TAA i.12.17

                                                                                        (5)

The sarcophagus is carved out of a solid block of yellow
quartzite. It measures 2.58 metres long, 1.36 metres wide,

and 1.46 metres high. Carved on each of the four corners is

a guardian goddess, ISIS, NEPHTHYS, NEITH, AND SELKIT, so ar-

ranged that their full outspread wings envelope the Sarcophagus

with nothing less than a protective embrace.

          Stood on the south side of the sarcophagus was a large

wooden symbol “Ded” signifying “Stability”.

          A peculiar feature is the lid of the sarcophagus: it is

made of granite, tinted to match the yellow quartzite, and it

was cracked acrox[?]/<s>s the middle. Undoubtedly the original in-

tention must have <been> a quartzite lid in keeping with/<to match> the sarcophagus.

It would therefore appear that some accident occurred: the origin-

nal lid either smashed in transit, or failed completion at the time

of the king’s burial, and this crudely made granite lid sub-

stituted.

          The crack greatly complicated the problem of raising the

lid, however, it was eventually raised by means of differential
pulleys, and you will now see what it/<was> disclosed.

                       THE RAISING OF THE LID OF THE SARCOPHAGUS.
 

110 / 648.  THE FIRST SIGHT WITHIN THE SARCOPHAGUS.

          The contents were at first a little puzzling. The large outer

 coffin was completely covered with a fine linen shrouds. 

111 / 649a. ROLLING BACK THE SHROUDS THAT COVERED THE FIRST 

                  COFFIN.

          We rolled back those covering shrouds, three in number, one by

  one, when the first (outer) coffin was exposed.