22 THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS. CHAP. XI. 



monuments, the pyramids of Geezeh (where the 

 beauty of the masonry of the interior has not been 

 surpassed, and I may even say has not been 

 equalled, in any succeeding age) ; in the transport 

 and erection of enormous masses of granite ; and 

 in the underground chambers excavated in the solid 

 rock at Thebes and other places ; where we admire 

 the combined skill of the architect, the surveyor, 

 and the mason. 



The origin of these subterraneous works was 

 derived from the custom of burying the bodies of 

 the dead in places removed beyond the reach of 

 the inundation, and not, as some have supposed, 

 from the habit of living in caves, ascribed to the 

 fabled Troglodyta; ; and it is a remarkable fact, that 

 the excavated tombs and temples bear direct evi- 

 dence of having derived their character from built 

 monuments, in the architrave reaching from column 

 to column, which is taken from the original beam 

 supporting a roof, — a feature totally inconsistent 

 with a simple excavated chamber. 



These feelings, derived from architecture, are 

 carried still further ; we find them extended to 

 statues, which are supported from behind by an 

 obelisk, or a stela; and the figure of a king is ap- 

 plied to a square pillar, both in built and exca- 

 vated temples. 



The abundant supply of grain and other produce 

 gave to Egypt advantages which no other country 

 possessed. Not only was her dense population 

 supplied with a profusion of the necessaries of life, 

 but the sale of the surplus conferred considerable 



