DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0365
320
APPENDIX.
was likewise in the building. The height of each Pyramid was one
hundred royal cubits, equal to five hundred common cubits. The
squares of the bases were the same. They were began at the east-
ern side. When the buildings were finished, the people assembled
with rejoicing around the king, who covered the Pyramids with
coloured brocade, from the top to the bottom, and gave a great
feast, at which all the inhabitants of the country were present.
He constructed, likewise, with coloured granite, in the western
Pyramid, thirty repositories for sacred symbols, and talismans
formed of sapphires, for instruments of war composed of iron,
which could not become rusty, and for glass, which could be
bent without being broken ; and also for many sorts of medicines,
simple and compound, and for deadly poisons.
In the eastern Pyramid were inscribed the heavenly spheres,
and figures representing the stars and planets in the forms, in
which they were worshipped.8
The king, also, deposited the instruments, and the thuribula,
with which his forefathers had sacrificed to the stars, and also their
writings ; likewise, the positions of the stars, and their circles;
together with the history and chronicles of time past, of that,
which is to come, and of every future event, which would take
place in Egypt. He placed there, also, coloured basins (for lus-
tration and sacrificial purposes), with pure water, and other
matters.9
Within the coloured Pyramid were laid the bodies of the
deceased priests, in sarcophagi of black granite; and with
each was a book, in which the mysteries of his profession,
and the acts of his life were related. There were different
degrees among the priests, who were employed in metaphy-
sical speculations, and who served the seven planets. Every
planet had two sects of worshippers; each subdivided into
seven classes. The first comprehended the priests, who wor-
shipped, or served seven planets; the second, those who served
six planets; the third, those who served five planets; the fourth,
those who served four planets; the fifth, those who served three
planets; the sixth, those who served two planets; the seventh,
8 The stars are at this time represented in the East in their constellations, as
may be seen in a fine MS. by Kazvvini, in the library at the India House.—
Dr. Sprcvger.
9 The account of the contents of the Pyramids is somewhat different in the
extract of Makrizi. Every writer, indeed, seems to have enumerated as many mar-
vellous things a3 his imagination could suggest.—Dr. Sprcnger.
APPENDIX.
was likewise in the building. The height of each Pyramid was one
hundred royal cubits, equal to five hundred common cubits. The
squares of the bases were the same. They were began at the east-
ern side. When the buildings were finished, the people assembled
with rejoicing around the king, who covered the Pyramids with
coloured brocade, from the top to the bottom, and gave a great
feast, at which all the inhabitants of the country were present.
He constructed, likewise, with coloured granite, in the western
Pyramid, thirty repositories for sacred symbols, and talismans
formed of sapphires, for instruments of war composed of iron,
which could not become rusty, and for glass, which could be
bent without being broken ; and also for many sorts of medicines,
simple and compound, and for deadly poisons.
In the eastern Pyramid were inscribed the heavenly spheres,
and figures representing the stars and planets in the forms, in
which they were worshipped.8
The king, also, deposited the instruments, and the thuribula,
with which his forefathers had sacrificed to the stars, and also their
writings ; likewise, the positions of the stars, and their circles;
together with the history and chronicles of time past, of that,
which is to come, and of every future event, which would take
place in Egypt. He placed there, also, coloured basins (for lus-
tration and sacrificial purposes), with pure water, and other
matters.9
Within the coloured Pyramid were laid the bodies of the
deceased priests, in sarcophagi of black granite; and with
each was a book, in which the mysteries of his profession,
and the acts of his life were related. There were different
degrees among the priests, who were employed in metaphy-
sical speculations, and who served the seven planets. Every
planet had two sects of worshippers; each subdivided into
seven classes. The first comprehended the priests, who wor-
shipped, or served seven planets; the second, those who served
six planets; the third, those who served five planets; the fourth,
those who served four planets; the fifth, those who served three
planets; the sixth, those who served two planets; the seventh,
8 The stars are at this time represented in the East in their constellations, as
may be seen in a fine MS. by Kazvvini, in the library at the India House.—
Dr. Sprcvger.
9 The account of the contents of the Pyramids is somewhat different in the
extract of Makrizi. Every writer, indeed, seems to have enumerated as many mar-
vellous things a3 his imagination could suggest.—Dr. Sprcnger.