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EGYPTIAN vPYKWID?:

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AN ANALYSIS OF

A Great Mystery.

BY EVERETT W. FISH, M. D,

Sbcond Edition

CHICAGO:

KVERE1T W. FISH, 188 Monroe Street. *

1880.

DT£

Registered with the Librarian at Washington, D, C, Jan. 1880.

.1 J OvA^ajtaj

ntaitt Mm:n,

* £&Z*9

AN EARNEST STUDENT, IN ART AND SCIENCE,

Whose good opinion is valued more than the acclamation of the throng,

Is this Imperfect Token Inscribed.

PREFACE.

p^^lNCE this work was undertaken, with the view of pre-
1 ^ senting a purely scientific essay on the Pyramids, its
' plan has been materially changed. The range of study,
necessary to develop the scientific features, has in-
woven many religious coincidences, complicating the mys-
tery of their origin, which it would be folly to cast aside.
It is not a proposition to be sneered at by the most invet-
erate theomachist, that the design, origin, and destiny of
the Great Pyramid are theistic, although reasonably subject to negative
criticism. Nor, though fashionable with most modern writers of materialis-
tic views, does it comport with good sense and justice to underrate coinci-
dences, which, as evidences, are opposed to our own views. But they should
rather be weighed, value for value, with physical testimony; for the day
has not yet come when we can either dogmatically negate the direct gov-
ernment of a spiritual essence, or demolish with rare mepris the intel"
lectual giants, whose minds, (as broad and untrammeled as our own), have
found "reason" in a divinity, and "common sense" in a revelation.

When the bases fall from the physical deductions of Kepler, Bacon,
Newton, Napier, and an array of minds breaking from the shackles of
past schools of thought to inaugurate new systems, but still beholding a
God in the universe, then we may conclude that our views of theism and*
cosmogony are alone up to the level of philosophy, and consign theirs to
neglect.

Prof. Piazzi Smyth may be too sanguine and over-positive in the ap-
plication of Siriadic symbolisms; but the Scotchman's ken f or theosophic
mystery is a better guide to truth than the flippant pen of Jas. Bonwick,
F. R. G. S. (London), in whose recent work there is a radical excision of
such interpretations. However difficult of belief, a justly balanced mind
will decide— not upon the capacity of the popular will for unbelief— but up-
on the intrinsic value of the evidences, in minds in which there is not a
highly developed antagonism. Thus we ask the reader, even the most in-
veterate iconoclast, to read and study— under the influence of the broad

principles of Baconian Philosophy.
Chicago, III., U. S. A.,

Note to second edition.

A few of our stalwart religious journals, including the Quarterly
"Baptist Review," of Cincinnati, while noting the historical and scien-
tific merits of the book, do not fully recognize the "Mystery" in the
Pyramid. In the calm judgment of the student, unafflicted with enthu-
siasm, we think the following moderate statements fulfill the conditions
of a "mystery:"

1. No traditional or historic record is so ancient but that the Pyramid
was then a "wonder of the world." Its incomparable size and its char-
acter as a reservoir of human knowledge, makes this forgetfulness the
more mysterious.

:. Its freedom from all hieratic literature, with the exception of a
single, non-graven, structural hieroglyph over the entrance.

3. lis scientific ... ,/es, though still fragmentary and obscure,
are too profound for any known era of mental development.

4. Its standard of weights and measures is the probable origin of
the "sacred cubit," the uncia, pound, polticis, Cwt., chauldron, acre,
yard, Oriental coins, the American gold and silver pieces— all based on
a decimal scale. While the French Metrio Standard is based on a curved
and incommensurable line, the Pyramid system has the earth's axis of
revolution for its standard.

In justice to a large body of Pyramid students who have been longer in the
field than the writer, we caution the reader against giving too much weight to
our opinion where it conflicts with others. The object of the work is to
bring a grand subject before the masses, rather than discuss doubtful topics.

The orthography of Anglicized Egyptian words is exceedingly unsettled.
For instance, the word Ghizeh may be spelled in twenty different ways

There will shortly appear more complete works upon Pyramid symbols, and
hence we have left a more elaborate analysis to those who are more compe-
tent.

1 N'T R 0 D UCTIOJST.

No problem of the present age so fully deserves the
title— "A GREAT MYSTERY," as that which is
involved in the origin and interpretation of the Great
Pyramid and its lesser companions. They all, doubtless,
belong to one epoch and to one race of invaders, though
probably far apart in significance and destiny. They are,
and ever have been, as profound a mystery to the native
Egyptians* as to us, and even the discover f the key to
the hieroglyphs, so profusely traced over the innumerable
monuments of Egypt, throws no light on this question.
The Great Pyramid alone, amid the graven structures, is
free from the stone literature. f

Like the city of Damascus, this stupendous monument
has witnessed the rise, zenith and decay of empires whose
armies have trodden the known world. But unlike the
most aged of cities, whose obscurity was its safety, the
Great Pyramid has been pre-eminent among its fellows in
all ages — ever sleeping, yet unspeakably grand in the
intensity of its slumber! — its waking, perchance, an in-
stant conflict with the progressive]; thought of four thou-
sand years.

It is without letter or language to speak in a' tongue
living or dead. It was a patriarch when literature was
born. Its builder is a shadow in history, its birthday a bat-

*In all history they have been a subject for discussion -having- been
looked upon with cabalistic awe back to the very date of their erection.

+Since the appearance of the first edition we are better able to demon-
si rate the surmised forgery of the inscription seen by Herodotus, as well
as the menial character of his translator. The architectural hieroglyph
discovered in preparing- the previous edition, is wrought in the masonry,
and not graven. (Fig. 49.)

^Especially in mathematics and astronomy. Eratosthenes, Hipparchus,
Copernicus/Galileo, Newton, bound a progressive development.

10 A GREAT MYSTERY.

tie-ground 6000 years in extent. Its object is the giddy
whim of some fifty different historians, whose interpreta-
tions vary with the weathercock. It was grey with the
noons and nights of at least 600 years when the Penta-
teuch was written; it was as ancient to Moses as the Nor-
man Conquest of England is to D'Israeli to-day. Undis-
turbed by earthquake, it will continue the monarch of mon-
uments when the modern obelisk has wasted away, forget-
ting its own history, and trodden by the feet of a new
race.

Modern science is struggling with a new element in this
Pyramid. In dumb silence, it yet speaks of a wisdom so
profound that the humbled disciples of Newton and Her-
schelshrink from it in surprise and wonder.

Very recently the freshly turned sod of Assyrian mounds
gave us the most ancient landmarks of the human family,
still leaving the great kingdoms of Iran and Bactria, to
the northeast, involved in tradition; but in these later days
the Coptic races in JEgypta, (either as subject or dominant
people), throw a shadow athwart the history of the ancient
world which involves all chronology and science in a tan-
gled maze. Its dates, dynasties, fragments of history, tradi-
tions and hieroglyphics are all too snarled and discordant
to throw certain light on the monuments from which its an-
nals are derived.

This monument is peculiar. It strikes the architect
as a structure built to defy the wrath of storms the wear of
ages, and the hunger of fire. Nor is it strange that the
student, who has soberly worked his way through Zend
philosophy, Trojan relics, or the earliest twilight of Attic
civilization, should rise into a higher enthusiasm when

INTRODUCTION. 11

viewing this "Stone Age, " representing the moat pro-
found triumphs of human thought.

It was a new idea to the world, and its design is not yet
delivered from the womb of stone, though modern doctors
themselves appear in travail.

It is strange in all things.

It becomes in the earliest list the fh*fc and foremost
of the seven wonders.

Whatever it may have cost to build, to destroy it would
absorb the wealth of nations.

It is larger than any building or stt'tu'tuie ever plant-
ted on earth's bosom. It is a higher pinnacle, if such pro-
portions can be called a pinnacle, than the slender sum-
mit of the proudest temple ever built.

Its workmanship, in the interior passages, is the fin-
est ever seen; yet amid the coarsest and rudest forms. A
fine scroll and joint on some white temple front excites no
wonder, but a joint of microscopic fineness between two
mighty, granitic rocks, in a dark and narrow passage, amid
huge forms of primitive material, is past all reason — be-
yond comprehension.

The Great Pyramid is different from those imitations
built soon after, even in its mysterious aspects. For while
their builders followed the pattern, in shape and proxi-
jrate size — yet, not knowing all the secrets of the over-
shadowing pile, they fill no channel of advanced sym-
bolism.

But more mysterious than its exterior majesty, or interior
symbolisms, is the fact — fairly established — that as soon
as it was completed it was sealed up by a massive coating
of limestone so that no man penetrated its interior for
thousands of years — not until man's cupidity led him to

msm

12 A GREAT MYSTERY.

force an entrance by chisel, fire, and vinegar, in - earch for
hidden treasures.

To day this mighty child of antiquity is ragged and
battered. Its beautiful casing has built more modern
palaces, and its interior is robbed of much of its beauty and
iinish. The outside has been despoiled by the Arab — but
the inside by the civilized barbarians who whack at every
relic of the past with a tourist's hammer. But while they
may hack away its polished walls and batter down the
exquisite coffer in the King's Chamber, there is one source
of satisfaction — they cannot, in ages, sensibly reduce its
immense mass.

THE VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE.

In this critical day, people of broad views and general
intelligence are not convinced, even of an exalted truth, by
a single train of evidences. It is only by the gradual
modifications of the channels of thought that propositions
in social, moral or aesthetic life acquire a general ac-
ceptance.

The purpose of this little work is to present the ques-
tion in such a manner that the mind may grasp the facts
and judge them as we judge general history, without
warp or bias. Many deductions seem unphilosophical to
the writer, yet it is no more than fair to give them in
their strongest light, lest we fail to do justice to those
whose studies have given them a right to full hearing.

A great objection to the mathematical and chronologi-
cal testimony of the Pyramid, as evidence, is, that any
given structure, having proportions, halls, chambers, and
angles, may be so manipulated as to yield equally wonder-
ful results. In this way a member of the British Sci-
entific Association reviewed Prof. Piazzi Smyth's work on
the Pyramid, ridiculing the propositions and deductions
of the learned astronomer. Calling for the tri-cornered hat
of an auditor, he proceeded to measure it — and to the

*It was doubtless the spirit in which the Pyramid labors of Prof. Smyth
were received that led to his separation from the Royal Society, even if it
were not the direct cause. However, his withdrawal, referred to on the
next page, was not due solely to resentment at this indiscreet exhibition be-
fore a body of scientists.

ANALYSIS. 15

convincing of a more than human agency concerned in the
erection. As observed, these may be coincidences, but, if
so. they are the most remarkable that an elastic mind can
entertain.

These propositions may not embrace all the "curios-
ities" attached to our wonderful subject. For taken in
connection with the unreasonable snarl and tangle in its
history; the unexplainable sealing from human sight of its
interior; the quite well known views of Egypt's ancient as-
tronomers; the before-mentioned absence of the hieroglyph-
ics; the magnitude of its dimensions and the partial fail-
ure of the "Tomb theory " — and the Pyramid of Gizeh
stands out upon the frontier of the desert as the most
wonderful Mystery of the age, and the most sublime land-
mark in the history of man.

THE VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE.

sport of the society, deduced therefrom some exact math-
ematical data.

To the credit of the Professor be it said, he indignantly
withdrew from membership in the body. For such was
not the place, nor hour, to treat flippantly and with sneer
a great problem which has since drawn into its discussion
the best minds of the scientific world ; and which affects
the entire field of intellectual and religious development
in a startling degree.

It may be said of this member, that his sarcasm was
lost on the world when it was found that his figures on the
"hat" had been prepared before hand, and his deductions
"cut and dried." The reader will recognize, of course, that
any one may construct a building, or plan a hat, with
dimensions to fit any given set of past dates or arithnietr
ical proportions. But the question of pyrainidical evidence
goes deeper than this. It is required :

1st. That the structure presents data of which the
"artist" is quite ignorant, or which are so advanced beyond
his own age as to be entirely incomprehensible to his
fellow-beings — e. g. : The rotundity of the earth, distance
of the planets, and various other cosmical measures, mer-
idians, etc.

A just estimation of the past not only pronounces the
Egyptians ignorant of these things, — Ignorance crasse —
but every people on earth were thus ignorant; and farther,
such relative science as there was, taught a cosmogony
directly the reverse of Pyramid science.*

2d. The structure must not only give past data, but it
must either by design or "coincidence" represent future
events. These coincidental or prophetic symbols must

*The Hipparchian and Ptolemaic systems of astronomy represent the
leading- ideas of advanced thought for a thousand years B. C. Before
this the Egyptians were even unable to establish a cycle.

18 A GREAT MYSTERY.

refer only to those events which modify universal history.
In the Pyramid we have this illustrated in the founding of
the Hebrew nation, whose history and theocratic nature
have modified every subsequent political power on earth.
The Exodus, and the Birth of Christ, are also among the
coincidences.

3d. The structure must not only give recognition to
mathematical propositions, but it must attempt the solu-
tion of profound problems which have harassed the student
for ages.

Whether the above conditions are fairly credited to the
Pyramid will remain an open question, until time reveals
its purposes.

As a test, however, of the position taken by the member
of the British Association, we present the student with the
figure on page 154. (Figure 83.) It is the plan of a
structure. It is required that from its dimensions, or the
manipulation of dimensions by indicated factors, a list of
chronological or mathematical data is to be deduced, relat-
ing to any science or special line of history. Nor is it
required that future events be figured out ! With the
view of assisting the student, a certain dimension has been
made to represent, even to the one ten-thousandth of an
inch, an important era in history. This is the period in
Roman History from the founding of the city to the death
of Julius Caesar.

The only requirements w^uld be, (a), That the events,
etc., shall be of primary importance in the line of history
or science represented; and (b), that coincidences shall
coincide to .01 of a unit. Also, (c), that no factor shall
be used that is not related either to the history or to the
structure.

Few readers wUi realize the injustice done to the School

VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE. 10

who are translating the symbolism of the Pyramid, in this
proposition. For the most remarkable coincidences of the
Great Monument are not riddles to be solved by "midnight
oil," or "child-birth pain," but are startling in their dis-
tinctness. It is quite possible that they are coincidences
only ; it is quite possible they are not ! At all events
they are readily discovered.

For a further development of the nature of the evidence,
let us wander from the cold, abstract study of stone to
a warmer illustration, which, while less logical from its
coloring, appeals more directly to the common-sense:

A teacher in Ancient History, to divide off the ages
into convenient epochs, made use of certain Biblical dates.
Not that all of them were absolute, but that they were
relatively convenient.

Suppose that such a teacher were to travel in a strange
land, and receive hospitality at the hands of some recluse
or iconoclast, the threshold of whose gate has never before
been passed by man. He enters a broad avenue. He finds
before him a pathway lined with rare flowers, graceful fol-
iage and curious exotics. The Old Man leads the trav-
eler towards the distant mansion. Of a sudden he notices
unique stakes set in the ground, and on them, painted fig-
ures.* Little attention is paid to this at first. But soon a
smile appears on the teacher's face, as he recognizes an
old friend on one of these stakes — number 2349, (supposed
date of the Flood — close of the first epoch in his history
cla^s). No other idea is entertained, however, than that
these figures are some common place plan of a half-crazed
fossil of a gardener. But the stranger's eyes open wider,
when, about a hundred feet farther on, he meets another
old friend in the number 2247 ; (given by some as the

♦Figures are given as a stranger would have no occasion to apply a meas-
uring line to these divisions of the garden.

A GEE AT MYSTEEY.

date of the "Dispersion"). Again the beauty of the grounds
attracts his attention, when stranger things appear. First
a familiar number in small figures, 1729, which is followed
closely by another in bold characters, 1491. (Date of the
"Exodus," and formation of the Hebrew nation). "Surely,"
he soliloquized, "this old man's reputation belies him.
There is some significance in all this, especially if some
peculiar change in the garden appear about 1500 feet
further on, symbolizing the Christian era." Who can
judge of the surprise and wonder when at just such a dis-
tance the pathway abruptly opened upon a most magnifi-
cent fountain! An 1 a 1\jw hundred feet beyond, another
familiar date appears on a "time post" — (the date of the
Hegira of Mahomet), and the gate of the castle door is
reached some 1881 feet from the fountain. But the won-
der does not cease here. All through that castle — every
where — are numbers and measures which the wanderer
had made familiar to his class ! In utter amazement, he
turns to his rough, weather-beaten guide, and asks him
whence all this intricate knowledge of the past and proph-
ecy of the future? The old man turns to his questioner,
and with eyes burning with mysterious fire, replies, "Stran-
ger, let it still remain, as it has been, a mystery! When
the time comes thou shalt know." The traveler answers —
" It is no mystery — it is all a coincidence. "

We will strip this scene of its fancy, its flowers, its
dreamery, and we have the cold facts of that mighty struc-
ture whose study is the mystery of the age ! Let us enter
the poi tal, behold the testimony upon which to answer the
question — Was it built as a history in rock — with wisdom
symbolized in every feature? — or the chance creation of
some ancient king whose bones have disappeared from
their grand mausoleum?

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

The early history of the most ancient of kingdoms
would naturally be involved in doubt and uncertainty.
No 'satisfactory chronology has been established from the
traditions or records of Egypt. If this short analysis is
anything but clear, it will share the common lot of its
honest companions in obscurity.

Egypt occupies the northeastern corner of Africa. It
is the valley of the Nile, and nothing more. The same
slow fever which has dried up Petrea and hidden Edom
with a leprosy of sand, has also crossed the Red Sea and
narrowed, somewhat, the fertile borders of Egypt. On
the west it is partially protected from the encroaching
desert by the Libyan mountains. Its remarkable fertility
is annually reinforced by the phenomenal inundations of
the River Nile, which rose and fell in the days of Menes
as in the times of the Khedive'.

The investigation of the settlement of Egypt properly
belongs to our subject. It cannot, however, be fairly
treated in small compass. In full recognition of the testi-
mony of her one historian, our own opinion, if it be of
value, inclines to a short chronology.*

From the earliest period Egypt was divided artificially
into three sections of somewhat uncertain boundary. The
northern, including the fertile delta, was known as the
Bahara. (Map on page 151.) Within it at different times
were several prominent cities, and independent kingdoms.
A powerful priesthood usually furnished the kings. Mem-

♦Every traditional development points to an origin from some great
dispersion of connate races and dialects, and especially to an Indie paral-
lelism—in the Turanian direction, however. Ejrypt is not older than
India. Max Midler's estimate of Vedic chronology is certainly moderate :
Ohantfas period, (most ancient), 1200 B.C. ; Mantra period, 1000; Bramana
period, 800; Sutra period, 000-200. ["Ancient Sanskrit Literature."]

22 A GREAT MYSTERY.

phis, in ancient times, and Alexandria in more modern,
have been the most important. Heracleopolis was also
the seat of a kingdom. Xois, in the delta, a city of a
powerful priesthood, for several dynasties maintained an
independent government. The southern section is called
the "Said," the "Thebais," or "Thebaid," a district once
having Thebes for its populous capital. The Greek name
of Thebes was Diospolis, and her kings are frequently
called Diospolitan. Between Said and Bahara was the
region of Vostani. The earliest kingdom in Egypt was
that of "This," in the southern portion, which antedated
Thebes. Its kings were known as Thinites. The Ele-
phantine kings were powerful at an early age.

The principal sources of our information regarding the
history of this ancient territory are hieroglyphics, or stone
pictures on the monuments, which unfortunately are not
sufficiently preserved to give correct and harmonious rec-
ords. Herodotus visited Egypt about the 5th century B.
C. (484), and wrote a history of the country. The Egyp-
tian priests gave him some information, but he being un-
able to translate the hieroglyphics to any great extent, —
and his record being largely mythical, it is not credible
in all its statements. The Bible also gives many interest
ing notes, all of which have been corroborated by the-
Egyptian records. An exceedingly valuable work was
produced in the 3d century B. C, by Manetho, high-
priest of Heliopolis, giving the names of 30 dynasties of
kings, from the founder of Thebes to the times of Darius
II. But unfortunately the history of Manetho has been
lost, and we only have distorted portions in the works of
subsequent writers.*

Among these are Eratosthenes, (276 B.C.); Julius Afri-

*.Manetho is not authority in the chronology of Egypt, on disputed
points. He dates back 29,000 years— 13,900 for "The Cods." We krnnv,
however, that he is in error in quite modern dates as the reign of Afrt
canus, 26th dynasty,) so frequently as to destroy credibility in the more
ancient.

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT. 23

eanus, (300 B.C.); Diodorus, (GO B.C.); Strabo, (A.D.),
and Syncellus, who lived A. D. 800. An almost illegible
Tablet is preserved at Turin, on which was an astronom-
ical chronology. Its mutilation is a matter of regret.
On the temple at Abydos, or "This," there were lists of
kings which aided the historian.

The Bible records refer often to events in Egyptian
history, and with a correctness unparalleled among other
ancient writings, where love of the mythical poorly com-
pares with the plain chronicles of the Hebrews. But the
Bible record only throAvs a solitary gleam into Egypt as
early as 1900 B. C, (Abraham's visit). Again, while Dr.
Usher's date of the Flood, (short chronology,) is 2342
B. C, the Samaritan and Alexandrian (Septuagint), ver-
sions place it at least 1300 years earlier. The Rawlinsons,
radical defenders of Biblical history, incline to a liberal
construction of its chronology, within the latter limit.

THE HIEROGLYPHS.

The hieroglyphs were a system of singular and rude
picture writings, on tomb, monument and scroll. They
remained untranslated until the discovery, in 1799, of the
celebrated Rosetta Stone. This was a tablet on which
was engraved a trilingual key to the symbols. They were
translated into the Greek, and also the enchorial or dem-
otic (common) alphabets. Although engraven B. C. 200,
the indifference of the brilliant Schools at Alexandria
covered the grand old mother of alphabets with oblivion,
and even this solitary key was upturned by the foreign
soldier's pick, during Napoleon's invasion of Egypt.

These earliest types of written language resembled the
Chinese word representation, in syllabicism, though not in
morphology. Certain natural or artificial forms became
associated with relative or cognate ideas, and were adopted
as a sign to represent the indicative word or syllable.

- ■

A GREAT MYfiTER

The next tcp w s t!;c icpresentation of a s und instead
of a syllable, although the word and syllable forms were
never entirely supplanted.

Thus, Osiris, a demi-god, was hieroglyph ed with two
syllabic characters, Os and Iri, (Fig. 2). On the other hand

JLabaris, a king of This, had both syl-
labic and sound characters, L, A, O,
B, Ra, (Fig. 3.).
-^^>» Another modification followed th?

Fig. 2. development of sound characters.

It was the simplification of the character it-
self. Owing to the extreme veneration of the
Egyptians for their "sacred writing," this im-
provement is scarcely recognized in the Nile
Valley. Hieroglyphs formed after the Advent much re-
sembled those of the early ages of Karnac and Luxor.
But the neighboring nations, Hebrews, Greeks, Syro-Phce-
nicians, and the Edomites, probably through the necessi-
ties of commerce, profited by the picture "ideation," and
developed alphabets.* The fact is, that European litera-
ture is the offspring of the Egyptian monuments. Fig. 5
gives a scheme for the origin of the Hebrew characters,
and Fig. 4 one for the Greek, through Phoenicia. The
engravings closely follow Sharpe. The transformation
into Hebrew characters must have been very ancient or it
may have been through Edom's civilization. Of course
it will be understood that Egypt antedates Fdom at least
a thousand years.

Through Egypt came f cience, philosophy, and even liter-

*Accoi'ding to Sir Isaac Newton letters originated, not in Phoenicia, but
in Edom, among* the Troglodytes, or dwellers in the magnificent cave- or
cliff-palaces of Petrea. Doubtless the descendants of Cush and Ham in
Egypt, and of Esau in Edom both drew their earliest "ideations" from a
c; in m on source, many centuries before Assy ria had a literature. Edom
offered incense to art, and faded ; Egypt changed not, and her history
dwells eternally in her monuments.

EARLY HISTORY OJ1 EGYl'T.

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ature to Europe. While one age ga\e
form to sound, the glorious Alexandri-
- an epoch gave life and form to thought,
and invention to science. One beautiful
pillar is wanting in the grand vestibule
of Egypt's history — Art!
**' 4charSer8.Greek Buthad Egypt developed art, or had
the aesthetic supplanted the indestruc-
tible, then those heavy, sombre, fadeless records, in tomb
and temple, pyramid and obelisk, would have crumbled on
papyrus rolls, or been burned out by the torch of despot
and fanatic — buried in common with the history of Iran
and Edom. There is a mystery in the peculiar nature of
Coptic development.

THE TIMES OF MENES.

From a careful study of the traditions of Egypt and
other nations, during the 1000 years preceding the ear-

A GREAT MYSTERY.

liest reliable dates, it is barely
possible to locate a few prom-
inent events. But even then
the confirmation of the geologi-
cal evidence, soon referred to, is
necessary to make these proxi-
mate dates at all trustworthy. It
is during this uncertain epoch
that the Great Pyramid was
built.

The era of the Rise of Thebes
to the rank of a powerful city
is an important landmark. This
especially turns upon the fall of
the kingdom of the city of This,
(or Abydos), when the throne
of Upper Egypt was removed
to the new and populous city of
Thebes. Equally significant of
the rise of the new power was
the Theban conquest of Mem-
phis, by Menes. This event,
as well as the establishment of
the Sun-god Amun-Ra, (Fig. 6),
and the founding of the memor-
ial temples of Karnak and Lux-
or, peer indistinctly through the
misty history of this era.

Menes was possibly a myth-
ical person. He was undoubt-
edly the same as the Menu of
the Hindus, and the Minos of
the Greeks.* It is very remark-
able that the tradition of the
great Turanian, Arian, and the

d-1

9&s

/ \

$hs

s-sh

lilil

sax

Fig. 5. Origin of Hebrew letters.

*And also the Manes of the Lydians.

EARLY HISTORY OP fcGYPT. 27

Hamitic races, great branches of the common origin
of the human family, should thus converge to one common
head, a mighty conqueror — and a wise statesman.

Menes was supposed, by Herodotus,to have ruled over
Egypt 2000 B. C; but his history is mixed with Hellenic
traditions, and many such statements must be taken with
due allowance. It is reasonably certain that Abraham
migrated to Egypt about 1900 B. C, at which time Thebes
was past her early glory, having been at least once con-
quered by Memphis. It is generally admitted that Menes
founded Thebes.

An analysis of the dynasties preceding that during which
Abraham appeared at Memphis, has resulted in a few
chronologists placing the founding of Thebes at 1000
years before that event, or 2900 B.C. This conclusion is
fortified by a careful examination of the alluvial deposits
of the River Nile, by its never failing annual overflow.

Fig. 6. Amun-Ra, the Sun-God.

We think this resource for historical research has been
slighted by Egyptologists, although the French Academ-
icians did much to develop the subject.

It has been shown that the addition to the soil every
one hundred years amounts to nearly five inches.* Over

♦According to certain other explorations it was put at from 3 to 4 inches
but it was in a location where the body of overflow was less than at Kar*
oac and Luxor.

A grea* mystery.

the foundation platforms of the most ancient Theban
temples there is a deposit of over nineteen feet. By these
centennial strata it is estimated that the city was founded
or greatly enlarged from 2800 to 3000 B. C. The enlarge-
ment can be justly assigned to the close of the Thinite
dynasties^ and consolidation of Egypt under Menes. The
agreement of different alluvial examinations, with each
other and with certain other evidences, gives great proba-
bility to our deductions ; and it is hoped they will receive
farther examination.

Manetho, though not wholly at variance, does not fully
warrant these conclusions. Unfortunately we get his his-
tory percolated through half-a-dozen later writers. Thus,
he says Menes reigned at "This," over a kingdom stretch-
ing from Lycopolis unto Tentyra, building the city of
Thebes during his reign ; and seventeen Thinite kings
followed before the removal of the throne to Thebes. Then
we have from 500 to 700 years of unbroken reigns record-
ed by the monuments.

The Greek student will not fail to discover Grecian foot-
prints in this statement. It might make the record of less
weight to remind the reader that Attic civilization dawned
some twenty-five hundred years after the times of Menes.

MEMPHIS.

The above record of the reign of 17 Thinite kings, if
correct, added to the 600 years of Theban supremacy,
brings us to a period when the latter kingdom succumbed
to Memphis. And this conquest of Thebes was by a for-
eign invader, whose first achievement was to win, by force
or strategy, the throne of Memphis. His name was Che-
ops, (Fig. 7), and he doubtless built the Great Pyramid of
Ghizeh. Manetho has no dynasty which includes Cheops,
(4th dynasty), and ascribes the Great Pyramid to Suphis,

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

v^/

of the 6th. At the time of this supremacy of Memphis,
(4th) Manetho puts in king Timaus, thus: "We had for-
merly a king, Timaus. In his time it came to pass, I know
not how, that the Deity was displeased with us, and there
came up from the East, in a strange manner, men of an
ignoble race, who had the confidence to invade our country
and easily subdue it by their power, without a battle. And
when they had our rulers in their hands, they demolished
the temples of the Gods."

Note the italics!
The Egyptian priest
never admitted a di-
rect conquest. We
have two indications
in this expression :
That the conquest
Fig. 8. sen- was a very strange

Suphis, Noum -, ,, .

Chofo, Che- one, and that the

phren. Broth- , • -rp, ..

er of Cheops, native Egyptians
were not the "Yoingees," soon referred to, for the latter
were but recently driven from home. However, the Hindu
race may have been the invaders.

Here is a race that conquers by intelligence. The
Egyptian priest, Manetho, who through hatred, never men-
tions Cheop's name, places the invasion at the time noted
for the pyramid builders, and also for the conquest of the
city of Thebes. We will note that Cheop's name is o nit-
ted, and also the name of the king of the "ignoble race."
This singular conquest is corroborated by a closely par-
allel Hindoo tradition, to which reference will again be
made. Dr. Seiss, in the "Miracle in Stone," and others,
consider Timaus as the Chemmis of Diodorus, the Che-
ops of Herodotus? Chufu or Shofo of the monuments.

