposed to be one.

The exquisite bead robes of the Queen were found in one of the chests. This type of dancing costume having been introduced 3000 years before the time of Christ at the order of a physician to King Zoser who sought to cure his royal master by having beautiful women dance before him thus adorned.

Oil Tapers Lighted Homes

The method by which the ancient Egyptians lighted their homes was brought to light with the finding of large tapers of bronze ornamented with gold surrounded by ivory. Cotton wicks were used, the ends of which were soaked in oil after the manner of our modern lamps, while the tapers themselves were attached to rods by metal clasps.

The work on the throne is pronounced by all the authorities who have viewed it as one of the wonders of the world. Every single piece of the many precious stones which are inlaid in it had to be ground with infinite care with the smallest instruments and with stone wheels. The discovery of the throne and the tapers rank with those of the first magnitude.

Further excavations will be made upon the return of Lord Carnarvon from London where he has gone for a rest until the middle of February. It is intended to throw the last resting place of King Tutankhamen open to tourists, after precautions have been taken to safeguard the treasures for future generations.