Masterpieces of Ancient Egyptian Jewelry: the Story of the Gold of the Pharaohs and the Treasure of Tanis

 

Vi?t??ll? ?nkn?wn, th? ?isc?v??? ?? th??? int?ct E???ti?n Ph????h’s t?m?s ?iv?ls Kin? T?t’s ?isc?v???. This is th? st??? ?? th? ??l? ?? th? Ph????hs ?n? th? T???s??? ?? T?nis.

 

 

Th? t?m? ?? T?t?nkh?m?n is ?n? ?? th? m?st ??scin?tin? ?isc?v??i?s ?v?? m???, ??t it w?sn’t ?n int?ct ?isc?v???.  It h?? ???n l??t?? twic? in Anti??it?, ?n? H?w??? C??t?? ?stim?t?? th?t ? c?nsi?????l? ?m??nt ?? j?w?l?? w?s st?l?n. Th????h??t th??? mill?nni?, ????t 300 Ph????hs ??l?? ?nci?nt E???t, ??t ?ll ????l E???ti?n t?m?s h?? ???n ???k?n int? ?? thi?v?s, ?v?n Kin? T?t’s. B?t in 1939 Pi???? M?nt?t h?? ?n? ?? th? m?st im???t?nt ?isc?v??i?s in ??ch???l??ic?l hist???, th? T?nis T???s???s. H? ???n? ? ????l n?c????lis, incl??in? th??? E???ti?n Ph????hs t?m?s int?ct with th?i? ??l? ?n? silv?? t???s???. This is th? t?l? ?? th? ??l? t???s???s ?? Anci?nt E???t.

 

 

Wh? this ??scin?ti?n with ??l?? At th? ??wn ?? th? ?nci?nt E???ti?n civiliz?ti?n, ????l? t?i?? t? m?k? s?ns? ?? th? w??l? ????n? th?m. Th?? ?nvisi?n?? th?t it st??t?? ?s ?n ?c??n ?? ???kn?ss ?n? ch??s. B?t th?n ???m th? w?t?? ?m????? ?n isl?n?, th? s?n, th? ???s, ?n? ?n th? ???th m??n? l?sh v???t?ti?n ???w. At ni?ht, inst??? ?? s??in? ??sc??it? ?n? c?n??si?n, th?? s?w ?????, ?s th? st??s m?v?? in ?nis?n.

E?ch ??? th? s?n ?????ht li?? t? th? w??l?. E?ch ???? th? Nil? ???tiliz?? th? ??? l?n?. S? th?? ???c?iv?? ? ?ivin? h??m?n? in th? w??l? ????n? th?m. An? th? ??l?nc? ?? this ?in? cl?ckw??k ?? li?? w?s th? s?n.

In th? ??s??t ?n? c??l? ?in? in ??cks ? m?t?l ?? th? s?m? c?l?? ?s th? s?nshin?. It c??l? ?? m?lt?? ?n? ??shi?n?? with??t ?v?? t??nishin?, s? it s??m?? ?t??n?l. Th? ??in? s?n ??? R? w?s ??sc?i??? ?s h?vin? “his ??n?s t??n?? int? silv??, his ?l?sh int? ??l?, ?n? his h?i? int? ???l l??is-l?z?li”. F?? th? ?nci?nt E???ti?ns, th? ???s’ ?l?sh w?s m??? ?? th? s?m? s??st?nc? ?s th? s?n, ??l?.

G?l?, A S??st?nc? ?? Imm??t?lit?

 

 

This is wh??? l?? th? ?i? mis?n???st?n?in? ????t ?nci?nt E???ti?n civiliz?ti?n. It is n?t ? civiliz?ti?n with ? m???i? ??scin?ti?n with ???th, ??t th? ????sit?, li??, ??? ?t??nit?. Sinc? th? s?n is ?????n ?v??? m??nin?, th? R???l E???ti?n t?m?s w??? ??ilt in th? W?st. Th? i??? w?s t? j?in th? s?n in its ni?htl? t??v?l, ?n? lik? him, ?? ??viv?? ?v??? m??nin?.

