St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1900-08-25
MYSTERY OF THE PYRAMIDS.
Waaderfas nook Thought to Held the
Key to the Reason for ThefF
CDnstruction.

| For centuries Egypto1ogists and
arcliaeologists have been trying to find
Out the exact significance of the great
pyramids of Egypt. Now at last the
problem seems to be solved. This
| statement is especially true in regard
to the pyramid of Gizeh, otherwise
known as the Cheops or Chufru pyra-
mid. Hitherto itsha been supposed
that this immense structure was de-
signed as the mausoleum of it's royal
founder, but ample evidence is now
forthcoming that it was primarily de-
signed to serve as a temple in which
candidates for initiation into the high-
er mysteries of the Egyptians might
perform the requisite rites.
Many years ago the question was
asked: IL the pyramid of Gizeh is
merely royal mausoleum, why does it
contain 50 many stately halls and cor
ridors, and why was a secret chamber
constructed under ground, since the
upper chambers would have suficed
rs a vault for the remains of the great
king? On the other hand, If it was
ever anything else than burial place,
why is an immense granite sarco-
phagus the most conspicuous object in
it? There is an Arabian tradition that
the pyramids were built before the
food in order that the intellectual
treasures of Egypt might be preserved
in them, and during recent years more
than one scientist has expressed,
though somewhat guardedly, the opin-
ion that the secret chambers might
have been used for purposes of initia-
ton.
A key to this entire mystery has now
been found in that wonderful work,
s'The Book of the Dead, )" which Richard
Lepsius, a distinguished German
Psychologist, discovered some years
ago in the tomb of a priest named Auf
Aukh, the original papyrus of which
is now preserved in Turin. Scholars
who examined it soon after it was dis
covered said that it was an expose
ton, more or less fantastic, of the life
led by Egyptians after death. The
god Thoth was believed te be the au-
thor, and according to Ebers the book
tells us much about the God idea of the
Egyptians as well as about their dog
mas, their interpretations, their myth
ology, their morals and their faith in
Immortality. A copy of the work, it
is said, was placed in the graves of
those who died and portions of il were
inscribed on many tombs, with the OBJ
Ject of pointing out to the dead the
right road through the other world
and of keeping ever in their memory
the fright word, . which alone could
serve them as weapon.
A recent and a more thorough exam-
ination of this book, however. shows
that it is far more than "a strange col
lection of religions and magical texts
or than a mere exposition of the views
Of Egyptians in regard to future life,
and that Lepsius erred somewhat in en-
titling It 'sThe Book of the Dead" In.
stead of being a book Of instruction for
the dead, lis, we. are. told, an authors
tative text book for those who intend
ed to be initiated into the higher nys-
teries of the Egyptians.
That the pyramid Of Gizeh was used
for the purpose of initiating candidates
m this manner is very evident TO those
who have studied aThe Book Of the
Dead' under the new light that has
been thrown OH It.