“I think I can dispense with my guards and our coats now. I understand you have some surprises for me, gentlemen. Lead on.”
We walked up the passageway to the well shaft. The President’s guards left the tomb and only a small group made the descent to the second tomb with Jean-Claude and me explaining how we had discovered the false wall and the unfolding of our exploration. Before entering politics, the President had been an army engineer and he asked several pertinent technical questions. When he first saw the sarcophagus, he expressed amazement.
“This is truly incredible” he said, as we walked around it. “You really think Ramesses and Nefertari are encased in this?” He peered at the twin cartouches as Jean-Claude and I explained our theories on the entombment mechanism and the principles behind the monument’s structure. He asked for a repeat of the water test and a flustered labourer very carefully poured buckets of water onto the floor, making sure not to splash the presidential shoes.
“Ingenious. Can you send me a full report on your engineering assumptions as I will find great interest in your deductions? Now, let’s have some theatre. May I admit to a sense of excitement?” he said, walking into the treasury corridor.
“My young English friend here is somewhat concerned we will not find anything behind these doors and, although I believe we will open a great treasure house, I apologise in advance if there is nothing but the usual scene of disaster.” said Jean-Claude.
“Mr. Dunlop, have no fears. I am a politician and frustrated objectives are part and parcel of my life.” President Kamal laughed heartily. “Go ahead, let’s lift these doors and see what Ramesses has left us.”
Electric winches on lifting frames stood above each basalt door. Jean-Claude gave a signal and a winch took the strain as the first slid upwards revealing the gleam of gold. There was not the confusion and disarray Carter found when he entered Tutankhamen’s tomb. Everything had been carefully positioned and no human hand had touched the artefacts since the room was closed. Chests were neatly stacked on top of each other, furniture was arranged in a semblance of a living area but it was not the arrangement that created exclamations of surprise. Everything was made of solid gold inlaid with semi-precious stones and rare wood. Dust had not penetrated, so everything gave the appearance of goods fresh from the artisan’s workshop.
We stood, hardly daring to breathe. The contrast between polished black basalt surfaces and gold gave the room an almost austere aspect. Tamaam clutched my hand, Richard whistled in awe, Jean-Claude crossed himself and the Egyptians murmured imprecations amongst themselves.
‘And I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime of something far more deeply infused, whose dwelling is the light of setting suns’
“What was that?” I queried my father, who had spoken.
“A line from a poem by Wordsworth, Dennis, as my own words would inadequately describe my feelings at the moment. Gentlemen, let’s move on as I believe there is much to see that will astound us.”
The second room was an arsenal of weapons and hunting equipment. In front of racked lances, spears and staves stood two complete chariots. Ox hide shields complemented bronze and rare iron swords and daggers. Soft leather quivers, full of arrows, hung next to rows of various styles of bows. I opened a flat square box to find birding nets, its companion held fishing lines and a third, a variety of iron hooks and weights. The next chamber yielded metal banded chests fashioned from ebony. President Kamal asked if one could be opened and he was handed a pair of surgical gloves.
“Which one do you suggest?” he queried Abdullah.
“As you please, Excellency.”
Long rectangular cases were stacked three deep, three high against the plated walls. The President carefully lifted a hinged lid to reveal layered robes in gold embroidered fine linen. Another held gold ornamented leather footwear. A third contained full length dresses fashioned in some gossamer like material, a fourth offered white linen kilts. We perspired freely, all affected by the heat and conflicting emotions. I felt stunned, any sense of rational comprehension long gone. Apart from muted orders to the hoist operator and exclamations of surprise as seemingly endless riches were revealed, we were mostly silent, almost overwhelmed with disbelief.