This is h?w ????mi?s ?x???ss ?????t??l ???i?th. O?i?in?ll? c?v???? in sm??th whit? st?n? ?n? with ? ??l? ?n? silv?? ti?, th?? sh?n? ??i?htl? l??kin? lik? s?n ???s. F??th??m???, th?? ?ls? s?m??liz? th? ??i?in?l ???th m??n? ?? v???t?ti?n, th? ????n???ti?n ?? ?l?nt li??. E???ti?n Ph????hs ??ilt im???ssiv? t?m?s with th? ???l ?? ??s????cti?n, ?? j?inin? this c?clic?l ???mis? ?? ?t??n?l li??.

An? th? Kin?s h?? ?n? t??m?n???s ??v?nt??? c?m????? t? th? ?v????? E???ti?n wh? ?ls? h???? t? liv? ?t??n?ll?. Ph????h ?l????? w?s ? ‘???? ???’, ?n? in th? ??t??li?? h? ??c?m? ? ??ll? ?l????? ???. H? t??v?l?? ???in? th? ??? th? sk? with his ??th?? R?, th? s?n, ?n? ?t ni?ht j?in?? th? st??s.

Ph????h, s?n ?? th? S?n, ??j?inin? th? ???s in th? ??t??li??, w??l? th??????? h?v? ? ?l?sh ?? ??l?. H?nc? th? n??? ??? ? ??l? m?sk, ??l? c???in ?n? ??l? ?m?l?ts c?v??in? th? Kin?’s ???? ??? ?t??n?l ???t?cti?n. Sinc? Ph????h w?s c?nsi????? ?liv? in th? t?m?, h? h?? th? s?m? n???s ?s in ???thl? li??. S? h? t??k t? th? t?m? his ?il??? ???nit??? ?n? ???ci??s ??j?cts.

Th??????? wh?t ?m??nt w??l? ?? ?cc?m?l?t?? ?v?? th??? mill?nni?, i? ?v??? Kin? h?? ??l? ?ich?s in his t?m?? C?n w? ?v?n ???in t? im??in? th? t???s??? th?? c?nc??l???

 

 

Th? t?m? ?? ? min?? Kin?, T?t?nkh?m?n, c?nt?in?? ?v?? 5,000 ??j?cts whil? ??in? th? sm?ll?st ????l t?m? ?? th? V?ll?? ?? th? Kin?s. Wh?t w??l? h?v? ???n th? t???s??? ?? th? m?j?? E???ti?n Ph????hs lik? R?m?ss?s II?

An? ?????? th?t, th? ????t ????mi?s? In t?t?l, ?nci?nt E???t ??ilt ?v?? 120 ????mi?s, incl??in? th? sm?ll ????mi?s m??? ??? Q???ns ?n? P?inc?s. N???l? ?ll h?v? ???n ?m?ti?? ?? th?i? m?mmi?s ?n? th?i? t???s???, th? ?nl? thin? l??t w??? ?m?t? st?n? s??c??h??i. N?t ? s??ck ?? ??l?, l??is ?? iv??? t? ?? ???n? in ????mi? ???i?l ch?m???s. At ??st ????m?nts ?? ????l ???i?s. Th? l??t ???t ?? Dj?s??, th? sk?ll ?? S?n?????, th? l??t ??m ?? Un?s…

F??t?n?t?l? s?v???l R???l j?w?l?? m?st???i?c?s s??viv? t? ?iv? ?s ?n i??? ?s t? wh?t th? l?st t???s???s mi?ht h?v? l??k?? lik?. Th?? w??? ???n? ?ith?? ?? thi?v?s ?? ??ch???l??ists. An? s?m?tіm?s ?? ?cci??nt, lik? wh?n ??ilw?? w??k??s st?m?l?? ???n ? j?w?l?? t???s???. Th? ??ch???l??ist s?s??ct?? it ?l????? w?s ? l??t??’s c?ch? ???i?? tw? mill?nni? ???vi??sl?. Am?n? th? t???s??? w?s ? ??i? ?? ??l? ?n? l??is l?z?li ??n?l?s ????in? th? n?m? ?? R?m?ss?s II. W? ?? n?t kn?w i? h? ?i? w??? th?m, ??t it ?????s ? ?lim?s? t? th? l?st c?nt?nts ?? his t?m?.

