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Photo from Theodore M. Davis 

 GOLD NECKLACE FOUND BY THEODORE M. DAVIS IN THE TOMB OE QUEEN TYI, 



JANUARY, 1907 



"Egyptian jewelry, which has been familiar enough in specimens of the work of later 

 periods, has often been open to the reproach of being somewhat heavy and overloaded in 

 design, though admirable in execution; but the diadems of these royal ladies are of the most 

 exquisite lightness and grace, combined with a skill in workmanship which would do honor 

 to the most cunning craftsman of the present day" (see page 985). 



some extent the peculiar architectural 

 features of the latter, hitherto supposed 

 to be unique, and excelling the eighteenth 

 dynasty building in solidity of workman- 

 ship. 



On an artificially squared rectangular 

 platform of natural rock about 15 feet 

 Tiigh was reared the pyramid of the 

 king — a dummy, for his tomb has not 

 been found. Around the pyramid was 

 an ambulatory, whose roof was supported 

 by octagonal pillars, while its outside 

 walls were decorated with scenes of re- 

 ligious festivals, processions, husbandry, 

 and so forth. To north and south were 

 ■open courts, and the faces of the rock 

 platform were riveted with large blocks 

 of white limestone, some of them meas- 

 uring 6 feet by 3 feet 6 inches, beauti- 

 fully squared and laid. A sloping ramp 

 led up to the platform of the temple, and 



was bordered by colonnades of 22 pillars, 

 each inscribed with the king's names and 

 titles. 



The royal tomb, as already mentioned, 

 was not found; but all around the cen- 

 tral pyramid priestesses of the goddess 

 Hathor were buried in small chamber- 

 tombs. They were all members of the 

 king's harem, and were called "royal 

 favorites." From the fact that they were 

 all buried at one time before the comple- 

 tion of the temple, it has been inferred 

 that they were strangled at the king's 

 death that their spirits might accom- 

 pany him into the underworld. If so 

 (the inference is not certain by any 

 means), then this is the last instance of 

 the occurrence of so savage a custom. 



Already these royal favorites have 

 buried with them the little figures, 

 ushabtis, or ''answerers," upon which 



981 



