Egypt Exploration Society

Review: [untitled]
Author(s): S. R. K. Glanville
Reviewed work(s):
Ancient Egyptian Masonry: The Building Craft by Somers Clarke ; R. Engelbach
Source: The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 17, No. 3/4 (Nov., 1931), pp. 261-263
Published by: Egypt Exploration Society
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3854774
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 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS 261
The Pharaohs whose names have been found in the Aegean are Khyan, Tuthmosis III, Amenophis II,
Amenophis III and his queen Tiya, Menkheperrer,and Psamtek I.
On p. 19 the author coins a term unknown to Egyptology-Third Intermediate Period. By this he
means the Twentieth-Twenty-fifth Dynasties, commonly called the Late New Kingdom, the Late Period,
or the Decadence.
The Egyptian objects that found their way across the water seem to be entirely small works of art. In
the early ages beautiful hard stone vases were the favourites,and from the Eighteenth to the Twenty-sixth
Dynasties alabaster vases of a baggy shape. The beautiful blue faience which was Egypt's speciality
naturally figures largely, as do beads of various materials. By far the most common objects were the
scarabs, in which one might almost think an export trade had grown up by the Twenty-sixth Dynasty.
Only very rarely do we get a statuette human or divine, and it is interesting that Sparta should have
added one more to the list of places that have producedmysterious ushabti figures. Those from Zimbabwe
and Central Africa are specimens of the well-known forgeries that can be bought in the streets of Cairo
for half a piastre apiece. The description of the Spartan one is reminiscent of them. The Rhone Valley
has also producedforged ushabtis.
Mr. Pendleburyadds a valuable note on the Aegean pottery found in Egypt and a list of the finds with
full references. He quite correctlyspeaks of Lahun in his text, but does not mark it on his map. He gives
instead Kahun, which is only one portion of the gleat site at Lahun.
The authorand his wife hope to preparea companionvolume to the present one. It is to be a " Minoica,"
recordingthe Aegean pottery found in Egypt. We look forwardto this as well as the study of the Rhodian
material.
G. A. WAINWRIGHT.