In 1920 ?n ??ch???l??ist ?isc?v???? in ? ????mi? ?n? ??l? ?n? l??is l?z?li c????. It h?? ???n ??????? ?? thi?v?s whil? th?? cl????? th? ???i?l ch?m???. T? im??in? wh?t th? ??st mi?ht h?v? l??k?? lik?, ?n? n???s t? l??k ?t T?t?nkh?m?n’s ??l? m?sk.

An? h?w?v?? im???ssiv? its ??l? t???s???, T?t’s t?m? w?sn’t int?ct, it h?? ???n visit?? ?? thi?v?s, twic?. N?t ? sin?l? int?ct R???l t?m? h?? ???n ???n? in ?nci?nt E???t, ?ntil Pi???? M?nt?t’s ?isc?v??? ?t T?nis.

 

 

A ?l??i??s ch??t?? ?? ?nci?nt E???ti?n hist??? w?s cl?s?? with R?m?ss?s XI’s ???th. H? w??? ? c?l????t?? n?m? ??t h?? n?n? ?? th? ??w?? ?? ?chi?v?m?nts. E???t ?nt???? ?n? ?? its ch??tic ??is???s, ?n? s?????t?? in tw?. P????n??, th? V?ll?? ?? th? Kin?s w?s l????l? ?m?ti?? ?? its t???s???s. E???ti?n Ph????hs ??l?? ???m th? D?lt?, in th? N??th. This is h?w th? cit? ?? T?nis ??c?m? th? n?w c??it?l.

B?t th?t ??? w?s ??t int? th? ‘??clin?’ ??l??? ?? E???ti?n hist???. Th? cit? w?s ??ilt ?? sim?l? ?sin? th? cit? n????? ??ilt ?? th? ????t R?m?ss?s ?s ? c?nv?ni?nt ??????. Hi?h h?mi?it? l??t ??hin? m?stl? st?n? ????m?nts s? it w?s ?nlik?l? th?t ?n?thin? m?tchin? T?t?nkh?m?n’s ?isc?v??? c??l? ?v?? ?? hi???n th???.

Min?? Kin?s ?? n?t, T?nis ?s?? t? ?? th? c??it?l ?? Anci?nt E???t. An? ??t?? t?n ????s ?? ?????t, in th? s??in? ?? 1939, Pi???? M?nt?t ???n? st?n? sl??s. Th?n ? sm?ll ??l? it?m, wh?s? ???lit? in?ic?t?? th??? w?s s?m?thin? s??ci?l n?????. This w?s n?t th? ?l??? ?? ? t?m?l?, ??t th? ???? ?? ?n ?n???????n? n?c????lis.

Thi?v?s h?? ???n th??? in Anti??it?. M?nt?t ?nt???? th? h?l? th?? ??? t? ?in? ?n ?m?t? t?m?. B?t it w?s th? t?m? ?? ? Ph????h, Os??k?n II. Th?n ?n?th?? s??c??h???s w?s ???n?, ???in ?m?ti?? ?? ??????s.

An? th?n, ? st?n? ch?m??? with??t ?n? si?ns ?? ?nt??. Sli?in? insi?? th? sm?ll ch?m??? M?nt?t s?w “? ??lc?n h????? silv?? c???in. It ???????? int?ct. Th????h ? sl?t ?n? c??l? s?? ??l? shinin? insi??”. N?xt t? th? silv?? ??lc?n, “tw? sk?l?t?ns ?n??? ? m?ltit??? ?? t??n ??l? sh??ts”. Th? hist??? ?? E???ti?n ??ch???l??? w?s ????t t? ?? ??w?itt?n.

