72 



Respondents, from the word " ousheb," to answer. Even the 

 objects painted on the wall could be used by the Ka, and there- 

 fore we find bread, eg-gs, vases of water, and a variety of luxuries 

 ornamenting the tombs. 



The Ushebti of Ptamos is one of the most perfect examples 

 in style and colour. A large majority of the faience Ushebti are 

 in blue, a limited number are in white, the inscriptions are gener- 

 ally painted in manganese purple. The XX Dynasty was cele- 

 brated for the beautv of its turquoise faience, and the most beauti- 

 ful examples were found at Tunah. They are frequently deco- 

 rated with the lotus and inverted papyrus reeds. In Major 

 Myers' collection, at Eton, the middle band is divided into six 

 panels in each of which a king or prince is slaying an enemy 

 whom he had vanquished. The king stands brandishing a mace 

 and the prisoner is kneeling. The colour is the very finest 

 turquoise blue. Others in the British Museum are of a deep 

 indigo blue. 



The objects found with the Ushebti figures include small 

 vases for Kohl used for blackening the eyes, the tools of the 

 shoemaker and other artizans, the jewels of women and three 

 fine pectoral ornaments of gold plate inlaid with precious stones, 

 bracelets, rings, and other ornaments. Children's toys are also- 

 found, dolls and balls of blue and white porcelain. Various 

 amulets, too, occur in large numbers. 



An interesting fact is that in pre-histor : c times the hardest 

 materials were wrought, basalt, zeolite, and porphyry. In later 

 dynasties serpentine and coloured limestone were used. In the 

 XII Dynasty alabaster was employed and the most beautiful 

 shapes were executed in it. Amulets in the Old King-dom were 

 usually made of carnelian or ivory, and represented the hand, the 

 eye, a lion's head, a frog, or a bee. In the Middle Kingdom 

 silver or electrum was usually employed. In the New King-dom 

 amethysts were introduced and in the XXVI. Dynasty dozens 

 are found on the same body. Beads were used from pre-historic 

 times and were made of quartz, amethyst, agate, carnelian, tur- 

 quoise, lazuli, and various glazes. Better beads are more usual 

 in pre-hisoric times. From the XVIII. Dynasty to the Roman 

 period glass beads were used. 



Lord Grenfell showed a portrait in coloured wax found with 

 others at Eckmine, some of which are exhibited at the 

 National Gallery. This from his own collection was probably by 

 a Greek artist about 150 a.d. and originally took the place of the 

 conventional head modelled on mummy cases in earlier periods. 

 Other objects from the collection, now the property of the Natural 

 Science Society, were shown and explained. 



