904 LITERARY AND SClEU'tiPit4 



LECTURE ON THE PYRAMIDS OF EGYPT. 



On Tuesday, the 2l8t of October, John Davidson, Esq., F. A. S., 

 M. R. A. S., delivered his Lecture on the Pyramids of Egypt, at thel 

 Guildhall, Worcester, which he aptly illustrated by a variety of beautiful 

 models, sections, &c. 



After expressing his gratification at the request conveyed to him by thei 

 Worcestershire Natural History Society that he would lecture on this 

 subject, and for the honour conferred on him by so numerous an attendance, 

 the learned lecturer stated that the object of his appearing before them wag 

 more for the purpose of explaining what the pyramids were than of 

 attempting to decide by whom or for what purpose they were erected } 

 and to assist in forming some conclusion as to the intention of the 

 builders. The earliest account of their structure was furnished by 

 Herodotus, who, although a great authority, still admits too readily the 

 reports and opinions of others to be all conclusive.* 



*' Diodorus, the next in succession of the authors gene'rally quoted, Ascribes thef 

 erection of the largest pyramid to Chemmis the Memphite, the eighth from Rhem- 

 phis. He is supposed to be the same as Chaeops, and that this historian used the 

 Egyptian, whilst Herodotus adopted the Greek pronunciation. It stands towards 

 Lybia, 120 furlongs from Memphis and 45 from the Nile, is four square, each 

 square seven plethra long and six high, spiring up to a point which was six cubits 

 square — is built of solid mai-ble throughout, of rough workmanship, but of perpetual 

 duration ; for though it is now 1000 years (some say 3400) since it was raised, the 

 stones are firmly jointed together, and the building is as perfect as when just com- 

 pleted. The stone, it is said, was brought from Arabia, and raised by mounds, 

 machines not being yet invented [he here differs again from Herodotus, but it is 

 impossible to believe the Egyptians had no knowledge of machinery] — that, how- 

 ever, which excites the most wonder, is to see such a foundation so imprudently 

 chosen, and the whole pile appears more the work of some God, than an edifice 

 erected by degrees by the hands of men. It is said 360,000 men were employed, 

 who scarcely completed it in twenty years. The Egyptians relate wonderful stories 

 about the raising of the stones by means of mounds of nitre and salt, which being 

 afterwards washed away, the building remained. Chemmis was succeeded by his 

 brother Chephren, who imitated the pyramid on a smaller scale : upon the greater 

 was inscribed the amount of the food consumed, as stated by Herodotus. Although 

 the kings designed these monuments for their tombs, they were not buried in them, 

 but were interred by their servants, according to previous command, in some secret 

 place. After these reigned Mycerinus, the son of him who built the first pyramid ; 

 this, however, was only three plethra high^ but greatly excelled the others in beauty. 

 I have now to call your attention to a passage which I think, both in the Latin and 

 English translation, is rendered in a sense differing from the meaning of the author, 

 Diodorus continuing, 'of?a/3«<r«y Sexe/ lia. /Aiaa ruv nrXivfuv t']fxsxoiXv/L*,/A.ty'r)v;^ by the 

 Latin 'et in uno latere ascensum habel malieo incisorio excavatum;' by the 

 English, 'the ascent is only on one side, by steps cut into the main stone;' taking 

 the word from lYxaXwAt-TTw, signifying to conceal, cover over, and that instead of 

 meaning ascent, our historian referred to the nffoSoy, or entrance, an ascent to which 

 being necessary, he used the word in a double capacity — intending, • cut into the 

 rock but concealed.' 



" Strabo, who followed very closely on the steps of Diodorus, relates, that at forty 

 stadii from the city, on a hill, stand the pyramids, the sepulchres of kings, of which 

 three are most conspicuous, and are accounted amongst the wonders of the world, 



* Herodotus states the greatest was the tomb of Chseops ; the second of Chephren, 

 his brother ; the third of Mycerinus, the son of Chaeops. — Mr. D, gave a copious 

 extract from this author, which, being generally known, we have, for want of room, 

 omitted. 



