© Griffith Institute, Oxford OX1 2LG
Concept and direction: Jaromir Malek
The journal has been scanned with the financial support of the
Manchester Ancient Egypt Society
[Note: all dates have been standardized.]
Transcript: Sue Hutchison
Editing: Ana I. Navajas Jimenez and Jaromir Malek
Scanning: Hana Navrátilová
Image editing: Jenni Navratil
The transcript presented here has been only very slightly edited, for example by correcting misspellings and eliminating duplication or omission of words. For easier reading, such cases are not marked but scans of the pages of these diaries may be consulted for details.
Remained the day at the Winter Palace.
Called upon Tewfik Eff. Boulos the present Insp. in Chief of the Antiquity
Depart.
Called upon the Bey the Marmur of Luxor.
We crossed over to Gurna 11am.
Called on Lythgoe.
We found the Tomb to be covered with about 50 c/ms of rubbish. The kiosk
and material removed and placed before the entrance of the Akh.en.Aten Cache,
that we used for a dark-room.
We found the entrance of the laboratory (tomb No. 15) covered with a
construction of a kind of lattice-work completely plastered over with white
plaster. I trust the painted sculpture of the door-jambs of the tomb has not
been damaged by the plaster.
We found that beautiful linen pall that covered the King's grave, and for
which I brought out Dr Alexander Scott, Mr and Mrs Newberry from England
especially to preserve it and had made a special lining for it, left out
in the open unprotected from the sun and wind. It is ruined! They had
removed the carpenters' kiosk and placed it on the pall.
The magazine (No. 4) from all outward appearances seems to be alright.
In the place of my locks (broken) a pad-lock was fixed upon the door. A
wooden sun-screen was erected before half of the entrance.
Baraize began clearing the entrance of the Tomb at about 11.15am. and
completed it at 4pm.
H.E. the Mudir of Keneh accompanied by the Bey the Marmur of Luxor called
12.45, just as we were leaving to meet him at Luxor. We lunched together
at the Winter Palace.
Merzbach was informed by phone or wire from Cairo that the official handing
over of the Tomb and laboratory, etc., would take place on Sunday (25th)
10am.
Went into Luxor 3.30pm. when I handed the above message to Merzbach and
informed the Mudir of Keneh.
Returned with Callender in the evening.
M.E. Abd el Hamid Bedawi Pasha, Conseiller Royale.
Everything was found to be in order, with the exception of the pall which
was ruined, it having been left out in the open exposed to the summer heat
and wind.
A heavy wooden construction had been erected in the antechamber of the tomb
for visitors.
This will have to be removed before we can do any work there.
We all returned to Luxor for lunch at the Winter Palace. I remained in Luxor
that night having to attend a dinner given by H.E. the Mudir of Keneh.
Went with Callender to the Tomb and inspected the great coffin of the
King.
Attended to various correspondence during the afternoon.
Sir Hamar and Lady Greenwood (introduced by Lord Allenby)
Tewfik Effendi Boulos came, and we discussed the question of visitors to
tomb. It was decided that no visitor should be allowed to enter or visit the
tomb, whether Government invite or otherwise, except on Tuesdays, unless
there be some exceptional reason or some exceptional case, when I am to
refer it to the Chief Inspector who will refuse entry if he has not
received special instructions from the Government.
With regard to the latter point, i.e., exceptional cases, Tewfik Effendi is
writing for instructions.
Arranged with Burton with regard to photographing the royal coffin on
Thursday next.
General Haking and Admiral Jellicoe together with party visited the tomb -
they being introduced by H.E. the Min. P.W.D.
Callender sorted and arranged the timber and various materials that had been
removed by the Antiquity Depart. The mass of the timber has been rendered
useless, it being warped from careless stacking.
Shaban Effendi, the Museum delegate, endeavoured to get me to show his
friends the tomb today - though they hadn't any permits.
For the first time we had a quiet morning's work without being disturbed by
visitors.
A good many tools, left in the antechamber, are missing.
Merzbach came about 10.30am. when I signed the new concession - one for
the Government, the other for us. Showed Madame Merzbach the Tomb. They
returned to Luxor 12.15.
Callender completed the sorting of materials etc., and prepared the magazine
No. 4. for lunching in as formerly.
Callender continued clearing and putting to rights the magazine, and also
prepared a platform beside the sarcophagus for Burton to photo from.
Merzbach and his wife left for Cairo.
