DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9059#0142
130 THE MONUMENTS OF UPPER EGYPT.
of their faith, and which is here altogether
wanting, another part of the tomb is assigned to
it. But no one may enter therein, and it must
remain forever hidden. This is the sepulchral
chamber, forever lost to view under the ground,
at the bottom of a pit, the entrance of which is
carefully concealed from all eyes. There lies
the mummy, but there also is the Ritual. The
defunct has crossed the awful threshold, and is
now in that mysterious world where gods and
pure spirits dwell.
To sum up, a Sakkarah tomb consists of an
external building which encloses three distinct
parts, viz.: 1st, some chambers accessible at all
times and most frequently decorated with sculp-
tures ; 2nd, a vertical pit * hidden from all eyes,
into which no one at the present time can
descend without ropes; 3rd, a subterranean
vault where lies the mummy. Let us add that
all the other tombs one meets' with in Egypt are
constructed on the same principle.
*Itso happens that the tomb of Tib. offers a very rare
exception to this rule. The pit, as may now be seen in
the centre of the court, is not vertical, but slopes down
like the passage of a pyramid. The principle, however,
is the same. This inclined passage was filled to the very
bottom with blocks of stone. The sarcophagus is in lime-
stone, and bears no inscription whatever.
of their faith, and which is here altogether
wanting, another part of the tomb is assigned to
it. But no one may enter therein, and it must
remain forever hidden. This is the sepulchral
chamber, forever lost to view under the ground,
at the bottom of a pit, the entrance of which is
carefully concealed from all eyes. There lies
the mummy, but there also is the Ritual. The
defunct has crossed the awful threshold, and is
now in that mysterious world where gods and
pure spirits dwell.
To sum up, a Sakkarah tomb consists of an
external building which encloses three distinct
parts, viz.: 1st, some chambers accessible at all
times and most frequently decorated with sculp-
tures ; 2nd, a vertical pit * hidden from all eyes,
into which no one at the present time can
descend without ropes; 3rd, a subterranean
vault where lies the mummy. Let us add that
all the other tombs one meets' with in Egypt are
constructed on the same principle.
*Itso happens that the tomb of Tib. offers a very rare
exception to this rule. The pit, as may now be seen in
the centre of the court, is not vertical, but slopes down
like the passage of a pyramid. The principle, however,
is the same. This inclined passage was filled to the very
bottom with blocks of stone. The sarcophagus is in lime-
stone, and bears no inscription whatever.