Fletcher, Banister; Fletcher, Banister: A history of architecture for the student, craftsman, and amateur: being a comparative view of the historical styles from the earliest period (London, 1896)

IO

COMPARATIVE ARCHITECTURE.

The character of the tombs consists in the planning of
their mysterious chambers and corridors, which, covered
with paintings and hieroglyphics, produce an effect of gloom
and solemnity on the spectator.

3. EXAMPLES.

THE GREAT SPHINX

(No. 2), whose date is unknown, is situated near the
great pyramids, and is a natural rock cut to resemble a
Sphinx, with rough masonry added in parts. An Egyptian
Sphinx had the head of a king, a hawk, a ram, or a woman,
on the body of a lion. The dimensions of the Great Sphinx
are as follows : it is 65 feet high, the face is 13 feet 6 inches
wide, the mouth 8 feet 6 inches long, the body 188 feet
long. The original builders are unknown ; it was excavated
in 1816 by Captain Cariglia, who found a temple between
the paws.

THE GREAT PYRAMIDS

(or Royal Tombs) at Gizeh, near Cairo, were all erected-
during the fourth dynasty (b.c. 3766P-3566), and are the
next earliest remains of Egyptian architecture.

The first or Great Pyramid (Nos. 2 and 3) was erected
by Cheops (b.c. 3733-37°°)-

The second Pyramid was erected by Cephron (b.c.
3 666-3633).

The third Pyramid by Mycerinos (b.c. 3633-3600).

They were built during their lifetime by these kings of
the fourth dynasty as their tombs. The governing idea was
to secure immortality for the king by the preservation of
his mummy.

A large number of pyramids have been discovered, but
the most remarkable are those at Gizeh, near Cairo. The
principal one is that by Cheops, as mentioned above.
Shortly, it is square on plan, 760 feet each way, its area
being 13 acres, i.e., twice the extent of St. Peter’s, Rome, or
equal to the size of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, in London. Each