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)

Chap. VI.] SAQQARA PYRAMIDS----STONE ARCH. 337

menced, though, if we may believe Abd-e'Lateef, it
must have taken place at a late period.

The pyramids of Abooseer present nothing inte-
resting ; but those of Saqqara are worthy of a
visit. The larger one, built in degrees, is, if I may
use the expression, a hollow dome, supported here
and there by wooden rafters. At the end of the
passage, opposite the entrance to this dome, is a
small chamber, lately re-opened, on whose door-way
are some hieroglyphics containing the square title,
but not the name, of a very old king.* The room
was lined with blue slabs, similar to those now
called Dutch tiles.f All had been carefully closed
and concealed by masonry, but the treasures it con-
tained, if any, had long since been removed.

In the face of the rocks to the eastward, which
are near the cultivated land, is a vaulted tomb of
the time of the second Psamaticus, of hewn stone ;
the oldest stone arch hitherto discovered, having
been erected six hundred years before our era.

In the pits of the extensive cemetery around
these pyramids, objects of curiosity and value are
frequently met with; and here, as about the pyra-
mids of Geezeh, representations of Pthah Sokar,j:

* But this chamber and passage appear to be of a later date
than the rest of the pyramid.

t The manufacture of vitrified porcelain was a very old
Egyptian invention, and continued in Egypt till a late period, even
after the Arabian conquest and the foundation of Musr el Qaherah.

I Mr. Salt has derived the name of Saqqara from the title of
the deity of Memphis.—Vide Herod, iii. 37.

2