The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1892-03-08

length being l2O0 feet, anu its enllre area
$4,000 square feet, or half as much
again as st. Peters at Rome.
/ The immensely of such an edifice can
not be quite comprehended,and for its size
the Karnak Temple is undoubtedly great
wonder.
The interior was divided up into many
different compartments, but there were
three principal divisions, like those of the
Tabernacle, which we must believe
was in some ways copy of the Karnac
Temple.
One of these compartments was in
length $50 feet and 10 in width, and the
roof supported by 1854 massive stone col
umns, divided into three groups, twelve
central ones, each sixty-six (66) feet high,
and 33 in circumference, forming the main
avenue down its midst, while on either
side sixty-one (61) of slightly inferior d.
mansions, Supported the huge wings OF
! the chamber.
The other commandments were more mi
nutely divided, and in passing from one
to the other the feeling is one of awe for
| the grandeur displayed throughout the
entire structure.
Huge statues of the sphinx were scat
tered throughout. and row of obelisks
averaging 100 feet in height was common.
Most of the pillars and walls were COW
cred with pictures and hieroglyphics
which are to-day speaking to us of that
remote period.
The detail work is Insignificant to the
massiveness which envelopes it, but the
| fittings of the huge stones, speak of a care
and earnest work which has often been
forgotten, and 1t is no exaggeration to say
that the lofty edifices of magnificent
Greece and Rome were small and dwarf
| ish, in comparison with the Karnak Tenn
pie.
The principal aim throughout seems to
have been size, and in this the ancient
builders have certainly reached their de-
sired end.
We are told by men who have seen the
Temple that 70 conception can be had Of
even It's ruins, and that once seen it can
never be forgotten.
The Temple was undoubtedly at one
time the palace of the King. as well as the
place of worship, and in view of the whole
affair we must place the ancient Egypt
ians at the head of the list, for unparal-
leled, massive architecture. which has
never been surpassed in the history of the
world.
/ Is 1t not strange that in all the hun
dreds of years of the decline and fall OF
Egypt, that its people in their work never
rose from massiveness, to the higher
points in architecture and art, those of de-
tail, exactness and beauty of finish?
They did not care to examine closely
any part OF the great building. but gazing
at the parts blended into magnificent
whole, they were we'll satisfied and con-
tented with their work.
In size and wonderful construction the
pyramids go side by side with the great
Temple. They are the largest masses Of
stone and brick masonry ever raised by
the hand of man.
Every one is doubtless familiar with
these great land marks, and with their
general appearance.
The great pyramid is the Hottest build
ing which the world contains.
The original perpendicular height is
about 483 feet, the length of its side 704
feet, and its area Is acres, rood and %
poles.
In its original form it contained nearly
90, 100000 cubic feet of masonry, and
weighed 6.s4S, 900 tons.
Many of the basement stones are 80 or
| 40 feet long and or high, making 700
cubic feet of stone often in solid un-
broken piece.
The only entrance to the building is at
the 18th step, and this passage gradually
| declines at an angle of about 27o to a
chamber almost under the apex, which is
46. feet long, 81 wide and IL high. The
passage is low and narrow, and it is nee
essary to creep or crawl in.
! At distance of 81 yards from the en-
trance, an ascending passage branches of
from the descending one, at about the
same angle. This passage runs through
the very heart of the pyramid for a dis
lance Of about l25 feet.
Here it again divides, and leads to cham
Der called the Queens room" Anoth-
er ascending passage is prolonged for loo
feet, and by a short passage is connected
with the great main chamber in which
was found the sarcophagus Of "Krufu."
Less than foot in width, other air pas
sages, connect the interior with the outer
atmosphere, and finally low hallway,
after continuing for distance of some
so feet, abruptly ends.
Some have coniectured that the pyra-
mids were constructed in order to furnish
ample means for astronomical obserya-
tons; but this idea cannot occupy place
in the minds of thinking people, for the
pyramids were undoubtedly constructed,
to be used as tombs and burying places
for the Kings and Queens.
The people embalmed their dead, in
order that the body might be perfectly
preserved for the second life, which they
believed would exist in the old body, and
is it not natural that they should next
seek burying place of perfect safety, es-
pecially for the King and his family, who
were supposed to be not only human but
divine?
Some of the blocks of stone used in the
pyramids were brought distance of 500
miles, and being polished like glass, the
Joints fitted with such exactness, that
even after careful scrutiny seam could
scarcely be detected.
Nothing can be more wonderful than
the construction, hundreds of tons being
supported in some places by single arch
or support.
Sloping away from the eye a pyramid
never looks as large as it really is; still
the massiveness of the structure OYER
comes this defect.
They cannot but produce feeling OF
awe and grandeur, and knowing their his
tory must impress the observer with won
derment and establishment, because they
have stood for hundreds and thousands Of
years, and have pointed to the sky,in that
far off land. while the whole world has
grown from infancy to manhood.
Two other pyramids little smaller
than the one described, are situated neal
it. and is also the great sphinx. 1t is a
bulky but dignifed head piece of massive
ancient statuary. and is too we'll known &c
need description here. Other statues Of
less dimensions Of course, abound in the