ANCIENT EGYPT. 123 



Chamber, the entrance to which was closed by a granite slab. 

 This chamber is 19 feet high, 34 feet long, and 17 feet in 

 width ; it is lined with granite, and above it are five rooms, the 

 object of which is not apparent. 



The second pyramid of Geezeh is but little short of the 

 great pyramid in height. I cannot dwell on it this evening. 



The Tombs of the Kings are about three miles and a half 

 from Luxor. Crossing the Nile, and passing the Temple of 

 Koorneh, built by Sethi I., you enter, by an old road of the 

 pharaohs, a long valley or gorge called by the Arabs Bab-el- 

 Molook (gates to the kings), which might well be termed the 

 valley of the shadow of death. A more dismal picture of 

 desolation can scarcely be imagined — bare rocks on every 

 side, fiercely reflecting the scorching rays of the sun, and not 

 a particle of vegetation to be seen. The tombs of this valley, 

 which contains those of the kings of the XVIIIth. and XlXth. 

 dynasties, differ very much in size, which would appear, as in 

 the case of the pyramids, to have depended greatly on the 

 financial resources that each particular pharaoh had at his 

 disposal for his catacomb, and also the length of his reign, 

 during the course of which it was constructed. The tombs of 

 the XVIIIth. dynasty are differently arranged to those of the 

 XlXth. and XXth. Immediately after the mummy had been 

 placed in its sarcophagus the entrance was closed and 

 cunningly levelled up, so as to conceal the catacomb from 

 possible violation ; such precautions were very necessary, for 

 spoliation of tombs was rife at all periods, and one not unfre- 

 quently finds mention of statutes on this subject among the 

 legal records of Ancient Egypt. 



There is a marked change in the principle underlying the 

 texts and figures in these tombs as compared with those of 

 the pyramids, where the effect produced is that of the defunct 

 being at home, surrounded by his family, dependents and 

 household gods, and leading a pastoral life ; scenes as little 

 funereal as possible, the ruling ideal of a future life being 

 evidently to continue in heaven a similar life to that enjoyed 



