Skip to main content

Vol.01.p.018

:

Diary Transcription:

microfilm: begin page 18

Tuesday, February 1, 1910 (continued)

of statues, stone vessels besides flints and fragments of inlay pieces. One small hieroglyphic sign in green faience is perfect [GLYPHS](king). (Very interesting for the date of the tiles in the step pyramid.)

Clearing away crushed southern wall of Dynasty 4 temple (in corridor) back to foundation line. Just opposite room III, 19, under bulge of wall a large bowl upside down [ILLUSTRATION] under this a second bowl of same form. Underneath on the ground mixed with dirt, a quantity of bones, animal - as if the bowls had contained animal food and been upset here. A half a meter west a jar. [ILLUSTRATION] The face of the corridor has been plastered with white on a yellow ground.

Most of the men on sand to the east.

Permit for Zawiet el-Aryan has been granted. On an old plan of Col. Vyse; made about 1837 the causeway is shown and a pile of ruins at the end of it. This pile of ruins must be the valley temple of the pyramid.
This pyramid is supposed to be previous to Dynasty 4. I propose to make a small trial excavation to ascertain the condition of the temple. If not satisfactory, we shall try some place else.

Wednesday, February 2 to Friday, February 4, 1910

Cleared out rooms in northwest corner of northwest quarter fore court. Cleared foundations of south corridor exposing doorway into west corridor and also doorway into room III4. In both cases the roof of the doorway had been of wood and had decayed letting the section of mud brick wall above sink down into the doorway.

[ILLUSTRATION]

microfilm: end page 18

Details

  • Classification
    Documentation-Expedition diary pages
  • Department
    Harvard University-Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Credit Line
    Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition
  • Display Page Dates
    02/01/1910; 02/02/1910
  • Mentioned on page
    Richard William Howard Vyse, British, 1784–1853
    Menkaure
  • Author
    George Andrew Reisner, American, 1867–1942

Tombs and Monuments 1

People 3

Ancient People

  • Menkaure

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Remarks Fifth king of Dynasty 4. Son of Khafre. Husband of Khamerernebti II. Builder of the Third Pyramid at Giza. Known two thousand years later by the Greeks as King Mycerinus.

Modern People

  • George Andrew Reisner

    • Type Author
    • Nationality & Dates American, 1867–1942
    • Remarks Egyptologist, archaeologist; Referred to as "the doctor" and "mudir" (Arabic for "director") in the excavation records. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.

  • Richard William Howard Vyse

    • Type Mentioned on page
    • Nationality & Dates British, 1784–1853
    • Remarks Army officer, excavator, author and benefactor; Drew up plans of Zawiet el-Aryan in 1837. Nationality and life dates from Who was Who in Egyptology.