THE EX(iAVATI(>lsrS AT ABUSTK, KGYTT. 675 



more elaborate I}, \intil the gifts were .so numerous that the shnple 

 grave could no longer hold them. Other rooms were then added, and 

 the grave became a storehouse in which the gifts were placed either 

 whole or broken into fragments. In the former case it was assumed 

 that the deceased would himself use them in the grave which formed 

 his dwelling place ; in the latter case it was believed that he sojourned 

 in the other world in an abode which was the counterpart of his 

 grave. The new body corresponded to the corpse, and in the same 

 manner the fragments had their real comiterparts. In place of real 

 offerings plastic imitations were frequently sul)stituted, especially in 

 later times, or their images were merely painted on the walls of the 

 tomb, and aided l)y magical fornnila the dead could give them real 

 existence. Such pictorial offerings were less costl}' and were less 

 exposed to deca}- than real ol)jects, and could afford the necessary basis 

 for the constant renovation of the food articles and other needful 

 things. 



These tomli structures at first lacked a place of worship. As no 

 offerings were found in the earth above the grave tt) indicate that 

 ceremonies were observed after the inter- 

 ment, it is inferred that in the most ancient 

 time the obligations of the survivors ended 

 with the burial, so that the deceased could 

 afterwards claim no more gifts. This con- 

 ception, however, gradually underwent a . — 

 change, and it was considered requisite for / \ 

 the welfare of the departed that from time to (Z i/^^c>.,u. \ ^ 

 time new sacrifices should be consecrated to fig. 2.— sun obelisk, from a con- 

 him and gifts be presented at his resting ' temporary relief. 

 place. Rooms separate from the grave chamber became desirable, and 

 such rooms indeed appear in Egyptian tombs from about the time of 

 the pyramids until the passing away of the old religion. These are 

 above the earth, separate from the inaccessible grave, and are open to 

 visits from the living. 



In the pyramids the grave proper was in the closed interior of the 

 structure, where tlie offerings were placed next to the coffin, or, since 

 the fifth dynasty, were painted on the walls. In front of the pyra- 

 mid there was sometimes erected a mortuar}' temple. The oldest edi- 

 fice of this kind known was at the pyramid of King Snefru, a ruler 

 during whose reign the transition from the later stone age to that of 

 the strictly historical dynasti(\s in its varions directions was accom- 

 plished. This building is unfortunately for the most part destroyed, 

 there remaining only a covered winding path that led to a small room 

 containing an altar and adjoining tiie pyramid. At the temple of the 

 P3 ramid C'hefrcn, which is in a better state of preservation, a straight 

 passage leads between storerooms to the sacrificial hall, while \\\ the 



