The Word Cloud

Katie is no longer with us - or her escapades into Egyptology - but her story reminded me of some research I did some years ago.  I did not pursue this theme very far.

Some years ago, I came across a letter to the Times’ published  on 11 Nov 1852.  I came across this letter though a keyword search for Victorian journalists. It is written by Bayle St John who was a brother of Percy B. St John - the subject of a puzzle.

From the dramatic - or story - point of view, it would make more artistic sense if the tomb of a mummy were disturbed in the British Museum rather than in the sands of Egypt - as is usually the case. The subsequent ‘mummy’ would arise, terrorise the population, but his demand would be that he should be returned home and re-buried in the sands of Egypt   I am thinking of the controversies over the Elgin Marbles - and the return of some shrunken heads to Borneo.   But, perhaps, the subject would be too controversial for European filmmakers?   The shrunken heads would be more horrific than a mummy. You would have a horror story that has a  moral point.  But, perhaps, this has been done?  Archaeologists are grave robbers too!

As you see, the issue was raised in Victorian times and I’ve posted the letter,  This letter does give a feeling of the period.  Dr Lepsius was a major German archaeologist. Cambyses was the first invader  and, presumably, despoiler of Egypt.   I had to look both of these name up: Victorians were very well informed!
Bayly St John had written extensively about the Middle-East - as had his father. 

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir, --The project for the removal of Cleopatra’s Needle from Alexandria, announced in your number of 11th instant seems already to have suggested another act of spoliation. Some of your correspondents, while anxious to protect, the tomb of the kings and the Thebian temples, point to the colossal statue (which, they tell us, is of Rameses 11.) at Mitarahenny, and hint that it should be transferred to England.

This, statue, one of the most remarkable in Egypt, lies on its face in a hole, which is annually filled to the brim in inundation time. Two of your corespondents describe it as “partially covered with sand;” but they must have glanced at it askance when dashing along at fill speed on donkey-back towards the Sakkarah district. There is no sand at Mitrarahenny, which is situated at the centre of a rich plain of alluvial soil, amidst vast palm groves. Every one who has beheld it must have regretted its neglected condition, and blamed the meanness which has left it, though English property, exposed for many years to the chances of destruction. A pension of 5.ls. a year was formerly paid to an Arab dame who acted as guardian, but now this magnificent work is left under the care of a voluntary conservator. At very slight expense it might be placed erect for the gratification of travellers; but it would be better to leave it buried in the mud, water, sand, than bring it to England. 

We shall have no sooner given the signal of destruction by laying hands on it, than the whole world will proceed to Egypt armed with pickaxe, shovel and lever, perhaps with gunpowder, and the new Cambyses may come to Thebes and find nothing worth ruining. Since Dr Lepsius’s escapades there has been a pause in the work of dilapidation, and a good opportunity seems to have arrived for clearing out, enclosing, and protecting the ancient monuments of Egypt. Bu here we are at it again. We are going to begin with a work which is pronounced to be "not an act of Vandalism and desecration;" then we are to be lured on to Mitrahenny, just in sight of the tomb of Psamitichus, where Dr. Lepsius played those pranks that make all English tourists hold up their hands in horror; and then, with a fair breeze, we shall hoist sail for Thebes, where there is still plenty of room for vandalism, nor stop till we come to Abu Sambal. Let us remember, however, that if we take statues and columns, the French may have a fancy for wall-paintings and the Prussians for bas-reliefs, so that in a very few years Murray’s Handbook may be about as intelligible as Pausanias.

I am, sir, your obedient servant

BAYLE ST. JOHN

Nov 11