DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0219
180
APPENDIX.
have explored the most of them. Few travellers have had either
leisure or opportunity to examine them minutely, for the hostility
of the Arahs appears to have heen always formidable, and
considerable labour and time were necessary to obtain any satis-
factory results. Mr. Davison, in 1763, examined the chamber
which bears his name, of the existence of which he seems to
have been informed by M. Maynard, a French merchant. He
also examined the passage leading to the subterraneous apartment,
to the extent of 131 feet. The French do not appear to have made
any discoveries commensurate in importance with the advantages
which they enjoyed. The power of Mahomet Ali gave complete
security from the Arabs, and afforded opportunities, likewise, of
obtaining labourers; and in consequence, a most important dis-
covery was effected by M. Caviglia in 1817, when, by clearing out
the inclined passage, he solved the mystery respecting the well in
the Great Pyramid, which had given rise to so many conjectures.
It is to be remarked also, that, at the same time, M. Belzoni dis-
covered the entrance of the Second Pyramid; and it appears he
would also have entered the third, had he continued his operations.
It is surprising that these buildings seem not to have attracted
the attention of Alexander the Great; nor, as it has been often
remarked, does Homer mention them: but the poet is equally
silent respecting Mount Etna. It is probable that he never heard
of either of these stupendous productions of art and of nature,
and that he never visited the interior of Egypt, or the countries to
the westward of Italy; and, as it is supposed that he derived his
knowledge of Egyptian matters from the priesthood, his silence
respecting the Pyramids supports, in some degree, the tradition,
mentioned by Herodotus, and by other antient authors, that they
were the works of a powerful race, whose memory was accursed
and hated.
The progress that has been made in the study of hieroglyphics
has greatly confirmed the historical events mentioned in the Scrip-
tures. I have already alluded to the remarkable connexion of the
name of Philition with the Philistines of Palestine, who, according
to Manetho, after their expulsion from Egypt, laid the foundation
of Jerusalem (as has been conjectured by Winston), thirty-seven
years before the calling of Abraham from Haran. It has also
been assumed (in my opinion, satisfactorily), by Bryant,2 that these
mighty shepherds were the descendants of Ham, expelled, on
5 See Bryant's " Ancient History, and Ancient Mythology."
APPENDIX.
have explored the most of them. Few travellers have had either
leisure or opportunity to examine them minutely, for the hostility
of the Arahs appears to have heen always formidable, and
considerable labour and time were necessary to obtain any satis-
factory results. Mr. Davison, in 1763, examined the chamber
which bears his name, of the existence of which he seems to
have been informed by M. Maynard, a French merchant. He
also examined the passage leading to the subterraneous apartment,
to the extent of 131 feet. The French do not appear to have made
any discoveries commensurate in importance with the advantages
which they enjoyed. The power of Mahomet Ali gave complete
security from the Arabs, and afforded opportunities, likewise, of
obtaining labourers; and in consequence, a most important dis-
covery was effected by M. Caviglia in 1817, when, by clearing out
the inclined passage, he solved the mystery respecting the well in
the Great Pyramid, which had given rise to so many conjectures.
It is to be remarked also, that, at the same time, M. Belzoni dis-
covered the entrance of the Second Pyramid; and it appears he
would also have entered the third, had he continued his operations.
It is surprising that these buildings seem not to have attracted
the attention of Alexander the Great; nor, as it has been often
remarked, does Homer mention them: but the poet is equally
silent respecting Mount Etna. It is probable that he never heard
of either of these stupendous productions of art and of nature,
and that he never visited the interior of Egypt, or the countries to
the westward of Italy; and, as it is supposed that he derived his
knowledge of Egyptian matters from the priesthood, his silence
respecting the Pyramids supports, in some degree, the tradition,
mentioned by Herodotus, and by other antient authors, that they
were the works of a powerful race, whose memory was accursed
and hated.
The progress that has been made in the study of hieroglyphics
has greatly confirmed the historical events mentioned in the Scrip-
tures. I have already alluded to the remarkable connexion of the
name of Philition with the Philistines of Palestine, who, according
to Manetho, after their expulsion from Egypt, laid the foundation
of Jerusalem (as has been conjectured by Winston), thirty-seven
years before the calling of Abraham from Haran. It has also
been assumed (in my opinion, satisfactorily), by Bryant,2 that these
mighty shepherds were the descendants of Ham, expelled, on
5 See Bryant's " Ancient History, and Ancient Mythology."