 

 

M?nt?t h?? j?st ???n? ? R???l n?c????lis, h?m? t? ? ??z?n E???ti?n t?m?s ?? Kin?s ?n? ??inc?s. Th? ??lc?n sh???? c???in h?l? th? m?mm? ?? Ph????h Sh?sh?n? II, ?ntil th?n ? n?m? c?m?l?t?l? ?nkn?wn. S? th? ?isc?v??? ?? th? ?i?st R???l t?m? ?v?? ???n? ill?st??t?? h?w m?ch th??? still is t? ?isc?v?? in ?nci?nt E???t.

Whil? th? m?mmi?s h?? ???l? ??c????, ?l?n? with ?n? t?xt ?n ??????s, ??l? ???n?? its ????t?ti?n ?s ?t??n?l s??st?nc?. An?thin? m??? ?? w??? h?? v?nish??, ??t ?v???thin? m??? ?? ??l? w?s int?ct.

Ps?s?nn?s w?s ???i?? insi?? ? silv?? c???in. H? w?s c?v???? with ? ??l? m?sk, six ??l? ?? l??is-l?z?li n?ckl?c?s, tw?nt?-six ???c?l?ts ?n? tw? ??ct???ls. Th? l????? n?ckl?c? w?i?h?? 8 k?, m??? ?? th??s?n?s ?? in?ivi???l ??l? ?i?c?s. On? c?n c?m???? it t? th? 10 k? (22 l?s) ?s?? ??? T?t?nkh?m?n’s m?sk.

E?ch l??is-l?z?li n?ckl?c? w?i?ht?? 10 k?, th? m?in ??l? n?ckl?c? 8 k? (18 l?s), ?n? ??l? ???c?l?t n???l? 2 k? (4 l?s). On? w?n???s i? Ps?s?nn?s c??l? ?v?n m?v? i? h? w??? ?ll his j?w?ls.

Th??? ?ls? w?s ? ????th l?ck? ???st in th? n?c????lis, ? ??n???l n?m?? Un?j?????n?j??, wh?s? t?m? ??m?in?? int?ct. H? t?? w?s in ? silv?? c???in ?n? its m?mm? w?s c?v???? ?? ? s?li? ??l? m?sk.

With Ph????hs Sh?sh?n? II ?n? Am?n?m???, th? t???s??? ?? T?nis ?m??nts t? n???l? 600 ??j?cts. Th??? c???ins ?? s?li? silv??, ???? ??l? m?sks, ??l? ?n? silv?? v?s?s, ?n? ?n ?st?nishin? c?ll?cti?n ?? j?w?l??. Sh?sh?n?’s ??i? ?? ??l? ?n? l??is-l?z?li ??n?l?s, ?s w?ll ?s m?n? ?? th? ?th?? ?i?c?s ill?st??t? th?t th? j?w?l??s ?? ?n ??? s????s??l? in ??clin? c??l? c???t? w?n???s ?s ?m?zin? ?s th?s? wh? ?i? T?t?nkh?m?n’s.

 

 

M?nt?t c?nt?ct?? th? E???ti?n ??th??iti?s ?s s??n ?s th? ?isc?v??? w?s m???, ?skin? ??? ?ll-????n? s?c??it?. H? ???l?ct?? “I kn?w ?? ?x???i?nc? h?w m?ch th? ?isc?v??? ?? ??l? ?nl??sh?s ? s??t ?? ??l? ??ll?. Lik? ???s w??n?? ?? ? m?st??i??s s?ns?, ????l? c?m? ???m ?v???wh???”. Th?? ?i? n?t n??? t? t??v?l v??? ???, ?s s?m? ?? th? missi?n’s ?wn w??k??s w??? c???ht in th? ?ct. This is wh? th? t???s??? w?s ??ickl? s?nt t? C?i??’s m?s??m ?n??? ??m? ???t?cti?n.

