Wilkinson, John Gardner: Topographie of Thebes, and general view of Egypt: being a short account of the principal objects worthy of notice in the valley of the Nile, to the second cataracte and Wadi Samneh, with the Fyoom, Oases and eastern desert, from Sooez to Bertenice (London, 1835)

33G MEMPHIS. [Chap. VI.

by the same number; and besides the twenty years
employed in erecting the pyramid itself, ten others
were occupied in constructing the causeway, and a
considerable time in clearing and levelling the hill
on which it stands.*

At Aboo-roash, about five miles to the north-
ward, is another ruined pyramid, which, from the
decomposed state of the stone, must be consider-
ably more ancient than those just mentioned. It
stands on the ridge of hills that skirt the desert
behind Kerdaseh, but it now presents nothing more
than an underground chamber, twenty paces by
thirteen, and the base of the original structure.
In the vale to the north of it are other remains.

The name of Busiris seems to be retained in that
of the modern Abooseer; and it was from this
villagef they were accustomed, according to Pliny,
to ascend the pyramids. Indeed, Diodorus speaks
of rude steps cut in the casing on one side of
that of Cephren; J but it does not appear at
what time the dilapidation of the pyramids com-

* That is, the area around it; for the pyramid stands on an
elevated rock, which forms its nucleus, and extends to the height
perhaps of 12 feet from the level of the base, or about 178 from
the level of the underground chamber. This chamber is about
the same depth below the base of the pyramid as the plain
under the rock.

t Men of the village, not visiters. The ascent must then have
been difficult, and the exterior coating still existed. Busiris can-
not have been on the site of Abooseer. The " Quis illaudati nescit
Busiridis aras" of Virgil slwuld refer to this village rather than to
the supposed king Busiris.

| Diod. i. 64.