The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-18
EGYPT-THE PYRAMIDS.

scientific commission al the head OF which e
Dr.. LEfsIUs has been sent by the Prussian Govern,
ment 10 examine the great architectural remalns Of
ancient Egypt. The discoveries Of the commission
IN the Pyramids have been pursued with diligence
and success, and much additional light is promised
to be shed objects which have so strongly attract
ed the attention Of other portions Of the globe Tie
following is an extract from one of DIR. l. last let
tiers, communicated officially to the Prussian Gov.
eminent II is dated from Gzeh, at the foot Of the
Pyramid OF Cheops, January I'd.
What will you say when you learn that we have
advanced fur Their than this We arrived here On
the 9Th of November, and here we have passed the
first day Of the New Year But who can forete the
extent of the rich harvest We may reap this ear
hest Of the history Of mankindl II is incred-
BILE how little this spot has been explored, though
more visited than any other part of Egypt But il /,
my task TO gather the fruit and | have no wish to
dispute the claim 10 II with my learned predeces-
sors. The best maps Of this site hitherto produced
represent two loubs besides the Pyramids having
particular inscriptions and figures. Now have
drawn q minute Typographical plan OF the whole
monumental plain, and on ia plan there mark.
ed indie peDdently Of the Pyramids, iory-i tomb,
whose occupants ! have ascerained by the inscrip-
lions There altogether eighty-two tombs which,
account OF their inscriptions or other peculartes,
demand particular attention.
With the exception Of about twelve, which belong
to later Jeriod all these tombs were erected con
temporaneously with or soon alter the building Of
the Great Pyramid, and consequently their lates
throw invaluable light on the study Of human
civilization in the most remote period of antiquity
Their structure, respecting which could speak only
from supposition in my work on Egyptian architec-
ture, is now developed before my eyes. All the ar
chitecturaI parts perfectly made out and TO my
great satisfaction the suggestions hszarded are
fully confirmed. The sculptures in relief
prisingly numerous, and represent whole figures,
some the size of life, and others Of various dimen-
sions Their style of execution is bold and decided,
but evidently not restrained by the laws of proper
ton, which al later period were implicitly obsery.
ed The paintings are on back grounds of the finest
chalk. They numerous and beautiful beyond
conception--as fresh and perfect if finished only
yesterday.
The pictures and sculptures on the walls of The
tombs represent, for the most part scenes in the
lives of the deceased persons whose wealth in cattle,
fish, boats, servants, &c. is ostentatiously displayed
before the eye al the spectator All this gives in
sight into the details Of private life among the ancient
Egyptians The scenes thus represented explained
by the inscriptions, which sometimes name The nu-
nerous members OF the family of the deceased toge
Their with all his titles and Offices. BY the help of
these inscriptions think could, without much diff
Guilty, make court calendar of the reign Of King
Cheops. The most splendid mausoleums are those of
the princes, who were either relations Of the King,
or persons holding high appointments in the royal
service. These structures situated in the prox-
unity of the Pyramids. In instances l have
traced the graves of father son, grandson, and
great grandson-all that now remain of the distn-
guished families which 5000 years ago formed the
nobility of the land The post of Superintendent of
the Kings Buildings must have been, n those days
of colossal architecture, an appointment of vast i'm
portance and it was frequently given to princes of
the bIood-roya One Of the most magnificent tomb 5
have discovered here which, with many Others
completely buried beneath the sandy is that of a
prince OF the house OF Cheops who held the office Of
Chief Superintendent of Buildings. may be presumed
the greatest building Of the age the Pyramid Of Che
ops execut under the direction Of this person
age. now daily employ fifty sixty in dig
gmg and in other kinds Of labor, and large exca-
walton has been made in front Of the great Sphynx