OF THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT.


EFORE I quit Cairo, and its adjacent parts, I can- or the Py-
not forbear speaking of the monuments that are the Re*"/jj* In
most worthy of the curiosity of those, who travel into
Egypt: I mean the pyramids, that have been ranked
formerly in the number of the seven wonders of the
world, that are admired srill to the present times, and
extend from Cairo quite to Meduun.
These superb monuments are found only in
Egypt; for tho' there is seen one at Rome, which
serves for a tomb to C. Cestius*, it can pass only for

* F, MontfauCon describes the -pyramid of Ces- caivs. cestivs. lvcii. filivs. poblilia.
^^^in the following manner: epvlo. praetor, tribvnvs. plebis. sep-
'■ The pyramid of Cestius, which we see in temvir. epvlonvm.
going to the gate of St. Paul, was made in imi- Another inscription underneath that, and in sinaller
J.ation of the pyramids of Egypt, with this drf- chara6lers is i„ English as follows,
Ier*ence, that it is entirely smooth without, whereas

t{le pyramids of Egypt go up by steps ; the inside is
v°.id ; in which, likewise, it differs from the pyra-
mids of Egypt; which in a great mass have very
Jl"le void space.
" The following inscription is on the face of the
Pyramid;

That the whole work of the pyramid was sinifhed,
agreeable to the will of the deceased, in three hun-
dred and thirty days, according to the direction os
PontiusMela,/ob c/Publius, of theClaudian
tribe, who was the heir, and os Fqthvs, a freed

man.

a mere