Six-Decker Soul Ship

Monday, Jun. 07, 1954

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Not much is known about such ships, for none has been found in good condition. There is a fair chance that two of Cheops' ships may be found in the long chamber under the limestone blocks. Since the Egyptians believed that the souls of possessions follow their owners into the other world, the ships may be freighted with all the things (jewelry, clothing and kitchenware) that the soul of a Pharaoh might need. There may be effigies of dancing girls to entertain the soul of Pharaoh. There may be a group of his friends for company. There may be a crew to sail the ship in procession behind the sun.

Gaudy Age. Not all U.S. archaeologists are sure that the ship or ships will prove to be loaded with all these fascinating things. Little is known, 'they say, about the Fourth Dynasty, of which Cheops was the second Pharoah. The ship may be bare soul-transportation, not richly freighted with treasure. Even so, it will tell a great deal about an ancient and gaudy age.

When Kamal el Malakh finished his peering through the hole in the limestone block, he behaved in the most approved Egyptological manner. He had the hole sealed up to protect the relics inside from air and dust. He posted armed guards to exclude unauthorized antiquarians. Then he went into a huddle with his most learned colleagues. This week he reopened the hole for an hour-and-a-half, gave eight noted Egyptologists and scholars a quick look at the treasure below by the light of an electric bulb on the end of a stick.