EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES. 601 



removing the ruins a statuette of gilded wood was found whose base 

 bore the inscription ''The son of the Sun, issue of his loins, Hor," and 

 then fragments of alabaster vases bearing the second name of the King 

 Fou ab Ea or Aou ab Ea. 



No king of this name was hitherto known in the twelfth dynasty. 

 There were iu the thirteenth two kings of the name of Aou tou ab Ea; 

 but it seemed scarcely possible to assimilate these two names, even if 

 Aou ab Ea had been found buried in the territory reserved to the priuces 

 of the twelfth dynasty. 



The researches speedily brought to light the funereal vault; it had 

 been despoiled, having been entered by a hole made iu the ceiling. It 

 was in this way that I entered, myself, as soon as the opening was freed 

 from the ruins which obstructed it. The chamber was empty, and great 

 disorder reigned ; boards, chests, pieces of alabaster, and fragments of 

 vases encumbered the funereal vaults. The sarcophagus had been 

 opened, its cover laid at its side, as well as that of the wooden coffin 

 on which could be read, engraved in gold leaf, the names and titles of 

 the king. Near this was an inverted naos, its face in the air, covered 

 with inscriptions painted in green on a golden ground. The interior 

 inclosed a large wooden statue, decorated with gold, canes, scepters, a 

 large number of offerings imitated in wood, and fragments of alabaster 

 vases with royal cartouches. The thieves had carried away only the 

 most precious pieces, abandoning all these objects which are to-day of 

 such great value to us. 



The inscription on the facade of the naos is as follows: "Horus 

 Hotep-ab, the master of the diadems of Vautour and of Urseus. ISTofer- 

 Khaou (of the splendid apparitions), golden Horns Nofer-Nouterou 

 (beauty of the gods), King of upper and lower Egypt, master of the 

 two lands, the Almighty Aou ab Ea (or Fou ab Ea), the son of the Sun, 

 the issue of his loins, whom he loves. Hor, the royal double living in 

 the tomb; he gives life, stability, force, and health; he rejoices himself 

 on the throne of the Horus of the living, like Ea, the everlasting." 



Two square steles, engraved on alabaster, and an offering table fur- 

 nish religious texts, all in the name of the king, whose cartouches are 

 repeated twenty times. 



The royal mummy was inclosed in a case worked with gold, as was 

 also the lid, and covered with texts. It had been despoiled, but during 

 the researches I found some interesting objects. A mask in the form 

 of a klaft covered the head of the king; on his left were scepters and 

 the debris of his flagellum, of small alabaster vases, and other minor 

 objects. To remove this material it was necessary to open the original 

 gate, the entrance of the spoilers being insufficient. This work took 

 two days, because the natural rock is very dangerous iu that place and 

 great precautions were necessary. I and my workmen were almost 

 crushed by a slip in the pit. 



As soon as the vaults were freed from the objects which surrounded 

 them, I proceeded to a careful examination of the pavement and of the 



