DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15#0039
HISTORY OF THE PYRAMIDS, 29
see indeed, in the accurate astronomical adjustment
of the Great Pyramid, that the architects must have
been skilful astronomers and mathematicians ; and
I may note here, in passing, how strongly this cir-
cumstance confirms the opinion that the visitors
were Chaldseans. All we know from Herodotus
and Manetho, all the evidence from the circum-
stances connected with the religion of the pyramid-
kings, and the astronomical evidence given by the
pyramids themselves, tends to suggest that mem-
bers of that particular branch of the Chaldsean
family which went out from Ur of the Chaldees
because they would not worship the gods of the
Chaldasans, extended their wanderings to Egypt,
and eventually superintended the erection of the
Great Pyramid so far as astronomical and mathe-
matical relations were concerned.
But not only have we already decided that the
pyramids were not intended solely or chiefly to
subserve the purpose of astronomical observatories,
enormous advantage of being able to compare his own observations
with those recorded by the Chaldreans, he estimated the length of
the year less correctly than the Chaldasans. It has been thought
by some that the Chaldamns were acquainted with the true system of
the universe, but I do not know that there are sufficient grounds
for this supposition. Diodorus Siculus and Apollonius Myndius
mention, however, that they were able to predict the return of
comets, and this implies that their observations had been continued
for many centuiies with great care and exactness.
see indeed, in the accurate astronomical adjustment
of the Great Pyramid, that the architects must have
been skilful astronomers and mathematicians ; and
I may note here, in passing, how strongly this cir-
cumstance confirms the opinion that the visitors
were Chaldseans. All we know from Herodotus
and Manetho, all the evidence from the circum-
stances connected with the religion of the pyramid-
kings, and the astronomical evidence given by the
pyramids themselves, tends to suggest that mem-
bers of that particular branch of the Chaldsean
family which went out from Ur of the Chaldees
because they would not worship the gods of the
Chaldasans, extended their wanderings to Egypt,
and eventually superintended the erection of the
Great Pyramid so far as astronomical and mathe-
matical relations were concerned.
But not only have we already decided that the
pyramids were not intended solely or chiefly to
subserve the purpose of astronomical observatories,
enormous advantage of being able to compare his own observations
with those recorded by the Chaldreans, he estimated the length of
the year less correctly than the Chaldasans. It has been thought
by some that the Chaldamns were acquainted with the true system of
the universe, but I do not know that there are sufficient grounds
for this supposition. Diodorus Siculus and Apollonius Myndius
mention, however, that they were able to predict the return of
comets, and this implies that their observations had been continued
for many centuiies with great care and exactness.