Lacau arrived at Luxor. It is reported that he will go on southwards
tomorrow.
Lucas arrived and commenced the reparation of the black resinous goose.
Lacau visited Deir el Bahari.
Admitted to Tomb Baronne de Szilassy, Comte André de Contades, as
well as some Government guests.
No work in the afternoon.
Provisional cleaning though it was, under somewhat difficult circumstances,
it well repaid for the trouble. The inlay shows up splendidly and one is now
able to realize the beauty of the work, especially the uraeus upon the
forehead which is really a magnificent piece of work.
I examined the shrouds or linen sheets that covered the coffin. They were
two in number, one, a very large one, had been folded in two, which made us
believe last year when we raised the lid of the sarcophagus that there were
three. The upper and smaller sheet is of close weaving, while the underneath
sheet, folded in two, is of very open material - after the nature of coarse
muslin. The first sheet bore a linen mark, unfortunately very illegible but
appears to be merely the name and title of the King in black ink which has
eaten away the fabric.
Completed the series of bows and arrows etc. found between the shrines in
the sepulchral-chamber. Recorded them, and they are now ready for final
photographing and packing for Cairo.
Tewfik Eff. paid me a visit this morning.
Preserved and indexed the seals from the two inner shrines. The seals and
cord were in good condition, but for safety I saturated them with celluloid
dissolved in amyl acetate.
Commenced treating the cosmetic vase no. 211. It was badly stained by the
fatty or oily substance it contained, which was still soft to a certain
degree. Unfortunately it has eaten the aragonite in places, but by careful
soaking in benzine I hope to get it in fair good order.
It is a very interesting and good piece of workmanship.
Dr Munthe paid us a visit and lunched with us in the Valley.
Commenced experimenting on the large calcite vase 210, with caryatid
figures - Nile gods HAPI. The problem here is how best to dissolve the
content which has caused the frail neck to burst in many pieces.
It is interesting to note that the mace found in the tomb chamber and in the
long box in the antechamber prove really to be trumpets. The wood core in
them being merely for their protection - the wooden cores being elaborately
decorated which would hardly be the case if they were intended to be
maces.
Mrs Armstrong came over and had lunch with us.
Mr Lucas has got quite interesting results from a reed I found in
the Tomb-Chamber at the back of the shrine. When I found it I suspected that
it might have something to do with lighting material. Mr Lucas on examining
it found that the hollow of the reed had been filled with a resinous and fat
material and was probably used as an improvised candle.
THOUERIS is one of a number of male and female demon deities, who may almost
be compared to the satyrs of the Greeks. She is a combination of animals -
here partly hippopotamus partly crocodile and from her legs and feet partly
feline. It would seem from the emblem she holds that her duty was PROTECTION.
She was the wife of BES, whose duty was to amuse either in music or dancing
or to tend divine children; his wife, THOUERIS, particularly in the New Empire, was one of the foremost favourites
of the people, her name signified THE GREAT ONE.
Thus, we have, in the set of the three ceremonial couches found in the
Antechamber, THE TERRIBLE GODDESS OF THE CHASE in the shape of the lion or
perhaps to be more accurate the cheetah couch; the goddess of pleasure and
love, THE ABODE OF HORUS, in the form of the HATHOR or cow couch; and that
of PROTECTION, on earth as well as in the heavens, in the shape of the
THOUERIS couch.
On the 27th. of last month Ziwa Pasha, the P.M., paid us a visit. He seemed
very pleased with the discovery and the results of our discovery in
general.
The cases, 19 in all, of antiquities were sent per steamer to Cairo on the
31st March - and on the same day both the laboratory and the tomb were closed
for the season.
(December 17, 2010)JANUARY 1925.
January 19, 1925.
Arrived Luxor from Cairo.January 20, 1925.
Callender returned from Erment.January 21, 1925.
Saw Merzbach in the afternoon, when we sent wires to the Min. P.W.D. and
Bedawi Pasha re opening the Tomb if possible on Saturday (24th).
January 22, 1925.
Went to the Valley of the Kings with Merzbach and his wife in the morning.January 23, 1925.
Merzbach came over this morning, and we with Callender went to the
Valley.January 24, 1925.
Received telegraphic authorisation for opening the tomb from the Minister of
Public Works.January 25, 1925.
The Tomb of Tut.ankh.Amen, the laboratory and magazine together with the
keys were handed over to me this morning by the Government Commission
comprising the following people: -
H.E. Osman Bey the Mudir of Keneh.
