Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- LIST OF PLATES
- INTRODUCTION. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE LORD CARNARVON
- CHAPTER 1 THE KING AND THE QUEEN
- CHAPTER 2 THE VALLEY AND THE TOMB
- CHAPTER 3 THE VALLEY IN MODERN TIMES
- CHAPTER 4 OUR PREFATORY WORK AT THEBES
- CHAPTER 5 THE FINDING OF THE TOMB
- CHAPTER 6 A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
- CHAPTER 7 A SURVEY OF THE ANTECAMBER
- CHAPTER 8 CLEARING THE ANTECHAMBER
- CHAPTER 9 VISITORS AND THE PRESS
- CHAPTER 10 WORK IN THE LABORATORY
- CHAPTER 11 THE OPENING OF THE SEALED DOOR
- APPENDIX
- INDEX
- Plate section
- Plate section
CHAPTER 7 - A SURVEY OF THE ANTECAMBER
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 October 2011
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Contents
- LIST OF PLATES
- INTRODUCTION. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LATE LORD CARNARVON
- CHAPTER 1 THE KING AND THE QUEEN
- CHAPTER 2 THE VALLEY AND THE TOMB
- CHAPTER 3 THE VALLEY IN MODERN TIMES
- CHAPTER 4 OUR PREFATORY WORK AT THEBES
- CHAPTER 5 THE FINDING OF THE TOMB
- CHAPTER 6 A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION
- CHAPTER 7 A SURVEY OF THE ANTECAMBER
- CHAPTER 8 CLEARING THE ANTECHAMBER
- CHAPTER 9 VISITORS AND THE PRESS
- CHAPTER 10 WORK IN THE LABORATORY
- CHAPTER 11 THE OPENING OF THE SEALED DOOR
- APPENDIX
- INDEX
- Plate section
- Plate section
Summary
In this chapter we propose to make a detailed survey of the objects in the Antechamber, and it will give the reader a better idea of things if we make it systematically, and do not range backwards and forwards from one end of it to the other, as in the first excitement of discovery we naturally did. It was but a small room, some 26 feet by 12 feet, and we had to tread warily, for, though the officials had cleared for us a small alley-way in the centre, a single false step or hasty movement would have inflicted irreparable damage on one of the delicate objects with which we were surrounded.
In front of us, in the doorway—we had to step over it to get into the chamber—lay the beautiful wishing-cup shown on Plate XLVI. It was of pure semi-translucent alabaster, with lotus-flower handles on either side, supporting the kneeling figures which symbolize Eternity. Turning right as we entered, we noticed, first, a large cylindrical jar of alabaster; next, two funerary bouquets of leaves, one leaning against the wall, the other fallen; and in front of them, standing out into the chamber, a painted wooden casket (see Plate XXI). This last will probably rank as one of the greatest artistic treasures of the tomb, and on our first visit we found it hard to tear ourselves away from it.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Tomb of Tut-Ankh-AmenDiscovered by the Late Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter, pp. 110 - 122Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010