DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.2872#0029
ROOK-TOMBS, AND BELZONI'S PYRAMID, GEEZEE
%HE second in magnitude of the Pyramids of Geezeh is called Belzoni's—that traveller having,
after much labour, succeeded in entering it in the year 1816. He found, however, by an
inscription in the chamber, that it had been opened by Sultan Ali Mohammed about the
year 1200. The dimensions of this pyramid are—present length of the base, 690 feet; present
height, perpendicular, 446 feet by calculation, taking the angle 52° 20' given by Colonel
Vyse. Both this and the largest pyramid were cased with dressed blocks of limestone (not
granite), the whole of which has been removed by the Cairenes for building purposes with the exception of
about 130 feet at the top of the one here represented.
The builder of the Great Pyramid was Suphis, as has been found recorded on one of the neighbouring
tombs. His sons, Cephrenes, appears to have founded the second, about 2100 years B.C.
In the foreground of the picture are the entrances to several rock-tombs. With reference to these,
Professor Brugsch supplies the following remarks:—
The multitude of tombs surrounding the pyramids are so peculiarly rich in the number and detail of their
pictorial representations of ancient Egyptian life and manners as to be in some respects more interesting,
and far more valuable in a historical point of view, than even the pyramids themselves. On the north-west
side of the Second Pyramid are the sepulchral chambers (all contiguous to one another) of three very
eminent ancient Egyptians. These are Imeri, Ptah-biu-nofer, and Ata. Imeri was " one of the chosen friends
of the king, the priest of the king and chamberlain in his palace." Ptah-biu-nofer is named as being the
eldest son of Imeri, and is simply styled "Chamberlain." His tomb is one of the finest in the whole
neighbourhood of Memphis. In the tomb ot Ata, his title, as inscribed, runs thus:—"The Chief Musician,
who rejoiced the heart of his Lord by sweet melody in the Temple, Ata, the Prophet of Athor, &c."
These sepulchral chambers are of rectangular form, becoming pyramidal at the top, and their sides are
constructed of large blocks of limestone from the quarries of Mokattam.. The entrances of these tombs all
face the rising sun. That of Imeri has a remarkable peculiarity in the construction of the door, the sides of
which are united at the top by two drum-like cylinders.
There is also at the west of the Second Pyramid a tomb, the top of which is composed of these long
cylinders of stone placed side by side contiguously, and which seem to be exact imitations of the pieces of
palm-trunks used both by the ancient Egyptians and the modern Arabs as girders across their door-posts. In
the majority of the tombs we usually find three kinds of inscriptions. First, a table of offerings, containing
the names of the objects offered and their number; also the appointed days for their presentation to the gods.
Secondly, a representation of the offerings themselves and of the person who is presenting them. Thirdly, a
series of paintings representing the manners and customs of these times.
Between the tombs of the three previously named eminent officials, and the west side of the laro'est
pyramid, stretches a wide range of tombs and inscribed mounds. In several of the inscriptions may be traced
notices of the ancient worship of the bull. The tomb of one Kasta has—" Overseer and Interpreter of the
Manuscript Rolls, and Prophet of the Bull." Upon the edge of the limestone hills which bound the plateau
of the pyramids a number of tombs are excavated in the precipitous sides of the rock. The most
remarkable of the rock-tombs is that one which bears the name of "the Tomb of Numbers." It consists of
a main chamber with many partial recesses like doorways, and purports to be the sepulchre of three per-
sonages of note. The principal is " the Scribe of the Palace of Schafra-anch, the Warden of the Pyramid of
Schafra." In another tomb we have a list of the property of its occupant, from which it appears that he
possessed 835 oxen, 220 cows, 2235 goats, 760 asses, and 974 sheep. It is worthy of remark that, amongst
all the inscriptions in this vast Necropolis, we scarcely find any mention whatsoever of the two pre-eminent
Egyptian deities, Osiris and Isis. All the reverence and honour inscribed on the tombs seems to be directed
towards the god Anubis—the jackal-headed deity presiding over tombs.