Mohamed Riad Bey of the Legal Depart. P.W. Ministry.
The Bey the Marmur of Luxor.
Two representatives of the Police.
Tewfik Effendi Boulos, Insp. in Chief Up. Eg. of the Ant. Dept.
Ibrehim Effendi Habbeeb, Insp. of Antiquities, Luxor.
Mr. J.E. Quibell, of the Cairo Museum. Conseiller Services des
Antiquités.
M. Lefebvre, of the Cairo Museum. (G. Lefebvre, Conservateur-Adjoint)
M. Baraize, of the Cairo Museum. Dir. de travaux. S des A.
Maitre G. Merzbach and Mr. A.R. Callender were present.January 26, 1925.
Returned to my house in Gurna.January 27, 1925.
TOMB opened for the following visitors:
Princess Mounira Hamdi and suite (Ministry permit)
Dr Munthe (introduced by Mr Carter).
January 28, 1925.
Work commenced today in preparing the laboratory ready for the preservation
work upon the objects there from last season's work.January 29, 1925.
Commenced upon the preservation of an ebony stick inlaid with ivory.January 30, 1925.
Repaired an ivory and ebony veneered stick (no. 227a).January 31, 1925.
Completed the preservation of curved stick No. 227a, recorded it, and
sorted the remainder of the sticks from the outer shrine preparatory to
their being photographed.FEBRUARY
February 1, 1925.
Commenced upon the reparations of the gold fan inlayed with turquiose,
lapis lazuli and carnelian glass. The palm of the fan, made of sheet gold
upon an inferior wood, had buckled badly. I fear too much so to ever hope
of making a neat job of it.February 2, 1925.
Completed fan (245) and commenced the second golden fan (242).February 3, 1925.
Completed the golden fan (242). Commenced the bows found beside the
shrines.February 4, 1925.
Cleaned the coffin lying in the sarcophagus with warm water and ammonia.
It was astonishing what an accummulation of deposit from moisture there was
upon its surfaces, particularly on the glass inlay, which seemed to be most
affected, even though the great stone lid had been carefully closed and
the cracks cemented. It would suggest that there was moisture or dampness
in the coffin or coffins themselves when they were deposited in the
sarcophagus.February 5, 1925.
Burton came over this morning with his camera and took a series of
photographic records of the coffin in situ.February 6, 1925.
Replaced glass on sarcophagus.February 7, 1925.
Completed the aragonite cosmetic jar no. 211. I found that after removing
as much of the stains as possible it was better to paraffin wax it. Now
that it is cleaned it shows up admirably and is an exquisite example of
design. Especially the heads of the captives upon which it stands - two
negroes and two northerners of Mediterranean type.February 8, 1925.
Commenced cleaning the large alabaster vase no. 210. Went to Luxor.
February 9, 1925.
Continued our work on the reparation of the vase 210. Found that parafin was
efficacious in the final cleaning of the stained alabaster.
February 10, 1925.
No work today on account of the Government visitors. They were about forty
in number, none of which had any real interest in seeing the tomb further
than curiosity. Up to the present no newspaper correspondents have shown any
interest nor demanded any news. The absence of Egyptians among the visitors
today was also significant of the pretended interest of last year.
February 11, 1925.
Both Lucas and myself were occupied the whole day upon the reparation of the
Hapi vase no. 210, and it will probably take all day tomorrow before we are
through with it.
February 17, 1925.
These last days we have occupied ourselves upon the preservation of the
material in the laboratory - having completed the alabaster vases and now
commenced upon the Anubis Emblems, which seem only to require cleaning with
a damp sponge and afterwards waxing.February 18, 1925.
Cleaned and waxed the two Anubis emblems today. They are much improved by
having the hot wax poured over them.February 21, 1925.
These last few days have been taken up with cleaning and waxing the
Thoueris couch from the Antechamber. The bed has yet to be finished.MARCH
March 1, 1925.
The last days in February were occupied in completing the remainder of the
objects - such as the THOUERIS couch, and the bed portion of the HATHOR
couch and the second statue from the antechamber. They are now all finished
and for their photographing - a task Burton will begin next Wednesday.March 1 to 31, 1925.
Were spent photographing the objects and packing do.
The last few days being spent in making various dispositions in the
laboratory and tomb preparatory to next Autumn's campaign.