DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0225
186
APPENDIX.
out inscription, but has an ascent cut into it through one of the
sides. It happened that neither of the kings, who constructed
them for their sepulchres, was buried in them ; for the multitude
enraged at the sufferings endured in the building them, and at
the many cruel and violent actions of these kings, threatened to
pull their bodies to pieces, and tear them insultingly from the
tombs.7 Thus, both at their deaths charged their relations to
inter them secretly in some obscure place. Mikerinus, by some
called Mecherinus, succeeded — he was son of the builder of the
First Pyramid. He began to construct a third, but died before
the work was completed. He made each side at the base three
hundred feet, and built the walls, to the height of fifteen layers,
of black stone, like that of Thebes, but finished the rest with
stones like those of the other Pyramids. This work, inferior to
the others in size, surpasses them far in the art of its construc-
tion, and the expensiveness of its material. The name of its
builder, Mikerinus, is inscribed on its northern side. They say,
that he hated the cruelty of the kings, his predecessors, and
zealously pursued a life of kindness and beneficence toward his
subjects. Besides other actions, by which lie was constantly
endeavouring to call forth the affection of the multitude towards
him, he spent much money upon the oracles,8 and gave presents
to such respiectable men as appeared not to get very agreeable
answers. There are also three other Pyramids — each side of
which is two hundred feet. Their size is inferior; but in con-
struction they resemble the rest. They say the three above-
mentioned kings built these for their own wives.9 These works
are acknowledged to far exceed the rest in Egypt, not only in
their magnitude, and in the expense of their construction, but
in the skill of their workmen ; and they say, the architects are
more worthy of admiration than the kings who supplied the
expense—for the former effected the execution of the design by
their own intellect and zealous exertion ; the latter contributed
but the wealth they had inherited, and the miseries of their fullow-
creatures. But there is absolutely no agreement amongst the
7 If Cheops reigned fifty years, and had sufficient power to construct the Great
Pyramid, it can scarcely be supposed that his body was not deposited in it; parti-
cularly as his successor is said to have reigned fifty-six years, and to have erected a
similar tomb for himself, which he would scarcely have done, had his predecessor's
tomb been violated, or any doubt have existed of the security of his own.
s This may allude to the Sphinx.
' These three appear to be south of the Third.
APPENDIX.
out inscription, but has an ascent cut into it through one of the
sides. It happened that neither of the kings, who constructed
them for their sepulchres, was buried in them ; for the multitude
enraged at the sufferings endured in the building them, and at
the many cruel and violent actions of these kings, threatened to
pull their bodies to pieces, and tear them insultingly from the
tombs.7 Thus, both at their deaths charged their relations to
inter them secretly in some obscure place. Mikerinus, by some
called Mecherinus, succeeded — he was son of the builder of the
First Pyramid. He began to construct a third, but died before
the work was completed. He made each side at the base three
hundred feet, and built the walls, to the height of fifteen layers,
of black stone, like that of Thebes, but finished the rest with
stones like those of the other Pyramids. This work, inferior to
the others in size, surpasses them far in the art of its construc-
tion, and the expensiveness of its material. The name of its
builder, Mikerinus, is inscribed on its northern side. They say,
that he hated the cruelty of the kings, his predecessors, and
zealously pursued a life of kindness and beneficence toward his
subjects. Besides other actions, by which lie was constantly
endeavouring to call forth the affection of the multitude towards
him, he spent much money upon the oracles,8 and gave presents
to such respiectable men as appeared not to get very agreeable
answers. There are also three other Pyramids — each side of
which is two hundred feet. Their size is inferior; but in con-
struction they resemble the rest. They say the three above-
mentioned kings built these for their own wives.9 These works
are acknowledged to far exceed the rest in Egypt, not only in
their magnitude, and in the expense of their construction, but
in the skill of their workmen ; and they say, the architects are
more worthy of admiration than the kings who supplied the
expense—for the former effected the execution of the design by
their own intellect and zealous exertion ; the latter contributed
but the wealth they had inherited, and the miseries of their fullow-
creatures. But there is absolutely no agreement amongst the
7 If Cheops reigned fifty years, and had sufficient power to construct the Great
Pyramid, it can scarcely be supposed that his body was not deposited in it; parti-
cularly as his successor is said to have reigned fifty-six years, and to have erected a
similar tomb for himself, which he would scarcely have done, had his predecessor's
tomb been violated, or any doubt have existed of the security of his own.
s This may allude to the Sphinx.
' These three appear to be south of the Third.