The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-09-24
now THE PYRAMIDS WERE eUtlT

Brugsch Bey. the eminent Egyptnlo-
cist, says, in his work on Egypt
From the far distance yOu see the
niant forms of the pyramids, as If they
were regularly crystalized mountains,
which the ever-creating nature has call
ed forth from the rock, to lift themselves
ND toward the vault of heaven. And
vet. they are bat tonbS, built by the
hands of men. which have been the adj
miratiOn and aStOniShment alike of the
ancient and modern world. Perfectly
adjusted to the cardinal points OF the
horizon, they differ in breadth and height,
as is shown by the measurements of the
three oldest. as follows: ]. The Pyra-
mid OF Khufa--height, 4JO-1J feet
breadth. T46 feet > Pyramid of kha-
fra-height, 4f7-5 feet: breadth. G9O-I5
feet. 3. Pyramid OF Menkara-heisht,
BOB feet breadth, 3j2-TS feet.
The construction of these enormous
masses has long been an iHsUluble mys-
terv. but later generations have succeed
ed in solving the problem. According
to their ancient USaCCs and customs the
Frvptians, while they still s0IonrEed ia
health and spirits. were ever mindful 10
turn their looks To the region where the
departing Ra took leave Oi life. where
the door of the grave opened, where the
BODY. well concealed, at length found
reSS. TO rise again to Il new existence
after an appointed time OF long, long
wears. while the soul. though bound 20
the body. was at liberty to leave the
grave and return to it during the day
time. in any form it chose. II such Il
belief. il was the custom betimeS to dig
the grave in the form OF q deep sliatt IN
the rock, and above tliS eternal dwell
ing to raise a SuperStTuctUTeO OF Sarriiicial
chambers, sometimes only hail, some
times several apartments. and 10 adorn
them richly with colored writings and
painted ScUlpture as was becoming to
a house Of pleasure and JOY. The king
began his work from his accession. As
soon as be mounted the throne, the SOW
erpign gave orders to y nUhlem3n, the
master OF All the buildings OF his iaHd,
to plan the work and cut the stone. Tie
kernel of the future edlbce was raised
on the limestone soil of the desert, in
the form of a small pyramid built IN
steps. Of which the well constructed and
finished interior formed the kings eter-
nal dwelling, with his ST one sarcophagus
living upon the rocky floor. Let MS sup
pose that this first building was finished
while the PharaOhs still lived in he
bright sunlight. 4 second covering
was added, stone by stone, on the ont
side of the kernel Il third to 'his second,
and 10 this even Il fourth and the mass
! Of the giant building grew greater the
longer the king enjoyed existence. And
then. at last, when it became almost
impossible TO extend the area OF the
pyramid further, casing Of hard stone,
polished like glass, and fitted accurately
into the angles of the steps, covered the
vast mass of the sepulcheI, presenting Il
gigantic triangle Oh each of it's sfnurfaccs.
More than seventy such pyramids once
rose on the margin Of the desert, each
telling of a king of whom it was at once
the tomb and monument. Had not the
greater. number OF these sepulCherS OF
the PharaOhs been destroyed almost 10
the foundation, and had The names OF
/ the builders Of these which still stand
been accurately preserved, it would have
/ been easy for the inquirer to prove and
make clear by calculation which was
originally, and Of necessity, the proper
/ tion between the masses of the pyramids
and the years OF the reigns Of their re-
spectiyc builders.