%HE second in magnitude of the Pyramids of Geezeh is called Belzoni's—that traveller having,
after much labour, succeeded in entering it in the year 1816. He found, however, by an
inscription in the chamber, that it had been opened by Sultan Ali Mohammed about the
year 1200. The dimensions of this pyramid are—present length of the base, 690 feet; present
height, perpendicular, 446 feet by calculation, taking the angle 52° 20' given by Colonel
Vyse. Both this and the largest pyramid were cased with dressed blocks of limestone (not
granite), the whole of which has been removed by the Cairenes for building purposes with the exception of
about 130 feet at the top of the one here represented.
The builder of the Great Pyramid was Suphis, as has been found recorded on one of the neighbouring
tombs. His sons, Cephrenes, appears to have founded the second, about 2100 years B.C.
In the foreground of the picture are the entrances to several rock-tombs. With reference to these,
Professor Brugsch supplies the following remarks:—
The multitude of tombs surrounding the pyramids are so peculiarly rich in the number and detail of their
pictorial representations of ancient Egyptian life and manners as to be in some respects more interesting,
and far more valuable in a historical point of view, than even the pyramids themselves. On the north-west
side of the Second Pyramid are the sepulchral chambers (all contiguous to one another) of three very
eminent ancient Egyptians. These are Imeri, Ptah-biu-nofer, and Ata. Imeri was " one of the chosen friends
of the king, the priest of the king and chamberlain in his palace." Ptah-biu-nofer is named as being the
eldest son of Imeri, and is simply styled "Chamberlain." His tomb is one of the finest in the whole
neighbourhood of Memphis. In the tomb ot Ata, his title, as inscribed, runs thus:—"The Chief Musician,
who rejoiced the heart of his Lord by sweet melody in the Temple, Ata, the Prophet of Athor, &c."
These sepulchral chambers are of rectangular form, becoming pyramidal at the top, and their sides are
constructed of large blocks of limestone from the quarries of Mokattam.. The entrances of these tombs all
face the rising sun. That of Imeri has a remarkable peculiarity in the construction of the door, the sides of
which are united at the top by two drum-like cylinders.
There is also at the west of the Second Pyramid a tomb, the top of which is composed of these long
cylinders of stone placed side by side contiguously, and which seem to be exact imitations of the pieces of
palm-trunks used both by the ancient Egyptians and the modern Arabs as girders across their door-posts. In
the majority of the tombs we usually find three kinds of inscriptions. First, a table of offerings, containing
the names of the objects offered and their number; also the appointed days for their presentation to the gods.
Secondly, a representation of the offerings themselves and of the person who is presenting them. Thirdly, a
series of paintings representing the manners and customs of these times.
Between the tombs of the three previously named eminent officials, and the west side of the laro'est
pyramid, stretches a wide range of tombs and inscribed mounds. In several of the inscriptions may be traced
notices of the ancient worship of the bull. The tomb of one Kasta has—" Overseer and Interpreter of the
Manuscript Rolls, and Prophet of the Bull." Upon the edge of the limestone hills which bound the plateau
of the pyramids a number of tombs are excavated in the precipitous sides of the rock. The most
remarkable of the rock-tombs is that one which bears the name of "the Tomb of Numbers." It consists of
a main chamber with many partial recesses like doorways, and purports to be the sepulchre of three per-
sonages of note. The principal is " the Scribe of the Palace of Schafra-anch, the Warden of the Pyramid of
Schafra." In another tomb we have a list of the property of its occupant, from which it appears that he
possessed 835 oxen, 220 cows, 2235 goats, 760 asses, and 974 sheep. It is worthy of remark that, amongst
all the inscriptions in this vast Necropolis, we scarcely find any mention whatsoever of the two pre-eminent
Egyptian deities, Osiris and Isis. All the reverence and honour inscribed on the tombs seems to be directed
towards the god Anubis—the jackal-headed deity presiding over tombs.