It’s ironic that a renowned Egyptologist’s home in Berkshire is only ruins today.
Robb dePeyster Tytus (1875-1913) was born in Asheville, N.C., prepared at St. Mark’s School in Southboro and entered Yale, from which he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1897. “For six years he was in the employ of the Egyptian government, was successful in his researches and his writings and lectures on the subject of ancient Egypt were considered an authority,” according to one obituary notice. Another account said his work for Egypt included “exploring tombs in the ancient town of Thebes, now Luxor, 450 miles from Cairo.”
Material in the Berkshire Eagle archive further explains Tytus’s archaeological work: Luxor “was the first palace excavated in which was revealed the construction, architecture and general design of the building. He also brought to light for the first time the beautiful decorations of the walls, ceilings and panels of the palace. He obtained an excellent idea of the private life of the king of Thebes and his household in 1350 B.C. The ruler at that time was Amenhetep — the third king of Egypt, who was at the height of his power… In this ancient palace of King Amenhetep, Mr. Tytus found the oldest bathrooms in the world. The old king had eight of these bathrooms — about 18 feet long, six feet wide and perhaps 18 inches deep, in which the monarch would be soused every day by his
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slaves. The deluge he received was on the principle of the modern shower bath. The slaves saw that the old man got a thorough drenching.
“The concrete used in the construction of these bathrooms was identical with the modern concrete used in building construction. Instead of rods of steel it was reinforced in those days with reeds and branches of fibrous plants… “
Tytus’s reports so impressed the Yale University trustees, they conferred an M.A. on him in 1903. Later Mr. Tytus studied art in Paris and Munich.” The Metropolitan Museum maintains his memory today with the still in-print Robb de Peyster Tytus Memorial Series of publications about the Egyptian expedition.
Tytus married Grace Seeley Henop of New York. They honeymooned in Berkshire, and, during a horseback excursion through Tyringham, fell in love with the countryside. They purchased three farms totaling 1,500 acres in 1902. It wasn’t until 1912 — the year Tytus died of pulmonary tuberculosis — they completed work on what one newspaper described as “a magnificent villa costing $400,000.”
Though the couple never truly enjoyed together the $100,000 mansion, designed by Francis V.L. Hoppin of New York and Newport, their original, if more modest, Tyringham house was decorated with numerous Egyptian artifacts, and were known as delightful entertainers of “some of the most exclusive members of the Lenox and Stockbridge summer colonies.”
Tytus had become so settled here, he twice won election as representative from the 7th Berkshire District. His second campaign was called the “chocolate drop campaign,” as he handed out hundreds of boxes of candy as he went door-to-door. He was also on the Tyringham school committee and library board of trustees. He was tree warden and chaired the 150th anniversary Old Home Week committee. This was in addition to serving as president of the Lee Hotel Company and belonging to the University and Union Clubs in New York.
Following Tytus’s death, his widow married John McLennan and they lived in the 35-room, 10-bath, 15-fireplace Ashintully, also called the Marble Palace. Actually, it’s not made of marble, attested Tyringham historian Cornelia “Nini” Gilder in an illustrated talk in March at Ventfort Hall, Museum of the Gilded Age, in Lenox. Fire destroyed Ashintully (Gaelic for “on the brow of the hill”) in 1952, only the four Doric columns on the front remain standing.
