Peeps at Many Lands: Egypt

ramids," and rightly, for though pyramids have been built in other countries, this particular form of structure has always be

OF GHIZEH FRO

orm such a commanding group that they dominate the landscape for miles around. All visitors to Egypt, moreover, are not able to go up the Nile or become acquainted with the temples, but everyone sees the

t, or climbed its rugged sides. Figures convey little, I am afraid, but when I tell you that each of its sides was originally 755 feet in length and its height 481 feet, or 60 feet higher than the cross of St. Paul's, and that gangs of men, 100,000 in each, were engaged for twenty years in its construction, some

ked by the Persians, and later by the Romans and Arabs, so that of whatever treasure it may o

e two great pyramids are grouped a number of others, while the rock is honeycombed with tombs, and practically from here to the first cataract the

d which periodically buries it, and, battered though it has been by Mohammed Ali's artillery, the expression of its face, as it gazes

d far in the distance the curious and lonely pyramid of Medūn. These are all built on the edge of the desert, which impinges

a has many tombs of the greatest in

each in its huge granite coffin, the mummies of the sacred

by 11 by 8, and which, with their contents, must have been of enormous weight, and yet they have been lowered into position in the vaults without damage. The tomb, however, was rifled long ago, and all the sarcop

e limestone, are covered by panels enclosing carvings in low relief, representing every kind of agricultural pursuits, as well as fishing and hunting scenes

f Egypt's capitals, Memphis has almost completely disappeared into the soft and yielding earth, and little trace of the former city now remains

heir heavy stone buildings have sunk into the soft ground and become completely covered by deposits of mud. So, as at Memphis, all that now remains of ancient Heliopolis, o

have generally been built on firmer foundations, and many are still in a very perfect s

h for Egypt is quite modern; but it has two points of interest for all. First, its association with Cleopatra, who, with her son, is depicted on the sculpt

ace they are connected. Between these different pylons is generally a pro-naos, or avenue of sphinxes, which, on either side, face the causeway which leads to the final gate which gives entrance to the temple proper. In front

alls in a most decorative way, and giving colour to their otherwise plain exterior. Another point worth notice is that this succession of gateways becomes gradually larger and more ornate, so that those

walls are sloping. This was intended to give stability to the structure, which in modern buildings is imparted by their buttresses; but in the c

and open to the sky, was designed to accommodate the large concourse of people which would so often assemble to witness some gorgeous temple service, and beyond, through the gloomy but

a roof suppor

n débris, the hypostyle hall which we enter is perhaps more impressive than any other interior in Egypt. The massive stone roof, decorated with illumination and its celebrated zodiac, is

rways, which lead to the shrine or the many priests' c

a building it once had been. There are a great many temples in Egypt of greater importance than Dendereh, but though Edfu, for example, is quite as perfect and much larger, it has not quite the same fascination. Others are more beautiful perhaps, and

nscriptions, are the curious mud homes of the wild bees, who work on industriously, regardless of the attacks of the hundreds of bee-eaters[8] which feed upon them. Bee

d about the siz

o, but you may presently read more about them in books specially devoted to this subject.

, one the sound value of letters or syllables of which a word was composed, the other the picture value which determined it; thus we find the word "cat" or "dog" spelled by two or three signs which give the letters, followed by a picture of the animal itself, so that there might be no doubt as to its meaning. This sounds quite simple, but the writing of the ancient E

ifferent deities worshipped in different places and at different periods that the sub

the dynasties also had their various "triads," or trinities, of gods which they worshipped, while bulls and hawks, crocodiles and cats, have each in turn been venerated as emblems of some godlike or natural function. Thus the "scarab," or beetle, is the emblem of eternal life, for the Egyptians believed in a future s

its monuments without referring to th

hewn temple of Abou Simbel and the imposing colossi of Thebes. In the case of Abou Simbel, the huge figures of Rameses II. which form the front of his temple are hewn out of the solid rock, and are 66 feet in height, forming one of the most impressive sights in Egypt.

I OF THEBE

ess of their other monuments, had ever kings before or since such impressive resting-places as t