Fig. 7. Cheops, Suphis,
Chemmis, or chofo.
Sometimes Shafre.

30 A GREAT MYSTERY,

Then of course he was himself the Suphis of Manetho, — a
not very plausible proposition, as two or three dynasties
intervened, according to the chronicler of both. The tes-
timony does not show that Cheops or Suphis ever was con-
quered. On the other hand he was a mighty conqueror
himself; he and his successor, Sensuphis, or Chephren,
having spread their kingdom over all Egypt and Sinaitic
Arabia. Suphis reigned 63 years, and is himself repre-
sented as destroying the temples and the Gods. Cheops
is always spoken of as alien to Coptic interests. Yet Mr.
Bonwick says he was an Egyptian, and of an Egyptian
dynasty, apparently a very bold assertion. Manetho avoids
the mention of his name, and the Egyptian priests so hated
him that they mentioned his name in scorn, and ascribed
the building of the Pyramid to one of his shepherds, as
in derision.* Again, after Timaus, Manetho leaves an un-
satisfactory record from the 3d or 4th dynasty till the 6th.
We can see in Timaus the last of the 3d dynasty of priestly
kings, and in Cheops, an invader and the first of the Hyc-
sos. Herodotus states: "(128). The Egyptians so detest
the memory of these [the two first — Cheops and Cephren]
that they do not much like even to mention their names,
hence they commonly call the pyramids [the Great and
the 2d] after Phil tion [or Philitis] a shepherd, who at
that time fed his flocks about the place. "

Now follow this up with what Manetho says of the con-
querors of Timaus: —

"All this invading nation was styled Hycsos, that is 'Shep-
herd Kings;' for the first syllable, 'Hyc' in sacred dialect
denotes a king; and 'sos' signifies a shepherd, but this on-
ly according to the vulgar tongue. And of these is com-
pounded the term Hycsos; some say they were Arabians,"

*And yet the Egyptians were none of them Shepherds — evidence that
Cheops was not an Egyptian.

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT. 31

This certainly implies that both the Kings and their
people were the shepherds and alien. Important testi-
mony is added in the words of Herodotus which should
settle the matter, notwithstanding Kenrick* does not so
understand it. The Egyptians "detested" them. Whom?
Why, the shepherd Hycs or kings. The Egyptians were
not shepherds. They hated the avocation. They would
not wear woolen cloth; nor renounce their traditional
hatred of those who would. All these expressions of dis-
like attach not to "vulgar" people alone, but to kings and
princes. It applied to Cheops and Cephren, and as will
be seen continued for 500 years or more. Then came a
violent change, (pp. 34-35), a new "Pharaoh" came, and as
we get down to B.C. 1*700-1500 we hear of Joseph and
the Hebrews]-. But we are anticipating. Cheops we sup-
pose to have reigned from 2100 to 2200 B.~C. As before
stated he was followed by his brother, Cephren, of Her-
odotus and Diodorus; Suphis II or Sensuphis, ("Sen"
meaning brother), of Manetho; the Non-Shofo of Egyp-
tologists. Hieroglyph in Fig. 8. He was followed by
Mykera, (Mencheres).

The foreigners were driven out of the Nile valley, and
either during or immediately after their supremacy there
appeared at Thebes a line of priests or pontiff-kings, con-
temporaneous to this line of Memphites whom we suppose

7tOl^£V05 &l\lTlGOVO€ . [Herodotus' Egypt. §128.] "Manetho, the
priest of Sebennytus, who wrote a history of Egypt in the reign of Ptol-
omy Philadelphia, B.C. 268, relates an invasion of Egypt by a people
whom he calls Hyksos, 'shepherds-kings,' Jos. c. Apion 1. 14. \ who, coming
from the east reduced the natives to slavery, burnt their cities, and razed
their temples. . . Of this very remarkable series of events there is no
i race in Herodotus, unless we suppose that the shepherd Philition repre-
sents this dynasty of shepherd kings, and the sufferings of Egypt under
Cheops and Chephren, who closed the temples and compelled the people
to labor at the erection of the Pyramids, were really inflicted by the for-
eign invaders," — by which, in the mind of Kenrick, from whose note on
the text this is taken, is understood Philitis, a transcendental con-
querorl Our opinion will appear under "The History of the Pyramid."
tNeither Abraham nor Israel's children would have gone into Egypt
had other than a kindred race of shepherds ruled in the Valley,

A GKEAT MYSTERY.

to have been the shepherd kings: Osirtesen I, (Fig. 9),
ascended the Theban throne, and it is said, erected those
older and grander buildings which now mark the ruins of
his capital. This seems unreasonable, however, when we
reflect that Thebes had been a mighty city nearly ten cen-
turies before, and at least 500 years before the silence of
the wilderness was broken by the builders of Babylon !

Fig. 9. Osirt- sen I. Title over first Fig. 10. Mesphra-Thothmosis. Char-
oval is "Sot-Nont," or King over Upper acters read, in second oval, Mes-f anvil)
and Lower Egypt. Title over the sec- [pb]Ra-Thoth (character under fowl)-M
ond is ''Sera," Son of the Sun. The first S-S. Comparison with Figs. 1 and 5 will
oval reads, "Ho-ke-ra," Ra being read assist translation,
last. Second oval reads O-S-R-T-S-N.

Wilkinson puts the reign of Osirtesen at about the time
of Joseph's arrival at Memphis, or 1706, B. C, which we
are compelled to regard as an error. Sharpe places Osir-
tesen about 1750 also, but Joseph about 200 years later,
under Mesphra-Thothmosis, (Fig. 10), who expelled the
shepherd kings.

Thebes, before the time of Osirtesen, had extended her
conquests from beyond Libya to the Indus, had gone into
decline, been conquered by Memphis, and was now rising
into new glory, possibly under the shadow and yoke of
Memphis. It is quite probable that Osirtesen did extend

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

Karnak, rebuild Luxor, and restore the gods and shrines
overthrown by the earlier conqueror of Timaus and of

Thebes.

The immediate predecessor of Osirtesen I seems to have
been Amunmai Thori, (Fig. ll),who is supposed to have
resisted or conquered Memphis. The successors of Osir-
tesen, of whom little is known, appear as Noubkouri, or
Amunmai Thori II (Fig 12), Meshophra, or Osirtesen II

hvh\

AA/AA

Fig. 12. Amunmai Thori 11, or
Noubk(ch)ori.

Fig. U. Amunmai 'ihori. Characters in
second oval A-M-N-M-T-R. Also called A.
Ch(k)ori, '"Conqueror beloved by Aniun."

(Fig 13), Meskora,or Osirtesen III (14), Queen Scemiophra
(Fig 15). These names do not appear at all in the Mem-
aon list at Thebes, but do appear on the Abydos tablet.
As Abydos had been a powerful kingdom centuries before,
it does not add much to the clearness of the record. It
was during these reigns that Abraham appeared in lower
Egypt, at Memphis, (1900 B. C).

By some writers, the names just given as rulers of all
Egypt are represented as merely High Priests. Either
contemporaneously, or following these kings of equivocal
power, Memphis was said to be again invaded by a for-
eign race, who held all Egypt under tribute. According
to Manetho, they were Phoenicians, also called Hyksos
or shepherd kings. There were six of them, Salatis, Beon,

34 A GREAT MYSTERY.

Apachnas, Apophis, Janias, and Asseth, and they were
driven out by Chebros-Amosis,* (Fig. 16), the successor
of Queen Scemiophra! Then we are led to believe the
reigns of Cheops, Kephren,f and Mykera, were followed
consecutively by the Salatian dynasty, and that the race
of invaders was driven out, or allowed to depart, afte r
being defeated in battle, or reduced to slavery, some 500
years after Cheops. This comes near the Exodus.

There are many Indie traditions of the occupation of
Egypt by migratory tribes. J But while they rest on un-
certain foundations at best, they are more intimately con-
nected with the earliest history of a race whose footprints
are seen from Petrea to Finland, from Iberia to Ireland,
and from Ceylon to Peru and Mexico. In fact, a race of
Migrators.

Bonwick indulges in Indie traditions which open with
the conquest and close with expulsion — in time, concur-

*Here is the difficulty in the history of the Pyramid epoch. The state-
ment above is derived from the opinions of Egyptologists like Sharpe, be-
ing substantially derived from Manetho. Now, if the two epochs of
foreign kings, viz.: The race which conquered Timaus and this Salatian
dynasty — could be harmonized in one, it would assist in clearing up the
record. We believe it possible and reasonable. 1. From the 2d to the
7th dynasty is involved in doubt, on account of the hatred the Egyptians
bore their conquerors, destroying their records. (See p. 43.) 2. There is
no well-defined Memphian succession to the Cheopian dynasty given,
the change after Mykera seeming to refer to Thebes, involving the doubt
expressed on previous page regarding the "Priest-Kings." 3. The second
invasion, therefore, may have referred to the reconquest of Thebes and
"all Egypt" by the Salatis regnant at Memphis. 4. There is but one emi-
gration of invaders distinctly referred to — when 240,000 went out peacea-
bly, and ancient history presents us •with a traditional race to whom such
a migration seems natural— the Cuthites, referred to hereafter. 5. Phil-
istine history and tradition give us such names as Achish, ("Acthes,"— see
footnote, p. 43— given by Manetho as of the second dynasty. The Sem-
itic characters for S and Sh were identical before the use of vowel points,
and Acthes could easily refer to Acthesh.), Saph, VSaophis, Suphis), Jan-
nes, Asses, Salatis, etc., and at the same time either Cheops or his shep-
herd was called Philitis or Philition. It is probable that a race of Semitic
invaders held possession of portions of Egypt from the time of Timaus
to the reign of Chebros-Amosis. See pp. 41-42, "Syncellus, etc."

+In these names C and K are interchangeable. Cheops— "Keops."

£Bonwick ("Pyramid Facts and Fancies. ") says: "The shepherd story
brings to mind the Hindoo narrative of some early race of India, the
Pali, who were a shepherd people, ancestors of the present aboriginal
Bheels, succeeding once in conquering Egypt. Their stronghold, Abaris,
is in Sanskrit, 'a shepherd.' " Mr. 1$. should have given his estimate of
the value of this tradition, and its relation to the Pyramid 1

foffi

r7\

I AV»V^,

Fig. 13. Ovals of Oslrtesen II, or Mes-
nophra.

Fig. 14. Ovals of Osirtesen in, or
Meskora.

Fig. 16. Chebros-
Amosis, who expelled
the Hyksos. As he was
a direct successor
of Osirtesen it con-
firms our opinion that

the Cheopian and Salatian invasions, if not

identical, were closely related.

Fig.15. Queen Scem-
iophra, the last ruler
or Thebes who sub-
mitted to the Hyksos
invaders. (Manetho.)

I II

Fig. 17. Chebros-Amosis IL

Fig.18. Queen Nitocria

Fig. 19. Thothmosls IL

A GREAT MYSTERY.

ring unquestionably to the Salatian dynasty. Sharpe puts
it at about 1500 B. C, thus confounding them with the
Hebrews, who — at this time — existed only in prophetic
promises.

Again: "We read in the Hindu Paranas of a war be-
tween the gods and earthborn 'Yoingees.' The latter were
vanquished and retreated to Egypt." — Ibid. Mr. Wilson,
an eminent writer on the astronomy of the ancients is in-
clined to ascribe great intellectual power to the "Yoin-

Fig.'iO. Amunophth I.

Fig. 21. Thothmosis 111.

gees" and believes them the pyramid builders of that age.

NATIVE KINGS.

The centre of government, after the expulsion of the
last of shepherd kings, was at Thebes. Chebros-Amosis
was followed by a son of same name, and next was Amun-
othph I, (Fig 20) who was worshipped quite as much as
any of his predecessors.

Mespra-Thothmosis II (Fig. 19), enlarged the temples of
Thebes and added to the glory of the kingdom. The mon-
uments of this age are covered with inscriptions. It was

EA&LY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

3»

a "golden age" of hieroglyphs. It was the era of the mi-
gration of Jaeob to lower Egypt, and the ministry of Jo-
seph at Memphis. Amun-Nitocris, (Fig. 18), wife of Mes-
pra-Thothmosis II, was an ambitious woman whose influ-
ence was felt throughout the kingdom. An eminent wri-
ter tells us she united Thebes to her kingdom by diplo-
macy. As we supposed we were dealing with a Theban
dynasty in Mespra-Thothmosis, this part of her prowess
we do not understand.

A few years subsequent to the reign of Amun-Nitocris,
under Amunophth II, son of Thothmosis III, the Exodus of
the Israelites occurred. Having now reached a better foot-

.LI

f *

Fig. 33. Amunmai Thori III.
Fig. 22. Amunophth II.

ing in chronology, we close the epoch. This scarcely un-
derstandable analysis of this doubtful period is given for
the reason that the mystery of its history is a necessary
part of the study of the Pyramid.

Many of our names have been in accord with Sharpe,
with several variations however, and different deductions-
Down to the reign of Queen Nitocris there were 12 kings
of Thebes, agreeing essentially with Eratosthenes, the

88 A CHEAT MYSTERY.

Tablet of Abydos, and others. In confirmation of onr
belief in Chofo's or Cheops bein a part of the first Hyc-
sos invaders, Eratosthenes places him after Noubkori, or
Amunmai II, at which time Thebes was under Memphite
rule.

The following schedule of dynasties will conclude a
chapter on the most conflicting history in human annals :

No. Of KINGS IN "SAID," KINGS IN "BAHAKA,"

DYN'tY. MOSTLY THEBAN. MOSTLY MEMPHITE.

17 Thinite kings of Man- Nothing known,
etho. Exceedingly doubtful.

1. Menes, 2800 or 2900 B.C. Priest-kings conquer-
ed by Menes.

2-3. 500 or 600 years of The- Usually under Theban
ban kings. dominion.

4. Conquered by Cheops the Cheops conquers Tim-
invader, aus, 2200 B.C., and

begins the Hyksos
Osirtesen and successors reigns.

Cephren or Sensuphis.

Qu. Nitocris mentioned. IVTonVovo

Without reason. XYXtsiiKtJi e.

12 to The Salatian Hyksos

kings.

Chebros-Amosis. Hyksos expelled.

About 1900 B.C.

ETHNOLOGY.

We have thus given as substantial a record of the earli-
est 1500 years of Egyptian history, as our pages and
resources will admit.

This embraces the period from Menes to the departure
of the Israelites, and, without a question, includes the Pyr-

i:\KLY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

amid era. Now let us take a view of the ethnological
characters of the race or races at that time in the Nile
valley.

There are many indications which point to Egypt as a
field on which a great intellectual struggle transpired be-
tween two grand divisions of the human family, — the
Mongol or Turanian, and the Semite or Aryo-Semitic-
After a certain period elapses from the founding of Thebes

Fig. 24. Mongolian Type. Fig. 25. Semitic Type.

we find the character of the people a well-developed Se-
mitic type. But in the earliest ages, especially at Mem-
phis, and always among her lower native castes, there is

40 A GHEAT MYSTERY.

an equally well developed Mongolian, or at least Hamitic,
expression. There are many indications that the earliest
settlers of both Thebes and the Delta were Asiatics, while
the glorious works of Morphology exhibited at Thebes a
few centuries later, in which contour begins to sup-
plant immensity, come in contact with the still unaesthetic
culture of the lower Nile. Dr. Richardson says: — "Neither
in their feature nor in their complexion have the Copts the
smallest resemblance to the figures of the ancient Egyp-
tian races as represented in the tombs at Thebes, or
in any other part of Egypt? — an unsupported assertion,
that is quite too strong. However, in the earlier epoch,
even in Thebes, the graven faces were those of the modern
"fellah." (Fig 24). In the oldest paintings, at Thebes or
Memphis, the female face was tinged with the Tartar yel-
low. The fact that they would not eat of flesh on reli-
gious grounds; that they abhorred the sea; that they wore
the single lock of hair; also the shape of the upper maxil-
ary; the worship of the bull, and many traditions, point
strongly to a Hindoo origin.

But the change of facial and cranial type which soon
occurred, points distinctly to an irruption into the Nile val-
ley of a race of people differing from the native settlers.
It constitutes apparently a new element in Siriad history.
That the original inhabitants were not lacking in culture,
nor intellect, is witnessed by the power Memphis devel-
oped before the first invasion. That the struggle between
the two races was a silent contest extending through ages
of internal intercourse, is undoubted. Still, Memphis,
which first received the invading intellect, did not take so
kindly to the change as Thebes, so that those sculptures
representing the Semitic type, (see Fig 25), are generally
found in the ruins of Upper Egypt. Egyptologists have

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT. 41

not recognized this change of type sufficiently, as an his-
torical element. Whether it was produced by the migra-
tion of a large tribe of nomads, or whether it was the
earliest conquest by the shepherd kings, a race intellec-
tually developed, with a monotheistic religion, (from
Canaan,) is unsettled. The fact remains as witnessed by
Rawlinson, Sharpe, and others, that the intellectual type
was engrafted upon the Indo-Hamitic, and not at an
earlier date than 2500 B. C, (our plan of chronology).
The grandeur of this new epoch, in its peculiar line of de-
velopment, can never be expressed in human language.
Its nearest approach is in the mighty monuments whose
lofty summits and outline majesty still defy the hand of
Time.

We may hope for accuracy in one statement : — That
Lower Egypt, (Memphite,) was peopled by Mizraimites —
an Hamitic branch, of Mongolian type, as represented in
the facial and cranial type of Fig 24.

Syncellus tells us that Egypt was governed by a three-
fold race of kings. The first were the Mestraei (Mezrites,
Mitzraiinites), as noted. 2d, The Auritae, a "foreign dy-
nasty of shepherd kings," who, according to Josephus,
were dominant in Egypt for five centuries — an epoch
which closes at 1879 B.C. Manetho recognizes these Au-
ritae, though he gives to them a different number and dur-
ation. The third race of kings were native Egyptians.

Analyze the early history of Egypt and see when these
Auritae must have appeared. Very few will differ from
us in stating that the first conquest of Thebes was Mem-
phite, under Cheops. Who was this Cheops of whom we
have spoken?

Cheops is described as a foreigner, a man who abused
the Egyptians, insulted their gous, destroyed their temples

42 A GREAT MYSTERY.

and crushed the priesthood — later in life "repented and

WROTE A RELIGIOUS WORK Oil the gods!"

Now who were the Auritae? "They are said to have
come from the East; to have set fire to the towns, and
overturned the temples" — to have been in a state of con-
stant hostility with the natives, "and the close of their dy-
nasty, 500 years in extent, was in 1*700."

In view of the improbability of two conquests of Egypt
by shepherd kings during this period, it may be stated,
with deference, that Cheops was the first of the Au-
ritae, and that during the 500 years of their reign,
they firmly planted their race type upon the soil of the
Nile valley. The erasure of the shepherd cartouches from
the monuments of this era — the consequent ignor-
ance of them by the Egyptians ; their want of knowledge
regarding that one Great Pyramid — all add to the value
of this opinion.

It may also be stated that at this early day an important
modification of the Egyptian hieroglyphics may be traced.
The early Aryan and Semitic types of picture writing
were distinguished by a predominance of the vowel ele-
ments; the Coptic by nearly an absence of vowels and
preponderance of the consonants. But at some time dur-
ing this thousand years vowels appear in such quantity
as to indicate a new element in stone literature. Also the
correlation between the age-characters and personal attri-
butes of the Cheops of Herodotus and the Suphis
of Manetho — the fourth Memphian and the sixth Egyptian
dynasties — points unmistakably in the direction that all
these finger marks of that period do— viz.: that at or just
before the Memphian conquest of Thebes all Egypt was
invaded by a more intellectual race of people; that they
lei t theiv marks on the monumental history and the facial

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT. 43

and cranial angles; and on the national character of the
hitherto Hindoo — and Hamitic, occupants of the valley.
Their life channel may be traced in its one grand tradi-
tion— its origin from Menes. Its Menes came from Menu
of India, and it went, 1000 years later, into Attic theotechny
as Minos. There is also one channel in which a search
among the traditions of the invading race is confined; and
that is in the stream of theosophy older than Menu, Sabe-
ism, or the perpetual fires of Iran — the monotheism of the
race kindred to the Abrahamic, of whom Melchi-Zedek
is the earliest pontiff-king! If the philosophy of this sing-
ular history teaches us of this invasion of the shepherd
kings at this time, it teaches that they were subsequently
expelled, though not conquered. Still another dim circum-
stance adds to the mystery of this invasion. During
this period some "sacred books" were "written." Not stone
books but papyrus books — and yet the "sacred writing"
was the stone hieroglyphic system! The books are lost, of
course. A whole race of kings let them alone, to crumble,
and so did the priesthood. How could this have been if
they were about the worship of the Sun-God, or Apis the
god of life? At last a king searched his kingdom for
them — and though he was unsuccessful in finding them,
fragments of this same work have probably been secured,*
— and they read much like monotheistic doctrine. A few
sentiments are given from M. Chabas' translation :

"If it may be humbling to thee to serve a wise man,

*These fragments were found in the tombs of the "Acthoes" during
"2d Thinite, 5th Elephantine, 6th Memphian, ninth Heracleopolite, 11th Di-
ospolite," (Theban), dynasties. It seems the Acthoe king-, in the eyes of
Egyptian priests was "wicked," that he was eaten up by alligators— after
going mad; and all his Acthoite successors, with one exception, were
called Nantef— so wicked were they. Their tombs are found near ancient
Heracleopolis. Could the "writings" of such a race of kinffs be in accord

44 A GREAT MYSTERY.

thy conduct will be be good with God,* for he knows
that thou art among the little ones. Do not make thy
heart proud against him."

"Obedience is loved by God. [Obedience to what?]
Disobedience is hated by him. To hear the "WoRD,f to
love, to obey, that is to fulfill good precept."

"What the wise know to be death , that is his life every
day." •

The importance of a close review of this age, will ap-
pear under the head of History of the Pyramid.

EGYPTIAN SCIENCE.

Before closing the chapter, we feel compelled to refer
to one or two points of general interest, as describing
this epoch.

In astronomy, the Egyptians were exceedingly back-
ward, and in meteorology, and season divisions, their sys-
tem was such as to convince the most skeptical, that no
true system of cosmology, could originate among them.

The year was divided into three seasons: The season
of Vegetation, (Fig 26) embraces four months ; the season
of Harvest, four months,(27), and season of Inundation
four months. (28). This was in the pyramid epoch. Every
month was divided into thirty days, (Fig. 26.), giving 360
days to the year. This made the year five days short and
the consequence can be readily surmised. "New years"
steadily receded, until the period of vegetation may have
been in the middle of the inundation season, or during the
dry and sandy harvest! "At some unknown time" says

with Egyptian polytheism? It may be proper to state that the Heracle-

opolite king who was not called "Nantef" was exceedingly popular and

powerful in Egypt, and seemed to live in harmony with Coptic theology.

*This cannot refer to the innumerable deities of the Egyptians, nor to
Ra, nor the translated Menes. The very signification of the term, and
the doctrine implied, are foreign to Siriad theosophy.

tDoes not sound hieratic or polytheistic.

EARLY HISTORY OF EGYPT.

one writer, "five days were added," to correct the cycle;
this probably did not occur until some Greek philosopher,
or Phoenician conqueror, subsequent to B.C. 1200, brought
them to a realizing sense of the year's true length
and corrected a most remarkable peripatesis.

Choeac. Athyr. FaophL Thoth.

uJUm^

!>WW\

HJ|M#

/WW

TUT£liLJT£

wwv\

>/WW\

Fig, 26. Season of Vegetation.

Not until Eratosthenes, (270 B.C.), did the Egyptians
know anything, so to speak, regarding the true science of
astronomy. It was then demonstated by this mathema-
tician, an ornament of the Greek School of Alexandria,

Pharmuthi, Pharmenoth, Mechir, Tybi,

llll*

AAAAa

AWA

AW\A

AWA.

Fig. 27. Season of Harvest.

and keeper of Ptolemy Euergetes' library, that the earth
was a ball. He also discovered a method of fixing lati-

Mesore. Epiphi. Payni. Pachon.

AWA

/WW\

AAAAA
/Wvy>

/VVWN

^^Vvw\

S&&

Fig. 28. Season of Inundation.

tudes, by observing the shadows, at noon, at different
places on equinoctial days. (Fig. 29). He also calculated
the circumference of the earth by this method. (Fig. 30).
He ascertained the obliquity of the ecliptic, by measuring
the sun's shadow at the same place on the longest and

A GREAT MYSTERY.

shortest days of the year. He placed the circumference
of the earg- at 250,000 Stadia.

.OUATCR

Still neither Eratosthenes the Greek, nor Manetho the
Egyptian, undertook to translate the hieroglyphs for fu-
ture generations.

There is a widespread belief among many people, even
students, that the ancient Egyptians Mere a highly devel-
oped race, intellectually. Yet ft. is an error as far as it

EARLY HISTORY OP EGYPT.

refers to the pre-Ptolemaic period. In astronomy, mathe-
matics, chemistry, art, economics, (witness tr& processes
of irrigation), literature, painting, sculpture, (aesthetic),
perspective, etc., they were singularly and persistently
backward. In the midst of the grand mausoleums, and
monuments of ancient Egypt, down to live or six hundred
years before Christ, no arch relieves the severe angular

^ ^^

Fig. 31. Month. Half-month. Week. (U-K).

structures. In astronomy, the sun moved around from
east to west in its risings. Its figures came from Arabia.
Its letters changed not from sound-pictures. Its tomb
paintings were daubs. Yet in massiveness, in grandeur,
in lofty and enduring structure, it overreached its own
history. During the comparatively modern Alexandrian
epoch, however, it became the seat of Grecian culture.
The obelisk ceased, and literature developed — not Egyp-
tian, but Grecian.

Fig. 32. Names of Egypt in Hieroglyph c

A GREAT MYSTERY.

FRAGMENTS.

The thirty dynasties of Egyptian sovereigns are by some placed contin-
uously, one following the other. The more advanced idea, however, is
that many of them are contemporaneous. It would be contrary to the
philosophy of general history that the Thinite, Theban, Memphite, Hera-
cleopolite, Elephantine, and other independent kingdoms should co-exist
more or less, in different ages, while their monarchs were distinct and
successive. The following table represents the opinions of several author-
ities:

LeSuer,

Lepsius,

Lane,

Osborn's

By our

Marietta

Bunsen,

Gardner

astron'cl

Analysis

X o

Bey,

Fergus-

Wilkin'n

Calcula-

Kenan.

son.

Rawl'sn.

tions.

B.C.

5735

3892

2700

2429

2800

5472

3639

2480

2420

5170

3338

2670

2329

49«ti

3124

2440

2228

2200

4472

2840

2440

2228

2744

22O0

2107

1900

2592

1800

2522

1800

2674

2200

2107

2565

1959

2423

2200

2107

3435

2380

2080

2136

1920

2167

2080

2101

2080

1900

1842

1800

1900

1700

We do not think the above table wholly just to Wilkinson. In the "To-
pography of Thebes" he puts Menes at 2201, and Suphis at 2123, about the
same date as we have adopted for the latter.

One of the most remarkable misconceptions of the duty of the histor-
ian occurs in the work of Wilkinson referred to. On page 506 he says : "I
am aware that the era of Menes might be carried to a much more remote
period than the date I have assigned it; but as we have as yet no authority
further than the uncertain statements of Manetho's copyists, to fix the
time and number of the reigns intervening between his accession and that
of Apappus, [Apoph. Maximus. Time of Abraham's visit. 1900. |. I have
not placed him earlier for fear of interfering with the date of the del-
uge of Noah, which is 2348 B. C" This is heroic confidence in Dr. Usher,
though hard on the Septuaginta, by whom the Flood was placed a great
many centuries before 2348 B. C. The Samaritans, perhaps, who do like-
wise, also deserve some consideration.

Before any definite era in Egyptian history, the territory lying between
the Red Sea and Assyria, including Shinar, Sodom, Gomorrah, Edom, (Pe-
trea), Ellasur, Goim; Salem, capital of what was afterwards Judea, with
Melchi-Zedek for priest and king; Gomar, ruled by Abi-melech; the cities
of Philisto-Arabia, and tribes of nomads, were all more or less familiar
with the doctrine of monotheism— of one God, "one, ineffable, invisible,
all-powerful," as taught in La-outse's "Four Kings."

A comprehensive view of the Indo-Syrio-Coptic races, their locations,
traditions and migrations, leads us to believe that an invasion of Egypt

EARLY HISTORY OP EGYPT. 49

before the Hellenic era would result in the erection of monotheistic monu-
ments.

Zincke, Vicar to the Queen, in 1871, gave the Nile markings of annual
overflow on the granite hills at Semneh more chronological credit than
they deserve. He states that "in every instance [of these inscriptions] the
date is given.'* As he gives this particular record great importance in
making the early Egyptian epochs extremely ancient, he should distin-
guish between the numbered cartouche of a king, and a chronological
date. There were no cycles, or other methods of astronomical chronol-
ogy, established in the times of Osirtesen and Amenemha.

Baldwin, in "Pre- Historic Nations," rests much of his excessive antiq-
uity of Egypt on evidence like the following : "You Greeks are novices
in antiquity. The history of 8000 years is deposited in our sacred books,
but I can ascend to a much higher antiquity, and tell you what our fathers
have done for 9000 years." This was said to Solon by an Egyptian priest
several centuries B.C. Not a fragment of Solon's writings, if there ever
were any, r. 'mains. Plato and others, who had gathered up some of his
teachings, preserve his memory. But the value of the evidence is not
only lessened by its age, oral character, garbling, and the known tendencies
of the Egyptian priests: It is well known that the supreme effort of the
priesthood of that age was to establish the certainty and renown of the
Gods, especially the deified mortals who reigned on earth. This only could
be accomplished through the mysticism of antiquity. It is ludicrous, fre-
quently, to see them leap from some well-known personage, like Darius
Hystaspes, 10,000 years backward to Zoroaster, who was nearly contempo-
raneous with the former. Such testimony will not stand unsupported.

