The mystery of the Great pyramid : traditions concerning it and its connection with the Egyptian Book of the dead : with numerous illustrations

ASTRONOMICAL CONCEPTIONS

tomb of Osiris was covered with shade nearly six months ”’. In connection with the fourteen days before the spring equinox, and after the autumn equinox referred to above (see p. 81), Mr. Fellows cites a tradition amongst masonic Jews that Hiram’s body lay fourteen days in the grave before it was found by Solomon.

The foregoing conception of the Great Pyramid as a “pedestal to the sun”, with the idea of Osiris, as that luminary, descending into the tomb at nightfall, is borne out by the Ritual. For the Book of the Dead is clearly an allegory of the passage of the sun through the underworld, its setting giving the idea that its career was cut short by the attack of some evil being with whom it had to do battle in the darkness of the lower regions before it could return to the domain of light. The same idea is found in the primitive religions of other races, such as is contained in the Mexican Popol Vuh, which is akin to the Egyptian Book of the Dead. In this two hero-gods are represented as descending into the abyss of the Maya hades, routing the evil spirits encountered there, and returning again to earth triumphant (Spence).

A clue which appears to confirm in a very conclusive manner the close relationship existing between the Great Pyramid, as the “‘ House of Osiris ”’, and the ‘‘ Book of the Master ”’, is given by the inner entrance to the Descending Passage—or inner porch, as it may be described—situated in the core-masonry, behind the revolving door in the casing itself. It also illustrates another of the many astronomical conceptions found both in the Ritual and in the Monument, and at the same time appears to offer an explanation of certain features in the latter, the purpose of which constructionally does not seem very obvious.

Over this inner entrance—originally hidden from view

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