DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15#0017
HISTORY OF THE PYRAMIDS. 7
In the first place, it is manifest that Cheops
(to call the first king by the name most familiar
to the general reader) attached great importance
to the building of his pyramid. It has been said,
and perhaps justly, that it would be more interest-
ing to know the plan of the architect who devised
the pyramid than the purpose of the king who
built it. But the two things are closely connected.
The architect must have satisfied the king that
some highly important purpose in which the king
himself was interested would be subserved by the
structure. Whether the king was persuaded to
undertake the work as a matter of duty, or only
to advance his own interests, may not be so clear.
But that the king was most thoroughly in earnest
about the work is certain. A monarch in those
times would assuredly not have devoted an enor-
mous amount of labour and material to such a
scheme unless he was thoroughly convinced of its
great importance. That the welfare of his people
was not considered by Cheops in building the
Great Pyramid is almost equally certain. He
might, indeed, have had a scheme for their good
which either he did not care to explain to them or
which they could not understand. But the most
natural inference from the narrative is that his
purpose had no reference whatever to their wel-
In the first place, it is manifest that Cheops
(to call the first king by the name most familiar
to the general reader) attached great importance
to the building of his pyramid. It has been said,
and perhaps justly, that it would be more interest-
ing to know the plan of the architect who devised
the pyramid than the purpose of the king who
built it. But the two things are closely connected.
The architect must have satisfied the king that
some highly important purpose in which the king
himself was interested would be subserved by the
structure. Whether the king was persuaded to
undertake the work as a matter of duty, or only
to advance his own interests, may not be so clear.
But that the king was most thoroughly in earnest
about the work is certain. A monarch in those
times would assuredly not have devoted an enor-
mous amount of labour and material to such a
scheme unless he was thoroughly convinced of its
great importance. That the welfare of his people
was not considered by Cheops in building the
Great Pyramid is almost equally certain. He
might, indeed, have had a scheme for their good
which either he did not care to explain to them or
which they could not understand. But the most
natural inference from the narrative is that his
purpose had no reference whatever to their wel-