"Shemmo" is the Egyptian name of the foreigners known as the Shep"
herd race, who were driven out by Chebros-Amosis. They are thought by
all historians to have been Canaanites. It will be remembered in this con-
nection that "Chemmis" is the name given to Cheops by some ancient
writers; also applied to Suphis. Amid the uncertainty, it is probable that
the Cheopian race were the Shemmo of Egj^pt.

According to Manetho, Queen Nitocris built the
smallest of the three pyramids of Ghizeh. The name
of King Mecora or Mencophra (Fig. 33) was found on
the wooden sarcophagus in the underground chamber.
Probably Mecora was the Theban name for the Mem-
. phite king Thothmosis III, (Fig. 21), to whom the third
|HBBHn I P.vramid is credited.

"Spherical Trigonometry appears to have been
A Li I waouv unknown in Ancient Egypt."— Kenrick.

■ Ii I I The same writer says: "The fact that the pyramids
iL^J fc^J I are placed with their sides exactly facing the cardinal
points, shows that in the early age when these struc-
tures were erected, they had the means of tracing an
accurate meridian line. To accomplish this requires
rather time and care than great astronomical knowl-
edge. It is effected by the observation of the shadow
of a gnomon, at the time of the solstices."
Mencophra. Mr. Kenrick is doubtless correct in the first state-

ment. It is natural, therefore, to expect from him an
hypothesis as to how the trigonometrical relations of the Great Pyramid
were established! It was built, and built in sublime proportions, and far
more correctly than modern structures of monumental character. The
second statement is peculiar for so eminent an authority. The practical
knowledge either of a gnomon or the solstices was wanting in a race that
figured 11,340 years from Menes to Sethos, (Heroditus), during which time
the sun moved around the earth, in its rising, sideways, four timesl Hip-
parchus lived 15 centuries after the pyramid epoch.

A GEE AT MYSTERY.

S-l

«4H

-t-3

-
©

HISTOliY OF THE PYRAMID.

Two great cities arose in the Nile Valley during the
earlier history — Thebes and Memphis. The latter was
situated near the fork of the Delta. Parallel with the left
hank of the west fork, stretching from Alexandria in the
northwest to Dongal, and Nubia in the south, and sink-
ing away westward under the desert sands — is a range of
low-browed mountains. This is the Libyan chain.
Where it draws near the Nile, a few miles farther above
the forks, close to where once the powerful city of Mem-
phis sent forth her armies, on the west bank, is a broad,
broken plateau, known as the hill of Ghizeh. It is a bar-
ren, and unsightly waste of rock and sand, painfully
reflecting the glare of midday suns, and the glamour of
unclouded moons. No spot on earth could have been
selected more intensely disagreeable for human habitation
or human glory — excepting the interior desert, on the
confines of which we find it.

Below it is a valley whose soil yielded her increase
without rain, and whose population crowded its borders
from within as the drifting sands from without.

Here was a landmark erected in those dark hours before
the dawn of civilization. Although the most extensive
and enduring the world has ever known, it is impossible
to ascribe to the builders any other development than
that which comes with centralized power and accumula-
tion of bodily strength. Here science has spanned 4000
years, challenging tlie intellect and genius of the present.
The hill is especially historic in later years, — here Napo-

52 A GREAT MYSTERY.

leon fought a most remarkable battle — demonstrating the
wonder in military science of a hollow square — a battle
which, says Alexander Dumas, decided the conflict
between the East and the West. Here are the Pyramids.

There are some sixty pyramidal structures remaining in
Egypt — and the half-obliterated ruins of many more. But
the three whicn crown the hill of Ghizeh are objects of
more especial study; and of these three the greatest, the
Pyramid of Ghizeh, is the first and foremost wonder of
the world.

On the west bank of the Nile, between the hill and the
river, is the villag • of Ghizeh. On the east bank are the
battered relics of "Old Cairo," now sometimes known as
Fostat or Babylon, and a few miles farther to the north
and east is Cairo, the capital of modern Egypt. From
Cairo to the Pyramids is usually a distance of ten miles,
but during the inundation it is fully twenty, by the neces-
sarily circuitous route. One expression is in the mouth of
every traveller who visits the Pyramid from Cairo: — "We
thought them near by, and much overrated in magnitude.
But wearily passing mile after mile, we found that their
incomparable size deceived us— the distance was great
and their proportions beyond description!"

The Pyramid of Ghizeh stands upon a shelf of rock
150 feet above the desert, and from 130 to 140 above the
Nile. It is not alone either in its majesty or historic sig-
nificance. Besides the two other large pyramids, there
is another monument, of rude art but grand propor-
tions, which is at least twenty-four centuries old. It is
the Sphynx. There are also innumerable tombs, above
and below the surface, in every degree of preservation, or
rather destruction.

Without entering into discussion, we can justly observe

HISTORY OP THE PYRAMID.

that there is no evidence that leads us to believe any Sir-
iad monument now standing, is older than the Great Pyr-
amid. The expression of such an opinion is often met,
but the evidences are such that no reliance can be placed
upon them. If the remains of such a pyramid present
a broader base, than that at Ghizeh, and is shorn of its
height, it is at once observed that time has worn it down.
Time does* not do such exact execution as to clear off the

tin i j u 1 1 1 1 1 iQ Hi\
D in LL! J?

K1Q0-F.EET.

Fig. 35. Plan of the location of (he monuments on the Hill of Ghizeh.
Remains of the great causeway in upper right hand corner.

vast superstructure, leaving a few level tiers much less
worn! Nor have the modern monarchs used the material

54 A GREAT MYSTERY.

for building, when more recent cities are nearer other
monuments and quarries. Probably such ruins are the
remains of uncompleted pyramids. Neither is it good
judgment to give ruins of brick structures, however vast,
a date antecedent to the blast-worn and earthquake-rent,
rock-built memorials which have outlasted them! Turn-
ing to the history of monumental Egypt, but this one
Pyramid is heard from in the Ancient day — one which
suddenly springs into the world's architecture, as a parent
of the multitude of imitations which follow it. Never
has there been a day in recorded time when The Pyramid
was not looking out upon the world in solemn majesty.

Arabian writers say it was built before the deluge. A
very wonderful thought that! Its shape, its substance, pos-
sibly its mission, may have preserved it from the wrath of
the elements, to give to the survivors that cosmogony
which an antecedent population possessed. Unfortunately
for this hypothesis there are abundant evidences of a
later period. The causeway, the debris, (chips), the hiero-
glyphs in the hidden masonry, and the older histories, all
give substantial clues to its epoch.

Perizonius, and quite a number of mediaeval writers,
ascribe it to the Israelites. Dr. Clarke also shoulders it
upon the Israelites, as the tomb of Joseph; who, however,
was disgraced by a Pharaoh who "knew not Joseph" nor
respected his ties endants. Heroditu- calculates their erec-
tion at two or three hundred years before Cambyses, (or
about seven or eight hundred years B.C.). Conder con-
cludes that 1000 years B.C. was not too modern a date.

Although Heroditus has informed us that the date was
only about twelve generations before Camby es, lie as-
cribes its erection to Cheops and his brother, which
would date at least 2000 years B.C. Eratosthene- refers

history otf Tttii Pyramid. &5

it to Suphis, of Manetho. Diodorus merely repeats the
opinions of other writers, speaking of Chemmis, (Cheops),
Cephren and Mycerinus first. Pliny is silent. Josephus,
by inference, ascribes it to the Hebrews. Manetho, the
Egyptian priest, gives Suphis as the builder, who is usu-
ally regarded as identical with Cheops, Chemmis, Saophis,
or Chofo. His cartouche, or hieroglyphic oval, was found
on the masonry in Davidson's chamber.

There is an ancient tradition, quoted by several writers,
(referred to in chapter on Early History), of a shepherd
race of India, the Pali, who once conquered Egypt, and
the Pyramid has been ascribed to them. The Yoingees
have also been referred to. Mr. Gliddon states that the
direct descendants of Ham were the builders. Aristotle
declared that they were built by despots to keep the peo-
ple poor. Josephus relates a tradition of the descendants
of Seth erecting two monuments, one of brick and one
of stone, in Egypt, on which, or "in" which, they repre-
sented astronomical science. (See §Astronomy.)

The descendants of Ham have strong claims upon our
belief. Not on account of the Mitzraimites, but of a race
of wandering, migrating stone-builders known as Cuthites.
These stone-builders were in no sense nomadic, but every-
where in which the dim history of the past places them —
from Scythic Europe and shadowed Nubia to Erseland,
their Cyclopean ruins attest their power and skill. The
Gadelians, (from Gad-el-Glas,) a race of Cuthites, migrat-
ed from Egypt in the early ages.*

Still, the majority of students believe the Pyramid to be
the work of a race of Semites, (Shemites). All testi-
mony points to the belief that natives of the valley did

*Ancient history has so much yet to do and undo that we would not be
greatly surprised if the "Gad"-elians were modernized into a portion of
the lost ten tribes of Israel. We note this, that after tarrying- in Greece
many years they migrate to the north of Ireland, where we also find the
remnant of Dan. (Tuath de Danaans.)

A GREAT MYSTERY.

not build it:— Not one of their learned men knew aught
of it; it had no hieratic writing either upon or within it,
according to the best judgment of her historians;* it
began an epoch in architecture to which they were stran-
gers, and the close of the epoch was the introduction of
the obelisk and colossus. We are fully aware of the
opposing views of all the Egyptologists. Nevertheless
such is our conviction. To say that the ancient Mastaba
was the primitive pyramid is to say that the mound buil-
der of Yucatan furnished the pattern for the mausoleum
of Charlemagne. The "impulse," (p. 73), to honor the
eminent dead may be universal, but the rough, unshapely
mastaba was no more a pattern for the Cyclopean builders
than the Indian mound of North America is a pattern for
the invader, who, within a hundred years, erects the mar-
ble shaft upon the same spot. It will scarcely be claimed
that the slender obelisk is the evolution of a pyramid-
yet both are angular elevations, both are commemorative.
But both spring suddenly into being, as types, with no
intervening gradations from a primitive form. In fact,
the later pyramids became terraced, flattened, and perish-
able—brick. The obelisk was monolithic.

Not only does archaic history and tradition point to a
foreign race as the builders, but all light reflected from
its dark record illuminates the Hebrew account of the
genesis of the world's postdiluvian population. The Sab-
eans even state that antediluvians, the children of Seth,
built it.

The person to whom it is almost universally ascribed,
is Cheops, whose eastern origin we have discussed. The

fonlS^i^^^V^S61*^ hie™»lypMc or demotic characters, has been
«™ J!"i lu , ny Part °* the Pyramids of Gizeh; but as this [See p. BO.] was
iPh / , ^>°ntheextenor coating which has been entirely stripped from
?^ath-vraVlld^ltsdlsapiJe:,rance is not wonderful. The entire ab-
sence of hieroglyphics in the sepulchral chambers, and in the sarcopha-
gus, is more remarkable."-KENRicK, (Herodotus, Notes on the text The
inscription spoken of was Coptic or demotic, not hieroglyphic

HISTORY OF THE PYRAMID. 57

cartouches of "Shofo," in builder's paint, remain upon the
rough rocks in the closed Chambers of Construction.*/
Herodotus states, of Cheops and Kephren:

"No Egyptian will mention their names; but they always
attribute their pyramids to one Philition, a shepherd who
kept his cattle in those parts."

Subsequently the "foreigners" left Egypt, (p. 34.), went
to Canaan with 240,000 men, and built (Jeru)Salem. It
is supposed by Prof. Smyth, Dr. Seiss and many others,
that a certain Philitis, with a tribe of Semitic, monothe-
istic Philistines, overcame Cheops "without a battle," —
built the Pyramid and returned to Canaan — and that Phil-
itis was the great and mysterious Priest, Melchizedec.

1. That Philitis built the Pyramid seems a great strain
upon probabilities. Instead of the words of the guide,
(hermeneis) being given as an historical conclusion by
Herodotus, it appears as an Egyptian sarcasm on Cheops
by referring his great work to his "goat-herd."f 2. Is it
possible that Philitis was Melchizedec if the migration to
Canaan took place 500 years later, during the reign of
Chebros-Amosis — i. e., he being builder of, and priest at
Jerusalem?

In the statement of Herodotus, we call attention to the
italicised word, "their" Mr. Bonwick uses it. The raS
nvpoLjAidas of the text does not read so. It should be
"the pyramids." "Their" would certainly leave Philitis
out of his calculations.

However much the antiquarian may delve, doubt sur-

*Shofo is the Cheops, (Xeopas), of Herodotus, the Suphis of Manet ho.
M. Chabas states that they are the natural renditions of Koufou of the
monuments. Pei'haps Mr. Bonwick thus contuses the hated Cheops with
u "meat and good" king and ubook- writer." Kephren's oval also appears
in the Pyramid. A great many evidences point to Cheops as the builder.

+Lord Lindsay says the Royal Shepherds of Egypt built them— a great
misconception, except as it refers to the shepherd conquerors of Egypt.
Sharpe does not believe the Philistine Hyksos built the pyramids, based
on the word "Philitis— Philistine." The Vedas refer to the Great Pyra-
mid as "The Golden Mountain." See footnotes, p. 76.

58 A GREAT MYSTERY.

rounds the history .of the Pyramid's construction. We
come to one conclusion, amid many conjectures: — that it
was built by Cheops, a foreigner, and by a foreign race
— the Hyksos.

The Pyramid, as a whole, was a work of such immense
magnitude that no nation of tq.-day could furnish the labor,
treasure and material, for continuous construction. But in
detail it is not composed of such immense blocks of stone
as are elsewhere found, nor does it require machinery
beyond present possibilities. It is the necessary demand
of civil government applied to the modern social status,
and its interior technique, that renders its repetition im-
possible. Herodotus states that 100,000 men were twenty
years building it. This is a very reasonable statement, for
labor in Egypt was, and still is, given by the population
for bare subsistence. The only requirement was that
Cheops should scantily clothe and feed his hundred thou-
sand men. Scarcely a nation in Europe is doing less than
that to-day — not to mention the vast and costly arma-
ments that accompany them. But while nations can get
soldiers now for a pittance, per capita, they cannot open
the treasuries for such vast public works, nor levy on the
intellect which seems inclosed within the Pyramid.

In view of the Cyclopean ruins at Thebes, Baalbec, and
other ancient cities, the transportation of the material is
not so remarkable. Remains of immense causeways from
the Nile to the Pyramid still remain, (Fig. 35). Why it
should not have been built nearer the Nile, and save such
vast preparatory structures, is a question.*

Many methods are given as the probable manner of rais-
ing the stones up the giddy terraces. Few are worthy of
serious attention, and being wholly supposititious they
will not be discussed here. However, the plan of construc-
tion is worthy of attention, as it has been the subject of

*lt was not for lack of stone foundation, as has been suggested.

HISTORY OP THE PYRAMID.

much study and especially by Mr. Glidden. The illustra-
tion, from "Egyptian Archeology? (Fig. 36), represents
his views. "A" represents a vertical section of a pyramid,
the foundations of which rest on the rock at an elevation
above the level of cultivation. At "D" is a chamber hol-
lowed out for sepulture. Over it is reared, by following
generations, a succession of layers of masonry, until a cer-
tain size is attained, when smaller stone, or even rub-
ble, ("B"), complete it. Over this is added, still in terra-

&0UTJL

Fig-. 36. Sectional view of pyramids representing Glidden's views of
construction.

ces, blocks of finer quality. Then the laborers begin at
the summit and chip downward, as at "C," leaving a sym-
metrical pile. There seem many unreasonable features in
this hypothesis. After generations do not usually labor
so extensively for dead relatives, as to absorb a nation's
purse and power. Osborn wholly rejects the plan. The
probability is that in the case of other pyramids, which
were tombs, the dumb sleepers within reared them for the
perpetuity of their own memory. Alas! the stones re-

60 A GREAT MYSTERY.

main but the names are fled! It is not at all certain that
the Great Pyramid, the first and grandest, ever contained

a corpse.

With this diversion regarding its character, let us re-
turn to its history. Being moderately certain that it was
built during the first 1000 years of Egyptian history, and
by Cheops or Suphis, we put its date between 2500 and
2000 B. C, 1900 being the time of Abraham's visit. The
former (2500) is the proximate date given by Wilkinson,
Rawlinson and Lane, and 2228 is given by Osborn.

Sharpe, however, comes down to 1*700, and a few Egyp-
tologists struggle with 5700 B. C. There have been wri-
ters who scored the date 1000 B. C.

"With the exception of the Bible, Herodotus' writings
furnish the earliest reference to it. This historian visited
Egypt about 484 B.C., and described to some extent both
the Pyramid and its causeway for transportation of mater-
ials. The persons who gave Herodotus information re-
garding it, stated that it was the tomb of Cheops, who
was buried far beneath it, on a rock surrounded by water,
admitted from the Nile by a secret passage. This was,
we doubt not, an ignorant superstition, as there are no
known passages any distance below the subterranean
chamber. It was also stated that at least the causeway
was covered with inscriptions, and one was seen upon the

Pyramid. Freely translated, Herodotus says:

"There was signified on the Pyramid, by means of Egyptian characters,
how much was expended on "adishes, onions and garlic, for the laborers;
and as I well remember, the interpreter, reading over the characters to
me, said that it amounted to one thousand six hundred talents of silver."

This inscription has been given by every writer on the
Pyramid. It has delighted Bonwick, because it destroyed
the "Fancy" that the monument was free from the idola-
trous chisel. We see the looseness of the translation on
page 56. We now pronounce this inscription a forgery
by the Copts, which a careful rendering of the text would
have disclosed. At the time Herodotus read this inscrip-

HISTORY OF THE PYRAMID. 61

tion even the Copts, not within the priesthood, had for-
gotten the hieratic or hieroglyphic writing. We have
strong evidence that the brilliant 'Greek School develop-
ing at Alexandria shadowed ancient Egyptian cultivation
to such an extent that her literature passed into oblivion,
and her monuments were regarded as the Cyclopean relics
of a powerful but illiterate people. The shadow had fal-
len long before the time of Herodotus;* Isis had wept
over a departed race, and (Os)Iris over a departed throne.

But the miserable remnant of Egypt had not forgotten
her hatred. The hermeneis or guide, probably, could no
more read an hieratic inscription than the great Greek
who had travelled the world over. But Herodotus knew
Coptic or Egyptian letters from the ancient hieroglyphs.

The latter he always referred to as cqd kty.-\ Dut in this
inscription he distinctly uses (Sia AiyV7t.) the dia gram-
mat)')) Aigyptio'n by which he always refers to demotic
or Coptic characters. The hira is the condensed form of
hiera, or "sacred." It is a pleasure to know that Herod-
otus sneered at the inscription, stating that even the rock-
inscribing of the cost of the iron tools, bread or clothing
would be more important than this vegetable record. At
present there are no such silly hieroglyphs on the monu-
ments. The tendency of Egyptian rock-history was to
preserve the memory of lofty attributes, power and merit,
and not the supposed-to-be-eternal literature of the sim-
plest food of a race of slaves — whom Cheops would have
whistled to his side as he would a dog!

Thus, while the Grecian mind, with its letters and phi-
losophy, was driving out the intellectf of the servile race,

*During Egypt's twenty centuries of power, Ezekiel said: "They shall

be the basest of kingdoms. I will sell the land into the hand of the wick-

' ed, I will make her land waste by the hand of strangers. There shall be

no more a Prince of Egypt, etc." Conquered, reconquered, desolate, she

has not had a native prince for about twenty-five hundred years.

+Ibn Abd Alkokem, an Arabian philosopher, stated that among the
learned men of Egypt he could find no certain information regarding the
Pyramid.

62 A GREAT MYSTERY.

it is not probable that a servant hired from among the
already degenerate Copts, could read mystical signs which
had passed into the signification of a "caballah." Know-
ing that Egyptian Priests hated Cheops, his memory and
his monument, how natural to refer its construction to a
goat-herd, to belittle the great work before his Grecian
paymaster! How much to be regretted that the inscrip-
tion cannot be pictorially represented.

The utter ignorance of the Copts of the geometric prin-
ciples upon which these structures were built is signifi-
cant; nor have we evidence that the Egyptian race ever
understood spherical trigonometry, or even angulation.
We must bear in mind that it was the Grecian civilization
which radiated from Egypt during the Ptolemaic period.
Also that Osirtesen, the reputed architect of Luxor and
Karnac, was doubtless a High Priest during the Shepherd
reigns. Egypt's later astronomy came from Arabia.

Good old John Taylor sought to escape the idolatrous
imprint of the above inscription by supposing the onions
to be really degree(°) marks, the garlics and radishes rep-
resenting minutes (') and seconds ("), of which the guide
was ignorant.

An old Coptic tradition refers to another inscription:

"I Saurid, the King, built the pyramids in . .a time
and finished them in six years; he that comes after me,
and says that he is equal to me, let him destroy them in
six hundred years; and yet it is known that it is easier
to pluck down than to build. And when I finished them,
I covered them with sattin, and let him cover them with
slats." — (Greaves.)

The suggestion of "Arabian Night's" is too strong in
this Arabian translation. We deferentially suggest the
same to Mr. Bonwick.

Biblical references are rare, but of great historical value.
Portions of the Bible were doubtless written as early as

HISTORY OF THE PYRAMID. 63

1600 B. C, and the Edomitic work (Job) may have been
contemporaneous with the later years of the first llyksos.

The spirit of the Abrahamic fatherhood over his de-
scendants makes even a statement as late as Jeremiah,
(750 B. C), of far more value than the chance light thrown
by a solitary historian of early Greece ; and inasmuch
as the claim is distinctly set forth that the God of
Israel built, or directed the building of the Pyramid, it
is best to analyze its allusions well. But much of this will
come under the head of the sixth statement of the "Anal-
ysis." There is much evidence that the Israelites were
familiar with the Pyramid, and, though strange as it may
appear, were in the habit of ascribing 'its erection to
divine impulse. Although, as a matter of history, there is
no word connecting the Pyramid with the Hebrews, as
represented elsewhere, it was undoubtedly erected by a
Semitic race whose origin was either in direct line with
Abraham, or related to him through Shem and Noah.

And this race of Shemites or Semites were the peculiar
inheritors and propagators of the religious wisdom which
the world lias accepted in the Bible, and is not unlikely
- to accept in the Pyramid — the one through Abraham,
the other possibly Melchizedek. There has been an im-
pression abroad that the Hebrews themselves, either under
Joseph's ministry, or while in servitude, erected this vast
structure. But this was quite impossible ; nor, when we
view the whole history of the valley, filled with works of
magnitude and grandeur, does it seem that its erection —
as far as the manual labor was concerned — was beyond the
possibilities of Egypt during any ancient epoch. The
x Israelites were not in Egypt before 1750 B. 0. Abraham
lived 1900 B. C. The Pyramid was doubtless built 21 or
2200,B.C. Its own date is 2170, B.C. Again, the Bible

64 A GREAT MYSTERY.

speaks of the labor of the Hebrews as consisting of brick
work, a more modern architecture than the stone era.

Had the Great Pyramid of Egypt been a part of the
Abrahamic "Logos," it would have been referred to in the
Bible as the direct mission of the Israelites in Egypt.

On the other hand, the Bible references are just such
as would occur if the Pyramid were a mystic testimony
to them, of the same God, by a kindred and antecedent
race — the real mysteries of which were one day to be dis-
closed.*

The most remarkable item in the history of the
Pyramid is that its interior passages were immediately
closed after completion. Not only was it closed on the
surface, but that ascending passage was so completely
blocked by an immense stone portcullis that to this day
it has never been removed. If the Pyramid were built in
the year 2170 B. C., then during the growth and ascend-
ency of the Assyrian Empire ; the development of the
Abrahamic succession to Shem ; the genesis of the Hebrew
nation through the children of Israel ; the singular exist-
ence of Edom ; the rise and commercial eminence of Syrio-
Phcenician Tyre; the evolution of Hellenic nationality;
the founding of Rome ; the decadence of Greece ; the tri-
umphs and decline of the eternal city ; the destruction of
Jerusalem ; the Birth and crucifixion of Christ ; the vast
aggregation of papal power, and the Hegira of Mahomet;
the lapse into the "dark ages;" — during all these bub-
bling, seething, changing years of humanity's history,
those cavernous records of sublime intelligence were
closed. Why?

The limestone facing of the Great Pyramid was removed

♦This proposition will be peculiarly acceptable to those who have studied
the new and startling discoveries regarding: "Anglo-lsraelitism." Any
person who desires to study the Pyramid should investigate this subject
—for it is rapidly assuming importance in the ethnology of Europe.

HISTORY OP THE PYRAMID.

long before any modern writer described it. Still, the
entrance by which we now pass in was unknown until
opened by interior excavations.*

In the year 825 A. D. , Caliph Al Mamouii, the Mahom-
medan ruler of Cairo, became convinced that vast treas-
ure was stored within the Pyramid. He set men at work
with fire, chisels, and vinegar, to open the heart of the
mystery. Months of anxious expectation and deferred
hope made the hearts of his laborers sick, for the dark,
hot, dusty hole they projected was slowly piercing the
very heart of the mountain, but no treasure nor mystery

Fig. 38. Horizontal section of passage around

portcullus, K. N, Junction of Al Mamoun's hole and original passage. M,

Coming from the north. O, Same as H in Fig. 37.

Fig. 37. D, C, E, F, Passage cut by Al Mamoun's laborers. A, Masonry.
B, Original entrance, closed and forgotten in A 1 Mamoun's time. F, Pas-
sage cut around the portcullus, same as L in F;g. 38. G, Descending pas-
sage closed with rubbish. H, .Ascending passage, filled with loose rocks.
P, Portcullus.

was unveiled. Muttcrings and discontent informed the
Caliph that to go much farther with such onerous labor
and such draughts on his treasury would threaten revolu-
tion. One hundred feet were passed and still solid rock

•The Romans are said to have discovered the entrance by removal of
a stone over the opening.

66 A GEEAT MYSTERY.

before them. In the thick and heavy air the workmen
dropped their primitive tools and gave up the task. A
few moments more and the great effort to pierce the
Pyramid's heart would have ceased, and the world have
henceforth regarded the ancient pile, as Al Mamouu
would have done — a solid pyramid of masonry! What
other person would have subjected himself, after such a
trial, to the laugh of the world, and the great waste of
means, to do the same thing over? There was a "destiny"
as some would say — a "Providence," as most willinsist,
in what occurred. In the midst of such silence that the
heart's beating could be heard,* while nerveless Arabs
were gleaming upon each other with suspicious eyes and
rebellious hearts, and the dim torches casting sepulchral
shadows in the narrow way — a clull, heavy sound, as of
falling masonry, was heard near them, but farther with-
in the rock. Every man sprang to his work, and in the
direction of the sound they soon burst into a passage-
way of most wonderful finish and polish! Now indeed
were the treasures of Araby's day-dream within reach!
A few steps into the darkness, and lo! The passage (seen
alone in the ascending direction, for the descending pas-
sage had been filled with sand and rubbish), was blocked
by an immense portcullus of stone, which defied all human
efforts to remove. And what was most interesting, this
upward passage would not have been known but for the
falling of the stone.

No one has yet pierced the mystery of this singular
coincidence. See B, Fig. 50, for its location.

These now hopeful Arabs soon dug around the massive

block, (Fig. 37), and found the passage above filled with

rubble stone and broken rock. It was a laborious task

to remove these one by one; but when accomplished, says

*As in Mammoth Cave.

HISTORY OF THE PYRAMID.

Dr. Seiss — "Up and up the smooth and long ascending
fLor-lines the marauders pushed their slippery and doubt-
ful way, till near the end of the Grand Gallery. Then
they clambered over a three-foot step, then bowed their
heads beneath a low door-way, bounded on all sides witli
awful blocks of frowning red granite; and then leaped
without further hindrance, into the Grand Chamber, the
first to enter since the Great Pyramid was built."

But the crest fallen Ishmaelites found nothing but an
empty stone chest, known as the coffer or sarcophagus.

The failure to find treasure, it is said, so enraged the
laborers that Al Mamoun pretended to find enough gold
to pay all the expenses, buried in one of the chambers.

Fig. ;«*. The Great Pyramid
1900 years B.C.

Fig-. 40. Same 600 A. D.

After this attempt, the Pyramid had a long rest. The
passage of Al Mamoun became filled with rubbish, and
finally obscured ; the regular entrance had not been opened,
and once more the dawn and nightfall of ages passed
over its eternal secrets.

But the Arabs had discovered much, and it was not
wholly forgotten. In the 17th and 18th centuries a gen-
eral interest again became manifest among European

A GREAT MYSTERY.

scientists, in the Great Pyramid. Mr. Davison, who was
British Consul at Algiers in 1763 spent 18 months inves-
tigating its interior, appropriating great labor and expen-
diture to unravel its mysteries. He also discovered the
chamber of construction named after him.

But to Prof. Greaves, (16 3 7), an enthusiastic English-
man, belongs the earlier credit of devoting toil and for-
tune to "Pyramidographia," the title of a work publish-
ed by him.- He made the first distinct attempt to get
correct measurements. M. Maillet made great exertions

>0UTH

Fig. 41. Great Pyramid until the
close of the eighteenth century.

Eig. 42. In 1840.

to elaborate its interior — successfully explored many pas-
sages, and altogether entered the structure for mensu-
ration over forty times.

In 1817 Mr. Caviglia repeated the investigations of
Messrs. Wood and Davison. He opened the subterranean
chamber, with great trouble and danger. The French
scientists under Napoleon, 1799, made extensive researches,
and rendered much valuable information.

To Gen. Howard Vyse belongs great credit. He de-
voted his life and fortune to the development of many of
the facts now so well known; reopened Al Mamoun's hole;
made new excavations, and cleared out passages; found

HISTORY OF THE PYRAMID. 69

the first casing stones in the rubbish; found the four upper
chambers of construction, with the hieroglyphs of Cheops
or Suphis; gave remarkably correct measurements, and
also opened up the neighboring pyramids.

