Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman . t by two kings(Shofo and Nou-Shofo) who reigned together, and that the funereal chambers were,one for each king, rather than, as generally supposed, for the king and and queen. PYRAMIDS. 61 hieroglyphics found in its interior, all seem to point to an imitation ofthe old form of mausolea, by some king of a far more modern brick pyramids are found at Dashoor. It is supposed they wereoriginally cased with stone. According to Lepsins, the height of these royal monuments cor-responded with the length of the monarchs reign under
Handbook of archaeology, Egyptian - Greek - Etruscan - Roman . t by two kings(Shofo and Nou-Shofo) who reigned together, and that the funereal chambers were,one for each king, rather than, as generally supposed, for the king and and queen. PYRAMIDS. 61 hieroglyphics found in its interior, all seem to point to an imitation ofthe old form of mausolea, by some king of a far more modern brick pyramids are found at Dashoor. It is supposed they wereoriginally cased with stone. According to Lepsins, the height of these royal monuments cor-responded with the length of the monarchs reign under whom itwas erected. We here quote his words :— It occurred to me thatthe whole building had proceeded from a small pyramid, which hadbeen erected in stages of about 40 feet high, and then first increasedand heightened simultaneously on all sides, by super-imposedcoverings of stones from 15 to 20 feet in breadth, till at lengththe great steps were filled up so as to form one common flat side,giving the usual pyramidal form to the whole. This gradual growth. PYRAMID ACCORDING TO LEPSIUS. A Sepulchral chamber. B, C, C Sizes of pyramid according to length of reign. explains the enormous magnitude of particular pyramids, besides somany other smaller ones. Each king began the building of hispyramid as soon as he ascended the throne; he only designed asmall one, to insure himself a complete tomb, even were he destinedto be but a few years upon the throne. But with the advancingyears of his reign, he increased it by successive layers till he thoughtthat he was near the termination of his life. If he died during theerection, then the external covering was alone completed, and themonument of death finally remained proportionate to the duration ofthe life of the king. Mr. Bartlett, in his pleasing work on Egypt,has advanced an objection which is somewhat fatal to this theory;his words are, it appears inconsistent with the construction of thegreat pyramid of Cheops, since the existence
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