Lo?idon Philosophical Society. 145 



India. These temples, as he observes, bear the same exter- 

 nal character, have similar inteninl pa3?ages, and yet no one 

 ever imagined that these tuniplcs were mausoleums. Why 

 then do we induce a different conclusion w liere the premises 

 are the same ? [Je pursues this argument by producina an 

 extract from a Brahmin tradition, {the M aha Calpa.,) which 

 asserts that a Hindoo conqueror was the founder of the 

 Pyramids, that the Sarcophagus was devoted to the myste- 

 ries of the Egyptian Isis, and that the well communicates 

 with immense subterraneous regions, — a circumstance sup- 

 ported by another extract from an Arabian manusdript. 

 We agree, however, with Mr. C. that although it is ex- 

 tremely probable that there was a legitimate entrance to the 

 pyramid of Cheops ; yet that, if it rested on the mere Cop- 

 tic tradition recorded in the manuscript descrilied, it would 

 by no means be worthy of implicit credence. We give liim 

 credit for sacrilicing speculation on this and on other occa- 

 sions to prudence; and ue think he has a^-ted wisely in 

 abstaining from the question, when the Pvramid was built? 

 though it is settled by the manuscript at 300 years before 

 the Deluge. 



With regard to his etymological definition, though we 

 entertain no greater respect for it than Mr. C. considered as 

 affording illustration, we think that the Hebrew word Py- 

 ramido, the revelation of Perfection, or the Bull, is A 

 much less strained analogy than Boorernilh, the cave of 

 Death. It is curious, however, that the Coptic word Meed, 

 which corresponds with the Greek Mathos, the Jewish 3fi- 

 dOf signifies in Shanscrit a college of priests, and, when 

 combined with the foregoing part of the word, implies that 

 Fire was the object of their devotion. 



To proceed : If it be proved that the Pyramids were not 

 sepulchres, there api)ears to be no alternative but admitting 

 that they were Sabean temples. But Mr. Clarkson is not 

 satisfied with this position, singly considered, and has 

 therefore entered into a variety of evidence to prove that 

 the passages afforded the original model of initiatory ca- 

 verns. After detailing at some length the exoteric and 

 esoteric rites of the ancient nations with a degree of erudi- 

 tion wiiich does him credit, he proceeds to adapt the de- 

 scription of these rites to the peculiar form of the pyramidal 

 recesses. We copy this adaptation, because we consider it 

 extremely ingenious ; and though we are ready to admit 

 that it bears a character of abstract speculation, we think, 

 as he has established his main point, that the details de- 



V0I.39. No. IGG. Feb, 1812. K pending 



