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

MYSTERY OF THE GREAT PYRAMID

well-shaft (10)—which latter had been made during construction—was completed, thus making it possible to gain access to the upper parts of the Pyramid by, it is true, a rather circuitous route.?

The existence of this shaft would make it just possible that the Great Pyramid was, for a time, actually used as a Temple of Initiation, until the secret of its entrance, which was probably communicated to the priests and guardians of the Pyramid, and handed down from one generation to the next, became lost, together with the knowledge of its system of passages and chambers.

The fact, however, that the upper portion of the wellshaft, where it passes through the Pyramid masonry, was made at the time of construction—though its mouth was originally concealed by the ramp (now broken away at this point) in the Grand Gallery, and was forced open from below at the time the passage from the subterranean parts was made—seems to imply that Marsham Adams is correct in identifying the Grotto in the rock, which here rises up into the masonry above the Pavement level, and to which the shaft leads, as the ‘‘ Well of Life”, or ‘‘ Chamber of the Deep Waters’, of the Ritual. Thus in the vignette to chapter Ixii the deceased is represented as drinking from a well of running water by scooping it up with both hands, and as he does so reciting a prayer, beginning: “ May

1 The circumstances which probably led to the construction of this shaft between the grotto and Descending Passage are set outat pp. 138-43 of our Witness of the Great Pyramid.

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