Before us lies a volume written by a Pyramid scholar
and enthusiast — John Taylor, of Leonard Place, Kensing-
ton. It was written in 1859, and the title is, "The Great
Pyramid. Why was it built? And who built it?" He
made an honest attempt to "recover a lost leaf in the
worlcFs history" (The italics are his). He opened to the
world the great volume of stone in the light of an Inspired
Work; and in illustration brought out its mathematical,
astronomical and metrical properties in strong light.

From that day to this, twenty years, his views have
been developing and enlarging until many thousands of
thoughtful students are in union with them. He has
recently passed away, but not until he saw the flame he
lit radiating from Egypt over the whole world.

Prof. Piazzi Smyth, Scotland's Astronomer-Royal, took
up the question in 1864, before the Royal Society, and
subsequently published his work "Our Inheritance in the
Great Pyramid." In a few months he determined to inves-
tigate, personally, the mighty problem. So in 1865 he
visited the Pyramid, at great personal expense, with/'crra-
ily, instruments, skill, knowledge, and an intense faith, to
back him. His researches and measurements will be a
monument to his memory. They are recorded in two
works: "Life and work at the Great Pyramid," and "An-
tiquity of Intellectual Man."

There have been many other writers upon this subject,
and the interest is extending to the general public. The
antiquarian world is awaking to the investigation of a
monument whose vastness and hidden purposes loom up

70 A GREAT MYSTERY.

through the ages to belittle the modern man and modern
science.

The great question involved in the history of the Pyra-
mid is — was it built as a tomb? At the time of its erec-
tion the Egyptians were in the habit of burying in a rock,
and for the eminent dead, they built temples or tombs.
Even Abraham was buried in a cave at Macphelah. Thou-
sands of rock-tombs surround the pyramids. All the other
pyramids were tombs, in the judgment of Egyptologists.
Mummies have been found in the sarcophagi within the
sepulchral chambers. But the other pyramids are all,
doubtless, subsequent to the Great Pyramid, and suppos-
ing the latter to be a tomb, the builders took pattern after
it. That they did not understand the entire import is evi-
dent from the fact that, 1st, the upper and symbolic cham-
bers were sealed by a great stone which never has been
removed, but is passed by digging around. And 2nd, that
no attempt was ever made to follow in that direction, by
constructing upper chambers in the others. Still, it is
possible that Cheops, knowing the hostility of the Egyp-
tians, built a subterranean tomb as usual — but arranged
the upper chambers for utilitarian purposes, — and after
death secured burial in the upper rather than the lower
rooms — then sprung the mighty portcullus of stone. How-
ever this may be, and it is extremely doubtful, the sym-
bolisms of the mighty monarch whose tomb it was or was
not, still remain.

PARTS AND PRO PORTIONS.

Ancient vertical height, 5813.13 Pyramid inches. This is not absolute,
Dut meets certain requirements of structure, and the variations may In-
due to the precise intersection of the side angles and the corner socket
base line not being positively ascertained.

Present vertical height, 5439 P. inches.

Length of base side, 9131 P. inches. Same difficulty referred to in height.

Height of sides, angular, 7392.86 P. Inches.

Cubic volume, over 91,000,000 cubic feet. Weight, about 7,000,000 tons.

The geometrical shape of a pyramid is familiar to all,
and strangely isolated from books and society must lie be
who has never heard of the great pattern in the desert-
bound valley of the Nile. The tumuli of prehistoric
races are doubtless children of the same impulse in arch-
itecture.

In mensuration a pyramid is the same to a triangle that

a cube is to a square, a sphere to a circle. The triangle,
the square, the circle, measure surface, while their cog-
nate shapes measure volume. All the pyramids of Egypt
are not specially worthy of note, as exhibits of mathe-
matical or aesthetic proportions. But the Great Pyramid,
when unnmtilated, was a figure of remarkable design and
properties.

Its height from the base rock to the original apex has
been variously given. Many measurements were imper-
fect owing to the ragged character of the exterior. But
Col. Howard Vyse, and Prof. Piazzi Smyth have both
carefully measured it by angles established after several
of the original casing stones were discovered. In 1797
the French savants, who made such thorough researches
about the Pyramid, discovered at the corners, "sockets" or
"encastrements" in the base rock, which gave reasona-
bly exact points from which to measure the base-sides
and the angle of inclination. These sockets subsequently

V4 A GREAT MASTERY.

became filled and covered many feet by the drifting sand
and accumulating debris, so that Col. Howard Vyse, who
again uncovered them forty years after, found an Hercu-
lean task before him.

Although at least a hundred different measures have
been given, of the size of the Pyramid, there can now be
little doubt of the approximate correctness of the follow-
ing: Perpendicular height, from base to ancient apex,
5818.94 English inches.* Pyramid inches, 5813.13. The
length of a base side 9140 inches. (Pyr. Ins. 9131.)

It therefore covers somewhat more than thirteen acres,
with a volume of over 91 million cubic feet, weighing
nearly 7 million tons, the largest accumulation of mas-
onry in the world. It is higher than the highest pinnacle
of St. Peter's at Rome.

As before stated it faces the cardinal points, being only
5' out of an absolute orientation. f The inclined sides
were once smooth and shining, with no break on the pol-
ished surface. Strabo speaks of a secret stone which
could be removed, and give entrance to the "tomb" with-
in. This was a tradition of slight value, based on the
ancient love of the mysterious. If true, the "secret"
entrance was forgotten. About 1000 years after Christ,
the Mohammedans began to strip off the marble casing
to build palaces and bridges, and in the 18th century,
even up to the time of Col. Vyse's explorations, it was
not known that it ever was cased. Even now there are
some hardy theorists, as there always are, who dispute
it. While Col. Vyse was laying bare a side, down to

*English (or American) inches will be understood in this work, when
not otherwise defined. The Pyramid inch is .001 of an inch Longer than
the English. The general expression in *s.eet for the Pyramid dimensions
is— 486 feet high, 764 feet on a base side. The present height is 454 feel .

tThis is an isolated case of correct orientation, vs. Proctor notwith-
standing.

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

the "esplanade," he fortunately came in contact with two
of these casing stones in position. Thus by the encastre-
ments discovered by the French, to give extreme corners,
and these casing stones to give the precise angle of incli-
nation, the measurements became reasonably exact.

The pyramid, as most are aware, is built in receding
terraces, or tiers of masonry, and these casing stones were
fitted into each tier, with great exactness, bevelled on the
exterior surface, and joined or jointed with astonishing
perfection. Several pieces have since been discovered
and taken to Great Britain, but those of Col. Vyse were
lost. These casing stones are important items in Pyra-

Fig-. 44. and
and decimals of a foot.

Fig. 45. Casing- Stones, figures representing feet

mid study, and we give their figure, (Fig. 45). By these
casing stones the angle of inclination is ascertained, and
reckoned at 51° 51' 14.3". But even this is taken at a
mean from several calculations, as the opposite angle
varies from a right angle. However, the error, if any?
would be so fine that it will scarcely modify the great
problems involved.

The latest deductions give the angle of inclination of
the sides at 51° 49', instead of that given above. But in-
asmuch as 51° 51' 14" is required for what is henceforth
described as the Pi proposition, (quadrature of the circle),

A GREAT MYSTERY.

Fig. 46.

we retain it. Any student in engineering understands
the difficulty of working in minutes, to say nothing of
seconds, and how slight an error a ' is.

Fig. 44 represents the de-
tached triangle by which thu
inclination is measured, A, B.
C being not quite a right an-
gle when drawn parallel to
the edge attached to the ma-
sonry. Fig. 46 represents an
elevation (sectional) of one of
the casing stones, as found. The figures 128°8'45.7" give
the obtuse angle, which taken from 180° leaves 51° 51'-
14.3" as the angle of inclination.

When these marble casing stones were in place, white
and polished, and every joint so fine that a lens alone
disclosed them; and when the unclouded sun of Araby
arose over the Red Sea — reflected from its vast surface
till it glowed and glinted in fiery splendor — how like a
jewel from heaven must it have appeared. Picture its
reflection in the changing tints of the calm and mirrored
Niie!*

People who have gazed upon its shattered beauty, ignor-
ant of the mystery within, and che ancient glory without,
are still struck with a sublime appreciation — what must
the jierfect Pyramid have been ?f
As the sides of the Pyramid now appear they are immense

"Strabo, one of the earliest Greek writers, says:— "It looked as if it h:;d
descended upon its site, ready formed from Heaven, and had not been
erected by man's laborious toil." Diodorus said, "It seemed as if placed
on the surrounding sand by the aid of some deity, rather than by the
s le and gradual operations of man."

+"Piramona" was Coptic for "splendor of the sun " "Pi-re-nes," according
to Lazerco was "splendor of fctaj sun."

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS 77

stair cases of receding tiers of masonry, each step being
from two to four feet high, and in many places almost
obliterated by the action of the weather, and by the vis-
itors who send fragments of rock booming down from
the summit. Still, as you look at the pile from a little
distance, this terraced condition of the sides is lost in the
grey outline. It shows how travelers differ in regard to
every thing pertaining to measurements, that so few per-
sons agree as to the number of tiers or terraces on a side.

Pococke, there in 1743, gives 260, the same as Lewen-
stein. Conder gives 206, and Greaves 207. Maillet, 208;
Vausleb 255, andBellonius 250. Lucas 243, Sicard(l7ll)
220, Davison (1763) 206, Ferguson 203, Dufeu 202, Pros-
per Alpinus (1591) 125. 208 seemed to be the number gen-
erally agreed upon, until Prof. Smyth counted them and
gave the measurement of each of the 202 tiers.

This difference is largely owing to the rubbish at the
foot covering more tiers during some centuries than
others; some sides being less perfect or more broken up;
the top platform being smaller and higher, and, possibly,
there being an actual difference on different sides.

On the top there is a level, the apex having been trun-
cated. At least some portion of the loss of the upper
corner has been by "wear and tear." Travelers who try
to see how far out toward the base line they can throw a
stone, or who send rocks hurling, crashing down the sides,
have destroyed considerable. However, had there ever
been either a marble-casing or common rock corner-stone it
would have withstood the wear of the elements many
thousand years longer than it has. History tells us the
marble was intact 8 or 900 years ago, but is not precise
about the "chief-corner stone."

All the writers on the Great Pyramid seem puzzled
over this platform at the top. It is rather more than 30

78 A GREAT MYSTERY.

feet square, and hence is, and has been for ages, too large

to be accounted for solely by removal of the corner stone,

unless that were indeed a wonderful piece of marble.

The earliest writers describe the platform as much

smaller than at present. Some declare it never had an

apex. It has been supposed, in modern times, in view

of the religious symbolisms of the interior, to be the

"chief-corner stone which the builders rejected" — or the

type of Christ.

It is rather a laborious task to reach the top, but most

travelers do so, when a very remarkable view is thrown
out before them. In the west the Libyan chain ; to the
south ward, the Mokattam range; eastward, the quiet Nile
passing along just as when Great Ramesis rushed his
chariot along its banks; and all about, the wonderful "Field
of Pyramids," with the tombs of the mightiest of earth.
Near by is the Sphynx, and but a few hundred feet off
are the great brothers of the monument, but little smaller,
and better preserved. On the northern face of the Great
Pyramid the rubbish extends up the side from fifteen to
sixteen courses of masonry. At forty-nine feet from the
base, at the fifteenth or sixteenth course, on this north
side, is an entrance into the interior. It is a small, nar-
row tube, three feet, five and one-half inches wide, and
three feet and eleven inches high perpendicular to the
incline. (Fig. 47). The opening has been badly mutilated,
g^gg^gg^ the masonry being torn out

.. x. for a considerable distance.

A- \ Strange feelings thrill the

'te^i^ soul as one enters this dark

and silent passage. The bats
Fig. 47. and vermin, once prevalent,

are now mostly driven away by the constant stream of

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

visitors; but in the earlier day, say in 1610, when Sandys
entered, the pile of rubbish scattered within, and the dis-

gusting vermin, its inhabitants, made exploration decid-
edly unpleasant.

A GREAT MYSTL. "r.

1 C

SO 0

I I I I 1 1 I I I }

J00

zoo
-4—

300

Fig". 19. View of the entrance, dark square being the opening.

PART/ AND PROPORTIONS. 81

A very peculiar architecture is present at this opening,
— so peculiar that we wish to call special attention to it.
No writer has thus far mentioned the matter, but it may
be of direct importance to the Pyramid student. In Fig.
49 appear two triangular layers of masonry, the opening
forming a square block beneath. A portion of the name
of Egypt, (Fig. 32, p. 47), resembles this closely. Inves-
tigation since the first edition confirms the opinion that
it is a significant hieroglyph. It is worthy of note from
the fact that it is the only structural mark on the build-
ing connecting it with the stone literature of Egypt. But
this is a "structural" hieroglyph and not graven; and prob-
ably only exposed when the casing was torn off.*

Almost every writer has claimed that beyond a few
builder's daubs to guide the workmen, in unfinished cham-
bers, the Great Pyramid was wholly free from hiero-
glyphs. This double layer of pyramid-arch over the
entrance is not for the purpose of strength of structure,
for the arch was unknown in Egypt for twelve hundred
years after the Pyramid was built, and a capstone covers
the passage completely. Again, in the inner chambers
there are flat roofs over large rooms.

THE PASSAGES.

From ancient entrance to Subterranean Chamber, 4445 Pyr. inches.

" " '* " floor line of ascending- passage, 988 P. inches.

Ascending passage from floor junction to Grand Gallery, 1542.46 P. in.

The entrance is not in the center of the pyramid, east
and west, but removed some 24 feet and six inches to the
east. The design of this deviation is unknown, unless it
were to deceive those who searched for entrance during
the ages it was sealed.

Entering the narrow opening represented in Figs. 48-9,
we find a passage of uncomfortable dimensions, extend-

* This hieroglyph seems to have some dim relation to material life
(Apis), as distinguished from Isic or spiritual existence, in another and
cruder channel of investigation, throiurn ( ftnldaic and Semitic similitudes
and Phoenician originals, it reads: "ENTRANCE to TEMPLE."

82 A GREAT MYSTERY.

ing southward and downward at an angle of 26° 27'. As
this descending passage is now somewhat clear of rub-
bish, we can proceed without material change for a dis-
tance of 343 feet and 10 inches from ancient entrance,
when it becomes horizontal for 27 feet farther. At this
point it enters a subterranean chamber. At least 23 feet
have been worn and broken away from the mouth, so
that its real length is 320 feet. 988 Pyramid inches from
the opening, the ascending passage begins, the one which
is blocked by the portcullus. The angle of ascent is 26°
18'. After passing upwards with no further deviation
beyond the forced entrance of Al Mamoun, for the dis-
tance of 1544 inches, we suddenly straighten up in a
long, lofty hall called the Gallery. At present a few fig-
ures merely are given. By referring to Fig. 48, the high-
est number engraved in the passage is 2527 which implies
that it is exactly 2527 inches from juncture of ascending
passage and Grand Gallery. A little farther down are
two lines vertical, and next, a dotted line at right angles
with floor of passage. The dotted line is cut into the
stone, and is supposed to represent the time of building
the Pyramid, 2170 B.C. The other lines figured are joints
in the masonry, every one of which has been most care-
fully measured by Prof. Piazzi Smyth. It will also be
noticed in Fig. 48 that the layer of masonry on the side
wall near mouth seems to be doubled up, backward, four
inches below 2320, a subject to be referred to hereafter.

The passages in the Pyramids of Ghizeh do not vary
much from 40-42 inches in width, and from 45 to 50 in
height, all too small for erect standing.

SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER.

Length, east and west, 551.4 P. inches.

Width, north and south, 324.6 P. inches. Height irregular".

The Subterranean Chamber, 370 feet, 10 inches from
ancient mouth of inclined passage, is a large, gloomy vault

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS. 83

46 feet long, east and west, 27 feet and 1 inch wide, and
1 1 feet 6 inches high at highest point. Within it a shaft
has been sunk 36 feet, with no apparent object, unless to
search for the tomb of Cheops. The Subterranean Cham-
ber is 99 feet below the base of the Pyramid, from base
to ceiling. There is a continuation of the horizontal sub-
terranean passage (D, Fig. 43) on the south side, 52 feet,
9 inches. This chamber was entered over 60 years ago, by
Caviglia, with great difficulty. He found both Greek and
Roman characters inscribed on the walls. Ancient writers
declare it to have vaults, but they have not been found.
The location of the Chamber is under the centre of the
Pyramid, but the centre of the room is out of the verti-
cal axis about three feet east and west, and five north and
south. The chamber is rough, and torn up in places.

THE WELL.

Reference to Fig. 43 will show a long, irregular passage
descending from the large hall or gallery referred to, down
to the subterranean passage. This is known as the Well.
By it any one can reach the interior of the Pyramid by
ascent, without passing the portcullis, in the ascending
passage; or, being in the upper rooms, can find their way
out. It is a tortuous and disagreeable hole to penetrate.
Another reference to it will be found on page 87.

THE PORTCULLUS.
Length, 178.6 P. inches.

At the point of junction between the descending and
ascending passages, (Fig. 50, and l, Fig. 71,) is the stone
which, by dropping, exposed the portcullis, This is of
granite blocks, pushed down the passage, the first one be-
ing tapered to wedge tightly into the constricted mouth
of the passage. It is 178.8 inches long. It was imper-
fect in one element — the veil which fell while the Arabs

A GREAT MYSTERY.

were pounding away at the masonry near by. But for
this circumstance the interior would have remained sealed

for ages.

The ascending passage rises at an incline of 26° 18',

Fi.:. 50. Junction of ihe descending and ascending passages. E, the
Descendng Passage. F, Ascending Passage. D, Al Mamoim's Hole. A,
Portcullis. B, Stone which fell. C, Masonry.

and is 1542.46 inches, or about 128 feet 6 inches to the
Grand Gallery wall.

THE GRAND GALLERY.

Breadth, 82.12 Pyramid inches. Mean vertical height, 339 P. inches.
Extreme length, on the ramps, 1881 P. inches; on graven line, 1878.4.

The Grand Gallery is a long, narrow, high hall, ascend-
ing at the same angle as the passage. Its sides are made
up of seven layers of masonry, each of which, as it rests
upon the under one, laps over into the Gallery thus con-
tracting its width near the ceiling. On each side of the
floor of the Grand Gallery, extending up its entire length,
is an elevation or solid stone bench, 24 inches high, and
projecting out on the floor so that the entire breadth of
Gallery of 82.12 inches is reduced, between the benches,
to 41. 2 inches^ the benches being each 20.5 inches wide.

PARTS ANJ) PROPORTIONS.

'These benches are known as "ramps," and are composed
of regular layers of stones. A perspective view of them
can be had in Fig. 51, B, and plane in Fig. 53. The sec-
ond stone, on the west — or right hand side entering, has
been forcibly removed. It is known as the missing ramp
stone. Figs. 5^'and 53. In 53 an arrow is seen pointing
downwards. This is the mouth of the v;elZy and it is
about 25 inches beyond the entrance or north wall of Gal-
lery. To center of this missing ramp stone is 35.3 inches.

F.g. 53. North or Lower end of GraiKl Gallery, showing- entrance of
Ascending- Passage, west side. In line with perpendicular wall is the firs)
ramp stone. The second has been torn away to give entrance to Well;
remaining rampstones are continuous, forming the west bench, showing
the ramp holes dotted. The (l :lack) cavities under the ramps, are "little
graves" in the side of the junction of Gr. Gallery and passage to Queen's
Chamber. A, Masonry.

The well descends irregularly to the long descending pas-
sage, uniting with the latter not far from the subterra-
nean chamber.

For about 26 feet the well is perpendicular, (after a
ragged detour from the missing ramp hole). It then

88 A GREAT MYSTERY.

becomes irregular again for 32.5 feet, when it opens out
into an excavation, called the Grotto; from thence, down
to the subterranean passage it is irregular. The perpen-
dicular, finished portion is a mystery — why should it be
thus at such a place?

The removal of the ramp stone is always a mystery —
and one to which there appears no reasonable solution.
It was taken out with great force. So much so that the
hard rock was split, portions still adhering to the remain-
ing stones, on either side. Had it been removed by those
on the inside after dropping the portcullis, it does not at
once appear reasonable to suppose that they would put
the stone in at all. During all the time the well was exca-
vating, if built contemporaneous to the other passages,
the ramp stone could either have been left out, or very
smoothly and skillfully removed. Again, the finished,
perpendicular portions shows that lime was taken for the
work.

There is one theory that comes to mind: Cheops builds
the Pyramid for the scientific and religious objects indi-
cated by symbolisms. He also places a tomb chamber
deeply under it. But when death approaches, he finds
that the universal hatred of the priests will not allow
him to rest in peace. So he keeps his men secretly at
work at the "well," hastens its completion, and is carried
by his faithful friends after death to the upper chamber.
They then spring the mighty portcullis and creep out
through the well.

This appears like very childish sophistry. Any one who
sought his remains in the lower chamber could probably
mount the same well by which the friends descended. To
spring the portcullis was as easy a matter from the out-
side as from the inside — and save the trouble of making

HISTORY OP THE PYRAMID. 89

the well. There was also a heavy stone cemented in
front of the portcullis to disguise its presence. What
was the need (with the Well, and the masonry to hide the
passage) of a portcullis at all? What is the meaning of
a 26-foot portion being finished, ragged at both extremi-
ties? The key to this Well is not yet in our hands.

The height of the Grand Gallery is 339.5 inches, and
the roof is formed of 36 overlapping stones. (Fig. 85). Its
length, to a certain step, 36 inches high, is 1812.986 in.
(Fig. 51, G). But the length of the Grand Gallery floor
to where the line of the ramps meet the south or upper
end of the Gallery is 1881^.6 inches. We generally speak
of the Grand Gallery as 7 881 inches long. Width 82.12
inches. Length on the graven line, 1878.4 inches.

THE RAMP HOLES.

Along the line where the floors of the ramps or benches
meet the side walls of the Gallery, there are placed 28
little excavations on one side and 26 on the other. What
they are for is a riddle. A few strange reasons have been
supposed, but not one that is worthy an instant's atten-
tion. If not symbolical, as hereafter represented — then
they were doubtless placed there by "chance" among the
numberless "coincidences" some people imagine. The
little mortices are called "ramp holes."

THE STEP.
Height, 36 inches. Horizontal, to south wall, 61 inches.
The upper end of the Grand Gallery is very peculiar in
its structure. Before reaching the south wall, progress is
interrupted by the vertical step, just referred to, which
rises above the ramps. (Figs. 51, 54, 58, *72, 85). This sin-
gular step is 36 in. high, and 61 in. on its horizontal. It
changes direction from the angle of the gallery, and its
continuation through the masonry leads into the Ante-
chamber. No structural requirement calls for this step,

A GREAT MYSTERY.

and as the building, or passage, floor., roof, or walls did
not demand it, its object must have beon either symbolic
or aBsthetic. The latter it certainly is not; for a 3- foot
step, interrupting the plan of construction, can hardly be
called a thing of beauty? This step also hides or
obscures one of the ramp holes — the 28th.

Another singular feature is that the south or upper end
wall is not vertical. It "impends" or leans inward at an
angle of 1°, so that the Gallery is longer in the center than
on the ceiling. This also is required neither for beauty
nor strength. This impending wall is also formed of over-
lapping stones, there being.seven of them, between the
step and the roof.

F g. 54. D, Masonry. A, Upper end of Grand Gallery, dotted lines rep-
resenting- overhanging tiers of masonry on the side. B, Passage to Ante-
chamber. C, Antechamber. E, Point where Floor of Gallery would inter-
sect the passage floor. F, Corner of the Step. Dotted lines at head of
Gallery represents the ''impend" of the wall. East side.

The passage out of the Grand Gallery to the next room,
the Antechamber, is 52.17 inches, or from beginning of
great step, is 112.17 inches. It is 43.7 inches high, 41.4

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

wide. It opens into a room known as the Antechamber, a
sort of waiting room to the King's Chamber beyond. The
Antechamber is 116.26 inches long, 149.3 inches high,
and 62.5 inches wide. It is thus, except in height, an
enlargement of the passage. Its construction is very
peculiar.

On either side of the Antechamber, as represented in
Fig. 58 B, are four grooves, separated by small, narrow

Fig. 56. Pig. 57.

Fig. 55. Horizontal section of Antechamber. Black portions on th"
sides are the grooved sections. Dotted line is the entrance, and opposil ■
are the four grooves over the exit, seen in 57. The change in shaded
lines indicates the change from limestone to granite.

Fig. 56. Masonry of floor of Antechamber, showing elevated stone,
and change from limestone to granite.

Fig. 57. South end of Antechamber, showing four grooves over the
passage to Bang's Chamber.

reliefs or pilasters. These grooves extend up the sides
three-fourths of the height. They, and the ridges between
them, constitute a sort of wainscoting of granite, making
the room several inches narrower. They appear very
much as if made to slide portculli in. The portion divided
off next to the north wall (58-K) is not grooved. In the

A GREAT MYSTERY.

second portion there is a portcullis, as it is called, though
not resembling one in function or shape. (A). It is secure
in its position, stretching across the room at the same
height as the entrance passage, and consists of two slabs
of stone, the upper and lower firmly joined. If it were
dropped, then a person wou d have to climb over it, but
the entrance would not be occluded, there being 21 inches
between it and the north wall. The three grooves (B),
are now nearly obliterated by the barbarians, who hack at
them for specimens. On the surf ace of this portcullis, or

Pig". 58. The Antechamber and head of Grand Gallery. C. Masonry.
B, Grooves in side of antechamber. A, Leaf or Portcullis. D, Overlap-
ping tiers of masonry in sides of Gallery.

"Granite Leaf," as it is called, next the entrance, is a pro.
jection, or relief sculpture. It is sometimes called an
embossing, and very much resembles a crude "handle,"
like those placed at the end of heavy boxes, to lift. It is
about 7x5 inches long and broad. The south wall also
has four grooves, as in Fig. 57, extending from the
entrance up^feo the ceiling. They are narrow, and divide
the wall into five nearly equal ridges. The opening has

Fig. 59. Perspective of Grand Gallery, section at extreme north and lower
end. A, Masonry. B B, Floor, interrupted by the horizontal passage, S, to
Queen's Chamber. C, Missing Rampstone, arrow leading into the Well. D,
Ramps or Benches. E, South Wall. L, Step. N, to Antechamber,

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

been considerably battered on its antechamber end. The
north wall exhibits a rough, unfinished surface. It is
composed of three massive stones.

The material of which the walls and general mass of
the Great Pyramid are composed is limestone. But at
this point, in the antechamber, we come in contact with a
change for granite. This change appears to be methodi-
cal, and made with design to represent something— though
what, is thus far undiscoverable. In the antechamber the
floor is slightly raised for the distance of a single floorstone,
(Fig. 56) where the granite begins. We do not keep a
record of the changes from limestone to granite in the

i !

e iling

Stones.
1 5

i \

3 A

_J3

Floor Stones.

Fig-. 60. North wall of the King's Chamber, showing the stones forming
the five tiers. Junction of floor and ceiling stones shown. A, Entrance
from Antechamber. B, Northern air channel.

construction, but they may be ascertained by following
Prof. Smyth's three volumes on "Life and Work at the
Great Pyramid."

THE KING'S CHAMBER.
Length, 412.14; Breadth, 306.1; Height, 229.90— Pyramid inches.

The passage out of the Antechamber is a continuation

96 A GREAT MYSTERY.

of that into it. It is 100 inches in length, 43.7 in height,
and 41.4 in breadth. It opens into the King's Chamber,
a large and lofty room, apparently the principal interior
construction of the Pyramid. It is 412.13 inches in
length (east and west) 206.3 in breadth, north and south,
and 230.1 high (Pyramid inches). Somewhat unlike the
preceding room, it has no system of peculiar ridges,
grooves or wainscots to vary the walls. They were very
plain, smooth, polished, and exquisitely jointed. Its floor
is on the 50th course of masonry from the base of the
Pyramid. Its entrance is in the extreme lower, eastern
corner of the north wall, as shown in Fig. 60. The sur-
face of the walls and floors are very much marred by
blows, scratches, marks and excavations. There are five
tiers of masonry in the four sides, the upper tier being
composed of very large, broad stones, the lower very
much smaller. There are nine long stones stretching over
it to form the ceiling, two of them at the extreme sides
being only partially visible, as they extend over and
beyond into the masonry of the sides. The joints, courses,
and tiers of the King's Chamber have been a study, and
enter largely into its mathematical relations to the whole.

On the north and south walls are two openings — the
two air holes for ventilation, orifices that extend from the
King's Chamber to the outer world, as seen in Fig. 43.
That on the north wall is only about 8x5 inches, while
that on the south is near 1*7x23 inches. The latter, how-
ever, farther within the masonry narrows down to about
the/proportions of the other. The north air or vent hole
is 233 feet long, and rises at an angle of 33° 42'. The
south hole is 174.25 feet long and rises at an angle of 45°.

Says Bonwick, "The King's Chamber is in spite of the
spoliations, a beautiful, granite- walled apartment. Noble
slabs of granite, 20 feet 'high, [the room not the slabs.]

TARTS AND PROPORTIONS. 97

admirably joined, line the sides. The roof is flat. There
is no furniture but the ever mysterious Coffer or Sarcoph-
agus." Greaves calls it a "rich and spacious chamber, in
which art may seem to have contended with nature." It
has been much mutilated in later years.

THE SARCOPHAGUS OR COFFER.

Length, outside, 90 inches; inside, 77.93 inches.
Breadth, outside, 38.65 inches; inside, 26.73 inches.
Height, 41.17 inches; Depth, 34.34 inches.

This is a hollow rock. It is very finely dressed, polished
and excavated. Its outside length, (mean of variations
of about .5-inch on the sides), 90.01 inches. Mean height,
41.17 inches; mean breadth, 38.65 inches. The west side
and lower surface -are slightly curved. Average thickness
of sides, 5.99 inches; of bottom, 6.92 inches. It lies near
the west side of the room, and is slightly removed from
a north and south position.

