[Illustration:  389.jpg STONE CHAMBER OF KHASEKHEMUI]

The tomb of Khasekhemui is very different from any of the other royal tombs yet known.  The total length of the chamber from end to end is two hundred and twenty-three feet, and the breadth in the middle is forty feet, growing wider towards the northern end.  The whole structure is very irregular; and, to add to the confusion, the greater part of it was built of freshly made mud bricks, which have yielded with the pressure and flowed out sideways, until the walls are often double their original breadth.  It was only owing to this flow of the walls over the objects in the chambers, that so many valuable things were found perfect, and in position.  Where the whole of the original outline of a wall had disappeared, the form is given in the plan with wavy outline.

The central stone chamber of the tomb of Khasekhemui is the most important part of the whole, as it is the oldest stone construction yet known.  The chamber is roughly seventeen by ten feet; the depth is nearly six feet.  There is no sign of any roof.

Nearly all the contents of this tomb were removed by the French investigators in 1897.  Among the more interesting objects found were sealings of yellow clay, which were curiously enough of different types at opposite ends of the tomb.  Copper needles, chisels, axes, and model tools were also found, and a beautiful sceptre of gold and sard was brought to light by Professor Petrie, only an inch or two below a spot that had been cleared by previous explorers.

In chamber 2 of the tomb of Khasekhemui were also found six vases of dolomite and one of carnelian.  Two of these are shown in the illustration, and each has a cover of thick gold-foil fitted over the top, and secured with a double turn of twisted gold wire, the wire being sealed with a small lump of clay, the whole operation resembling the method of the modern druggist, in fastening a box of ointment.  Near these vases were found two beautiful gold bracelets; one, Number 3, is still in a perfect condition; the other, Number 4, has been, unfortunately, crushed by the yielding of the wall of the tomb in which it was deposited.

[Illustration:  391.jpg GOLD-CAPPED VASES AND GOLD BRACELETS]

Each royal grave seems to have had connected with it two great steles.  Two, for instance, were found in the tomb of Merneit, one of which, however, was demolished.  There were also two steles at the grave of Qa.  So far only one stele had been found of Zet, and one of Mersekha, and none appear to have survived of Zer, Den, or Azab.  These steles seem to have been placed at the east side of the tombs, and on the ground level, and such of them as happened to fall down upon their inscribed faces have generally been found in an excellent state of preservation.