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

Compare also the following by Sir Wallis Budge : “The civilization of the dynastic Egyptians developed out of the primitive culture of the indigenous pre-dynastic peoples of Egypt, after it had been modified and improved by the superior intelligence of a race of men, presumably of Asiatic origin, who invaded and conquered Egypt.” (History of Egypt, vol. ii; our italics.)

Dr. Seiss, of Philadelphia, in his Miracle in Stone (gth ed.), makes the following interesting remarks regarding the architect of the Great Pyramid, which would appear to corroborate the idea of his Asiatic origin. He first quotes Manetho (citing Cory’s Fragments, p. 257): “ We had formerly a king whose name was Timaus. In his time it came to pass . . . that the Deity was displeased with us ; and there came up from the East, in a strange manner, men of an ignoble race, who had the confidence to invade our country, and easily subdue it without a battle. And when they had our rulers in their hands, they demolished the temples of the gods.”

Dr. Seiss then continues : ‘“‘ The description is peculiar, and though tainted with Egypt’s proverbial hatred of this class of shepherds,! indicates a wonderful influence won over the king by purely peaceable means, which could hardly have been less than supernatural. Manetho further adds that ‘ some say they were Arabians ’.”

To this he adds the following footnote: ‘ Wilford in his Asiatic Researches, gives an extract from Hindoo records which seems to sustain, in some important particulars, this fragment of Manetho. The extract says that, one Tamo-vatsa, a child of prayer, wise and devout, prayed for certain successes, and that God granted his requests, and that he came into Egypt with a chosen people, entered it ‘ without any declaration of war, and began to administer justice among the people and to give them a good king’. This Tamo-vasta is represented as a king of a powerful people called the Pali, or shepherds, who in ancient times

1 “Every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.”Gen. xlvi, 34.

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