3 - 9 January 2002
Issue No.567
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 3 - 9 January 2002 Issue No.567 |
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More dances with tomb robbers
The judge in the courtroom (known to the ancient Egyptians as Knbt) asked the thief, "Why did you steal from the tomb of the Pharaoh?" and the thief replied, "Everyone says that the Pharaoh is a god, so why didn't he stop me?"
This remarkable record of a cross- examination provides evidence of tomb- robbing in ancient times, and there are many interesting stories of how the desecrators of sacred burial grounds operated over thousands of years. They would hide between the hills on the Theban necropolis, make their way secretly to the tombs in the dead of night, and somehow gain an entrance, holding a lantern which reflected on the gold and silver treasures they had come to appropriate. They were always afraid of being caught by the police in the cemetery -- and there were police, even in ancient times.
One of the most interesting cases of tomb robbery was recorded in what is known as the Abbott and Amherst Papyri. This famous tomb robbery took place more than 2,700 years ago, during the 20th Dynasty at the end of the New Kingdom. The story relates a conflict between an honest man, Paser, the mayor of the East Bank of Thebes (Luxor), and a corrupt man with no conscience called Pawera, who was mayor of the West Bank. Pawera was responsible for protecting the tombs of the Pharaohs, queens, nobles and officials.
Pawera and the chief of police were involved in a conspiracy to steal treasures from royal and private tombs. They bribed everyone on the necropolis, buying their silence so that none would incriminate them. But Paser, a pious man and loyal official, heard of their plans and reported them to the authorities. He declared to the vizier that Pawera was involved in tomb robberies and disturbing the peace of their illustrious ancestors.
The vizier forthwith appointed a committee to investigate. Unfortunately, it was made up of men who were loyal to the Mayor of the West Bank and, not surprisingly, a false report was presented to the vizier stating that the tombs were in good condition, all the seals intact, and that nothing had been stolen.
The mayor of the West Bank and those loyal to him crossed the river and marched along the East Bank in a victory celebration, shouting and laughing, delighted that he had been exonerated. Paser was understandably upset. He could not believe that the committee had lied and written a false report. He took action. He first reported to the vizier that the guilty Pawera had taken part in the celebration march, and then he wrote to the Pharaoh insisting that the committee was dishonest and had been bribed.
The Pharaoh forthwith appointed a new committee with no connection to Pawera, and which could not be bribed by him or his lackeys. They went to the Valley of the Kings and other sites on the Theban necropolis, opened many of the tombs and were horrified to find that most had been robbed. It is interesting to note that this ancient committee actually published a list itemising the robbed tombs.
The Knbt looked into the case and ordered an investigation. The court received confessions from the thieves, and three men were found guilty of stealing from the tomb of Pharaoh Sobekemsaf II; they were handed over to the high priest of Amun. He forthwith issued a decree that the tomb robbers who had escaped should be pursued and, when captured, imprisoned in the temple of Amun until the Pharaoh decided on their punishment.
One thief related how he found the mummy of a Pharaoh. He described him as equipped with a sword and a set of amulets, with golden ornaments around his neck. His crown and diadems of gold were upon his head, and the mummy of the Pharaoh was overlaid with gold. His coffins were wrought with gold and silver "within and without and inlaid with every splendid costly stone ... We stole the furniture which we found with them, consisting of vases of gold, silver and bronze."
Just imagine: had the tomb of Ramses VI been found intact, what unimaginable treasures it must have contained. But, unfortunately, the tomb and so many others were ruthlessly robbed in antiquity. We are lucky that the tomb of the Golden Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, survived intact. It was saved by a miracle; when the Egyptians were building the tomb of Ramses VI just above it, stone rubble toppled down the hill and completely obscured the tomb. It was undetected until Howard Carter discovered it on 4 November, 1922.
We still dance with tomb robbers; the heirs of the ancient thieves are alive and kicking today.
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