This Coffer is made of porphory rock. Its purpose is
a matter of contention. M. Jomard and others have con-
sidered it too small for a sarcophagus, while many have
thought it too large. Its history is appealed to in vain!
There is no record worth noting, of its ever containing a
corpse. And yet there are sarcophagi in other "tombs"
and pyramids of Egypt which resemble this Coffer. But
the same may be said of the entire pyramids. The later
structures may have mistaken the primary mission of the
first in every aspect— or, it may have had its metric prop-
erties added to its functions as a coffin. If other pyra-
mids, with their sarcophagi, were built first, and the kings
of Egypt were in the habit of erecting such structures
for burial, then, probably part of the mission of the Pyr-
amid was to bury Cheops, with all its varied scientific
accompaniments added thereto. But if the Great Pyra-
mid were built first, by an invading shepherd race, and

98 A GREAT MYSTERY.

the inferior giants about it were subsequent imitations,
then was the monarch of mounds built primarily for sci-
entific objects, and used as a tomb secondarily, if at all,
and the imitators built in ignorance of the primary design.

Still, even this conclusion is at fault when we are so
sure that all the Pyramids of Ghizeh were built by the
same race; but it will apply to the native Egyptian pyra-
mids, scattered through the valley.

One curious circumstance is notable, for it affects the
theory that the use of the upper chamber, instead of the
lower, for a tomb, was on account of fear of disturbance
after death. That is — the coffer must have been built in
while the Pyramid was rising, for it is larger than the
passage! Thus we see that during all the years of the
building of the upper half, this coffer was in its chamber;
and if a tomb, would it have been secret to the army of
laborers? Imagine the singular questioning of the mul-
titude constructing that interior, with two large "burial
chambers" in it when they had already run a shaft over
3*70 feet, down into the living rock, for the same object!
Many Arabian writers contend that the coffer did contain
a body. But Diodorus* said: "Although these kings
(Cheops and his brother) intended these for their tombs,
yet it happened that neither of them were buried
there. . . . For the people being exasperated against
them by reason of the toilsomeness of these works, and
their cruelty and oppression, threatened to tear in pieces
their dead bodies, and with ignominy to throw them out
of their sepulchers: whereupon both of them dying, com-
manded their friends privately to bury them in another
place." — (Greaves) .

There are evidences that it once had a lid, the remains

*2,100 years after it was built. 400 after Herodotus— who could get no
sure information from the Egyptians.

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS. 00

of grooves and pin-holes having been found. It was
made of very resonant material, a blow from a hammer
making a loud reverberating report. The vandalism of
modern "ladies and gentlemen" has nearly destroyed its
perfection and beauty by knocking off specimens to orna-
ment some metropolitan mantel among works of virtu.
It should be a mark of disgrace in any parlor or cabinet to
find such fragments, nicely labelled. We see the destiny
of this noble urn which has rested since history's dawn
in polished outline: It is to be scattered over the fire-
places of civilized western hoodlums, who give the Arabs
''baksheesh" for their blows upon its edges!

CHAMBERS OF CONSTRUCTION.

The King's Chamber is not arched or vaulted. It has
only a flat roof, and the immense mass of masonry above
appears to be sustained by the great slabs of stone which
stretch across. But in 1763 Mr. Davison discovered that
directly over the chamber, and almost of equal size, was
a broad low cavity left in the rock. The entrance to this
room was through a forced passage from the extreme
southeastern upper corner of Grand Gallery, as shown in
upper left hand corner of Fig. 43. That this passage had
been forced indicated that the chamber was for ages —
and intended to be for years to come, a sealed room. In
1837, Col. Vyse became convinced that there must be other
resorts to remove superincumbent pressure than this
single, flat room of equal size. He excavated upward
along the east side of the ceiling, as seen in Fig. 61, and
came successively to four more chambers; over the upper
was a ridge roof of massive stones. The ceiling stones
of the "Chambers of Construction," and King's Chamber
are objects of interest. They are all of granite, even in
the upper chamber. Those forming the ceiling of the
King's Chamber are 326 inches long, 60 inches broad and

100 A GREAT MYSTERY.

80 inches high. In all the chambers, especially the King's,
they are highly polished and beautifully joined.

The most singular circumstance connected with the
construction is that a design of some kind is evinced,
beyond the matter of strength, in their method. The
floor of each room is rough, unhewn. Yet the ceiling,
which, as seen in Fig. 61, is not so high as the interven-
ing stones themselves, is finely finished! In the second,
third, fourth and upper chambers are quarry marks in
hieroglyphs to guide the workmen in placing the stones.

They are not cut in, but merely daubs of red paint. It
appears to us that these five chambers, the last links of
space, apparently, in the mighty monument, are of great
significance, and deserve study; it is a matter of regret
that so accurate an observer as Piazzi Smyth did not enter
them, during his "Life and Work," and devote time to
their thorough examination.

The names of the chambers of construction, begin-
ning with the lower, are Davison's, Wellington's, Nelson's,
Arbuthnot's, and Campbell's. The upper, Col. Camp-
bell's, has a "ridge" of "beautifully wrought" stones,
which slope to each other at the peak.

The passage from Grand Gallery to Davison's chamber
is 24 feet 9 inches long. From floor of King's Chamber
to peak of Col. Campbell's chamber is 69 feet 3 inches.
Davison's chamber is from 2 feet 6 in. to 3 feet 6 in. in
height; Wellington's 2 feet 2 to 3 feet S inches; Nelson's
from 2 feet to 4 feet 10 inches; Arbuthnot's from 1 foot
4 inches to 4 feet 5 inches; Campbell's from 5 feet 10
inches to 8 feet 7 inches in height.

Col. toward Vyse found a piece of iron in the masonry
which was transferred to the British Museum.

SSf'".- SSS-S,..

102 A GREAT MYSTERY.

By the discovery of these Chambers of Construction a
very important point was gained in the history of the
Pyramid. Col. Howard Vyse, in 1837, discovered in the
three upper chambers, on the faces of undressed stones,
numerous hieroglyphics. They were red paint daubs,
and demonstrated that there was a brush or pencil litera-
ture as well as stone literature at that time. Among these
hieroglyphs were the cartouches of King Chofo, (Suphis,
Shufu, or Cheops,) and Non-Chofo, (ISJem-Shufu, or Sen-
Suphis), the two brothers who are the supposed builders.

These ovals or cartouches are represented on page 29,
Figs. 7 and 8.

The hidden hieroglyphs confirm the statement that the
entire structure was free from stone hieroglyphs for some
special reason. For these painted marks were undoubt-
edly to guide the workmen, and left in chambers closed,
it was supposed, forever from human eyes. This shows
that the whole building once had them for the same ob-
ject. Their complete removal indicates that there was a
purpose in their erasure. Nor do we have to look far
for a legitimate purpose. It appears reasonable that there
could have been but one object — to distinguish it in de-
sign, origin and theism from those monuments which do
bear the imprint of the Egyptian chisel.

It is in these Chambers of Construction that many have
hoped for a "Key" to the Pyramid. In view of their
position — being the last known cavities in the chain; and
the upward pointing of the higher chamber; the finished
ceiling and rough flooring, indicating some purpose —
these chambers should receive most critical attention. On
tin- other hand, they have been conspicuously neglected.
Their examination may yield a revelation. Even the
entire system of upper passages was discovered by a
falling stone. How much may yet remain for research?

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

103

THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.

The floor:— East and west, 205.6 inches; north and south, 226.4 inches.
Height, to gable, 244.16; to roof, 182.19. Pyramid inches.

There is a horizontal passage which leaves the ascend-
ing, just a few inches within the Grand Gallery; it passes
southward, vertical to the passage above. (S, Fig. 59.) Its
oriffin is 23 inches from the north or lower end of the
Grand Gallery; being, therefore, very near to the missing
ramp-stone and entrance to well. (Fig. 59.) The King's
Chamber, it will be remembered, is on the 50th course of
masonry. The Queen's Chamber rests or floors upon the
•J 5th. To start out upon the 25th course it would have
to leave the passage beiow the lower wall of the Gallery.
But it was designed to start within the Gallery, close to

Looking eastward.

Fig. 62. Section at beginning of the horizontal passage leading to the
Queen's Chamber. C C, ascending passage. B C, plumb line from north
wall of Grand Gallery. AF, sinking 4.7 inches to first horizontal level,
afterwards sinking below line CE. Cto E, 19.9 inches. E to D, 6 inches.

the Well. Hence, it leaves the ascending passage, as
noted, within the Gallery and sinks by two steps to the
required level. (Figs. 62-64.) It will be noticed by Figs.
53 and 59 (where masonry, begins between the ascend-

104 A GREAT MYSTERY.

ing and horizontal passage) that the floor of the horizon-
tal passage continues some distance before the roof begins
— that is the floor of the Grand Gallery is cut away, so
that a person in ascending the Gallery has to climb upon
the ramps or benches to get up to the floor of the Gallery
again . Or, they may by great exertion, if long limbed,
put their feet in the "little graves," holes in side of this
passage, and "straddle-step" up to the floor and climb
upon it.

The total of the horizontal passage, from the north
wall of the Grand Gallery to the Queen's Chamber, is
1519.4 inches. At 765 inches is a small cylindrical hole
in the floor, 8 inches in diameter, and 3 inches deep. At
945.3 is a hole in the middle of the floor, 4 inches in
diameter and 4.5 deep. At 1122.5 inches, is a hole 3 inches
in diameter, "filled with dirt," depth not given. At 1288
inches a hole 2.5 in diameter.

At 1303.3 from north wall of Gallery, is a sudden
change of level in the passage, the roof remaining the
same. The descent is about 20 inches.

The height of this passage may average 46.5 inches,
until the change of level is reached, when its mean is 68
inches. Its width may be placed at 41.75 inches. The
floor of this passage is, of course, limestone, of little
value, and it is in an unfinished, unpolished condition.

As we enter the Queen's Chamber from the long pas-
sage, we find a large, ridge-roofed apartment, with walls
of a fine species of white limestone. After visiting the
Antechamber and King's Chamber, there is a feeling of
disappointment in finding this room so inferior in finish.
The floor is strewn with rubbish, the walls are less perfect,
and there is a general impression produced that it is much
inferior in appointments to the grander chambers above.

PARTS AND PROPORTIONS.

105

It has more of the "dungeon" air about it. Its roof is
ridged east and west, the massive stones passing one
hundred inches into the masonry of the side walls. What
is the object of this no one can explain. Though the
walls have not the granitic finish of the other chambers,
and the floor irregular, the limestone is of an unusually
fine quality, and the wall joints are exceedingly close.

The horizontal passage and the chamber walls exhibit
a saline incrustation, as of nitre or salt. Although this
condition is present in some of the smaller pyramids, it

North WM_L

EAST WALL

Fig-. 63. Plane figure of east and north walls of Queen's Chamber
Entrance at A.

does not pertain to the other passages and chambers. It
is an indication of moisture, though it may proceed from
an abundance of efflorescent salt in the cement.

The dimensions are as follows: East side, 205.6 inches;
west side, 206 inches; south side, 22*7.2 inches; north side,
226.5 inches. Mean of the two sides: — East and west,
205.8; north and south, 225.7 inches. Mean of height,
with ridge, 244.4 inches. Mean height, to ridge, 182.3
inches. Excavations are numerous, and smoke inscrip-
tions deface it. The construction of this chamber does
not confirm the opinion of those who believe the Pyramid

106 A GREAT MYSTERY.

to have been built originally up to the 50th course only,
(King's Chamber), and long afterward completed. For,
were this so, the upper and not the lower chamber would
have been poorly constructed. That this room and pas-
sage, amid such perfect work, should be so imperfect, cer-
tainly implies design; and a design beyond our ken, unless
it be represented among the historical analogies hereafter
presented.

In shape the Queen's chamber is a heptagon, having
seven sides. The roof-sides are 226.7 inches long, same
as sides, and 120.1 on the incline.

Ridge roofs were rare occurrences in Egypt, even for
support. The large Pyramid ceilings were flat.

The most remarkable feature of the room is an immense
niche in the east wall. It is a correct and workmanlike
excavation, as represented in Figs. 63 and 64. Its height
is 185.8 inches, and width at the base, 61.3 inches. It is
composed of five sections of different widths, that next
above the base being 52.3 inches wide; third section, 43.3
inches; fourth section, 34.3, and the upper 25.3 inches.

Its depth is nearly 41 inches, backed by masonry inci-
dentally connected with its construction, which extends
back into the Pyramid much farther than the strongest
dungeon would require. At 38 inches above the floor, a
shelf runs across the niche, above which a hole or excava-
tion extends back into the masonry about 100 inches, all
badly marred by recent excavations. The floor has been
torn up, and the masonry dug out in several places, as
seen in Fig. 64, probably for investigation, possibly in
search for buried treasure.

On the whole, this chamber is an anomaly. The fact
of the incrustations is singular. Nor is the wonder less
when we find no incrustations in the other passages. Alj
walls above the "Falling Stone," were subject to the same

108 A. GREAT MYSTERY.

influences, and both were closed by the same portcullis.

THE AZIMUTH TRENCHES.

"These azimuth trenches, then, are a sort of large
open ditches, spread about here and there on the surface
of the hill before the eastern face of the Great Pyramid;
and not very noticeable, except for their relative angles in
a horizontal plane; for these gave me the idea, at first
sight, of being strangely similar to the dominant angles
of the exterior of the Great Pyramid." — [Smyth).

There remains one thing more in "Parts and Propor-
tions." It is supposed that a hidden chamber exists in
the Pyramid, the discovery of which will throw light
upon its meaning and mission. Among the various causes
for this belief the symbolic is the greater.

At one place on the Pyramid hill are a multitude of
chips of Black Diorite rock. No tomb in the hill, or dis-
covered portion of the Pyramid, is built of this stone ex-
cepting a small place in the descending passage. Hence
it is supposed the undiscovered chamber is lined with it.

This supposition is not unreasonable when we remem-
ber how closely the Pyramid itself was sealed, and how
the entire upward channel was portcullised, and then the
portcullis hidden by masonry.

Fig. 65.

A GREAT MYSTERY. 109

THE MOTIVE.

Before taking up the analysis of the scientific and sym-
bolic character of our subject there is a point worthy of
close attention. It is possible, even extremely probable,
that in some manner the Great Pyramid was built as
a tomb. But a tomb could have been built with great ele-
gance of design or with great simplicity, and still had no
deviations from a complete, harm mious, and distinct
plan. However crude in art or barbaric the artist — however
lithe in design or cumbrous in conception, the effort is
always to symmetry. The failure to attain symmetry
may be complete. The curved lines may be monstrosities,
the angles unfortunate — but the effort is there, and the
proportion, also, though perhaps a very poor one. Thus, if
the builders of the Pyramid designed a tomb with various
chambers, and a heavy stone coffin, and finely built pas-
sages, it was not a difficult matter to build it. Labor an<f
stone were in plenty. That they should have built such
a tomb in certain measurements which represented many
of the more modern and sublime problems in mathematics
was singular, very singular. Yet the student is forced to
admit that a few relations of feet to figures may have been
coincidences. The universality reduces the probability,
but still the possibility remains. Also, with regard to cer-
tain linings on the walls at such distances as would repre-
sent dates, or with proportions of size which give astro-
nomical truths, they may all have been coincidental.

110 A GREAT MYSTERY.

There must have been a motive in these relations. The
very "starting point;" that is, the taking accidentally of a
certain angle as the basic proportion, could not induce
the subsequent measurements. No one will believe it did
so happen. Driven by accumulation of better evidence
than has developed the doctrine of evolution, other and
hasty hypotheses are assumed, (vide, Prof. Proctor.)

This coincidental theory is advanced by a few Pyramid
students. Their number is daily lessening. It is true
that the coincidental may, amid a thousand million
chances, have ruled the progress of its erection in the
purely figurative expression of its volume and contents.

But in morphology there are no coincidences. There
must be a motive. Not a leaf figures its microscopic
shape but from motive in a physical sense. A child can-
not whittle a stick without having in mind some contour
to produce. There are parts of the mighty Pyramid
which never could have been introduced without a motive.

AVe pass by the angles, the star angles of descent and
ascent — the portcullis, its singular sealing — the well, its
partly finished condition, etc. The benches or ramps, the
ramp holes, the step, the raised stone in the floor, the
unfinished and finished walls, the singular antechamber,
etc., etc. Many of these are actual obstacles. Could these
"obstacles" be placed there without a motive? And if a
motive, what could it have been but to represent some-
thing for whosoever unearthed it in future ages? Take
the granite leaf in the Antechamber. It is a couple of
heavy strips, finely joined, stretched across a room just
where it could possibly have no architectural object. It
has been called a portcullis. The foolishness thereof
is inexpressible. If it could slide, it would interrupt no
passage. But it cannot; it rests at either end, in the

THE MOTIVE. Ill

sides of the room, on good solid granite. And what of
the relief sculpture like a handle, on it? A 7 inch handle
in the Pyramid? We might mention the slight elevation
so cleanly cut in floor of Antechamber, and other equally
singular features. These all point to a motive, and place
the interior construction of the Pyramid far beyond the
coincidental, for these elements are only factors in a
grand whole, and whatever may have been the motive for
the great step, was the motive also for the thousand sing-
ular proportions which a few hardy disputants relegate to
the coincidental.

It is not claimed that the motive of the building is yet
discovered, but multitudes of the details have been appro-
priated, and those, in a measure, we will try to represent.

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SYMBOLIC ANALYSIS.

CHRONOLOGY.

It is confidently asserted that the Channels of the
Groat Pyramid represent the important events in history;
but more particularly the varied course of that great
stream of theosophy which originated in the earliest
epoch, and subsequently became the mission of the Jew-
ish race — to perpetuate until the time of Jesus Christ.

We now come to the most remarkable series of scien-
tific demonstrations of a religious proposition that the
philosopher has ever pondered over. Science has thus
been made the exponent of religion. Never has proph-
ecy held the reigns over positive philosophy, as she thus
holds mathematics as a factor in the demonstration of the
religious symbolism of the Pyramid.

The great proposition upon which the Chronology of
the Pyramid is based, and also upon which the apparent
prophecy depends, is that an inch represents a year. This
is an important proposition. Of course this foundation,
alone, would not stand unless sustained by very strong
evidence — such as appeals directly to the mathematical
rather than the speculative faculty; and having a reasona-
ble demonstration that the inch does represent one year,
many flaws in a chain of events will not destroy the prob-
able involution of the principle.

The basis for the inch-year proposition is startling in

its distinctness.

The longest measurement in the Pyramid, in inches,

113

114

A GKEAT MYSTERY.

is equal to the longest measurement of time in the uni-
verse, as known to us. The longest measurement is the
diagonal of the base. The base surface is a square
having 9131 inches on a side, and its diagonal is conse-
quently 12,913.34 inches. There are two of these diag-
onals, and together they make exactly 25,826.68 inches.
(Fig. 70.)

Is there any thing remarkable in this number? There
are two years known in the measurement of time. One,
the solar year, is the revolution of the earth about the

Fig. 70.

Fig. 69. A, B, C, Portion of the Pyramid above floor of King's Chamber.
A, H, H, The entire Pyramid. A, D, Vertical, which is a ralius of 4110.5
inches. Continued to E is the diameter of the circle F, 25,836.68 inches in
circumference. C, D, is also one side of a square, (6456.75 inches), the lour
Bides of which equal 25,826.68 Inches.

Fig. 70. Square base of the Pyramid, 9131 inches on a side, and two diag-
onals of 12913.84 inches each.

sun. It takes 365.242 days for the circuit. But the long-
est measurement of time known to us is the "Precessional
Cycle." This is the revolution of the whole starry host
about an apparent axis, the star Alcyone, of the Group
Pleiades. This is observed by the fact that the stars rise
about 50 seconds later, each year. For this complete cir-
cuit of the heavens, (apparently around Alcyone), and
the close of the cycle, it requires just 25,826.68 yeavs. Sin-
gular that the longest linear agrees with the iongest circle

CHRONOLOGY. 115

time — counting inches for years? One relation of this
kind may be coincidental. In this problem just given
we present the evidence of the dominant or principal
square in the Pyramid, its two diagonals giving the above
result; each diagonal is, of course, the hypothenuse of
a triangle, and the result may be called the demonstration
of the triangle.

Jas. French says: — "We would look, however, for the
demonstration of a circle, in a problem involving the rev-
olution of the heavens." On the level of the King's
Chamber, at the 50th course of masonry, this is secured.

It will hereafter appear that this level is an important
point for measurements, giving ample reason for looking
to it for the solution of such a problem. The discovery
was made by Prof. Hamilton L. Smith, of Geneva, N. Y.
The height of the Pyramid, above the level of the King's
Chamber floor is 4110.5. This is the radius of a circle
which is equal in measurement to the perimeter of the
square at the point of truncation — that is, the surface of
the base of a pyramid, cut off at the floor of the King's
Chamber, (or the top surface of the truncated pyramid
left when it is removed,) is 6456.67 on a side.

We mention this to show that this radius (the 4110.5) is
not taken hap-hazard, but of all radii presented, is the one
to be chosen — the radius producing a circle equal to the
base of a pyramid whose vertical it is. This radius of
4110. 5 doubled for a diameter and multiplied by 3.14159 to
get the circumference, = 25.827 inches, the length of the
processional cycle. This is the demonstration of a circle.

Now among the dominant measurements of the Pyra-
mid, as already mentioned, is the level of the King's
Chamber floor. On the outside of the square, each side
gives 6456.67 inches. The four sides give, as before,

116 A GREAT MYSTERY.

the consummation of the greatest cycle of time — exactly
25,826.68 years are required. Is it singular that the long-
est linear of the Pyramid should agree with the circle of
25.827 inches? This is the demonstration of the square.

Thus the testimony of the triangle, circle and square
evidences the time values of linear measures in the Pyra-
mid.

There are other propositions which indicate that the
inch may represent a year. For instance, a certain mark
in the wall in the descending passage is at such a distance
in inches from the north wall of the Grand Gallery, that
412.55 inches (length of King's Chamber) added to it, will
give the precessional number 25,82*7 in tenths.

These demonstrations of the relation of length to time
are greatly strengthened by the time data of other parts
of the Pyramid, as given on another page. For instance,
the base of the Pyramid is a number of which the days
and the fraction of a day in a year is a factor together
with the ancient sacred cubit. (365.242x25=9131).

Supposing it to be fairly demonstrated that an inch
linear represents a year, the next step is equally difficult
to establish, — where shall the era of the world's history
begin? And when the starting point is found, the great
events of history must correspond exactly with it. Thus,
with the above inch-year demonstrated; a reasonable start-
ing point proposed; and the greatest events of time filled
into the various niches, — it is not difficult to believe the
chronological import of the Pyramid. If a person were
called upon to state what event had modified and con-
trolled the current of history, antecedent and subsequent,
more than any other — be he theist or atheist — there could
be but one answer. The world's hopes, as developed and
"chrysalized" in every known religion, looked forward to a

CHRONOLOGY.

11*

Prince in the religious sphere who was to redeem human-
ity. Every war for 18 hundred years has turned upon
the Birth of Christ, or been modified by the creed of bis
Church. Every political intrigue, and every national con-
stitution is shadowed by the cross or crescent, both of
which proclaim Christ the "Greatest of Prophets."

This is the one event which has universally modified
history, both antecedent and subsequent. It may be either
the Birth or Death of Christ. Whatever may be our
belief in reference to the mission, the historical importance
of his appearance is paramount. From a religious stand-
point the Birth is recognized as the beginning of the era,
from the fact of prophecy pointing to that time, and the
"star in the east" then appearing. From a purely histori-
cal standpoint its importance is testified by the beginning
of a new chronology in Christendom.

The point selected on general principles to represent
the Birth of Christ is the north wall of the Grand Gallery.
This selection is borne out, first, by its "fitting" other
events and marks; and, second, by a peculiar astronom-
ical proof.

During the 25,82*7 years of the precessional cycle the
pole star, or nearest pole star, changes. At or about the
supposed date of the building of the Pyramid the pole
star was a Draconis. This star, however, was 3°42' away
from the real pole of the heavens, and the revolution of
the earth about its axis would make it appear sometimes
3°42' above, and again 3°42' below the real polar point, a
difference of 7°24'. Inclination of the earth's axis being
30°, the upper culmination of Draconis was 33°4l'24".
Its lower culmination was 26° 18' 10".

This lower culmination is very nearly the line of the
descending passage. If a line be drawn as from C to S,

118 A. GREAT MYSTERY.

(Fig. 66) from the base center of the Pyramid toward Dra-
conis at its lower culmination, S, it will pass through the
intersection of floor and north * all at the extreme lower
and northern point of the Grand Gallery, (on a surface
"elevation," as in the figure). Another line drawn from
C to R, towards Draconis at its upper culmination will pass
through the intersection of the roof and north or lower
end of Grand Gallery. Now this may be taken as evi-
dence that the beginning of the Grand Gallery was an
important point in the Pyramid measures. But to make
it still more important, or to indicate that this position of
the Grand Gallery was not accidental, if we draw a line
from C to the exact north pole of the heavens, parallel to
the earth's inclination it will pass through the end of the
Grand Gallery midway from floor to roof — and at this

I point a long line, extending the full length of the Gallery
is graven in the rock! This line is 1878.4 inches long;
in relation to the symbolisms of the Gallery it may indi-

, cate the beginning in 18*78 of the influence of the great
i perihelia of planets in 1881, a most remarkable astronom-
ical "landmark."

This evidence of the importance of the North end of
the Grand Gallery is not complete, however, until a line
is drawn on the plate, from V to d> intersecting X and
pointing to Alcyone, the star around which the precession-
al cycle occurs. It will also intersect the graven line at
the same point as the 30° line from C to P.

Another prominent reason for taking the north wall of
Gallery for Birth point of Christ is the following :

From the north wall down to the ascending passage to
junction of descending, up descending, a total distance
of 2170.536 inches, is a line graven in the wall of the pas-
sage, seen at e, Fig. 66. If the length of the King's Cham-

CHRONOLOGY.

119

berbe added to this (412.132 inches) the total is 2582.-
668 inches, just one tenth of the precessional cycle.

The great value of this incident is that the number
25,826.68 could not bear a relation to so many measure-
ments without design.

Admitting that the location of zero in our chronology
is at the north wall, and every inch is equal to one year,
let us see what dates are recorded:

Down ascending passage to floor junction of descend-
ing passage, (Fig. VI), from H to I is 1291.2 inches, H
to O is 1482, H to L 1542. From C, (the axis line of pas-

CR^Y

Fig. 71. Measurements at the junction of the p. ssages from the north
wall of Grand Gallery. C, A, B, P, E, Axis of ascending passage — which
is shortened in the figure. Upper end of Portcullis as at present chipped
away.

sage) to F is 1532.8, and to E is 1562.8 inches. We
would take the dominant measure to* be the floor line
from H to L. These are English inches excepting from H
to L, which are Pyramid inches.

Now these dates must be B. C, and 1542 is the sup-
posed date of the "Burning Bush," at which time Moses
received his first mission to take the children of Israel
out of Egypt. 1482 is very near.y the date of the Exodus.
Thence passing up the descending passage to the extreme
point of the present floor — or to where it met the layer

120 A GREAT MYSTERY.

of rock which backed the casing stones, we reach 2527
inches, which is represented as the "Dispersion," or the
breaking up of the human race into different nations.
Although these dates are far from being well established,
and fall short of the demonstration given to the inch-year
proposition, still one or two quite remarkable incidents
have occurred in discovering them.

Mr. Casey, a Pyramid student of great application,
wrote to Prof. Smyth that if these passages were chrono-
logical they certainly would have some mark to indicate
its own erection. And as the date of the erection had
been almost positively fixed at the beginning of the pre-
cessional cycle in 2170 B. C, Mr. Casey added, "Accord-
ing to this theory [inch-year] that date must be three or
four hundred inches down inside the top or mouth of the
entrance passage. Is there any mark at that point?"

The Astronomer Royal hastened to his notes, computed
the distance, and lo! There graven in the wall, on either
side, was a line perpendicular to floor of passage, as seen
in Fig. 48, 2170 inches from the Grand Gallery ! No one
will be so foolish as to suppose chance engraved these
lines!

The next feature after the birth of Christ, or the north
wall, is the Crucifixion, and just 33 inches up the Grand
Gallery is the mouth of the Well, descending down into
the Subterranean Chamber, or the grave. The analogy
is carried still farther by the forcible removal of the ramp
stone to get to the well, (p. 87). There are many features
about this Gallery that are appropriated for symbols of the
Christian dispensation. Some of them are exceedingly
imaginative. The ramp holes being open, are designated
as graves, open because Christ has opened them by his
death. Against each ramp hole in the wall is set a finely

CHRONOLOGY. 121

cut stone of certain height. This is represented as sym-
bolizing the flight of the soul. The size of the ramp
holes is 7 by 8 inches. Seven is, in mystic numbers, the
sign of the consummation, and eight refers to new life.
The seven tiers of overlapping stones, either side, are re-
ferred to the seven churches of Asia. The 36 roof-stones
are supposed to represent the 36 months of Christ's min-
istry, extended over the entire period of the Christian
dispensation. Whatever the future of the Pyramid's
chronology, at present it is a tangled thread, with a few
gleams in the shape of dates which fit the inches, but re-
moved apparently from connecting links *

There are many strong analogies, but liable to error—
which time alone can correct. The upper end of the
Grand Gallery, with its three foot step, is made to yield
a multitude of coincidences connected with the advance-
ment of civilization, religion, and human freedom, during
this latter day. Probably a most important part is the
"impending" wall at the south end, (p. 90), and the nar-
row passage beyond, which symbolizes the. closure of the
present epoch, and the end of the age, though not the
world.f The narrowness of the passage out of the Grand
Gallery signifies great tribulation to fall upon the earth
from 1881-2 to 1886. As this is the age of the great
planetary perihelia, the probabilities of its correct proph-
ecies are startling indeed.

CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES.

The length of the Grand Gallery on the graven line, is
only ms^ years or incheydue to "impend" of 1° fFiff

dates are com'S by tefai"\"fe„by WhlCh a number of remarkable

terp^oHfiS

and the modern Spiritist* ?B?E^J£3Zg%g^ £&&

122

A GEEAT MYSTERY.

