Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-11-27
Uses Of the Egyptian Pyramids.

III mas Deen customary 10 regard the py-
ramids as the mere tombs of the kings OF
Egypt, and severe things have been said
about the puerile attempts of royal depots
to build for themselves mausoleums of i'm
perishable renown-mighty monuments to
chronicle the doings Of poor pigmies of a
day. But we believe that the Egyptians
were too wise to undertake such immense
works without having in view some public
benefit The labor of these pyramidical
constructions can scarcely be estimated
Ii would say but little for the intelligence
of the learned men of the Nile to suppose
that they merely built them as lodgings for
regal MISUNDERSTANDING that should defy
all conquering time, and last till doomsday.
From recent investigations--and not from
a mere closet hypothesis-it does appear
that the pyramids we've turned to good ac-
count.
The pyramids were evidently the light
houses and beacons which served to guide
the vessels on the Nile, and the travellers
on the desert. They could be easily per-
ceived at very great distance. fifteen OF
twenty leagues. Such erections were call
ed by the Greeks PURos AMYDALE. On the
flat roof of the pyramid of Cheops, the
most ancient of the group, fire of bitumi-
nous material was kiDdled, announcing the
approach of caravan, OF the expected in
cursions of. invaders. A single pyramid
would not, however, be sufficient for The
Eastern navigators. and it would soon be
found necessary to build second, third,
and many others; all If them being so stu
ated as to serve as watch towers on the
surrounding nations, and at the same time
keeping up species of telegraphic COM
municaIions with the interior of Egypt
Thus considered, the pyramids assume
new Importance; they were light
watch towers, beacons and telegraphic sta
ticns.
All nations established in the midst of
such vast regions as those which surround
Egypt, found the necessity of erecting high
towers for observation and rallying points
The Tower of Babel is supposed by some
writer's to have been undertaken for this
object; and it is known that such was the
design of the Porcelain tower at Marking.
An ancient traveller discovered in the midst
of the plains which stretch out from the
banks of the river Amazon, in South Ame-
RIGA, numerous pyramids resembling those
of Egypt-without doubt erected for sim
liar purpose in very remote age. The
lofty tower Of Ca.hedrals, and the battle
ments of feudal castles, are the consequence
of the same necessity With such an OBJ
ject in view, the Pharaohs built these Won
drous lombs-tombs none the less honored
that those who slept within consecrated
their final resting place to the service of
their people.
Other purposes would also be answered
by the pyramids. They served as astro-
nomical observations-and 10 the researches
and discoveries of those old seers who there
carried on their observations, modern
science is greatly indebted. Again, from
the size and position ofthe pyramids, it has
been argued that they would, in a consid-
cradle decree, mitigate The violence of those
storms and whirlwinds which bury whole
caravans in the desert Especially they
were designed as lighthouses in the will
1erness, that when the sun set, when the
moon was hidden, the pyramid fires NIGH
guide the boatman on the waters of the
Nile, aud the travellers in the sea of sand.