The fourth door rose. As it went up, Richard and I positioned another set of site lights, causing the contents to blaze in the radiance that is unique to gold. Before us lay small inlaid chests and cabinets which, when opened, displayed jewellery nestled in royal blue linen – bracelets, pectorals, necklaces, arm bands, earrings, belts and rings in profusion. On cedar shelves, mounted on alabaster representations of the king’s head, were the ultimate symbols of a pharaoh; kepresh, red and white crowns, the double crown, nemes head clothes in blue and white striped fabric, Atef and plumed headdresses. Opposite these were calcite heads of Nefertari, bewigged and surmounted by diadems, coronets and tiaras in filigree gold and electrum, studded with jewels and faience. A distinct fragrance filled the air.
Jean-Claude said “What is that bouquet? It seems familiar.”
Yousef and Tamaam were examining a cabinet lined with alabaster jars. Reading labels,Yousef replied. “These pots, which may contain cosmetics in their original condition, hold perfumes, powders and creams. I detect cedar and juniper oils, myrrh, sandalwood and others our laboratory can identify.” Tamaam said “There is a complete beauty set here – copper mirrors, tweezers, ivory combs, gold hair clips and even a nail file. There are jars of face powders, kohl and what may be rouge and look, this could be a box of perfumed cones.” She held open a chest for our inspection.
Abdullah said “This little collection alone is worth a king’s ransom.”
The fifth door rose, revealing shadowy figurines lurking in the gloom. Thinking I detected movement I stepped inside and instantly recoiled as the bizarre figures radiated a faint menace. Richard brought up lights. Standing shoulder to shoulder were effigies of the gods, feathered headdresses rustling in the slight movement of air.
“Ma’shalla. Who are these?” asked the President in a breathless whisper.
Abdullah replied, pointing to each figure in turn. “Montu, god of war, Neith, goddess of the hunt, Khonsu, the moon god, Hapi, god of the Nile waters, Meretseger, guardian goddess of the Valley, Shu and his sister, Tefnut who separate earth from sky, the goddess Werethekau, who protected a Pharaoh against his enemies,Sobek, god of fertility, Khepri, a god associated with Re-Harakhty, Nut and her brother Geb, personified earth and sky, Isis, who bridged this world with the next, Osiris, Lord of the Underworld, Hathor, goddess of the sun and moon, Horus, son of Osiris and Isis, Ptah, principal deity of Memphis, Nephthys, reviver of the dead, Sakhmet, another goddess offering protection to the Pharaoh, Seth, a deity well favoured by Ramesses, Thoth, god of writing, measurement and Master of the Divine Scales,Anubis, supreme guardian of the dead, Amun and Re, the sun gods, and Mut, a goddess regarded as the Pharaohs heavenly mother.”
In the midst of the celestial coterie, gazing outwards into eternity, sat two enthroned figures. Ensconced on an ornately carved granite throne was a life statue of a youthful king, holding the imperial regalia. Beside him, on a slightly smaller throne, sat a young Queen Nefertari. Both wore crowns, he the double crown, she an elaborate vulture cap and each was adorned with opulent jewellery. The flesh of the royal couple and deities was painted in flesh tones, except for Osiris whose face was in traditional green, whilst their garments, ornaments and head-dresses displayed vibrant colours. Amun’s hands were placed firmly on the king’s shoulders and those of Isis rested on Nefertari’s shoulders. The assembly was a tour de force of ancient divinity. However the glistening intensity radiating from so many sightless eyes was unnerving.
Abdullah murmured. “This is the most extensive and best preserved set of deity statues in the country.”
“I prefer the other rooms. This one leaves me unsettled.” said the President.
We retreated to the corridor. Anothe
r door ascended, revealing a miscellany of model boats, musical instruments, writing equipment, hundreds of papyrus scrolls in cedar wood racks, more cosmetics in inlaid chests, fans, pillows and piles of folded linen. Rugs carpeted the floor.
“I have not seen ancient textiles before” said the President.