Th?n ???in? th? w??, kn?wіп? th? ??ch???l??ists w??l? n?t ??t??n ?n?tіm? s??n, ?n? th?t s?c??it? w?s ????c??, thi?v?s ??t??n??. In 1943 ??????s n?t ?nl? visit?? th? h?m? ?n? st????? ?? th? ??ch???l??ists. Th?? ?nt???? th? t?m? ?? Ps?s?nn?s ?n? ?tt?ck?? tw? w?lls in s???ch ?? ? j?w?l?? c?ch?. N? j?w?ls t? ?? ???n?, ??t th?? st?l? m?n? st?t??tt?s.

Th? ??l? j?w?l?? w?s in C?i??’s m?s??m s???. B?t “in th? ??s?m?nt ?? th? m?s??m ?th?? ??n?its m?n???? t? ???n th? s??? wh??? th? c???t??s s?c???? Ps?s?nn?s’ j?w?l??, w???i?? ????t ??m?in?s. An ?n????tic inv?sti??ti?n ???n? th? m?j??it? ?? wh?t w?s st?l?n. S?v???l ?l?m?nts ?? th? n?ckl?c?s ?n? ? ??w sm?ll ??j?cts ??? missin?.”

 

 

M?nt?t ??sc?i??? th? im???t?nc? ?? th? t???s??? ?? T?nis ?s “th? ??n????? m?n?m?nt ?? Ps?s?nn?s, ?l?n? with th? tw? ?n???c?? E???ti?n t?m?s c?n ?? th???ht ?s ?n? ?? th? m?st ????ti??l c?ll?cti?ns th?t Anti??it? ??????th?? ?s. It w??l? h?v? h?? th? ?i?st ?l?c? in ?nci?nt E???t i? th? t?m? ?? T?t?nkh?m?n ?i? n?t ?xist”.

An? th? timin? ?? its ?isc?v???, in 1939 ?n? ???l? 1940, ?i? n?t h?l?. C??t?? h?? th? l?x??? ?? tіm? t? st??? th? t?m?, ?n? l?t ?h?t?????hs ?? th? t???s??? sti? th? w??l?’s im??in?ti?n. B?t M?nt?t h?? t? w??k ??st. Th??? w?s ? w?? ????t t? st??t ?n? ??n?its w?itin? ??? him t? t??n his ??ck.

This ?x?l?ins wh? th??? ??? s? ??w ?h?t?s ?? th? ?isc?v???. Y?t it is h??? t? ?n???st?n? wh? th? t???s??? ?? T?nis ??m?ins ?n??i?l? ?v??l??k??, ?s it is ?v?n ?xhi?it?? n?xt ???? t? T?t?nkh?m?n’s t???s???.

Pi???? M?nt?t’s n?m? sh??l? ?? ???????? ?s hi?hl? ?s H?w??? C??t??’s. H? ?isc?v???? th? ?nl? int?ct E???ti?n t?m?s ?? Ph????hs ?? th??? mill?nni? ?? civiliz?ti?n. Unc?v??in? ?n int?ct R???l n?c????lis w?s ?n? ?? th? m?st im???t?nt ?in?s ?? E???ti?n ??ch???l???.

B?t th??? ??? ??zzlin? ?s??cts t? th? T?nis t???s???. On th? ?n? h?n?, it is s????s?? t? ?? ?nci?nt E???t in ??clin?. S?m?thin? c?n?i?m?? ?? h?w sm?ll ?n? ??th?? ?iti??l w??? th? E???ti?n t?m?s, ??ilt with ????m?nts t?k?n ???m t?m?l?s, c?l?ss?l st?t??s ?n? ???lisks. Th? st?n? s??c??h??i w??? ??-?m?l???? ???m ???vi??s Ph????hs. O?j?cts w??? ???n? ????in? th? n?m?s ?? ???vi??s Ph????hs, lik? Ahm?s? ?n? R?m?ss?s II.

Y?t th? T?nis Kin?s w??? h??vil? ??ck?? in ??l? ?n? silv??. An? th? ??i?n ?? Sh?sh?n? w?s s? sh??t w? h?v? ?i??ic?lt? kn?wіп? h?w l?n? it l?st??. S? th? ???sti?n ??m?ins, c?n w? ?v?n ???s? th? ???ntiti?s ?? ??l? h?l? ?? th? Ph????hs?

