Egypt
Lost Civilizations
Video Notes
Egypt – Quest for Immortality
Final ceremony – for 70 days since his death – been prepared for ever lasting
life – keeper of the mysteries – body has been cleansed purified and dried.
Sacred charms (honey and molten resin) will be with him to his journey of the
next life.
Immortality
The people wanted to live forever. The pharaohs wanted immortality. To
protect the king after death. Only one king’s mummy lay undisturbed – south of the
pyramids – discovery of the tomb would stun the world.
1922: Archaeology has arrived like an invading army. An unopened tomb. Tomb
of one minor pharaoh King Tut- Tutatonem
Wall sealed with plaster – 3 millennia ago – Carter began to dig at the wall
without permission from the authorities. He opens the wall – smells come out. A
more traumatic moment in the history of archaeology – would have been one of the
greatest moments in archaeology.
The couches were still there
KING TUT
When King Tut – prepared for eternity – baskets, pots, food and weapons, clay
models of servants to wait on him in death. Anything useful in this life would surely
be needed in the next.
He was 18-19 when he died. King Tut’s mummy was found. Solid gold was found
in the tomb.
It was not enough – the mummy was shattered – when Carter unwrapped it –
searching for the king’s jewerelly – King Tut would be remembered (not as a
pharaoh or a man but as a treasure). Finding the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow.
In life – he ruled all of Egypt – in death he was a treasure
The Nile
The soul of Egypt – the land of the living and the land of the dead
Eyptptains lived on the Eastern side – hoped to be buried on the Niles’
western shore.
The River provided the basis from one life to the next (passage to eternity).
Horus – the god of the skies. On temple walls – the power of the Nile is shown –
the path of immortality.
4000 years ago and what lives were like. The farmer and the pharaoh were
much different. (Except they both wanted immortality).
Stone was the greatest weapon against time – secure the quarries – monuments
to his reign. A flaw in the granite – 1200 tonnes – how would it have been moved
Egypt
Lost Civilizations
Video Notes
and raised into place. Stone was the medium of immortantliy. The name of the
king would be remembered.
Ramsey’s the great – one king – greatest builder – ruled into his 90th year.
Included 3 daughters, father to more than 90 children.
His greatest legacy was left in stone. Inspirational words were for his builders
– valiant men of chosen skill – I am your constant provider. Time was his ultimate
enemy.
His head rests on the ground as the statue was fallen.
The temple now stands empty.
What became of Ramsey’s’ treasures? Where are his worldly goods? Where is
his golden mask?
Only this survives – a naked mummy of the once great Ramsey. His body bears
witness to a fate no one could have foretold.
The Romans come to Egypt
550 AD – golden age of ey. Civilization had past. With the Romans came
Christianity. Ancient faith of immortality was banned. Secluded shrine- temple
of feline.
Inside these walls – priests – Isis – prayed to her (mother of Horus). Only
these holy men could read the heirogyplys on the walls.
Last remaining outpost came under attack.
Priests were the last living link to pharaoh. Took their knowledge to their
graves. They were killed.
Egypt’s dreams had been destroyed. The silence lasted 1300 years. Another
invader arrived. 1798 – Napoleon – with soldiers to Egypt. Study and record
ancient Egypt. Troops were demolishing a wall – most significant finds of all times
– the Rosetta stone. Accident archaeology (most are found this way – by
accident).
Decipher hieroglyphics. – Greek was known to scholars – thousands of years of
Egyptians voices could be heard once again.
Napoleon’s art work and the stones –
World fell in love with Egypt
Tourists
The valley of the Nile. Everyone wanted to go Egypt. 1869 – Mark Twain –
important quotes
Wonders of Egypt – desert of the Gaza plateau – pyramids
The glory that was ancient Egypt – built as tombs – then robbed and battered
by the centuries – more than 2.3 each stone 2-15 tonnes – 481 feet tall – could
hold 872 jets. The mystery – where did the technology come to? Without the
invention of the wheel?
External stone structures to last eternity (practically).
Egypt
Lost Civilizations
Video Notes
Answer – 9 miles south – Sakerwo
Step pyramid – first stone building in the whole world
The labraraotyr that proved the great pyramids possible. Remarkable feat of
engineering.
Mastabba – low tomb
He wasn’t satisfied with that – wanted steps – as if steps to heaven
Tunnelled deep into the earth – designed to keep the kings’ true tomb secret –
away from tomb raiders.
How were the pyramids built? Never left a description in stone to say how they
did it.
It takes a huge machine now to pick up a 7 tonne slab.
Tomb drawing – clues – 160 workers to move a statue. How many
Wood slabs – rolling logs, or canals built and then stones were floated in?
How did they build on such a scale? With such precision.
Tomb Raiders
Pyramids were built to last eternity. Robbers were out for the pyramids.
No stopping the looting to come.
The lure of royal treasure was irrestible. (Like pirates)
Greed in the hearts of men – intruders – members of the kings’ own priesthood
might have been the robbers.
Recorded in history – we took all his possessions of gold, silver and bronze and
divided them b/w us.
Looting of the 1800s noting was sacred. Head of Ramsey was build to the
British Museum.
Maze of catacombs. Each chamber weighed 80 tonnes. Lids pried open.
Had to use explosives to get the last remaining tomb open. Marriotte was a
product of the time – greedy for knowledge and wealth.
Corna – the village of the robbers. Some robbers would try to blow up the
pyramids – just to see if there was a hidden chamber somewhere there.
Ancient treasure became a way of life.
Kuna – built with lots of artefacts – hundreds of tombs – undiscovered. The
villagers know what they are living above – so they are weary of people coming in.
Located on an ancient burial ground – looter tunnels – minor nobles/commoners
might have been buried here.
Worst looting – plunder with a pedigree – plunder to fill national museums.
Museum creators- acquire, exhibit and publish – this is what a creator’s job is.
The creators – you are contributing to the criminal behaviour.
This is our newest acquisition – New York, Berlin what ever spot.
We aren’t just fighting crime, we are protecting our heritage.
However, the plunder continues 1992 – gang of thief’s – temples relics – head of
a huge statue – middle of the desert – statue of Ramsey the great. Cases like
Egypt
Lost Civilizations
Video Notes
this – pulls together to retrieve the stolen artifact. They eventually got the
head back.
The mummies of ancient Egypt would suffer most of all.
Pharorah’s have not been left in peace. Mummy of King Tut – rudely man handled
in the past. Objects in bizarre rituals – Mummy unwrapping parties. Collection of
mummies became big business.
1000 years – humans have been treated as treasures.
Chance discovery – would change the way
Corna – above the village - coffins of 32 kings and queens including Ramsey –
royal priests 3000 years ago – they were hid in this secret burial chamber.
Egyptians for their own protection – collection of ancient rulers took them out of
their tombs and offered them a funeral procession.
Egyptians rulers- their final journey north to Cairo.
A century later- lie in upper gallery of the Cairo museum in an upper gallery.
Trying to preserve the ancient pharorahs.
Scientists have taken the place of the ancient holy men to protect them from
looters.
Steel and glass – inert gas will go into the casing. 12th century BC – this mummy
will now be protected by 20th century technology.
Makes Egypt so mysterious – our vision is the exotic – treasures of the
buildings.
Resting places of kings and queens that survive. The mummies really ground us.
The faces – perfect lives along the Nile were never really over. They are closer
to eternity then they have ever been.