Berkley, E.: The pharaohs and their people: scenes of old Egyptian life and history (New York, [1883])

4o THE PYRAMID BUILDERS.

attached to each of them a small sanctuary or
memorial chapel; the office of ' priest of the
royal pyramid' being held in high estimation
and conferred on the most illustrious men of
the day.

During their lifetime the Pharaohs were
regarded by their people as representatives of
the gods, or even as emanations from the
Divine Being. After their death their memory
was preserved and sacred rites were performed
by the priests attached to their respective pyra-
mids. Down to the latest days of the Empire,
and even in the reign of the Ptolemies (three or
four thousand years after they had been laid to
rest 'each within his own house'), priests were
still officiating in memory of Khufu, Khafra, or
Senefru—the far-famed pyramid builders.

For whilst the names of some amongst the
later Pharaohs are emblazoned on the page of
history as conquerors of high renown, who
founded an Egyptian empire and gathered in
rich and varied tribute from many subject
races—those ancient monarchs are known and
will ever be remembered as the kings ' who
built the pyramids.'