72.) The Evangelical Alliance was formed at that time.
The length of Grand Gallery on the floor, from the
north wall to step at a, is 1812.986 inches. The base
measure of the Pyramid, 9131.05 inches, divided by five*
is equal to 1826.21, which reaches to R, on an imaginary
continuation of floor line, r is 13.224 from a. This is
also the distance from l to m. The full Gallery length,

LOOKING WEST

OEM

Fig. 72. Chronology of the Antechamb.r, etc. X, Grand Gallery. Y,
Antechamber. Z, Passages. H, Plumb line showing the impend of south
wall of Grand Gallery.

This is also the length of the
The coincidence indicates some

1878.4—1826.21=52.19.
passage e to l, or i to k.
significance in the date.

The north wall of the Antechamber is rough, unfinished.
The other sides are finely finished. This indicates that
the north wall is not used for the same purposes as the
others, and we naturally take it to be chronologically mis-
placed. This displacement is put at 55.74 inches, lor
this reason: The entire length of the Antechamber is
116.26 inches. From m to n, the first granite block, the
floor is raised 3-10ths of an inch. The north wall being
displaced, it is natural to connect this raised stone with its
correction. From n to v is a distance of 55.74. If the

♦Five is what is called a "Pyramid number." That is, five enters into its
construction so often as to call attention thereto. It has five sides. The
King's Chamber is on the 50th course of masonry; the Queen's is on the
25th. The King's Chamber has five tiers of masonry in its walls, so placed
with great precision. Various other instances are noted.

CHRONOLOGY. 123

south wall (v) be brought forward to n, the displaced wall
will reach to s, 3.55 inches into the Gallery, leaving a w all
over 3 inches thick, from s to where the Gallery wall
would be if vertical, (the line p).

We differ somewhat from this view. The granite ele-
vation would extend to l if the explanation be — that the
entire Antechamber was to be moved. The south wall
would then also be roughened. The elevation indicates
that both m and is have an import. The extreme end of
the entrance passage (Fig. 48) is 2527 inch-years from
the north wall. 55.74 inches added to it gives the preecs-
sional cycle, within a small error, as obtained by 2170+
412.132, (p. 116). The latter equation shows that nearly i/
56 inches more are required in the channel line. From n
to v supplies the deficiency. But how about the displaced
wall? From l to m is 13 + inches. If the unfinished l
were placed at m, against the elevation and the beginning
of the granite, what displacements would it correct? It
would put G over b, where it architecturally belongs! And
chronologically it would bring a to r, in accordance with
the note on page 122.

Several recent works on chronology unite upon 4104 B.
C. as the limit of man's history. The 6000 years of the
Bible would then terminate in 1896. The Gallery floor to
a gives 1812. 9S6 years, and computed to b, 1896.1785.* b
is the north and south vertical center of the Pyramid.

2582.668, the precessional cycle in tenths, added to the
width of the King's Chamber, 206.066,=2788.734, the
time set by Prof. Smyth, astronomically, for the Flood.

25,826.68 inch-years, the great cycle, divided by 25, (the
number of inches in a sacred cubit)=1033.0672; the 1000
years are symbolical, and the odd 33.0672 equals 33 years,
24 days, and 13 hours, the lime of Christ's ministry on
earth. Single coincidences are slight evidences, but two
distinct and separate coincidences in the same problem,
pointing to the same conclusion, show that somewhere in
the mazes is a thread connecting and corroborating them. '
Hence this relative coincidence has a value: 116.26 inch-

*This measurement to A and from A to B has since been modified so
that B represents 1894.

124

A GREAT MYSTERY.

years, (length of Antechamber) — 83.1925, (the inch -years
from a to b) also =33.067+.

The chronological import of the Queen's Chamber and
its passage, is involved in even greater doubt than the
upper channel. Some writers believe its rough, horizon-
tal plane and rugged outline represents the career of the
Jews, as distinct from Christendom. We will suggest
that if the modern theoiy of identity between the lost ten
tribes of Israel and the Anglo-Saxon race be true, that
the diverging channels, which deviate at the symbol of
the death of Christ, represent the history of both branches
of the great Semitic race.

It is objected that their history could not be contempo-
raneously represented by passages which differ in length.

Mr. Thomas Wilson, a prominent and careful Pyramid
student, claims* that the horizontal passage goes 25.JPin.
beyond the vertical axis which strikes the upper passage

Fig. 73.

at b, Fig. 72. But he also states that the year-space in
the lower passage is 1.115 inches instead of one inch. We
presume this is represented in Fig. 73. a b is a line on
the incline. The same distance carried horizontally will
extend to f, or c d becomes c e. Hence, the horizontal
passage must be longer contemporaneously.

But is it true that the inch year should be lengthened?
If modified at all should it not be shorter on the horizon-

*' Our Rest," June, 1879. A journal devoted to Pyramid study. Thomas
Wilson, Publisher, Chicago.

CHRONOLOGY. — ASTRONOMY. 125

tal? Does not the horizontal inch extend .115 farther
into a chronologically constructed whole Pyramid than
the inclined inch — and therefore compass too much? On
the other hand, is not the modification of the inch in any
direction destructive of the very process by which the
inch-year is established? This change of values also re-
quires alteration of the time measures on the plane of the
Antechamber. Still again, the vertical axis is not a fac-
tor, justly, in this mensuration, when it passes many feet
to the west without intersection. Even though it did
intersect, its point on the passages is a matter of dispute
between Jomard, Vyse, Wilkinson, Smyth, etc. It is pos-
sible that the termination of the horizontal passage may
represent the end of the Jewish wanderings, and restora-
tion to their own land, Palestine.*

The Flood. — If our race were nearly or quite des-
troyed by a Flood in ages past, the Pyramid would cer-
tainly record it. Prof. Smyth has reasoned from certain
physical and astronomical data that the Flood occurred
2800 B. C. Bishop Usher's Biblical chronology gives it
2349 and other versions 3246 B.C. The mean of these* is
2797. The Pyramid has a significant feature which points
directly to this event. As already noticed, the entrance
passage is too short by nearly 56 inches to chronicle the
Great Year of the Pleiades. Then it is too short to denote
the Flood. But for some reason the masonry at the outer
end is doubled upon itself. (Fig. 48). This fold is 216
inches, which added to the outer end, 2527, gives 2743 —
the year of the Deluge — the beginning of the history of
the present inhabitants of the earth.

ASTRONOMICAL RELATIONS.

The entrance angle of the Great Pyramid is such that
in the year 2170 B. C. the then North Star a Draconis,

♦Recent political and meteorological conditions p^>int to this with start-
ling distinctness : The close of the prophetic season of tribul tion; the
decay of the Ottomin Empire; the imperial influence of D'Israeli on the
Eastern Question ; the past due mortgages which the Rothchilds hold on
Palestine, which the Turkish Government does not attempt to pay; the
great change in the climate of Palestine, rainfalls being again abundant,
and her vineyards blooming as of old— all are "signs" of an approaching
change in Jewish history.

126 A GREAT MYSTERY.

shone directly down its dreary length — to the subterran-
ean Chamber. No other light than the dim radiance of
"The Dragon" ever penetrated it. At the same time
2170 B. C, the axis star of the heavens, Alcyone, shone
brightly over the apex. This occurs, as indicated before
once in 25,826.68 years. Alcyone was the Greek "Hal-
cyon,"— happy star. As Alcyone was Queen of the Plei-
ades, their "sweet influences" (Job) were peculiarly the
Great Pyramid's benediction. This year, (2170 B. C), the
year of the Pyramid's erection, confirmed by the graven
line in descending passage, was known in astronomy as
the "Great Year of the Pleiades."

Sun's Distance. — The angle of the Pyramid's sides is
6uch that for every nine inches of vertical the side meas-
urement is 10. Also the diagonal of the base, given in
Fig. 70, bears the same relation to the sides. Now the
vertical height of the Pyramid, 5813 inches, multiplied
by 10 raised to the 9th power equals 5,819,000,000,000
inches, which are equal to 91,840,270 miles, the correct
distance of the sun from the earth!

Regarding this figure, there has been much discussion
in the astronomical world. When the sun's distance
from us was first given by astronomical computation, the
received opinion of the savants was 95,000,000 miles,
and the former estimate received no little ridicule. The
latter number had even been increased by what were then
recent calculations. A writer in "Our Rest" compends
the history of "sun science" as follows: "The ancients
estimated the distance of the sun from the earth at 10
miles;* it was increased afterward to 10,000 miles; then
it ran up to about 2,500,000; it then took another leap to

•He might have said "the ancient Egyptians," for such was the case until
more than a thousand years after the Pyramid was built.

ASTRONOMY. 127

some 36,000,000; early in this century it reached 95,000-
000 miles; then it decreased to 91,500,000 miles; again it
increased to 92,500,000, [most astronomers put it at 95,-
000,000]; now it is estimated at 91,840,000 miles." No
common language will describe the thrill which elec-
trified Pyramid students when the extensive and expensive
observations recently taken of the "transit of Venus," —
observed in every part of the world — gave the astound-
ingly parallel result of 91,840,000 miles. This is just 240
miles f i om the Pyramid estimate — with a parallax of 8.879
seconds of a degree? ThenZes Mondes, of Paris, truly
remarked, "The Great (Grande) Pyramid has conquered?"

Not only does the Pyramid give the sun's distance, but
it gives very precise data regarding the earth's size, spe-
cific gravity, etc. The distance of the sun is obtained,
as mentioned, by multiplying the vertical of the Pyramid
by 10 raised to the 9th power. If this result, 91,840,270,
be divided by twice the vertical of the Pyramid we get
7,899.56, which in miles is the exact diameter of the
earth,

Another astronomical feature is that the perimeter of
the Pyramid's base is equal to the circumference of a
circle whose diameter is also twice the vertical of the
Pyramid. The circle's circumference is 36524 inches.

9131, the number of inches on a side, multiplied, by
four the number of sides, equals 36524, inches. Also,
5831, the number of inches in the vertical, multiplied by
two to get the diameter of a circle, and then multiplied
by 3.14159 to get the circumference, equals 36524.12534.
(Fig. 75.)

The number is peculiar, for if the decimal be placed two
points to the left it represents the number of days and
fraction of a day required for one complete revolution of

128

A GREAT MYSTERY.

the earth about the sun=a year. The fraction is not exact,
but a correction of one-tenth of an inch in the base side,
or the diameter of the circle, (one- tenth of an inch in
about 10000 inches) would remedy the defect — acd we are
not that certain of the measurements given. The subject
of days will come hereafter.

The above two problems show the importance, in Pyra-
mid measurements, of the circle whose radius is equal to
the height of the Pyramid. The diameter of this circle
into the earth-sun distance equals the earth's diameter.
The circumference equals the number of days in a year
with the decimal point placed two degrees to the right.

Fig. 74. A, Pyramid. E, Equator. N, North polo. S, South pole.

Under the head of astronomical relations come many
singular cosmical facts. For instance, the Pyramid is
placed on a certain parallel of latitude, and being there,
is, of itself, sufficient evidence that it was so placed by
design. A line drawn through the Great Pyramid, around
the earth, parallel to the Equator, will divide the land

ASTRONOMY. 129

surface ot the globe into two equal sections. It will
be that parallel which covers more land surface than
any other line which can be drawn. However slight this
circumstance may appear at first glance, under the light
of the other mathematical relations, and a fragment of
history which has descended to us, it becomes the most
important fact ever chronicled in the history of science,
and may lead yet to most important discoveries. It is
folly to intimate that the ancients, in general, understood
the size and shape of earth. The common people cer-
tainly did not. All written testimony, and all inscribed
science, teaches the belief in flat surfaces, or imaginary
supports for the eirth. But farther still, how could they
have known of the vast territory of Australia and Aus-
tralasia? Or the great Continent of America? Yet not
only does the Pyramid's exact location monumentalize
the existence of continent*, but it "weighs them in the
balances" of some Almighty power — grander than in-
stinct, more sublime than human intellect, more techn'cal
and intricate than coincidence or clairvoyance!

But some doubting one may suggest: "It was erected
in Egypt; Ghizeh offered a suitable spot; it was coinci-
dence— not that the Pyramid was built there, — but that
the Egyptians were there!" True, if the Pyramid were
built by the Egyptians, and were shorn of all these won-
ders except such as an ignorant but warlike people could
have produced. But the other wonders are there, and
this is with them; and no historian can consistently state,
although he may deem it possible, that the Egyptians
built it. A wonderful testimony is given by Josephus,
a writer who had the most intimate acquaintance with
the pre-Hebraic theosophic history of any ancient writer.
He makes an untrimmed assertion that the God fearing

130 A GREAT MYSTERY

son's of Seth, seeing the knowledge which came to them
from a divine source, dying out, built two monuments —
one of brick and one of stone.* This stone monument
was to contain the science of the universe. And of
course, they built it at home where they could best labor
and study — in Chaldea! Not so. For from some impulse
— or guidance — or scientific knowledge, they went to that
point on the earth's surface where it alone could unlock
these mysteries of cosmos — to the "Siriad," or Egypt.
"N~or could they have selected a less likely location from
a human standpoint — for at that time Chaldea and Pales-
tine were the Garden of the world, while Egypt was an
oasis, peopled by descendants of Ham, the banished one
— a race cursed in the Bible by terrible prophecies which
have been fulfilled to the very letter. Put this statement
of Josephus by the side of the tradition of Melchizedek
and Philitis, and the history of Herodotus, and then ask,
Who built the Pyramid? A foreign, or a native race?
But to secure that parallel which divided the earth's
land surface in halves was not the only object in building
the monument in Egypt. As will be shown hereafter, the
shape of the Pyramid gives us the quadrature of the circle.
To do this required a certain shape and certain construc-
tion, and that construction produced a certain Azimuthal
indication of latitude. That indication was for the 30th
parallel — the only parallel on the globe where the geo-
metrical and astronomical relations would harmonize!

*"They were the inventors of the peculiar sort of wisdom which is con-
cerned with the heavenly bodies and thei;- order. And as Adam predicted
that the world was to be destroyed at one time by wate.-, and another
time by fire, they made two pillars, one of brick, and another of stone, so
that if the brick pillar was [were] destroyed, the stone mi;ht remain and
exhibit their discoveries to mankind. Now this stone pillar remains in the
land of Siriad [Egypt) to this day."— (Josephus* Antiquities, Book 1, Sea
2 .and 3.)

JLSTRONOMY.

131

We have not the space to work out this problem, but it
indicates a God-like intelligence to have originally con-
ceived it. The latitude of the Pyramid is now given as
29°56'6", involving a possible error of 54" in the 1,296,-
000" in the earth's circumference — possibly due to our
faulty instrumentation, or possibly an azimuthal change
in polar axis during 5,000 years. It will be farther
noticed that the Pyramid axis (Fig.74) is about 53° from
the Plane of the Heavens. Now we know the earth
to be spheroidal in shape. Hence, is not the circumfer-
ential difference from S to C less than C to A? There-
fore, would 30° of latitude from the equatorial axis, on
the earth's suiface represent 55.5° from the Plane of the

I GO

I YEAR

9/3/

PERIMETER

/ a y

Fi.ir. 75-6. Quadrature of the circle having the Pyramid-height for a
radius, and the perimeter of the base, both equalling 100 years.

Heavens? We put the proposition plainly — that the 56"
of deviation of the Pyramid's latitude from 30° is neither
an error of instrumentation, nor a change in polar axis,
but represents the spheroidal shape of the earth !

The Great Pyramid gives an approximate measurement
of the earth's size in two ways. (The word "approximate"
signifies fallibility in our measurements). 1st, by breadth:
A band around the earth, the breadth of the Pyramid base,
contains 100,000,000,000 square feet. The diameter*of

*By a Pyramid Pi calculation.

132 A GREAT MYSTERY.

such a band is 500,946,700 inches. 2nd, by height: The
height of the Pyramid multiplied by 270,000, divided by
3.14159-f- to get diameter, gives us very nearly even 500,-
000,000 inches, which is the polar diameter. The reason
it is multiplied by 270,000 is that a circle equal to the
area of the square base is 270,000 inches in circumference.
It is plain tnat a mind who could provide for such vast
mensuration understood the shape of the earth.

Our space will not permit following the astronomical
and cosmical features farther; but the mine is scarcely
opened; while if the key to the Great Monument were in
our possession, these disconnected items would doubtless
take proper and harmonious place in a complete and reas-
onable whole.

Orientation. — The almost astronomically exact orien-
tation of the Great Pyramid is indeed a remarkable fea-
ture. Without knowledge of the earth's shape, or motions,
and an exact line from Alcyone to Draconis, the east-and-
west and north-and-south direction of the sides could not
have been accomplished.* It never did occur in other
ancient buildings. Glidden remarks that this feature
indicates that they were familiar with the compass, but
it is known that there the needle points several degrees
west of the direct north pole. The sun's rising would
have been of no avail, for it varied from equinox to equi-
nox. Altogether, the placing the structure east and
west correctly is corroboration of the astronomical date
of the Pyramid's erection.

The polar axis of the earth is generally accepted as
500,000,000 Pyramid inches. Twice the height of the
Pyramid in inches (5813) equals 11626, or just 100 times
the length of the ante-chamber. Now multiply the polar
diameter by this, and reduce to miles, and we have 91,745,-

*Prof . Proctor to the contrary notwithstanding-. Approximate orienta-
tion, as by the compass, and exact orientation, are not more at variance
than are some of Prof. P.'e theories and the Pyramid facts.

METRICAL SYSTEM. 133

580 miles — very nearly the distance of the snn, and agree-
ing with a strong report of a section of the observers of
the recent transit of Venus.

THE METRICAL SYSTEM.

All of our readers are doubtless aware that the French
Government seek the universal adoption of their metrical
system for weights and measures. That is, that weights
and measures should increase and. decrease by a scale of
10, having the 1 -ten-millionth part of the earth's polar
quadrant for a standard. (Fig. 74.) This was called A
"meter."

The principle involved in a decimal system is a good
one, but the radical adoption of a system which would
overturn the weights and measures of centuries would
prove a national calamity. And still, were it necessary,
to attain the actual benefits, to make a sacrifice, the world
at large would undertake it. But the French system is
based upon two remarkable and acknowledged errors — a
theoretical, in taking for a standard a circle, which never
has nor can be measured ; a practical blunder in measur-
ing incorrectly the arc selected.

The great difficulty in fixing unalterable weights and
measures is to secure an unvarying standard — one which
the heat and cold of climate, electric conditions, and the
interference of man can never modify. Standards pre-
served at the national capitals will shrink, corrode, or be
modified by the changing current of politics. The .001
of an inch may make little difference in one foot, but
might put a man's farm under the sea!

The French nation adopted as a standard the one ten-
millionth of a quadrant of the earth's circumference on
a meridian at Paris. This was a product of the "reign of
reason," when a nude strumpet was set upon a throne as
the intellectual deity — during the Revolution. The circle

134 A GREAT MYSTERY.

is an incommensurable, the arc not much better. But
this arc describes a section of a spheroid! The effort to
establish a standard on any curved line was unscientific.
This new standard — 1 ten-millionth of the quadrant — was
called a meter, and is 39.3'70'79-j- inches in length — that
is, it is thus computed. It is too small, however, by
l-3500th. They also had the misfortune, in producing a
cognate standard of density, to get spurious metal mixed
with the cube, and untold calculations are incorrect. It
was meet product for the age that brought it forth.

The Pyramid has a metric system sanctified by the ages,
which can teach modern science much, and modern anti-
quarians more. It is thoroughly scientific, of Biblical
authority, and what is of great importance, agrees with
the almost universal Anglo-Saxon large and small stand-
ards. The word "Pyramid" is derived from "Pyr" divi-
sion, and "met" ten, in the ancient language of Egypt,
and of the Copts. The most remarkable defense that can
be offered for its standard is that it is the only correct
one possible to obtain — taken from the only straight line
on or in the earth, one that is mathematically immoveable.
This is the polar radius, or one-half the axis of revolu-
tion— the polar axis. The polar diameter is reckoned at
500,500,000 Anglo-Saxon (our own) inches, or 500,000,000
Pyramid inches. 1-500,000,000 of this calculation equals
1.001 of our inches, or 1 Pyr. inch. This very small dif-
ference is due to the loss the English inch has sustained
in 4000 years. This "inch universal," or "thumb breadth,"
is the Pyramid standard linear, and under some title is
used by races scattered over the whole earth. It is a part
of the natural system embracing the thumb, palm and
arm. The "sacred cubit" of the Jews was 25 inches in
length, a "cubit and a hand-breadth."

This cubit, which often appears in the construction of

THE CUBIT. 135

the Pyramid, is 1 -ten-millionth of the earth's half axis
of revolution,* or straight line used by the Pyramid to
establish the inch. It is a cubit of most remarkably an-
cient history, being known as the measure "given by Jeho-
vah to the Jews" to build all the sacred appurtenances of
worship, including the temple and contents.

In the Pyramid it occurs prominently as follows: It is
the measure of the top of the great niche in the Queen's
Chamber, (p.l06).f In order to ascertain the number of
days in a year, the base line is divided by that number
which is a factor with 365.242, — the cubit of 25 inches.
The embossing on the granite portcullis in antechamber,
is supposed to be a cubit divided by live, being five inches
long. Its height, from granite leaf, is one-fifth of its
breadth or just one-inch.

The length of the King's Chamber is 412.132 inches.
Now 412.132 cubits is the diameter of a circle whose area
equals the square base of the Pyramid, which is 365.242
cubits on a side; and, on the other hand, a square having
412.132 cubits on a side is of equal area to a circle whose
radius is equal to the height of the Pyramid, 232.520
cubits. Does any one imagine that these relations, which
can be greatly extended — correct to a fraction — could
occur if this cubit were not involved in the construction?

It may be of note that not only is the sacred cubit em-
ployed, and the inch which has come down to us from a
remote antiquity, but the coffer in the King's Chamber is
of exactly the same cubical capacity as the "Ark of the
Covenant," of the Hebrews. This Coffer is a most
wonderful object. It is the great standard, of which the
modern British Quarter measure is just one-fourth! Eng-
lish people who measure a quarter of wheat do not real-
ize that their standard chauldron is in the Pyramid! Is

*See Fig. 74. From D to E is the French quadrant standard^ From
E to center is the Pyramid "half-axis of revolution.,'
tThe .3 fraction is partially due to English in., and a m ean of variations.

186

A. GttEAT MYSTERY.

there any chance in the construction of this coffer? Its
internal space has precisely the same cubical volume as
its solid sides and bottom; the length of its sides consti-
tute the circumference of a circle, the diameter of which
is its height; it is just "one-fiftieth" the size of the cham-
ber in which it is enclosed! The identity in capacity
with the Ark of the Covenant (Tabernacle and Temple)
confirms the theory of the use of the "sacred" cubit. The
cubits of Memphis, Palestine, Babylon, Greece, etc., were
very different measures. No other building in Egypt has
been built by the sacred standard. Dr. Seiss emphasizes

Fig-. 77. Measure standards. NP,
North Pole. S P, South Pole. P«igel38.

Fig. 78. Reliet sculpture on
the granite bar or portcullis in
Antechamber.

the fact that Solomon's "molten sea," was 50 times the
size of the ark, and hence just the size of the King's
Chamber.

By these scattered evidences in the Pyramid, we know
a certain system of linear measure has pervaded the social
and commercial fabric since the human race originated.
The inch has been referred back to the "thumb-breadth."
Inches make a palm and palms a cubit. But even the
cubit may now be discovered in this structure which ante-
dates history. So modern measurement appears to have as

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

13*7

ancient an origin, the coffer agreeing precisely with the
Anglo-Saxon quarter.

This ancient system being based on the only cosmical
standard of value, the axis of the earth's rotation, why
demoralize the commerce of the world to force upon the
people a system whose linear is in error by computation,
and whose metallic standard is in error by adulteration?

Still worse were such a policy when it is exceedingly
unpractical to "jump" measures by multiples of 10. Inas-
far as the decimal system can be fairly used the Pyramid
system contains it. A decimal scale to be of use must
break up into convenient fractions. Our money is only
partially decimal. The half-dime, quarter-dollar, 3-cent-
piece, quarter eagle, etc., illustrate this. The foot of 12
inches may be changed to 10. But the inch can never be
taken away. And with the foot of 10 inches, what more
natural division next than the quarter of a hundred, "25,"
— a cubit. Then 100 cubits now equal an "acre-side,"
or one side of a British acre. In weight measure the
great scientific standard for mean specific gravity, is
exactly the l-2500th part of the cubical contents of the
Coffer, and gives us a modern "pint" — a Pyramid pound,
as it is "the world around." This pound divides evenly
by 10 for grains, and increases by decimal multiples and
four for chaldrons, tons, etc. Then if the national stan-
dard must be simplified, let it be by those slight changes
which will conform it to that great natural and mathe-
matical standard which was established before the dawn
of history^.

Before passing this topic, we add a few problems from
a pamphlet just sent us by its Author, an accomplished
Civil Engineer,* illustrating the relation of a cubit to the

*"The French Metric System," by Charles Latimer, Cleveland, Ohio. For
sale by C. H. Jones & Co., 188 Monroe St., Chicago.

138 A GREAT MYSTERY.

Pyramid: The total length of the Antechamber floor is
116.26 inches. It is the diameter of a circle whose cir-
cumference is 365 342j = to the days and fraction of a
day in a year. Multiplied by a cubit it equals 9131 inches,
the length of a base side of the Pyramid.

The 116.26 multiplied by 50, (a double cubit, and the
course of masonry upon which it rests), = the vertical of
the Pyramid, 5813. But 116.26 multiplied by 2, (the 50
being 2 cubits), = the vertical in cubits.

The granite floor of the Antechamber is 103.033 inches
long. It goes into the breadth of the King's Chamber
twice, exactly; into its length four times, and its height
2.236 times — which is the square root of 5. The sum of
the squares of these numbers, (4, 16 and 5), is 25, the sac-
red cubit. Into the diagonal of the end of the King's
Chamber this 103.033 will go 3 times; into the floor diag-
onal 4.472 times, into the side diagonal 4.582 times. The
sum of the squares of these numbers is the double cubit.

The length of the King's Chamber, 412.132 inches, is
the diameter, in cubits, of a circle whose area is equal to
a square the size of the base of the Pyramid.

A square having 412.132 cubits for the length of a side
is equal in area to a circle whose radius is equal to the
Pyramid's height. Thus it is demonstrated that a known
relation between the Chambers and the structure is by
means of an x standard, and that se=25.

QUADRATURE OF THE CIRCLE.

The entire mathematical problem involved in the con-
struction of the Great Pyramid is not yet evolved. The
chronological analogies, and the astronomical features,
are only disconnected wonders which indicate the pres-
ence of a precise and consistent plan upon which the
whole structure was erected. Angulation, and men sura-

QUADRATURE OF THE CIRCLE. 139

ation, section, the properties of the circle, square, triangle*
ellipsis, and parabola; the cognate forms of sphere, cube,
pyramid, spheroid, and cone, were apparently understood
and manipulated by the designer. The astronomical
elements may extend far beyond our present comprehen-
sion, as we only stand upon the threshold with a few of
the plainer problems in hand.

It is among the most remarkable circumstances, that
the first discovery of profound mathematical import in
the Pyramid was the sudden interpretation of what is
known as the Tf proposition, (Greek letter Pi). This is
the substance of the Quadrature of the Circle, represented
by the formula:

Diameter : Circumference : : 1 : 3.14159-f-or Pi.

The formula is the best means of finding the side of a
square which is of nearly equal area to a circle. The exact
operation which will reduce a circle to a square of equal
area has never been found.

The Quadrature of the Circle, is one of the great prob-
lems associated with mathematics in all ages. It is not,
as some have supposed, in recent Pyramid literature, the
reduction of a circle to a square form of equal perimeter,
but its reduction to a square of equal area. The circle
is a polygon, with an infinite number of sides, and
mathematics can never measure a curved line any nearer
than to compute for a number of sides to any circle until
they are so small that the error is unimportant. Hence,
the relation of a circle to a square is the computation of
the area of a polygon; but this polygon has an unlimited
number of sides. The formula for computation may be
(1) to multiply the square of the radius by the proportion
of the diameter to the circumference, or (2) multiply the
radius by the circumferenoe for a rectangle, and the

140 A GREAT MYSTERY.

square root of the half of it will give one side of a square
of equal area to the circle. Both of these formula}
require the circumference, or proportion of circumference
to the diameter. Therefore, the great difficulty in the
way is to secure this proportion. And in mathematics
it is always known as the Pi proposition or proportion.

Archimedes proved that the relation of the diameter
to the circumference was nearly that of 1 to 3, using a
polygon of 96 sides. Ludolph Von Ceulen computed a
circle having 36,893,488,147,419,103,232 sides, and the
fraction he secured thereby was:

Diameter : Circumference :: 1 : 3.14159265358979323

846264338327950288+.

The error in this computation is so small that in a cir-
cle whose radius is 250,000 times the distance of the
earth from the sun, the correction would be less than the
millionth of the width of a human hair.

Does the Pyramid represent this Pi proposition? It
does. Do other Egyptian monuments represent it? No,
not one. Could not this peculiar shape be coincidence?
Once among a thousand million chances, but not a dozen
times in one monument!

Fig. 79 represents the two prominent problems involved.
The square ABCD is the base, 9131.05 on a side. E to F
is the vertical height. The vertical is to twice the base
side as 1 is to Pi:

5813 : 9131.05+2 :: 1 : 3.14159+.

This is a very singular fact, but not all — for the perim-
eter of the square base (9131) is also equal to the circum-
ference of the circle having the height for a radius, and
twice the height for a diameter. Thus:

9131.05 X 4 (No. sides) = 36524.2 inches, or 100 years.

11626(diam.) X 3.14159 = 36524.2 " " "

"Who laid the corner stone upon
it, when the morning stars sang to-
gether, and all the Sons of God
shouted for joy?"