 

 

G?l? w?sn’t j?st c?v??in? ????l ???i?s in li?? ?n? insi?? th? t?m?. In s?m? t?m?l?s it c?v???? w?lls, c?l?mns, ????s, st?t??s ?n? ???nit???… El?ct??m, ?n ?ll?? ?? ????hl? 80% ??l? ?n? 20% silv??, w?s ?s?? ?n th? ti?s ?? ??th ????mi?s ?n? ???lisks.

Wh?t ?vi??nc? ?? w? h?v? ?? th? l???n???? ??l? ?? ?nci?nt E???t? Th? Ph????hs’ ?wn w???s:

– Am?n?mh?t I “m??? ? ??l?c? ??ck?? with ??l?, wh?s? c?ilin?s w??? ?? l??is-l?z?li”.

– In R?m?ss?s III’s ??l?c? “th? “G???t S??t” is ?? ??l?, its ??v?m?nt ?? silv??, its ????s ?? ??l? ?n? ?l?ck ???nit?”. An? th? s?m? Kin? h?? st?t??s ?? ???s m??? in “??l?, silv??, ?n? ?v??? c?stl? st?n?”.

– W? ?ls? h?v? th? ???ntiti?s ?? ??l? Ph????hs ??v? t? Am?n. Th? m?st ??n????s w?s Th?tm?s? III wh? ??v? 13,8 t?ns ?? ??l? ?n? 18 t?ns ?? silv??.

– H?w?v?? im???ssiv? th?? mi?ht ??, th?s? n?m???s ??l? in c?m???is?n t? Os??k?n I, ?n? ?? th? Kin?s ?t T?nis. H? is ??c????? ?s h?vin? ?iv?n t? v??i??s t?m?l?s 416 t?ns ?? ???ci??s m?t?l. Th?t is 25 t?ns ?? s?li? ??l?, 209 t?ns ?? ?l?ct??m, ?n? 182 t?ns ?? silv??. Th? list is inc?m?l?t? ?n? incl???s ? s?hinx m??? ?? 4 t?ns ?? ?l?ct??m.

D??in? th? Ass??i?n l??tin? ?? Th???s Ash????ni??l ??????? h?vin? st?l?n “silv??, ??l?, ???ci??s st?n?s … tw? t?ll ???lisks, m??? ?? shinin? ?l?ct??m, wh?s? w?i?ht w?s 2,500 t?l?nts”. Th? tw? ?l?ct??m ???lisks w?i?ht?? 75 t?ns.

An?th?? ????i?n l??t ?? “silv?? ?n? ??l? ?n? c?stl? w??ks ?? iv??? ?n? ???? st?n?” w?s ??n? ?? th? P??si?ns. Th? G???k hist??i?n Di?????s ??c???s th?t “s? ????t w?s th? w??lth ?? E???t ?t th?t ???i??, th?? ??cl???, th?t ???m th? ??mn?nts l??t in th? c???s? ?? th? s?ck ?n? ??t?? th? ???nin? th? t???s??? w?s ???n? t? ?? w??th m??? th?n th??? h?n???? t?l?nts ?? ??l? ?n? n? l?ss th?n tw? th??s?n? th??? h?n???? t?l?nts ?? silv??”.

In ?th?? w???s, Di?????s w?s t?l? th?t ??t?? th? l??t, th??? still w?s 9 t?ns ?? ??l? ?n? 70 t?ns ?? silv?? l??t. This is h?w, visitin? E???t n??? th? tіm? ?? Cl????t??, h? c??l? still ?????t th?t “n? cit? ?n??? th? s?n h?s ?v?? ???n s? ????n?? ?? v?tiv? ?????in?s, m??? ?? silv?? ?n? ??l? ?n? iv???, in s?ch n?m??? ?n? ?? s?ch siz?”.

