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

LAKE MCERIS—THE LABYRINTH. 71

caused it to be connected by canals with the
river. Lake Mceris was about 30 miles in
circumference, and here the surplus waters were
stored, to be distributed by irrigation or with-
held, as might be best. The rock-encircled
and desolate Fayoum thus became a smiling
oasis, full of the most luxuriant vegetation, and
alive with busy industry. When the Greek
Herodotus visited Egypt, some 2000 years
later, Lake Mceris was still in existence, as were
also the two pyramids that stood either on its
banks or in its centre. A still greater wonder
met the eye of the inquiring traveller, and
excited his profoundest amazement. This was
the vast structure close by Lake Mceris, which
the Greeks called the Labyrinth, for what
reason it is hard to say. Herodotus tells us of
this other gigantic work of Amenemhat in.,
that it had twelve courts, with gates opposite
each other, and that it contained 3000 chambers,
half of which were above and half below ground ;
the courts were adorned with columns, and the
walls covered with inscriptions. This colossal
edifice covered a space 1150 feet in length, and
850 in breadth ; its purpose is not altogether