Ancient Egyptian Masonry: The Building Craft. By the late SOMERSCLARKE,F.S.A., late surveyor to the
Dean and Chapterof St. Paul's Cathedral,and R. ENGELBACH, Assoc. C. & G. Inst., Keeper, Egyptian
Museum, Cairo. (Oxford,1930.)
The gap in Egyptological literature which Messrs. Somers Clarke and Engelbach set out to fill
demanded in the authors of an adequate text-book a combination of precisely those qualifications which
are implied in their descriptions quoted above. This being so, it might be supposed that alike for
Egyptologists and architects interested in the history of building all that remained was to btuy this
volume of over 200 pages and nearer 300 illustrations, and put it on their shelves as a permanent
work of reference. But it appears that the gap-unknown to most of us-was bigger than that; and it is
a striking tribute not only to the modesty but also to the scientific manner of the authors' enquiry that
they regard their book merely as Prolegomena,and are continually stressing the possibility and need of
further research into available material, as well as the inevitable uncertainties due to lack of evidence.
Indeed their caution would seem almost overdone at times were it not that the book is intended for a wide
public, including students unused to the pragmatistical philosophy of the archaeologist. That the latter
should in the ordinary commerce of his work and writings accept as facts much that he knows to be
unproven theories is right so long as he represents them to the layman as no more than working
hypotheses. Engelbach'stheory of the method of erecting obelisks in ancient Egypt fits all the known facts
and is now generally accepted by Egyptologists. But he is very careful to refer to it in this book-as a
possible solution of the problem.
It is a commonplace that many of the main characteristics of ancient Egyptian civilization remain
unchanged from the earliest dynastic times down to the Roman period. Egyptian architecture was no
exception to the rule; and the authors maintain that it had achieved its essential characteristics by the
middle of the Old Kingdom; minor variations in treatment continued to arise throughout the succeeding
dynasties, but there was no constructional change. The natural conservatism of the race was doubtless
chiefly responsible for this fact, but a contributory and more interesting reason was the "nationalization"
of the quarries from the earliest times.
In contrast with the long period of its full development-nearly 3000 years-the available material for
a study of the origins and development of Egyptian architecture is confined to a relatively short period,
within which the bulk of the evidence was producedin a single generation. The authors' sane treatment
of the newly discovered buildings at Sakkarah is therefore all-important, and above all their detailed
exposition of the inferiority of Zoser's masonry as compared with that of e.g. Khufu. The outstanding
Journ. of Egypt. Arch. xvII. 34
262 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS
feature of the SakkArahwork is its reliance on earlier techniques-mud-brick and wood and even wattle
and daub, as witness the pillars. The great advance made in the Fourth Dynasty, logical enough, could
only come about when the masons realized that the new medium required and was capable of a new inter-
pretation, and ceased to measure their blocks in terms of bricks.
Following the introductory chapter on the earliest remains of Egyptian masonry, Clarke and Engelbach
discuss every phase of the craft in detail, beginning with two chapters on quarrying-devoted to soft and
hard rocks respectively. They have collected enough evidence, chiefly from the limestone galleries of
Tura and Ma'sara, but also from Beni Hasan and the sandstone of Silsilah, to outline the nmethodof
extraction with considerablecertainty, and are inclined to postulate the use of a pick, though refusing to
insist on this. Their study of the quarryingof hard rocks is based partly on the monuments, but chiefly
oil Engelbach's work on the Aswan obelisk, the results of which are already familiar. They admit to
many difficulties still outstanding, e.g. the nature and material of the pointed tool which was certainly
used in working granite, schist, quartzite, etc.
The next stage was the transport of the stone from the quarry to the building site, and is treated in a
short chapter on Eptin b s. The suggestion that the great lighters such as that of Hatshesut were
"solid rafts made of tree trunks' will not be acceptable to naval architects, and in fact Mr. Charles
Jarrett-Bell has recently shown that the Dor el-Bahrt relief is probably a very accurate representation of
a craft based on sound if elementary mechanical knowledge. The authors, however, are not attempting a
survey of Egyptian ships, and the most valuable result of this chapter is the fact, which they have
established beyond reasonable doubt, that the Egyptians did not know or use the pulley, a conclusion which
naturally claims instant consideration in any discussion of methods of handling and laying
linlocks and of
constrluction.
The section on preparations before building includes a useful survey of the known examples of Egyptian
scale-plans and architectural sketches, to which may be added an ostrakon published since this book
(Journal, xvi, 237).
The mensuration and preparation of building sites is discussed, and the religious ceremonies connected
with them. The authors seem inclined to doubt the witness of the molumeints that the Pharaoh himself
took part in this symbolical act, especially in Ptolemaic times. Such, however, is what we should expect
rather than the reverse, from comparisonsboth with Mesopotamian practice at dates contemporary with
dynastic Egypt, and that of many other peoples down to the present day. In this country the number of
foundation stones laid by one or other of the present royal family may well surprise some archaeologistof
the future.
The Egyptian habit of mixing bad work with good is strikingly exhibited in the p)oor quality of their
foundations, which until comparativelylate times were almost invariably inadequate for their task both in
theory and in practice. This was due in part to ignorance-though experience should have corrected that
-and in part no doubt to the glozing comfort of the interminable stucco, which (necessary as a ground
decorationin so niany cases) would give for a short time a faultless exterior to the worst construction.
Even so it is incredible that the builders should have gonle on for century after century erecting huge
columns which were to take the weight of monolithic architraves on small irregularblocks of friable stone
only a few feet deep. It is even more remarkablethat so much has lasted.
Handling, dressing and laying of blocks are dealt with in two long and important chapters which more
than any in the book testify to the quantity of data collected by the authors, and at the same time offer
scope for the setting out of propositions which goes far beyond the mere observation of conditions. The
absence (so far as one caintell) of wheeled transport before the New Kingdom is all the more surprising
now that the chariot is known to have been so prominent a feature -of early Stumeriancivilization. But
rollers seem certainly to have been used by the Egyptians with their (well authenticated) sleds, though the
actual evidence for them is slight. The most notable re-adjustment of accepted views is entailed by the
suggestion-for which a sound case is made out-that the so-called "rockers"(known to us fronmmodels
in foundationdeposits) are in reality small sleds used in aligning blocks of stones to be dressed. The whole
question of the cutting, dressing, aligning and laying of the blocks and their courses is discussed with great
insight and is too detailed for summary.
A cautious but constructive account of pyramid building dispatches most current ideas but does not
claim to be final, since so much still remains to be done towards the thorough investigation even of the
Gizah pyramids. It has called forth from Petrie (Ancient Egypt, 1930, 33) a further discussion of the
difficulties and a more positive solutionlthan that of Clarke and Engelbach.
 NOTICES OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS 263
The remainder of the book deals with the elements of architecture, pavements and column-bases,
columns and architraves, roofs (including methods of protection against rain, a wider field than might be
expected), doors and doorways, windows, stairs and arches. The last chapter on the masonry discusses
the final stages of facing, sculpturing and painting, and contains some important evidence for the methods
of cutting hard stone based on personal experiments. Such practical tests are indeed frequently referred
to throughout the book, models being used when an actual reconstruction of ancient methods was obviously
out of the question. The authors rightly insist that often this is the only criterion by which to test their
theories, and apply it whenever possible.
The last two chapters, giving short accounts of brickworkand Egyptian mathematics respectively, are
essential adjuncts to the main theme. It might be noted that Petrie's view that panelled brickwork is
derived from a wooden construction is borne out by the evidence of a similar development in early
Mesopotamianbuilding at Ur and AI-'Ubaid.
An appendix gives illustrations of most of the tools discussed in the text, of which in some cases only
one or two examples are known.
Finally, one may recall the authors' warning, already noted, that this book is only an introduction. It
is consequently not simply a book of reference-though that will naturally be its primary use for most
readers-but contains valuable suggestions for further lines of investigation.
S. R. K. GLANVILLE.

