An Interesting Lecture by Miss Phyllis Ayrton on Ancient Egypt A highly enjoyable lecture which brought the picturesque period of Tutankhamen vividly before hearers was given by Miss Phyllis Ayrion on Tuesday afternoon under the auspices of the literary Section of the B. Wy A., Mrs. Hodges presiding. The much-talked-of 1g, We were sorry to learn, could only be described og an "inferior sort of fellow" who could not even maintain the advance made by Liis father-in-law, Akhenaten, wno had attempted to change the religion of Egypt from the worship of Amen-Ra (the Sun) and other gods to the worship of the Aten, or Sun's disk alone; but vivided to priestly persuasions and 3e-stored the old gods.
On the other hand, the women of the reigning family of this period were exceptionally strong characters. Queen Thyi, wife of King Amenhetep III, the most powerful ruler of Egypt, was acknowledged as ce-ruler, assisted at public functions and acts of ceremonial worship in a way hitherto unknown. Her power was very great and she even sanctioned the king's orders.before they were issued. The wife of Akhencten was also a princess of Mitanni in northern Syria, where Asiatic monotheism still, prevailed and dovstless influenced: her husband to that belief.
After the death of Tutankhamen his wife tried to break the priest-rule and wrote back to her own people, asking the King of the Meitanni to send a prince whom she could marry, but no answer was received and she disappears from history, probably put out of.the way by the priests whom she had offended, although no one can say definitely as to her fate. At all events she.was succeeded by Ay, the -Higfa priest of Amen-Ra.
There are two theories accounting for the presence of the unusual amount of furniture and household equipment in: the tomb of Tutankhamen, one that his wife had it placed there lest it be stolen by the priests; the other that it was placed there y the priests themselves to honour the King who had restored their worship. At all events it. had the result of preserving an unusual amount of valuable data on' the period, since the articles there reflect the life of the time very fully, even indludin, fly-whisk Rear-ADMIRAL Phelps, _v.s.n., and Mrs. Phelps have arrived in Shanghai from the north, and are the guests of Mr. and Mirs. F. Schwyzer, 69. Rue Ratard. They anticipate being in Shanghai for about 10 days, whereater are leaving for the United States vid Suez.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.