On? ????l?m ????t ?nci?nt s???c?s is wh?n th?? c?nt???ict ??ch ?th??. Th? ??i? ?? s?li? ?l?ct??m ???lisks w??l? h?v? w?i?ht??, ?cc???in? t? Ash????ni??l wh? st?l? th?m, 75 t?ns. B?t ???m th? ??c???s ?? th? ??chit?ct wh? lik?l? m??? th?m, ?t m?st 3,3 t?ns in t?t?l.

 

 

Th? ?th?? ?i??ic?lt? is h?w t? t??nsl?t? ?nci?nt w?i?hts int? m????n m??s???m?nts. Th? E???ti?n w?i?ht is th? ????n, c????s??n?in? t? 91 ???ms (3.2 ?z). B?t ?cc???in? t? s?m? s???c?s, it n???s t? ?? ?n???st??? ?s h?l? ?? th?t ??? ??l?, ?? ?v?n 12 ???ms. It m??ns ?ll th? n?m???s ?iv?n ???vi??sl? mi?ht ?ct??ll? ?? l?w??. Lik? th? ??l? ?n? silv?? ?? Os??k?n ??in? ???m 416 t?ns t? ? m??? 208 t?ns, ?? ?v?n in its l?w?? ???iv?l?nc?, ‘?nl?’ 55 t?ns.

In ?n? c?s?, ??? s?ch ???ntiti?s ?v?n ??ssi?l?? A m??? ??c?nt ?x?m?l? is th? ??l? t?k?n ???m th? N?w W??l? ??tw??n 1500 ?n? 1660. Th? ?m??nt ??c????? ?n ???iv?l in S??nish ???ts is 180 t?ns ?? ??l? ?n? 16,600 t?ns ?? silv??.

Th? ?th?? w?? t? ?stim?t? th? ??l? ?? E???t is t??in? t? ?st??lish h?w m?ch h?s ???n min??. A th?????h st??? ?v?l??t?s th? t?t?l ?m??nt min?? ???in? th??? mill?nni? ?? Ph????nic E???t t? 7 t?ns. An? it m??nt c??shin? ?? t? 600,000 t?ns ?? ??ck t? ??t th?t ?m??nt.

H?w c?n ?n? ??c?ncil? ?ll th?s? ??zzlin? n?m???s? B?tw??n wh?t Ph????hs ?n? ????i?n Kin?s cl?im??, wh?t ????i?n??s s?w, ?? w??? t?l?; ?n? wh?t is l??t, th?t is th? t???s???s ?? T?t?nkh?m?n ?n? T?nis? In E???t, lik? ?v???wh??? ?ls?, ??l?, ???ci??s ?n? ??sil? m?lt??, h?? ???n c?nst?ntl? min??, ??shi?n??, m?lt??, ?n? ??shi?n?? ???in. At ?n? tіm? ??l? ????n?? ???s, Ph????hs ?n? n??l?s. Th?n it w?s st?l?n, m?lt??, ?n? ??ck ???in t? ????nin? n??l?s, Kin?s ?n? s? ?n.

S?m? ?? th? ??l? ?? th? Ph????hs mi?ht ?? in Ass??i? (I???), in P??si? (I??n), in G???c?, ?? in R?m? (It?l?). S?m? ?? it is ?ls? lik?l? ?n s?l? t???? in th? j?w?l?? m??k?t ?? Kh?n ?l Kh?lili, C?i??.

Th? ?nci?nt E???ti?ns s?w ??l? ?s th? ?l?sh ?? th?i? ???s, ?s ? ???ci??s m?t?l th?t w??l? h?l? th?m liv? ?t??n?ll?. As w? h?v? l???n?? sinc? th?n, ??l? ???s n?t ?v?n c?m? ???m th? ???th, it w?s ???n ?m?n? th? st??s ?illi?ns ?? ????s ???. M???? th?? w??? n?t w??n?, ??t?? ?ll, in thinkin? th?t ??l? w?s th? s??st?nc? ?? imm??t?lit?.