DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4023#0132
86 REMARKS ON ME, GREAVES'S
of Cambyses, they had already loll the knowledge of those characters, I leave it to
be conjectured, how far back it is necessary to place the epocha os their building.
At lead it cannot be disowncd, that they were built, before any of the temples
or palaces were raised, whose prodigious ruins are the wonder of the present
time.
This sentiment once admitted, it must likewise be agreed, that the pyra-
mids were built before any residence was established at Memphis, and even
before that great city was founded. The reason is, because Memphis was, in a
great measure, formed out of the ruins of Thebes, which, according to our sup-
position, and on account of the hieroglyphics with which its edifices were adorned,
must have been posterior to the pyramids.
II. The second proof of their antiquity is taken from the granite marble, of
which the sepulchral urn is made, that is seen in the first pyramid ; srom
the granite, with which the sepulchral chambers are lined; and from that, with
which the top of the second pyramid is covered. All these stones are not only
without hieroglyphics; they are also without the least polish; which is a certain
mark, that, at the time when the pyramids were raised, they had not yet the
art of poliihing this sort of marble.
I t cannot be objected, that, through a spirit of religion, they would not
perhaps admit any polish; for all the other marbles, which were employed
on a religious account, are polished with the utmost perfection. It follows, there-
fore, that the pyramids have been erected before all the obelisks, before all the
sepulchral urns which have been transported to Rome, and before the chests of
mummies, which were made of granite; since all these works, excepting a very
small number, were made of polimed granite.
I consine myself to these two arguments, which have had a great inslu-
ence upon me. I know not what esfect they may have upon others. But I sliall
avoid adopting those wild conjectures, which have no other foundation, than
the reports of Egyptian priests: reports very false in themsclves, as has been very
justly remarked by those who follow their traditions.
Page 59. For what end or intention the pyramids were ereBed.
I agree with Mr. Greaves, that the Egyptian religion was the principal
cause of the foundation of the pyramids; but I believe, at the same time, that am-
bition contributed greatly towards it. In either of these views they could not have
raised monuments more vast, or more solid. No sort of architecture is compara-
ble to it; and where do we see any that costs as much pains to destroy as to raise ?
One is sometimes surprized in observing, that this mountain produces nothing
but a mouse; and that a whole pyramid contains only some chambers, and some
low and narrow passages. But when it is considered, that they had not then
the art os making arched roofs; and if we attend, at the same time, to the enor-
mous burthen, that the cavities had to support, we sliall easily conceive, that
the duration, which they designed sor the pyramid, did not permit them to
mine
of Cambyses, they had already loll the knowledge of those characters, I leave it to
be conjectured, how far back it is necessary to place the epocha os their building.
At lead it cannot be disowncd, that they were built, before any of the temples
or palaces were raised, whose prodigious ruins are the wonder of the present
time.
This sentiment once admitted, it must likewise be agreed, that the pyra-
mids were built before any residence was established at Memphis, and even
before that great city was founded. The reason is, because Memphis was, in a
great measure, formed out of the ruins of Thebes, which, according to our sup-
position, and on account of the hieroglyphics with which its edifices were adorned,
must have been posterior to the pyramids.
II. The second proof of their antiquity is taken from the granite marble, of
which the sepulchral urn is made, that is seen in the first pyramid ; srom
the granite, with which the sepulchral chambers are lined; and from that, with
which the top of the second pyramid is covered. All these stones are not only
without hieroglyphics; they are also without the least polish; which is a certain
mark, that, at the time when the pyramids were raised, they had not yet the
art of poliihing this sort of marble.
I t cannot be objected, that, through a spirit of religion, they would not
perhaps admit any polish; for all the other marbles, which were employed
on a religious account, are polished with the utmost perfection. It follows, there-
fore, that the pyramids have been erected before all the obelisks, before all the
sepulchral urns which have been transported to Rome, and before the chests of
mummies, which were made of granite; since all these works, excepting a very
small number, were made of polimed granite.
I consine myself to these two arguments, which have had a great inslu-
ence upon me. I know not what esfect they may have upon others. But I sliall
avoid adopting those wild conjectures, which have no other foundation, than
the reports of Egyptian priests: reports very false in themsclves, as has been very
justly remarked by those who follow their traditions.
Page 59. For what end or intention the pyramids were ereBed.
I agree with Mr. Greaves, that the Egyptian religion was the principal
cause of the foundation of the pyramids; but I believe, at the same time, that am-
bition contributed greatly towards it. In either of these views they could not have
raised monuments more vast, or more solid. No sort of architecture is compara-
ble to it; and where do we see any that costs as much pains to destroy as to raise ?
One is sometimes surprized in observing, that this mountain produces nothing
but a mouse; and that a whole pyramid contains only some chambers, and some
low and narrow passages. But when it is considered, that they had not then
the art os making arched roofs; and if we attend, at the same time, to the enor-
mous burthen, that the cavities had to support, we sliall easily conceive, that
the duration, which they designed sor the pyramid, did not permit them to
mine