to the death of Alexander, their history is much blended with that of the Persians and Greeks. After the death of Alexander, Egypt was governed by a succession of kings, for nearly two hundred years; and was then reduced to the condition of a Roman province. 8. Few nations have been more subject to the caprice and oppression of their neighbors, than the Egyptians. Although fallen from the political eminence that she once held, Egypt derived but little security against molestation and oppression from her adversity. About seven hundred years after being made a Roman province, it was conquered by the Saracens. Since that period, it has experienced various changes; and is nominally, at present, under the control of the Turks. THE EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS. 1. THE pyramids of Egypt are well entitled to a place among the most interesting curiosities in the world. The principal ones stand opposite Cairo, on the west side of the river Nile. They are built of stones, which overleap each other, and thus form steps from the bottom to the top. The perpendicular height of the largest is about 500 feet, and the area of its basis contains nearly 500,000 square feet, or something more than eleven English acres of ground. Some idea may be formed of the cost and labor in the structure of this pyramid, from the fact that thirty years were spent in building it, and that 100,000 men were constantly employed on the work. 2 Such were the famous Egyptian pyramids, which, by their figure as well as size, have triumphed over the injuries of time and the Barbarians. But whatever efforts men make, their own nothingness will always appear. These pyramids were tombs; and there is still to be seen, in the middle of the largest, an empty sepulchre, cut out of entire stone, about Under whose control is Egypt at the present time?-Where do the principal pyramids stand? Of what and how are they constructed? What is the height of the largest ?-What is the extent of its basis?—How long time was spent in building it?-How many men were employed about the work?-For what were these pyramids designed? three feet deep and broad, and a little above six feet long. Thus all this bustle, all this expense, and all the labors of so many thousand men, ended in procuring a prince, in this vast and almost boundless pile of buildings, a little vault six feet in length. Besides, the kings, who built these pyramids, had it not in their power to be buried in them, and so did not enjoy the sepulture they had built. The public hatred which they incurred, by reason of their unheard of cruelties to their subjects, in laying such heavy tasks upon them, occasioned their being interred in some obscure place, to prevent their bodies from being exposed to the fury and vengeance of the populace. 3. This last circumstance, of which historians have taken particular notice, teaches us what judgment we ought to pass on these edifices, so much boasted of by the ancients. It is but just to remark and esteem the noble genius which the Egyptians had for architecture; a genius that prompted them, from the earliest times, and before they could have any models to imitate, to aim in all things at the grand and magnificent; and to be intent on real beauties, without deviating in the least from a noble simplicity, in which the highest perfection of the art consists. But what idea ought we to form of those princes, who considered as something grand the raising, by a multitude of hands, and by the help of money, immense structures, with the sole view of rendering their names immortal; and who did not scruple to destroy thousands of their subjects to satisfy their vain glory! They differed very much from the Romans, who sought to immortalize themselves by works of a magnificent kind, but, at the same time, of public utility. 4. Pliny gives us, in a few words, a just idea of these pyramids, when he calls them a foolish and useless ostentation of the wealth of Egyptian kings; and adds, that, by a just punishment, their memory is buried in oblivion, historians not agreeing among themselves about the names of those who first raised those vain monuments. In a word, according to the judicious remark of Diodorus, the industry of the architects of those pyramids is no less valuable and praise Were the pyramids used for the purposes for which they were built? Why were they not?-Is it known for a certainty who were the first projectors of the pyramids ?-How did the Romans differ from the Egyptians in works of magnificence and aggrandizement? worthy, than the design of the Egyptian kings contemptible and ridiculous. 5. But what we should most admire in these ancient monuments, is the true and standing evidence they give of the skill of the Egyptians in astronomy; that is a science which seems incapable of being brought to perfection, but by a long series of years, and a great number of observations. It has been found, that the four sides of the great pyramid named, were turned exactly to the four quarters of the world; and consequently showed the true meridian of that place. Now, as so exact a situation was in all probability purposely pitched upon by those who piled up this huge mass of stones, above three thousand years ago, it follows, that during so long a space of time, there has been no alteration in the heavens in that respect, or, which amounts to the same thing, in the poles of the earth or the meridians. THE FALLING TOWER. MARK ye the tower, whose lonely halls There, oft, when eve, in silent trance, Hears the lorn red-breast's plaintive moan; There, though in time's departed day, Yet never midst the gorgeous scene, Shone on the pile a beam serene, So bright as gilds its falling hour. What is most to be admired in the pyramids ?—What astronomical fact do they furnish? |