DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17#0054
34
PYRAMIDS AND PROGRESS
groups of pyramids can be seen for forty miles on one hand and seven miles
on the other. The green cultivated flat which the Nile covers at the inundation
and the rocky, illimitable Libyan desert (the plateau extends on the west for
2,000 miles) are very impressive. The great city of Cairo seems to lie at
our feet and behind it the grand barrier of the eastern cliffs, whence came
the stone of the artificial mountain on which we stand. The silvery Nile
threads the wide valley, flecked with its picturesque sail-boats like gigantic birds
with expanded wings.
Nor should a visit into the interior of the Great Pyramid be missed. It is
best done in the early morning : each person should have two attendants, who
are now licensed and better looked after. They provide candles, but visitors
should have their own magnesium wire, and indiarubber shoes should be worn.
The interior shows the most perfect workmanship, the joints being almost
imperceptible. The guide books describe the various chambers and provide the
measurements from Dr. Petrie's book. There is now an official guardian, who
provides tickets and trusty guides for the ascent and
also for the interior of the Great Pyramid.
The Second Pyramid stands on high ground, and from
some points looks more lofty than its older neighbour,
but it is considerably less in height, and its workmanship
is not so perfect. Part of its casing remains near the top.
Belzoni opened it, and found within the remains of the
king for whom it was built (Khafra, Dynasty
IV., 3900 b.c.). The scarabs of this king are
amongst the earliest known. I am fortunate
in possessing one of them, and the hieroglyphics
are the same as were used on the Rosetta
Stone 3100 years later, proving the great anti-
quity and continuity of the Egyptian written
language. In early times every king had his
own pyramid, which was in progress during
his life, so all the pyramids themselves were
sepulchres, but only for the kings.
Their sites were chosen with great
care; the sides always face the
four points of the compass. At the
east side of each pyramid there
was always a temple where worship
PORTRAIT STATUE OF KHAFRA, J Y f
>iorite, found in his Temple. {From the Cairo Museum.) Was Carried On by a body of priests
PYRAMIDS AND PROGRESS
groups of pyramids can be seen for forty miles on one hand and seven miles
on the other. The green cultivated flat which the Nile covers at the inundation
and the rocky, illimitable Libyan desert (the plateau extends on the west for
2,000 miles) are very impressive. The great city of Cairo seems to lie at
our feet and behind it the grand barrier of the eastern cliffs, whence came
the stone of the artificial mountain on which we stand. The silvery Nile
threads the wide valley, flecked with its picturesque sail-boats like gigantic birds
with expanded wings.
Nor should a visit into the interior of the Great Pyramid be missed. It is
best done in the early morning : each person should have two attendants, who
are now licensed and better looked after. They provide candles, but visitors
should have their own magnesium wire, and indiarubber shoes should be worn.
The interior shows the most perfect workmanship, the joints being almost
imperceptible. The guide books describe the various chambers and provide the
measurements from Dr. Petrie's book. There is now an official guardian, who
provides tickets and trusty guides for the ascent and
also for the interior of the Great Pyramid.
The Second Pyramid stands on high ground, and from
some points looks more lofty than its older neighbour,
but it is considerably less in height, and its workmanship
is not so perfect. Part of its casing remains near the top.
Belzoni opened it, and found within the remains of the
king for whom it was built (Khafra, Dynasty
IV., 3900 b.c.). The scarabs of this king are
amongst the earliest known. I am fortunate
in possessing one of them, and the hieroglyphics
are the same as were used on the Rosetta
Stone 3100 years later, proving the great anti-
quity and continuity of the Egyptian written
language. In early times every king had his
own pyramid, which was in progress during
his life, so all the pyramids themselves were
sepulchres, but only for the kings.
Their sites were chosen with great
care; the sides always face the
four points of the compass. At the
east side of each pyramid there
was always a temple where worship
PORTRAIT STATUE OF KHAFRA, J Y f
>iorite, found in his Temple. {From the Cairo Museum.) Was Carried On by a body of priests