Zenon Papyri in the University of Michigan Collection. By C. C. EDGAR (University of Michigan Studies,
HumanisticSeries, xxiv). Pp. xiv+211, and 6 plates. $ 3.50. 1931.
Of the voluminous correspondence of Zenon, one of the outstanding discoveries of recent years,
appreciable portions have fallen to the Universities of Michigan and Columbia. The authorities of the
former could not have done better than to entrust the publication of their share to the experienced editor
of the Zenon papyri at Cairo. A very satisfactory and attractive book is the result. Mr. Edgar has taken
the opportunity to give in his substantial introduction (pp. 1-60) a valuable sketch of the career of Zenon
and of the powerful minister Apollonius, whose confidential agent Zenon was. He also discusses briefly
the different systems of dating employed in the reigns of the second and third Ptolemies and adds useful
tables of the correspondencesbetween Macedonian and Egyptian months for the years 261-236 B.C. Of
the 120 papyri which follow many are short or fragmentary,but there is a leaven of good pieces, and though
none is of capital importance, points of interest are frequent. Historically the most significant is No. 100,
if the Callicratestherein mentioned was the admiral of that name, whose tenure of office must consequently
be extended. In connexion with the allusion to a bear in 66.5 it may be worth while to note that a skilful
drawing of that (in Egypt) unexpected animal has lately been found among the Oxyrhynchus papyri. In
103 occurs one of the few early references to the use of camels in Egypt. The ostrich is not altogether a
novelty in papyri, but in 9. 2-3 we hear for the first time of an egg decorated with or mounted in silver,
SiLOv(TTpoV8Oiov r)pyvpop)E0vov. In 112.5 dirb XEpovsrOTiCelV is the antithesis of dc 7ro
tos6, for which cf. e.g.
P. Rylands 157.21. Facsimiles, paper and typography are alike excellent, and misprints commendably
rare, though in several places brackets before or after complete words are not properly spaced. May the
filture volumes of the Michigan papyri follow this admirable model!
A. S. HUNT.

Papyri in the Princeton University Collections,edited by A. C. JOHNSONand H. B. VAN HOESEN(Johns

Hopkins University Studies in Archaeology,No. 10). Pp. xxiii + 146. 1931.
Princeton is one of the American universities which have recently acquireda number of new papyri, and
a small homogeneousgroup from Philadelphia in the Arsinoite nome has now been dealt with in a slender
volume. This group consists of eleven papyri, three of them inscribed on both sides, belonging to the reign
of Tiberius, and all, with the exception of No. 13, which is of a more miscellaneous character, containing
official taxing-accounts, several of considerable length. Among the taxes concerned the -vvraTLtuov is
prominent, but the purpose of that impost, a peculiarity of the Arsinoite nome, remains uncertain. If, as
the editors maintain, it was not the poll-tax under another name, a payment by a man of 62 hardly dis-
proves the accepted view that liability to poll-tax ceased at the age of 60 (p. 26). Since no facsimiles are
given, the quality of the transcriptions cannot be tested, but they have evidently been made with care,
and the editorial work generally is competent. The principles of abbreviationdo not seem to have been fully
grasped. p cannot be expanded (T)p(da7rea) (9. iv. 9); and if, e.g., the a- of NCE'aov or the r of 'Haltano-d'o(s)
34-2