A Now Egyptian Pyramid.

Otago Witness, Issue 1583, 25 March 1882, Page 29

A Now Egyptian Pyramid.

The following interesting account of the opening and exploration of a pyramid last December is from a London paper :—

The Pyramid of Meydoom was discovered by Professor G. Maspero, on Tuesday, December 13th, 1881. The village, Pyramid, and Necropolis of Meydoom are situate between 35 and 40 miles south of Cairo, on the western bank of the Nile, and about four miles inland from the river. The village of Meydoom, built high on a rubbish-mound of unknown antiquity, occupies the site of the ancient city of Metun, and perpetuates its name. The city of Metun is found mentioned in various inscriptions of the Third Dynasty; and the Pyramid upon which the attention of travellers and archasologists is at this moment centred, is supposed to be the sepulchre of Seneferoo, the last king of that dynasty, and the immediate predecessor of Khoofoo (Cheops), first king of the Fourth Dynasty, and builder of the Great Pyramid of Gheezeh. The surrounding necropolis abounds in tombs of the Third Dynasty, the latest of which are chiefly those of "royal relatives," and nobles of the Court of Seneferoo.

As seen from the railway, standing apparently on a lofty hill in the midst of a desert plain, or aa seen from the river, rising in solitary gloom against the sunset ,this pyramid presents a very imposing and singular appearance. It is built in three superimposed stages, inclining inwards (like three truncated pyramids one above the other), at an angle of 74 deg. 10 mm., and it stands 122 feet above the eminence on which it seems to be built. The lowest stage measures 69 feet above the mound ; the second 20i feet; the third, which is much ruined, and was probably very lofty, about 25 feet. The revStcment, or stone facing, consists of Mokattam limestone, admirably jointed and polished. It is, in fact, the finest external masonry- work remaining upon any pyramid. This pyramid has hitherto been supposed to be unopened. Professor Maspero, however, by cutting a vertical trench down the north side of the hill, has laid bare the face of the pyramid, and proves that it rises direct from the plain. The " hill" is found to be an immense heap of accumulated sand and debris, which has probably been formed since the end of the period known as the New Empire. The height of the lower stage is therefore now seen to be about 134 f6et. Exactly in the centre of this northern face {i.e., about 20 metres above the plain) was discovered an opening about 1 metre 60c. square, from which a passage of the same dimensions descends at a rapid incline towards some point not yet reached. This passage has already been cleared to a distance of 40 metres. For the first 10 metres it is lined with superb masonry ; beyond that point it reaches a central core of rook, and becomes an excavated sloping shaft of the same size, and descending at the same angle as before. The pyramid is, in fact, built around a natural rock, in the heart of which it is presumed the Bepulchral chamber will shortly be discovered. At a short distance from the entrance there was formerly a "stopper" stone, the place of which is clearly indicated : but this stone has been destroyed and removed at some very remote period. It is evident that the pyramid had been violated and was open to the curious as early as the period of the Twentieth Dynasty ; three graffti, or scribbled inscriptions in the hieratic writing, written by visitors of that time, having been found on the ceilingat the very spot where the closing-stone had originally been placed.

The rapidity with which Professor Maspero has carried out this work is as remarkable as the success with which it has been crowned ; the trench not having been begun till the last week in November, 1881, The labour is, however, very trying, owing to the'want of air and light, and the overwhelming heat inside the pyramid. The workmen cannot stay in for more than an hour at a time without fainting, and being carried out to recover. It is hoped that hieroglyphed inscriptions of great archaeological importance may be found in the sepulchral chamber ; though doubtless everything in the shape of movable treasure was rifled when the pyramid was first opened. The date of Seneferoo is estimated by Mariette Pacha at 8.0. 4235 : and by Brugsch at B.c. 3766.