Job, Coptic Version.

AND A PILLAU m THE BORDEK THEKEOF.

ISA. XIX.

Fig. 79.

142 A GREAT MYSTERY.

Are not these numbers remarkable evolutions? Does
not 36524.2 equal 100 years to an hour? There are 365.
242 days in a year, and the decimal system with a move-
able point, is used all through the Pyramid. Why, we
hope to find hereafter. The diameter of the height-rad-
ius circle, (11626), bears the same relation to the Ante-
chamber, which is 116.26 long. Thus the base, the ver-
tical, and the Antechamber are part of a Pi. proportion.
Let us examine the King's Chamber. It is 412.132 inches
long. The area of a circle of equal diameter, squared,
gives the Pyramid's base. Again, the circuit of the side
wall, (including all the granite, which dips below the
floor for some reason) divided by its length, =Pi. There
are many other illustrations. The number of cubic inches
in the granite bar or portcullis, across the Antechamber,
is Pi multiplied by 10,000. The Queen's Chamber is also
full of this proportion. The exact outer end of the
entrance passage is computed by a Pi proportion. Then
the Coffer, the standard of measures for the world: Its
height is to the side and end as 1 is to PL In fact, 3.14-
159 seems to be impressed all over the structure. A circle
with the breadth of the Coffer's base for its diameter, or
a square with the depth of the coffer, = the area of a
side divided by Pi.

Why is it that this ever present proportion of Quadra-
ture is so intimately connected with the days, and the
year, and centuries? Is it possible that the great mystery
of eternity is thus symbolized in a circle, andgeometrized
to known properties? That the greatest circumference
known to the earth — being infinitely incommensurable,
like other circles — is thus crystalized in the lesser cir-
cles, and transformed to equal squares? The revolution
around the sun can never be exactly measured, then can

QUADRATURE OF THE CIRCLE. 143

a day? Is not this the secret of our faulty cycle, and does
not the Pyramid, which embodies the Great Precessional
Cycle of the Heavens, also concrete the infinitude of time
into its mass, in these ever-recurring symbols of an infin-
ite fraction? Even the precessional cycle is a circle — does
the Pyramid really contain its true circumference? It is
hoped that when the key is found to unlock the vast Mys-
tery which lies shrouded in the sombre pile, the solution
of Time's infinitude may appear — in the wonderful reve-
lation of complete proportion, in the Universe of God.
Nor do we believe the many laborious but unhappy souls
who are figuring on the Quadrature of the Circle, Perpet-
ual Motion, Trisection of the Triangle, etc., will ever
enter their Aden until the Lethe of the Great Pyramid is
bridged, and the "Stars shout for joy!"

DUPLICATION OF THE CUBE.

It appears that among the mathematical triumphs of
the Pyramid is the fact that the largest cube which can
be inscribed within it equals one-half its volume. This
is a practical operation of a difficult problem, viz.: To
produce a polygon which shall contain twice the volume
of the largest inscriptible square.

The figures we present are only proximate, leaving much
for future study. It will be noticed that we have to sub-
tract the cavities and the truncated summit, and that even
then the result is 34 inches "out." But in the massive
body of the Pyramid 17 inches on a side is a small error.
The larger variations in the angle of inclination have a
duplicative tendency to correct the error.
Let A=the vertical, 5813 inches.

" B=the inclined height, 7393 inches.

" C=the length of a base side, 9131 inches.

" E= elevation of passages and chambers ) 1,000,000

*' F= " " truncation at summit j sq. in.

144 .A GEEAT MYSTEEY.

Then, on a triangle by section of Pyramid, let

(AxC-f-2)— (E+F)

= x = 1-2 the surface in sq. in.

V^~'=3568. And A— 3568 = 2245, distance from
the inscribed square to apex, on the vertical. Then

A : B :: 2245 : 2857 = to distance on incline from the
apex to intersection of inscribed square.

V 2857* — 22452 = 1767 X 2 = 3534 inches.

The distance between the inclined sides at intersection
of a square containing one-half the surface is therefore
3534 inches. But the side of the square is 8568 inches,
being an excess of 17 inches on a side.

All studies of physics involve certain conditions to
secure accuracy. Among these is an unalterable temper-
ature. Absolute stability in regard to humidity, and pos-
itive rest are also required. Thus, mass attraction, or
specific gravity, can only be obtained approximately from
want of these conditions. Deep cellars and vaults have
been constructed in which to experiment. Standards of
measure have suffered from these causes, metal standards
expanding and shrinking wTith the slightest variation in
temperature. Micrometer scales detect it, and also deli-
cate pyrometers. The difference of the one-thousandth
of an inch in one yard may displace rivers and planets, in
vast calculations.

Near the Pyramid centre, in the King's Chamber, the
conditions for stability are fulfilled. The Coffer, an appa-
rent standard of measure and gravity, is surrounded by
an atmosphere that never varies in temperature or hum-
idity. Its approaches are narrow, and long. 180 feet

TIME DIVISIONS. 145

of masonry protect it in the nearest approach to the sur-
face. The Subterranean Chamber is as silent and change-
less as the scientist can wish. Among the "coincidences"
of the Pyramid is this provision for the preservation of
the standards for future measures. The temperature is
68° Fahrenheit.

TIME DIVISIONS.

The precession of the equinoxes, the Great Cycle of
time, 25,825.68 years in extent, is so prominently written
in the Pyramid that no doubt of intention, on the part of
the builder can be entertained. It furnishes very strong
evidence that it was built at the beginning of the cycle,
as marked in the passage, 2170 B.C.

In numerous problems the year and century are given.
The perimeter of the base=a century, or 36524.2 days.
These "coincidences" extend to hours, minutes and sec-
onds. They indisputably associate the Pi proposition
with Time, and demonstrate the Inch Standard. 5813 X
2Pi (or Pi X twice the radius, which is the diameter,) =
36524.22 days, or 100 years. This number-^4 = 9131, the
base side. It will be remembered, in this connection,
that all evidence goes to show that the ancient Egyptians
were ignorant of the true cycle at this time and a thou-
sand centuries after.

These are Pyramid "Facts" which the modern mathe-
matician and historian will do well to ponder over. It
involves a mystery of infinite relations to man and cosmos.

The Grand Gallery is supposed by many to represent
the subdivisions of the year. This wonderful hall seems
devoted to Time, as it certainly is devoted to other than
sepulchral objects, and hence the Pyramid student looks
for peculiarities which can be referred to time divisions.
With such examination it is said that the seven overlap-

146 A GREAT MYSTERY.

ping stones, or tiers of masonry in the sides represent the
weeks of seven days. Ten and five are the Pyramid num-
bers, seven rarely entering as a factor. However, the
Grand Gallery is seven times as high as its entrance pas-
sage. That part of the horizontal passage in the "cut
away" of the Grand Gallery floor, (Fig. 53, p. 87), is one-
seventh the whole length of the horizontal passage. The
enlarged south end of the horizontal passage is also one-
seventh of the entire length. The Queen's Chamber has
seven sides. Mr. Smyth refers all these circumstances,
as symbols, to the week of seven days. We do not see
any application except in the case, possibly, of the over-
lapping stones of the Grand Gallery. Still, it is difficult
to see why the passage should be so low and narrow,
and the Grand Gallery suddenly seven times higher with-
out some symbolical import. Prof. Smyth likewise held
the idea that the seven overlapping tiers on each side rep-
resented two iceeks of months, or 14 months of 26 days
to the year. And this he regarded as a more reasonable
division than 12 months, as it leaves but one day to be
added to 26 days at the end of the year, and two on leap
years. At present we add five or six days to one-twelfth
of 360, or 30, the even length of our months. Then to
indicate the imperfections of the months there are 28 ramp
holes on one side and 26 on the other; and the two last —
at upper end of Grand Gallery, extend under the wall, as
if referring the observer to the Antechamber. In the
Antechamber we find on the sides four ridges; three
curved, or hollowed, and one full and straight.

These are supposed to represent the three imperfect
years, and the fourth perfect. Some other refinements
are added to this theory. On the whole, while it may
contain the germs of a great truth, the evidences lack

THE STONE LOGOS. 147

strength, and do not satisfy a demonstration by consider-
able.

THE STONE LOGOS.

The most remarkable development of the Great Pyra-
mid is its relation to that religion which has descended
to us through the Abrahamic race. Of course this rela-
tion is not susceptible of "proof," but is capable of a
very general elaboration.

A just judgment of the value of the Biblical references
and relations requires more than a passing knowledge of
the language employed in the Bible. It must give not a
little weight to the history of those races descended from
Shem, but out of the Abrahamic succession; for, no
doubt, the Caphtorim, the Canaanites in general, and the
races under the mysterious Melchizedek, were part of the
original monotheists. The peculiar history of the Pyr-
amid's erection; its freedom from idolatrous hieroglyphs,
present in every other tomb and temple in Egypt, and its
marvelous problems — almost if not quite prophetic — also
should be taken into account. Again, the order of the
events related to each other, chronologically, deserve the
careful consideration of the student: — The Flood, the
settlement of Canaan and Egypt, the lives of the patri-
archs, the origin of letters, the migration of Jacob's chil-
dren and their Exodus, — the building, sealing and discov-
ery of the Pyramid's interior — all make up a history in
which there is a common theme and an identical theism.
The prophetic nature of the chronology, contained in the
passages, representing events in the history of the Hebrew
race, is a strong indication of a theistic design on the part
of the builder. The peculiar prominence of the "sacred
cubit" is also worthy of notice, especially as this cubit
(25 Pyramid inches) was not in use either by the Egyp-

148 A GREAT MYSTERY.

tians or Hebrews as a people. It was given of God, as
witnessed by Ezekiel (Chap, xl), and consisted of a "cubit
and a band breadth."* That this cubit is also the earth's
semi-axis divided by lO7 as represented by Herschel, is
also a wonderful fact. The striking analogy in size and
cubical contents between the Kind's Chamber and the
"Holy of Holies" in the Temple, has been pointed out to
us, but the analogy may not be direct and close enough
to indicate an intention to duplicate the one in the other.
* The probable size, (cubic contents), of the ark of the
covenant presents a very striking analogy. The exterior
of the ark, as given in the Bible, in inches, was 62.5
inches long, 37.5 wide, and 37.5 deep. Xow allowing for
the probable width of the sides and bottom and we have
a mean of 71,247.5 cubic inches as the probable capacity,
which corresponds with great exactness to the mean cof-
fer capacity. It would also appear that four omers, or
measures of fluid, equal one ark of dry measure, being
thus parallel to the British quarter. Added to the many
physical signs which point to a relation between the
Pyramid and the theosophic history of the Hebrews, we
find many references which point directly to this monu-
ment.

Many parts of the Book of Job are supposed to refer
to it, but to our mind not distinctly enough, unless the
relation of a divine builder be established by other evi-
dences. The most direct and incontrovertable reference
is in the 19th Chapter of Isaiah, 19-20th verses: "In that
day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the
Land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof, to the
Lord. And it shall be for a sign, and for a witness unto
the Lord of Hosts in the Land of Egypt."

*The irregular cubit of the ancients varied— in the neighborhood of 30
Inches.

THE STONE LOGOS. 149

It will be remembered, in reading this, that in Isaiah'fl
time there was no admiration on the part of the Jews,
for the land of Egypt — that each prophet in succession
had poured out [vials of bitter prophetic denunciation
against the Nile Valley, all of which have been i
wonderfully fulfilled. It will be well, also, to bear in
mind, that that very portion of the Pyramid which repre-
sents the Jews shows them as a "cut off" from the ascen-
ding passage and enlarged Grand Gallery, plodding along
painfully, in a narrow, rough, unfinished passage, whose
very mortar was mixed with salt, {vide Jewish customs,
and the salting of the earth at destruction of Jerusalem).

I< there any "pillar," or "altar." in Egypt to which this
significant expression can refer? Egypt is free from
monotheistic monuments other than this stalwart prophet
of stone. Is there any interpretation to the words; "Id
that day." applicable to the Pyramid? Singularly enough
this witness was sealed from the world for twenty-five
centuries after Isaiah's time, and its mysteries are only
now becoming dimly visible in the theistic and cosmic
sense, in this dawn of that prophetic promise of millen-
ial glories.

Admitting these peculiarities, is there any construction
of the language employed which gives topographical evi-
dence that the Great Pyramid was to be God's Witness?
Prophecy sits upon the ruins of Babylon, Tyre, Edom and
Egypt, and from the Euphratean marshes to the sands
which carnival about Petrea's cliff-palaces — not a frown
of the Almighty has been wasted. What, then, of this
"witness?" A thousand years before Christ, Memphis
stood nearer the seashore, and the Memphite pyramid was
on the border of the encroaching sands. To-day there is
a plain stretching out from ancient Egypt into the sea,

150 A GREAT MYSTERY.

which harmonizes two antithetic phrases in Isaiah's proph-
ecy: In the midst of Egypt, and yet in the border thereof.

The meaning of this was a mystery until cleared up by
one of those Providences which come from indirect agen-
cies. A United States naval officer, in passing the coast
of Egypt, noticed that the shore line constituted an arc
of a circle, the converging radii of which meet at the
hill of Ghizeh. This idea did not originate in any desire
to develop Pyramidology. A carefully prepared map
illustrated the fact very strongly, an imitation of which
appears on page 151.

At present, taking the geometrical shape of the valley
as a guide, the Great Pyramid of Ghizeh is in the center
of a circle, whose circumference bounds the extremity.
At the same time it is upon the border thereof. West-
ward stretch e s the dreary waste of sand. Eastward the
fertile valley. It is also on the border that separated
Upper from Lower Egypt. No language could have
been used by man so appropriately to mark its situation
— nor could more foolish words be spoken than these,
providing the Great Pyramid were not referred to. The
Pyramid could have been built on the banks of the Nile,
at less expense and without causeways.

The following extract from Job is doubtless the most

direct of any that has been appropriated to the Pyramid

—the Lord answering Job out of the whirlwind:

"Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without

knowledge? Gird up now thy loins, like a man, for I

will demand of thee, and answer thou me, where wast

thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare

if thou hast understanding. Who laid the measures

thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the

line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations* made to

*Tf the sides of the Pyramid are continued through the earth at the
same ratio of ten to nine, the intersection of the axis of revolution will
be at the poles. See Appendix.

Sea

^At*** vVN - — * .fit y

IHn

VOSTANI
If

Fsai

UPPER EGYPT

Fig. 80. Map -with sector of a circle having the Pyramid as a centre.

152 A GREAT iiFSTERY.

sink. [As rendered by Dr. Seiss.] Or who laid the corner
stone upon it, [Coptic], when the morning stars sang to-
gether, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy?"

This is certainly a masterpiece of eloquence and power
-—yet so simple that a child can understand its majestic
import. It will be noticed that the description of the
foundations and the erection of a structure, are separate
and precede the reference to a corner stone. One stone
only is spoken of, and that, by Coptic rendering, up m
the structure. The Coptic version was derived from the
Septuagint, and at a period when the Pyramid was noth-
ing that other pyramids were not, — in fact, "some idol-
ater's tomb." Possibly this also refers to a Draconis and
Alcyone, at the grand "morning" of the Great Cycle —
the Pleiadic year! How could the poetic expression of
the beginning of God's Universe-Year be more lofty and
sublime than by the words "morning stars;" and the "cor-
ner-stone" thus becomes intelligible— especially by a far-
ther study of the expression in other parts of the Bible.

The birth of Christ was signalled by a star, a-"morning
star," and throughout the written Word he is spoken of
as a corner stone, even as a "chief-corner stone." So per-
tinent are these references, that the missing corner-stone
of this "stone logos" — in the wilderness — seems to be a
symbol of the Christ, — who was welcomed with the
songs of angels, but who has since been crucified and
removed from earth.

We would also advise our readers to peruse Zechariah,
4th chapter, keeping the imagery of the building, the
headstone, the mountain, and the expression of a "base,"
well in mind. Especially note the expression — "he shall

53
bib

fcr

6©

it)

■»-»

<j£

4&**m

TTTE STONE LOttOS. 155

bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings. Grace,
Grace nnto it." It is possible, as witnessed by what has
been said, that the Great Pyramid is the prophetic sym-
bol of the Church, the Temple, and the Logos, the Cap-
stone being Jesus Christ, who is slain, whose birth was
with song, and whose future advent, together with the
discovery of the missing corner stone will be with shouts
and songs of joy by God's people.

David says: "The stone which the builders refused has
become the headstone of the comer."* In parallel words
it is said in Acts 4:11, "This is the stone which was set
at naught by you builders, which has become the head of
the corner." Read also 1st Peter, 2d chapter, from the
4th to the 8th verses, and note the distinctness of the
expression of a "chief -corner stone." Especially the com-
parison of a Christian sect to a stone temple having a
chief-corner stone in Christ Jesus, in Eph. 2:20-22. Fol-
low this with the denunciations in Matthew 21:42-44.f

We must admit, after a careful consideration of this
branch of Pyramid study, that the evidence of theistic
teaching in the Pyramid analogous to the Hebraic theol-
ogy, and referred to in the Hebrew writings, is more than
enough to awaken the profoundest investigation of mod-
ern students. And yet, until the Pyramid presents more
than fragmentaiy marvels, the connection with the great
stream of theosophy must be seen as "through a glass
darkly." That the unveiling of the marvellous structure
will show that God's will, purpose, and agency is inter-
twined with its scientific attributes, we have no doubt.
Such grand design, such depth of research, such intellec-
tual grandeur, such harmony in execution, such wonder-

*The Septuaginta say— "the head CORNER stone." We think there are
philological reasons for compounding the two first words.

+Also read Jer. xxxii, 20:— "Which hast set signs and wonders in the
Land of Egypt, even unto this day."

156

A GREAT MYSTERY.

ful prescience were never united in the "living" rock,
except God fashioned its "corner-stone."

UNITED STATES SEAL.

In the early days of the republic, when the founders of
the nation worked out the essentials of a government,
they established a "seal." On one side was the Eagle,
with the scutcheons and emblems representing the thir-
teen states, and various allegorical points we have not
room to work out. On the reverse was placed a Pyra-

Pig. 81. Reverse of TJ. S. Seal. There are different styles of this seal
from the fact that it was never cut. The act simply specified an unfin-
ished pyramid, with the addenda in the field.

mid, to represent strength, durability, and correctness of
form. This was not a very singular choice, although the
pyramids were then but slightly known. But the direc-
tions require an unfinished Pyramid. This was a little
singular. Then they added to it a "Radiant Eye," sig-
nificant of the Watchcare of God over our people. Inas-
much as a missing corner stone is now universally recog-
nized as symbolic of Jesus Christ, this selection of the

» C 4> M
c3 c a

158 A GEE AT MYSTEEY.

complete design is still more singular. Very few are
aware of the recently developed relations between proph-
ecy and United States history. Its discovery, settlement
by the Puritans, establishment of a seal, our coins, the
"hope of the world" (Isis) character of our institutions,
point with more than accidental likeness to the "new
world."*

OUE COINS.

In English inches the King's Chamber is 412.5 long;
breadth is 206.2 inches. The silver "dollar of our Fathers"
weighs 412.5 grains, the half-dollar 206.2 grains, and the
quarter-dollar 103.03 grains, "which last is an important
Pyramid number." The dollar was the weight of an
eastern coin of traditional age, current in Asiatic trade,
and ours was made to correspond. The dates of this coin
can probably be traced to the trans-Edomitic commerce.

The Pyramid height, in sacred cubits, is 232.5. The
gold eagle weighs 232.2 grains, half eagle 116 grains.

The diameter of a circle is to the side of a square of
equal area as 9 to 8 within an "incommensurable fraction."

Then the proportion

8:9:: 103.132 : 116.+
shows not only that the weights of the quarter-dollar and
half eagle are proportional, but exhibit a peculiar squar-
ing-of-the-circle proportion. Any circle having 116.26

*In illustration : On the 9th of September, 1774, were passed the cele-
brated "Suffolk Resolutions," carried to Congress by Paul Revere— the
recognized declaration of principles on which the new era and the nation
began, with a free conscience, and God on its lips. Historians agree that
the history of our country began at that time. At the same hour there
arose over the sea, in the east, a "wonder" in heaven. It was the constel-
lation Virgo,(Virgin), closely following the Sun, crowned with the 12 stars
[there were originally only 12 colonies], the Corona Borealis, or "new con-
stellation;" following Virgo arose the crescented moon. In connection
read the 1st verse of the 12th of Rev. : "And there appeared a great
wonder in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under
her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." Other remarkable
historical features add interest to the study. "The 'woman' fled into tho
wilderness . . on the wings of a great 'Eagle' "—See Bancroft's U. S.

NOTES. 159

for a diameter is equal in area to a square having 103.03
on a side. This latter number is accepted by all Pyramid
students as the "measuring rod" of the Pyramid, being
the length of the granite in Antechamber; at the same
time 116.26 is the entire length of the Antechamber.
Mark this well! If this coin came to us through the
changeless numismatics of the east, whose standards are
Semitic; and the channel of Indian commerce was through
Edom, (a kingdom of the Esauite troglodytes, descendants
of "Israel;") and they represent a quadrature proportion
— where did they get these coins? But mark farther, this
proportion is not 8 to 9 — nor 16 to 18 — nor the thousand
other possible proportions! It is the very "odd" propor-
tion of 116.-}- to 103.03-|-. And in no place on this
planet is it symbolized except in the Antechamber of the
Great Pyramid of Egypt, whose cubit, arm, omer, coffer
and King's chamber afterward appear in Hebrew men-
suration. Again the diameter of a circle, (360°) in terms
of seconds, is 41 2.5 -|-, the weight of the said dollar.
Therefore its circumference is 1,296,000 — which is 1000
times 1269, the cubic inches in a yard. Thus we see the
most remarkable fact that not only is the "dollar" decimal,
historic, mathematical, etc., but it is decimally connected
with the linear system of the ancients and moderns!
And a fraction of these discoveries is not evolved. The
time will soon come when the French scientist and the
Anglo-Saxon philosopher will discover the practical Isis
of the world's commerce unveiled in the "Pillar of Wit-
ness in the midst of Egypt."

NOTES.

The area of a right section of the Pyramid is to the
base as 1 is to Pi.

The English gallon of 231 cubic inches is found mid-

160 A GEEAT MYSTERY.

way between the Pyramid height, in cubits, 232.5, and
height of King's Chamber in inches, 230.89. — [Latimer].

The 35th tier of masonry possesses some curious proper-
ties. It is so much thicker than the tiers above and below,
that attention is at once called to it. Its position gives
the following measurements: From base to 35th tier,
1162.6 inches. This number is ten times the length of
the Antechamber. From vertical center to the inclined
side, or half the base of truncation, 3652.42 inches, or ten
years, in inch years. The indication is that while the
50th course gives the cental enumeration, the 35th gives
the decimal. It has not been sufficiently examined yet.

The Pyramid thermometric scale is decimal in its
divisions:

0° is at the freezing point of water.
50° " " Earth's mean temperature.
250° " " boiling point of water.

1000° " " red heat of iron.

5000° " " melting of platinum.

In Job 3:14, the word translated "desolate places,"
(gorbah) should read "lofty sepulchre, mastaba, or pyra-
mid," {per ami).

Eminent writers have asserted that correct zodiacs were
painted on the walls of the most ancient temples. This
is an error which has repeatedly been corrected. The
zodiacs were painted under the Roman rule, after the cor-
rection of the Egyptian Cycle. (See Appendix, under the
head "Caballah.")

The Pyramid not only furnishes the best known place
for the pursuit of the study of physics, in its present
ragged condition, but was quite absolute when covered
with smooth, cold marble. The heat rays of the sun
were reflected unabsorbed, and the desert air found no
crevises for its scanty moisture.

NOTES. 1G1

It is said that the Pyramid is built upon that spot
of earth whose meridian line and longitudinal section
divide the habitable globe into four equal portions. Any
person can take a map of the hemispheres and see how
probable this is. It is a relation to ponder over.

The mean density of the earth is indicated by dividing
the Coffer capacity, 71,970 inches, by the Coffer weight
of water, 17,905.5 gallons, = to 5.672. The earth is one
thousand billion times the weight of the perfect Pyra-
mid.— (Petrie.)

The niche in the Queen's Chamber is about 185 in. high.
185.1 X-PiX 10 = 5813.+. But that 182.62 X lO-i-2 will =
9131, the base side, (Bonwick) is an error. 182.62 X 100-f-
2 = 9131. 182.62X2= 365.24, the days in a year. It is
difficult to ascertain the true height of the niche.

9131-h365.24=the l-10,000,000th part of the earth's
polar radius.

The Great Pyramid may have been an altar, with a
platform at the top for sacrifice. There is not, however, a
single feature of the building, or note in its meagre his-
tory, which points to this conclusion. The inference is
brought all the way from Mexico and Peru, where large
mounds were so used.

As we have suggested before, it may have been a tomb.

Whatever may be our belief in this connection, its
remarkable history and grand details of scientific and
religious import are not modified thereby. The fact of
the 50 or 60 other pyramids being tombs is of no value
as evidence. The Great Pyramid was sealed, and at
least the imitators of the first four — an ignorant host
who worshipped their domestic animals, and dreamed
of none of the great secrets within the larger — followed
the supposed purpose of the majestic pile before them.

162 A GREAT MYSTERY.

And yet we know not but that one of the chambers
contained a mummy.

The evidence is almost a demonstration that the Egyp-
tians did not build it. Strangers "conquered the country
without a battle." They were the Semites who sought
the 30th parallel in ancient and powerful Egypt.

On the sarcophagus lid, in the Third Pyramid, was an
invocation to Osiris. This fact has been evidence to the
Egyptologists that at least the Third Pyramid was con-
structed by the devotees of the polytheism of the native
race. It appears to be so, but a critical analysis of the
fact removes such a conclusion. All theosophists agree
that at an early time the Egyptian God was one, supreme,
omniscient ruler, without the semi-mortal attendants and
accidents. These were introduced, probably, by the mul-
tiplying priesthood. The hieroglyphic ideations which
naturally represented supreme intelligence and power
were the THRONE and the EYE. And these forms are
the name of the earliest deity the world ever knew — a
name which gave Os, (a throne, because of stone, and
later, an oracle because edict, law, and power issued there^
from, — still later, a "mouth") and Iris (an eye) to all the
prominent languages of the world — even to our own. The
subject belongs to a future work.

Its theism — distinct from the idolatry of Egypt, and
emanating from a foreign race, hateful to the Egyptians
— points directly to what afterwards became Hebraic; but
at that early epoch was doubtless the great monotheistic
belief of the Noachian family. Our conclusion, if it be.
worthy of attention, is that the Great Pyramid has a des-
tiny intimately connected with future science; in the past,
a prophecy of changes to come, and in all ages to be a
"pillar" and a "witness" to the Lord.

SECOND AND THIRD PYRAMIDS.

In the consideration of these two smaller and subse-
quent structures we have been compelled to admit that
they are "component parts of one great system." Not
alone from the mathematical relations exhibited, as de-
veloped by others, but by the conclusion that the Shep-
herd invaders of Egypt, of Semitic origin, who built the
Great Pyramid, remained in power for 500 years and con-
structed the entire system on the Hill of Ghizeh. There
is no fact better established, amid the general uncertainty,
than that the kin-successors of Cheops erected the Second
and Third Pyramids, viz.: Kephren and Mykere.

We have already suggested that they were children of
the same impulse, and to be distinguished from the 80 or
90 other pyramidal structures in the Nile Galley. While
we believe that the Second and Third enter into the plan
and figurative expression of the whole, still, in a strict
sense, they were doubtless imitative to a certain degree.
The lofty intellect that sought the 30th parallel, con-
quered the Egyptians "without a battle," and "destroyed
the Gods," secured their grand object in the erection of
the Great Pyramid. Knowing the design and mission
thereof, the successors sought to add tomb-monuments
which would enlarge upon the physical sciences shrined
in the first.

One writer says: "The Egyptians were a supremely
geometrical people," regardless of beauty or utility. Yes,
with the "Hamlet of the play, left out." The wander-

163

164 A GREAT MYSTERY.

ing Pelasgians, Semitic invaders, Cuthites — whoever they
were — were a "supremely geometrical people." Karnak
and Luxor and ruind Cyclopia antedate history too far
to attribute much wisdom to the race who succeeded to
their possession, and acquired the astronomy of the Ish-
maelites. Mr. Agnew states that the causeway was also
connected with the original design, and possibly linked
the three Pyramids, mathematically, closely together.*

Mr. John J. Wild "contends that the Second and Third
Pyramids exhibit the law of the retrogradation of the
ascendant node of the equator in the ecliptic." "The
eighteen years lunar peiiod is obtained by the relation of
the Gizeh Pyramids."

Mr. Wild shows that the elevation of the bases of the
three Pyramids is at such degrees as equals the propor-
tion between the radius and sinus of 14° 41'37-4- = 33' 2"
to 8' 5". And this equals "the proportion between the
radius and sinus of the double of the central angle of a
polygon which has as many sides as the square of the
base of the Second Pyramid contains square seconds, viz.,
49."

The minor mathematical relations thus worked out by
the second and third Pyramids are quite numerous,
though they nearly all require some element in the Great
Pyramid to complete. Thus it becomes possible that the
Cheopian dynasty — (two brothers especially — Suphis and
SenSuphis) designed the Great, and the lesser were added
as mathematical satellites.

The former height of the Second Pyramid was 454 feet
3 inches; present height about 447 feet, 6 inches. Base

*This causeway "was in length equal to the circumference of the chief
circle, or parent of the whole scheme, that of which the First Pyramid
was radius, [See Figs'. 66 F, 69, and 79.] and of which the square of the
base of the Second Pyramid was the mscriptible square."

r
o

<
o
z
n

%
%

Si, \ y>\

% S \ \ \ «-

° \ \ \ ~>

i66 A GREAT MYSTERY.

side, ancient, 707 feet 9 inches. (Perring.) These dimen-
sions are not as accurate as is desirable.