“They are extremely rare as woven material is perishable. We only have one or two fragments of rugs in the Museum but look at the number of papyrus scrolls. Such a collection is unique and of inestimable value. Forgive me, as I am almost on the point of tears, this is so completely overwhelming.” said Yousef, dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief. The next room offered us another surprise. It was full of shrines, each one different from the next but all in gold foiled wood, covered in figurines moulded into the sheet gold and exquisitely inscribed with hieroglyphics. Abdullah could read hieroglyphs and he was studying the inscriptions when he exclaimed “My God, have a look at this,” pointing to one specific rectangular cabinet. In raised relief, an image of Thoth presented various instruments to a male figure dressed in a kilt and wearing a bag wig.
“This is not a shrine in the formal sense. It is similar in style to a stela making an announcement but I have not seen one like it before. Patience, please. Let me interpret what is inscribed.” He got down on his knees and studied the icons on each panel. He offered us surgical gloves and asked me to help him take the top off the shrine. We lifted out a model of the basalt tomb made from wood and polished stone which we laid on the floor for the President to examine. Then followed a small basalt box holding two miniature basalt boxes, what looked like a rectangular lid and leather pouches of what proved to be sand. These he carefully handed to Jean-Claude and Yousef.
“This is an artefact of singular importance. Briefly, Ramesses offers his thanks to Sennefer, his Royal Overseer. He records Amun and Thoth specially endowed his Overseer with unusual skills and dedication. The king stresses his deep personal friendship with Sennefer and refers to him as, unbelievably, the equal of an elder brother. The inscription goes on to say they will meet in the Second Life to discuss toys, hunting and desert fortifications. I don’t know of a single instance where a king thanked a noble for anything, admitted to a friendship or alludes to meeting anyone other than a god in the Second Life. Absolutely unique. Phenomenal! The hieroglyphs do not describe the toys or fortifications and I have no idea what the king meant by these remarks, although I detect some inference of humour.”
I had placed the model on top of a shrine. President Kamal said “I think this is one of the toys and this box and lid another. When they reach Dr. Hussein’s laboratory, I believe we will find the model works and these boxes and lid represent the sarcophagus and coffins that Ramesses and his queen are interred within. If this is correct, we have no need ever to open the king’s resting place. The pharaoh and his wife lie a few metres from where we stand and they will remain there, never to be disturbed.” This last statement was emphatic. Reverently, he put the models back into the shrine and closed the lid. Briefly looking around, he turned to address us.
“Gentlemen, Madame Dunlop, I have seen enough. There is no need to open the other rooms at the moment. Let us leave this place. I ask you all join me for lunch as we have serious matters to discuss. Jean-Claude, please tell your men to leave this part of the tomb after they have re-closed all the stone doors. None will re-enter without my written authorisation.”
Having given this instruction, he left the crypt, climbed back up the ladder and we followed. At the entrance, he called the soldier’s senior officer, gave orders in Arabic and got into his car. His aide de camp escorted us to a limousine, we were whisked away to a riverside dock, the cars put aboard a barge and, when we reached the eastern shore, we drove in the motorcade to the Grand Hotel. During this rather sudden change of pace we had all been silent, lost in thoughts about the discoveries. When an aide de camp escorted us to a private dining room, Richard said.
“If I had known I was to lunch with the President I would have followed your advice, Yousef, and had a haircut”. His comment produced a strained laugh from us. Being surrounded by armed soldiers and security guards did little to reduce the tension. We sat and awaited the arrival of the President. Jean-Claude received a call on his cell phone and quickly left the room. He was away from a few minutes and returned solemn faced. The President followed. He strode into the room, very business-like, sat and called for the waiter, gave instructions, asked if we had ordered and saw a nodding of heads. “We will wait until lunch is served and I will have the door closed.” The President and Abdullah spoke together quietly in Arabic. Waiters arrived, served the food and withdrew.
“Firstly, thank you for joining me. I am sure this luncheon was not on your agenda today but what I saw this morning presents a number of issues we must handle and I do not intend to, ahm,” he said a few words to Abdullah in Arabic, who suggested ‘dither’ which I had to translate for Jean-Claude. “I do not intend to dither around. Let me explain what I propose and then you can comment.”
