On tite Origin of the Pyramids of Egypt, 289 



However ancient the Pyramids may be, a simpler hemispheroidal 

 or conical form seems to have preceded the more artificial an- 

 gular structure. Among the pyramids of Saccara, which appear 

 to be more ancient than those of Djiza, there are instances, as 

 we have shown, not only of this primaeval pile, but of its various 

 modifications until it assumed the pyramidal siiape. One ex- 

 ample has been noticed among the pyramids of Saccara, of .an 

 immense mound, which corresponds in its form with the com- 

 mon appearance presented by ancient tumuli almost all over the 

 world, as thev are found in countries where the pyramidal shapp 

 was never introduced. But to proceed in the discussion of the 

 third question. 



The body of .Joseph being thus placed h t>) Xoq(», and buried 

 according to the accustomed usage of the Egyptians (as manir; 

 fested bv the existence of one of their ancient sepulchres con- 

 taining the receptacle in question), was not intended to remain 

 in Egyi)t. The IsraeHtes had bound themselves by an oath, that 

 when they left the land they would " carry his hones" with them 

 (Gen. 1. 25). Accordingly, we find, that when a century and a 

 half had elapsed from the time of his burial, the sepulchre, which 

 during all this period had preserved his reliques in a Soros, was 

 opened by the children of Israel. Their number amounted to' 

 600,000 men when they went out of Egypt, besides the mixed 

 multitude by whom they were accompanied (Exod. xii. 37, 38); 

 a sufficient army, surely, even for the opening of a pyramid if it 

 Avere necessary, especially when the )>ersons employed for the 

 undertaking were ac(juainted with the secret of its entrance ; 

 having from the very moment of the patriarch's interment, been 

 under a solenm engagement to remove the body which they had 

 there placed. However this may be determined, it is certain 

 the tomb was opened ; for no sonner is their departure men- 

 tioned, than we read (Exod. xiii. 19), " Moses took the hones of 

 Joseph with him." Here, then, we have a record in history, 

 wliich implies the violation of a sej)ulchre, and the actual re- 

 moval of an embalmed bodv from the Soros in which it is said 

 to iiave been deposited. The locality, too, of this sepulchre 

 seems to coincide with that of the particular coemetery where this 

 pyramid has for so many ages unaccountably borne the marks of 

 a similar violation ; its secret entrance being disclosed to view j 

 and its Soros always empty. It is by no means here presumed 

 that this circumstance ivill account for its violated state ; but 

 it furnishes a curiou-: coincidence between the present appearance 

 of the pyramid, and a fact recorded in ancient history which 

 may possibly be urged to that effect. No other pyramid has 

 been thus opened ; neither is it probable that any such violation 

 of a sepulchre would ever have been formerly tolerated : so 

 \\A. Aj. No. 203. Jpril Iblf). T sacrilegious 