Belzoni, the Italian traveller discovered the first granite
stone disguising the entrance to the Second Pyramid, on
the 28th of February, 1816, and on the 2d of March dis-
covered the entrance. He found a narrow passage simi-
lar to that of the First, which descended toward the cen-
ter for 104 feet, 5 inches, at an angle of 26°. There it
was "portcullised." But Belzoni was a persevering anti-
quarian. He raised the large portcullis, and passed 22
feet 6 inches farther in. Then he dropped down a shaft,
by means of a rope, 15 feet. Thence at an angle of 25°
northward and downward, then an ascent which brought
him to a horizontal passage. On the walls of the pass-
age were multitudes of"arborizations" of "nitre," some in
ropes, others resembling an endive leaf, and the fleece of
a lamb. Lastly a "door" leading into the central cham-
ber. Here he found a sarcophagus, 8 feet long, 42 inches
wide, 27 inches deep.

He removed the lid. There, amid earth and stones,
were bones which in London were afterwards declared to
be those of a bull!! — the God Apis himself! This does
not look as though this Pyramid were monotheistic — but
fortunately for our faith, the inscriptions on the walls — -
of which there were many — were Coptic, Arabic, and
Saracen. One of them read: "The Master Mohammed
Ahmed, lapicide, has opened them, and the Master Oth-
man attended this; and the King, Alij Mohammed, at first
to the closing up."*

The bones of the Bull, and the earth and stones, were
doubtless carried there when the bones of the first occu-

*This has been translated differently, the word "Master" not being
given. Still the variations are not essential.

,U_

CO
h
■
O

a
p

168 A GREAT MYSTERY.

pant were removed. Bones of the Apisite deities were
not rare in that section! Diodorus says the priests dis-
turbed Mycerinus' burial intentions, on account of their
hatred of him. They possibly put a bull in this coffer —
or "near it," as one writer says. Other passages were
found, and other unknown inscriptions. Also another
portcullis, which had been forcibly removed — leading to a
probable second outlet.

It is said that a Cufic* or Cuthite inscription was once
discovered near the top.

The ancient height of the Third Pyramid was 261 feet,
present height 203 feet. Length of base side, 354 feet,
6 inches.

The Third Pyramid is comparatively perfect. The cas-
ing remains — the lower half of granite, and the upper of
marble. The apocryphal statement that Nitocris was
buried within is scarcely worthy of notice. It was doubt-
less built by Menkeres, or Mycerinus. It is called the
Red Pyramid. Col. Vyse forced an entrance in 1837.
Angle of passage 26°.-)-. Length of passage 104 feet
Entrance, as usual, hidden and portcullised, also filled with
loose stones. An anteroom, 12 by 10 1-2 feet and 7 feet
high, preceded and was built over a large chamber, 46
feet 3 inches long, 12 feet 7 inches wide, and 13 feet in
height. Beneath was a burial room, considerably smaller,
having what appears to be, and has been described as an
arch, built nearly a thousand years before it appeared in
Egyptian architecture. The chamber really has a ridge
roof of massive rocks, considerably hollowed or rounded
out on the under side.

The room had been forced before Col. Vyse entered.

*Cufic characters are among the most ancient known, among a people
who were the earliest to write, and whose science pervaded early Egypt
—the Arabians.

OTHER PYRAMIDS.

1G9

The coffer weighing three tons was shipped to London,
but was lost at sea. The "mummy board" is in the British
Museum. On it is a prayer to Osiris. It is referred to
on page 162.

The pyramids of Sakkara are but a short distance south
of the Ghizeh group. One of them was a large struc-
ture, but the majority are much inferior in size. They
are all badly ruined, and this has been taken as evidence
of a greater age. But examination proves them to have

Fig. 91. Mastaba at
Meydourn.

Fig-. 92. The
ridge-roof arch.

Fig. 93. Burial chamber
in the Third Pyramid.

been very poorly constructed, some of them being built of
brick. There is no evidence of other purpose than to
place a huge, rough mound over a mummy-chamber, and
their history marks the decadence of pyramid-building.
They were followed by the obelisk, the collossus, (like
the Sphynx, Memnon, etc.), stelae, and temple tomb.

The extent of our work will not permit of a more
extended description of these ruins, though extremely
interesting from an antiquarian standpoint.

Fig. 94. Teocallis cf Cholula.

APPENDIX.

EGYPTIAN CABALLISM,

As indicated in the preceding pages there were
"books," in the ancient days of Egypt. How far back
they were written is a matter of great doubt. Even those
which remain to the present time, in fragments, give no
clue as to authorship. It is said, traditionally, that rela-
tives of Menes wrote works upon medicine and the arts.
These statements will not bear scrutiny in the least.
Menes himself is an imaginary personage — the name may,
possibly, be an attribute of the common head of the Eu-
phratean races, 3000 to 3500 B.C., from which Minos,
Menu, and Manes sprang, and possibly it may be the
signification of death and chaos. We believe in looking
at the mythological status practically, and not building
probabilities on possibilities. Now, so far as the facts
will warrant, there are no books that extend back to the
time of the Pyramids of Ghizeh. Still, the Acthoite (see
p. 43) MS may have originated during the reign of the
Shepherd invaders. However, they are not Egyptian,
but from a race cursed by Egyptian priests. The history
of the books is parallel to the history of the invasion;
and according to Manetho they appeared during the 6th
dynasty (Memphian) — the dynasty of his Suphis.

Our private opinion, formed from slight acquaintance
with Egyptian literature — and from an examination of a
portion of the "Egyptian Book of the Dead" in our pos-

171

172 A GEHAT MTSTEBT.

u on, is that these writings originated in Edoru! And
also that the science accredited to the Egyptian race is
thoroughly Arabic and Petra?an. and hence — from, the
Shemitic source direct. It is utterly impossible for us to
on Prof. Owen's long epoch of time preceding a
mythical Menes. when he stands isolated from all the
historical facts, and in unison only with the traditions
which we shall soon refer.

The works of "Hermes*' are often referred to. In fact
a wide system of speculative historical and theistic phil
hy has sprung up. known as Hermetic-. It lo"ks like
jumping to a conclusion, but fidelity to the great dm
giving unbiassed deductions forces us to say that we
believe there never was a "Hermes. " The name was
given, in a date subsequent to Mo>es (1300 B.C.), to a
philosopher named Trismegistus. But long anterior to
the period of T.. his philosophy was evolved and his
title (Hermes) enrolled in Greek theotechny as Mercury.
What is known of Hermetic writings falls wonderfully
below the standard of Edomitic philosophy. In fact the
title '-Hermes*' was adjective.

But there is another phase to the development of Her-
nieties, more baneful to the general reader. Writers in
the latest present may i-sue mammoth works, with cum-
brous historical sophism, all requiring assumed conditions

d upon a shadow, thus inoculating a numerous s
with error. Such statements as that of Baldwin's i S
p. 49.) will furnish several volumes on Rosierucian mys-
teries. But the most painful instance of this character
is in the two burse volumes of Madame Blavat^kv's. enti-
tied "Isis Unveiled" an exceedingly ponderous work.

In the first pi g - is given as a -ettled fact, a statement
which is really necessary for the span of her philosophy.

CABAT.LTSM. 173

All of 30,000 years are taken for the evolution of Egyp-
tian, Iranian and Mongol civilizations. No words ran
express the pain with which the historian pass* - Buch
premises to weighty conclusions.

The fact is. that no history of any race carries as hack
of 3500 years B.C., excepting the Bible.* Manetho is quo-
tcd. But nearly 30,000 years of Manetho's chronology is
taken up by "Gods and Heroes." and the reign of the
dvnasties extends only 5000 years. But Manetho lived in
tin* 3d century only before Christ, when the Jewish his*
torical and prophetic literature had totally ceased; when
Edom and Phoenicia were forgotten; when Egypt glow-
ered upon a past ten centuries old, and whose priesthood
lived on the fabulous — when mythology was dominant.
And with all this. Manetho's works live only in fragments
copied into the pages of Mythological historians. W
than this, Manetho made so many errors in the dates now
known by the monuments, that his statements are utterly
untrustworthy.

As to the Babylonian epochs, Berosus alone is a bare
shadow of an authority for an extra-remote antiquity.
And of his 36,000 years the first dynasty "of Gods and
Heroes"* require 34,nso!! Still there is not a shadow even,
of authority or genealogy for any of this mythism!

As for Iranian history, the verdict of Prof. Max Mid-
ler is of more weight than ours. He embraces the Vedic
chronology under four heads, (the Chandas, Mantra, Brah-
mana and Sutra periods,) beginning only 1200 B.C. and
closing 200 B.C. Thus the beginning of this Sanskrit

*And there is no Bible Chronolosry antecedent to 2000 B.C. The Septu-
agint givimr such different epochs from the Jewish. (4th century, from
which the Vulgate and our version are derived —the singular paucity of
the original alphabet and loss of Patriarchal MSS— throws the chronology
of the Bible antecedent to Abraham in great doubt. On the whole the
Septuagint version is worthy of more credence than the Jewish of the
4th century.

IV 4 A GREAT MYSTERY.

antiquity was quite parallel to the world-wide renown of
Solomon, and was unborn in the time of Moses.

As for Chinese antiquity we may safely defy any evi-
dence of tribal relations even preceding 2200 B.C. — at
which time the universal Menu had been dead a thousand
years — and the flood was. a tradition of 10 centuries (Sept-
uagint date). But to add to the confusion of the Cabal-
lists, the work on "The reign of the four Kings," by
Laoutze, the Preceptor of Confutze or Confucius, con-
tains a poem describing the triune qualities of the Deity,
each of the three qualities beginning with foreign Jewish
syllables, "Yeh"— "Heh"— "Weh"- our Jehovah!

The fact that flake-flint implements are found among
the iron-wrought tombs of Egypt may also tend to shake
confidence in the elaborate Stone-age hypotheses. But it
is a subject which will receive attention in another
work.

The history of the Isis of Egypt is remarkable in clas-
sical technics, and in theosophy — not from any evolu-
tion of an ancient caballism it may have in-volved, but
because the breaking up of language brought Isis (eesis),
out of Jesus (Yesus) and Esha (Eve, woman), the mother
"whose seed should crush the serpent." It is probable
that the research and apparently misdirected energy of
the author of Isis Unveiled will assist in the future devel-
opment of that theistic doctrine which it was its purpose
to weaken.

There are a variety of theories regarding the evolution
of Cosmos, which get their inspiration from the ancient
works of Egypt, the most remakable of which is that all
nature is a geometrical arcana. That morphology and
history can be marked out witli compass and pencil, and
that the Great Pyramid is the Caballah to the scheme.

MASTABJE — TEOCALLI. 1*75

MASTABA.

It is the opinion of many antiquarians that the typical
form of tomb which gave rise to the pyramidal system
was the Mastaba, or Cyclopean elevations of rock, like
that at Meydoum, (see cut). The mastaba is referred to
an epoch from 2500 to 3500 B.C., dates which include the
apocryphal dynasties of Egypt and the demi-Gods of
Assyria. All that can be said is that there are no mounds
in existence which furnish the slightest evidence of such
an age — either hieroglyphic, monumental or technically
historic — any more than there was of the Great Pyra-
mid before science unravelled its astronomical data, and
research discovered its hidden paint-marks in the interior.
The Mastaba has been a type of tomb only as it repre-
sents a burial instinct in humanity, against which crema-
tion is an education.

Had the drift and alluvium covered the rock substrat
in Egypt as it did in Illinois, the Mastaba would have
been a mound ; had the American basin been covered
with rock and sand, the tumulus and mound would have
been rock-tombs, as in Central America. In the sense
that teocalli, tumuli, mastabas, steloe and pyramids cover
the dead, they are alike; but they are too often contem-
poraneous to be developmentary types of each other.

They represent the universal desire to place a head-
stone over the dead.

TEOCALLI.

The Mexican pyramidal structures are attributed to the
Aztecs, the supersedents of the powerful and civilized
Tezcucans. Those in Peru are less distinctive in charac-
ter, and less numerous than in Central America. They
are not, at present, imposing structures, with the excep-

176 A GREAT MYSTERY.

tion of that in Cholula dedicated to the "God of the Air,"
Quetzalcoatl. These mounds or high altars were in the
later years of the conquering Aztecs, used for sacrifice
of human victims in religious rites. The mystery of
their original purpose is a sealed book. They are "pyr-
amidal" it may be supposed, because the shape of mound
is the most natural for elevation. Sometimes the "temple"
was within the mound — sometimes upon the summit — ■
occasionally both. They were known by the name of
"Teocalli." That of Cholula was truly a magnificent
monument, though in no respect resembling the Egyptian
Pyramid, either in "size, construction, or apparent pur-
pose." Torquemada estimates their number as at least
40,000 in the ancient Mexican realm. A great many of
them were circular mounds, and quite all were of a more
or less terraced form. The Mexicans were peculiarly a
fire reverencing people, though not strictly fire-worship-
pers.

The Teocallis of Cholula is built of adobe, stone, earth
and cement — of four sides irregularly facing the cardinal
points — terraced in a broken manner, and surmounted by
a temple on a platform about one acre in extent. It is
160 feet in height, and about 1,400 feet on a side, by irreg-
ular measurement, thus covering quite 45 acres. It is
rather a succession of mounds, apparently built around
a natural hill. The present temple is a Spanish structure,
but burial places exist in the sides, much the same as
have been found in the sides of other mounts and rocks
throughout the kingdom, as well as throughout the
ancient Hellic and Etrurian necropoli, and among the Jain
and Buddhist relics of India, or the rock cut caves of
Upper Egypt. Fig. 94 is not correct — too lofty for base.

There are traditions that connect Quetzalcotl, to whom
the Ciiolula Teocalli was erected, with Noah.

OITB CRITICS. Ill

As a curiosity we would offer the following regarding
the Mexican races. One of the earliest were the Maya,
who had a peculiar hieroglyphic literature. There has
also recently been sent us for translation the photograph
of a very singular head-stone to an Indian mummy un-
earthed in southeastern Ohio. It remained long without
any clue as to the nature of the hieroglyphs. The first
feature noticed was a triangular triple character, a very
close resemblance to the entrance hieroglyph on the Pyr-
amid. We have since determined that the origin of the
characters is the same as that of the Maya literature; and
in view of the recent discoveries among the descendants
of the ancient migrators, in Peru, of numerous Semitic
roots in the older dialects, the student can arrive at some
startling conclusions.

OUR CRITICS.

In general, the Reviewers have been very kind to the
first edition, for it was exceedingly full of typographical
flaws. The great mind-universal seems not unwilling to
soberly investigate the Pyramid facts, as an antiquarian
problem, and let it stand or fall thereby.

After a weary march in a tangled wilderness, we confess
(as an Appendix allows of considerable familiarity with
the reader), that recognition, even bordering on flattery,
is tainted with sweetness.

But we call attention to another review, which would
not be noticed were we not anxious lest the sheet should
reach our English friends, who naturally know but little
of the city in which the journal is printed. Chicago is
a place of great prominence, half a million population,
and much promise, it citizens being far better informed
than its Tribune. It is the only journal in the city of
unlimited "capacity." Chicago is not a pioneer city, nor
warped by wildwood ignorance nor Indian complacency.
Its newspapers are the largest in the world; its schools of
excellent character. We mention these items because the
interesting excerpts are from the Chicago Tribune, an im-
mense sheet, of considerable influence.

178 A GREAT MYSTERY.

The following verbatim propositions constitute nearly
the entire review. For astounding intellectual calisthen-
ics it excels everything. We commend its perusal to our
journalistic friends "who laugh."

The study of the Pyramids has effected important discoveries. The
Great Pyramid stands at the Apex of the Delta of the Hill [What is that?
— P.], in the centre of the habitable globe, etc. This curious fact is not
mentioned in Mr. Pish's work.

The Great Pyramid does not stand at the -'apex of the
Delta (of the hill !)" It is not in a delta of any kind, but
on a slope of the Libyan chain. We occupied fully three
pages on this interesting topic, excluding the Tribune's
blunders. (Pages 128, 129, 130, and five distinct refer-
ences elsewhere.)

2 And, as to the mathematical feature to which Dr. Pish gives so much
space— the quadrature of the circle — but little benefit has ever been de-
rived from the time and labor bestowed upon this problem. In fact the
French Academy of Science and the Royal Society of London decided
long ago not to examine any paper pertaining to this subject.

In which the reviewer's ignorance would arouse the
jealousy of an Afghan. Both societies have recently dis-
cussed both the Pyramid and the Pi proportion. The
Book gives not one word regarding the theories of circle
quadrature, but remarks sympathetically of "the labori-
ous but unhappy souls who are figuring on the quadrature
of the circle, etc." The Pi proportions of the Pyramid,
over 50 in number, received "so much" as two pages, and
he is yet unborn who can write a work on the Pyramid
and leave 3.14159-f- out of it. We are afraid this genius
does not apprehend the Binomial Theorem.

3. Nor does he allude to the existence of numerous pyramids in other
portions of the world,

For the significant reason that we know of none. If
the genius will exercise a cosmopolitan spirit and men-
tion a few, his contribution to science will be warmly
received. Truncated pentagons mounted in recession are
not pyramids. Hence, Xochicalco may resemble Suku,
but not Ghizeh. There are a few modern copies in Italy.

—and particularly those in Mexico, so like the Egyptian in SIZE, FORM,
and APPARENT PURPOSE.

This is "unconscious cerebration." The loftiest teo-
callis in Mexico is 00 feet lower than the ordinary wooden

OTJE CRITICS. 1*79

spire across from our window. Three such teocalli upor;
one another would look up to see JEgypta's ancient sum-
mit. They are of different form, not being pyramids.
Their "apparent'' purpose is well enough understood to
have been for human sacrifice. Even as late as the fif-
teenth century the horrible smell of human flesh spread
far around them. The sides of the pyramids were smooth.
There were no means of ascent.

4. Dr. Fish has never visited the Pyramids. His theories and conclu-
sions are merely based on examination of the opinions of others.

It is very confidently said. Let him think so. But as
we have no theories to defend, it matters little. Dr. Seiss
wrote an able work on the subject, yet all his data is from
others. Dr. John Taylor surprised the world with Pyr-
amid wonders, never having seen it. The great Pyramid
savant, Prof. Smyth, wrote the "Inheritance" before his
remarkable visit to the "pillar of witness." Mr. Bonwick
disclaims any personal work. The last place on the face
of the globe to study pyramid science, with less than a
national treasury, is at the hill of Ghizeh, and we have
yet to know of any pyramid science evolved by a tourist,
sui generis.

5. Prof. Smyth holds that the design, origin and destiny of the Great
Pyramid are theistic,

Be moderate — our work is copyrighted.

—that it never was intended for a royal tomb, but was rather an astro-
nomical depository or workshop.

To labor with the hands, and to burn the torch until it
singes the grey beard of morning; to bend under the bur-
den of five solid volumes, to weary in a labor of love and
sacrifice — is nothing. But after wrestling with a mighty
past, and a present pregnant with destiny, to be thus
thrown by a mountebank, and into an "astronomical
workshop!" Professor, you have written in vain — unless
this reviewer have a ganglionic weakness. We had sup-
posed your life-work was to prove the Pyramid not an
astronomical workshop!

6. Dr. Grant agrees with Prof. Smyth in his belief that the sarcophagus
was not a coffin, because it had no cover. Henry Field— a personal ob-
server—asserts it as a singular fact that the sarcophagus had no cover.
But the writer from whom Dr. Fish derives his opinions, says there was
a cover, and the marks are still evident where were the lintels— etc.

What royal sarcasm were it not monumental ignorance.
The "writer from whom," etc., was Prof. Smyth! And

ISO A GREAT MYSTERY.

Col. Vyse, and Perring, (and Caliph Mamoun's fabrica-
tor), men whose lives are identified with the Pyramid for
all time — whose fortunes and homes were sacrificed in
the struggle for lisdit! Men with whom no instrument
was too costly, or the highest artificial illumination too
laborious! Then to see calcium lights and Playfairs and
camera chased up and down those mysterious galleries
by a Boston tourist and a Chicago reporter with a tallow
dip ! And the same Prof, referred to wrote 18 pages to
prove that the coffer had a lid. Jfirabile dicta/ Blind !
He will be happy, as Scotland's Astronomer Royal, to
hear that a man by the name of Grant*agrees with him.

7. But Dr. Van Uhym goes further, and declares that the massive sar-
cophagus contained a wooden coffin in which was the richly decorated
mummy of a king-. And that this mummy was carried away when the
Caliph Mamoun, in the beginning of the 9th century, etc. [See p. 65.]

This is not an absolute fabrication. The tourist men-
tioned probably had not seen the several hundred other
Arabian and Moslem traditions, so gave some credence
to this. All writers are probably agreed that it may be
true. Very few assert that the Pyramid was not a tomb.

8. —But whieh does not contain anything- new, or add to what was
known before. It is only a compilation, and as such m it superior to others.

There being no other "compilations" or compend of
more than a pamphlet form, this rub is very unkind. Dr.
Seiss's work is a series of grand, non-technical lectures.
Mr. Bonwick's a blank collection of approximate ideas
and measurements of pyramids and mounds. Our work
is the only illustrated — technical — precise compend in the
market. It is a clear field. The book is therefore the
worst one in existence.

In reply to a letter, Dr. A. K. Frain, an Iowa anti-
quarian, responded as follows:

* * We are either ignorant of literature on the subject or else
it is peculiarly distinct from any work on Egyptian topics. Its analysis
of the history, within 30 or 40 pages, is the best I have seen. The inclusion
of the 4th dynasty (Cheops) with the Shepherd Kings, and as conquerors
of Tiniaus, is in conflict with other writers, as also the consecutive reigns
of Cheopian and Salatian monarchs. Among thoroughly new ideas are:
Your views of Philitis; the discovery of the first hieroglyph, and its sub-
sequent translation; the forgery of the "vegetable" inscription given by
Herodotus, an item that is of the utmost importance; the duplication
of the cube, and farther development of some mathematical points— all

*The reflection is not upon Dr. Grant, whose labors are appreciated, but
upon the reviewer who is ignorant of Prof. Smyth's "Life and Work.*'

OXJE CRITICS. 181

constituting" a work thoroughly distinct and original. * The reviewer
evidently did not read the book, and is somewhat ignorant of the sub-
ject. It is only the prominence of the paper that gives it importance.

This review is thus noticed at length, to show how
weighty topics may be misrepresented by powerful jour-
nals. It is altogether likely that the gentleman in the
easy chair remarked to his chance friend, as the book was
taken from the dummy, "Here Augustus, review this
Egyptian ruin for us before you go. There's a mass of
such truck coming out." In about fifteen minutes the
i's are all dotted, the t's crossed, and Augustus goes out
and takes the sun. Meantime the "other man" reaps this
"fruit," for his years of toil and anxiety.

But the reviewers do not all make the task so slight,
nor call "Augustus" to their aid.

FINIS.

INDEX.

Abaris, 35.

Abraham, 27, 33, 43, 48, 63.

Abydos, (This) 22, 23. 33.

Academicians, 27

Acthoes, 43.

Age of P. 10.

Air holes, 96.

Alcyone, 126.

Alexandria, 22.

AlMamoun. 65.

Alluvium, 27.

Alphabets, 24.

Altar, 156.

Amun Ra 26.

Amunmai Thori, 33.

" " " 11,33.

Amunoph I, 36 ■
Amunoph II, 37.
Amun Nitocris, 37.
Analysis, 13.
Angle of Entrance, 82.
Angle of Side, 75
Antechamber, 90
Apachnas, 34.
Apex, 77.
Apis, 43.
Arabs, 67.
Art, 25.
Ark, 148.

Ascending Passage, 82.
Asseth, 34.
Astronomy, 13, 125.
Auritae, 41.

Azimuth Trenches, i08.
Bactria, 10.
Bahara, 21.
Baldwin, 49.
Beon, 33.
Bheels, 35.
Bible, 62, 64, 147.
Birth of Christ, 117.
Bonwick, 35, 62.
Boss, 92, 111.
Books, 42 43.
British Sci. Ass'n. 16.
Builders of Pyramid, 54.
Burning Bush, 119.
Cairo, 52.
Caviglia, 68, 83.
Canaanites, 55,
Cartouches, 55.
Casing Stones, 74, 75, 76.
Castes, 39.
Casey, Mr. 120.
Chabas, M 43, 56.
Chebros Amosis, 34, 35, 36.
Chemmis, 29.

Cheops, 28, 29, 30, 41, 56, to 8-88.
Chephren, 30.

Chronology, 23, 37, 38, 48, 113 to 125.
Closure of Pyramid. 64.
Chufu, 29.

Circle, Quadrature of 138
Coffer, 97, 135.
Coincidence, 16, 109, 129-
Coins, 158
Caballiym, 172

Uonder, 54.

Construction, 59.

Construction Chambers. 99, 100.

Coptic Books, 62.

Corner Sockets, 73.

Corner Stone, 77, 155

Crucifixion, 120.

Cubits, 116, 136, 137.

Davison, 68.

Damascus, 9.

Darius II, 22.

Date of Erection, 82, 120.

Deluge, 54.

Diameter of Earth 127.

Density, 161

Diospolis, 22.

Diorite, 108.

Draconis, 117, 126.

Earth measures. 46, 127, 131.

Edom, 24, 25, 63.

Egypt, location 21.

End of the age, 121.

Entrance, 78, 81.

Entrance Passage, 79.

Length of
Eratosthenes, 22, 37, 45, 54.
Erection, date of 82, 120.
Exodus, 119.
Facing, 64.
Fallen Stone, 66.
Flood, 23, 48, 125.
French Standard, 133, 134.
Ghizeh, 52.
Glidden, 55, 69.
Gorbah, 155.
Greaves, 68.
Grand Gallery, 84.

" Height of 89.
Granite Leaf, 92, 110.
Granite Elevation, 95, 122*
Greek Letters, 25,
Height, 73.
Hebrew Letters, 26.
Heroditus, 22, 27, 29, 30, 31, 54, 59.
Heracleopolis, 22-43.
Hieroglyphs, 22, 23, 37, 81.
Hipparchus, 17.
Historical, 13, 51,
History of P. 21.

" " Egypt 51.
Hindus, 29; 36.
Holy of Holies, 148.
Horizontal Passage, 103.
Humidity, 144.
Hycsos, 30. 33, 55, 56, 63. *
Ibin Abd Alkokm, 61.
Iran, 10.
Ideations, 24.
Imitations, 11.
Impend, 90,
Inch years, 114, 116.
Incrustation, 105.
Inscriptions, 61.
Isaiah, 148.
Isis Unveiled, 15*i 174

INDEX.

183

Jacob ,37.
Janias, 34.
Jeremiah, 63.
Jewish, Race, 66.
Joseph. 33, 37.
Josephus*. 55.
Job, 63 156.
Julius Africanus, i
Karnak, 33.
Kenrick, 49.
King's Chamber, 95.
Latitude, 46, 131.
Leap Year, 146.
Life and Work, 95, 100.
Lindsay, 57.
Logos, 14, 64, 147, 153.
Luxor, 33-

Manetho, 22, 28, 29-31.
Mastaba, 175
Measures 13, 133.
Melchizedek, 43,
Memnon List, ':
Memphis, 22, 2?
Mencheres, 31 .
Menes, 25.
Menu, 26.
Meshophra, 33.
Meskora, 33
Mesphra-Thothosis, 36.
Metrical System, 133.
Mencophra, 49.
Mezrites, 41.
Minos, 26.
Monotheism, 43.
Months, 45, 147.
Morphology, 110.
Motive, 109.
Moses, 119.
Name of Egypt, 47,
Native, Kings, 36.
Noubkori, 33.
Object of the work, 10.
Observatory, 156.
Orientation, 74, 132.
Osiris, 24.
Osirtisen I, 32.

44 H, 33.

" in, 33.
Pali, 35, 55i
Palestine, 125.
Para n as, 36.

Parts and Proportions, 73.
Pentateuch, 10.
Pole Star, 117.
Perozenius, 54.
Petrea, 24.
Phoenicia, 24, 33, 35.
Philitis, 30, 56,
Philistines, 56.
Pillar, 148.
Pi Proportion, 155.
Pontiff Kings, 31,
Portcullis, 66, 84.
Processional Cycle, 114.
Quadrature of the Circle,

Queen's Chamber, 103.

Ramps, 87, 88, 103, 110.

Ramp Holes, 89

Romans, 65. 74, 83.

Salatian Dynasty, 36, 56.

Salt, 105.

Said, 22,

Salatis, 33.

Sarcophagus, 97.

Scemiophra, 33,

Seal. 15 ^.

Sec and Third Pyr. 163

Seiss, Dr." 29.

Sensuphis, 30, 31.

Shofo, 29, 59.

Shepherds, 30, 33, 57.

Sound Characters, 24.

Science, 44

Shemmo, 49.

Sharpe, 57.

Smyth, Prof. 16, 69.

Sphynx, 78

Strabo, 23.

Step, 89.

Stone Logos, 147.

Sun God, 26.

Syncellus, 23.

Suphis, 28,

Sun's Distance, 126.

Subterranean Chamber, 82, 83.

Symbolisms, 113.

Taylor John, 61 69.

Temperature, 144.

Tentyra, 28.

Test Case, 18.

Thebaid (air) 22.

Thebes, 22, 27, 31, 33.

Thermometric Scale, 160.

Thinites, 22, 28.

Thirty-fifth tier, 155.

This, 22, 28.

Timaus, 29, 30.

Tiers. 77.

Time Divisions, 145.

Tomb Theory, 70, 88, 98, 109, 161.

Troglodytes, 24.

Trenches, 108.

Turin Tablet, 23.

U. S. Seal, 166.

Value of Evidence, 16.

Ventilators, 96.

Vostani, 22.

Vyse, Col. H. 68, 73, 74.

Weights, 73.

Wilson, Mr. 36.

Thos. 36.

Wilkinson, Mr. 48

Week, 47, 145.

Well, 83, 87.

Witness, 148.

Xois, 22.

Years, 145

Yoingees, 29, 36, 66.

Zero, 155.

14 138-144 Zincke, 49.
14, MB 144. Zodiacgj 155<

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