“First, I have ordered a Special Forces guard be mounted at the tomb. The soldiers will try to be as unobtrusive as possible but the treasure must be protected. Second, I have just spoken to the Director of the Cairo Museum. He, Dr. Omar Hussein and the head curator will assemble the best team of specialists they can find as swiftly as possible. The director will head this team. I have instructed everything in the treasury be photographed, catalogued and transferred to Cairo under military escort. Third, I have told our new museum’s director to clear one entire wing in anticipation of establishing a display along the same lines as the Tutankhamen exhibition but under much heavier security. Fourth, as soon as the artefacts have been fully assessed, I want replicas made of the furniture, statues, chests, military equipment, in fact everything except the contents of the chests. The copies will be faithful reproductions without actually using solid gold. The original artefacts will remain on display in Cairo.”
He paused to consult a note pad. “Fifth, when finished, the reproductions are to be taken to the tomb, arranged as they were found and bullet proof glass installed across each storeroom entrance. Sixth, I asked Jean-Claude d’Argent to join me a few minutes ago. I sought his approval to permanently seal the sand chute so water and intruders may never enter the tomb. Mrs Dunlop, please proceed with this as I understand you have expertise in this area. Seventh, I will introduce legislation into Parliament this week. A statute will prohibit any modification to the fabric of the structure and ensure the sarcophagus is never to be opened. Finally, as soon as Professor Dief and M. d’Argent are satisfied that work in both tombs is complete, they will be opened to the public under very strict controls. I think this covers the matters that have come to my mind in the last hour. Your opinions, please. You don’t seem to be eating – is there some problem with the food?” he asked innocently. None of us had moved whilst he spoke.
It took the French team another two years to complete their work in the original tomb and return its management to the CEA. The contents of the second tomb were removed, in its entirety, to the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities where it now constitutes the greatest collection of ancient world artefacts. Authentic reproductions were crafted by an international team of specialists and moved to the treasury and today, the exhibition and tombs of Ramesses the Great are the major attractions in Egypt.
The papyrus scrolls constituted the most comprehensive body of information about life in the New Kingdom so far known and an analysis of this data will takes years of review before the set is fully interpreted and published for public consumption.
However, for those of us in the group who were there at the beginning, the conclusive identification of the Royal Architect ranked as one of the most fascinating outcomes. The models Ramesses preserved worked and allowed us to fully appreciate just how ingenious Sennefer had been in the construction of the sarcophagus and the vault mechanism.
As for the players in the game. Jean-Claude and his team moved onto a m
ajor restoration project at the Ramesseum. His assistant, Marc, married Elizabeth, the BEAS was granted additional projects in the Valley of the Kings and we are now working in the Valley of the Queens. Tamaam and I have two delightful young children and a wonderful marriage. My father continues to squeeze corporate wallets, Professor Dief was nominated Minister of National Heritage by the President and Yousef al-Badawi took over his job at the CEA. Dr. Hussein, in conjunction with Professor Schadlich, published the first in a series on the results of the DNA tests conducted by the Institute but admits he has opened a giant can of worms which is guaranteed to keep him and members of his staff busy for years. And, incidentally, he married Marie-Therese after her divorce was finalised.
Just before the tombs of Ramesses were declared open to the public, Jean-Claude and I climbed to the top of the escarpment and sat looking overlooking the Valley, reminiscing. Late in the afternoon, with the sun well into its descent, we made to leave. As we looked to the west to take in the splendour of the sun setting behind the Theban Hills, a falcon and an ibis appeared on the horizon, wings majestically beating in unison. They flew straight towards us and, on reaching the escarpment, they wheeled together, circled the Great Place and alighted just metres from where we stood, motionless.
Sunlight gleamed off their golden feathers. The birds looked down upon the tomb of the Pharaoh Ramesses and turned to look at us. Briefly they dipped their plumed heads in salute, spread wide their great wings before soaring high into the sky, flying towards the solar barque of Amun-Re and the House of Eternity.
THE END
GLOSSARY
The Golden Falcon Page 63