* This was the theory formulated by Lepsius, after the researches made by himself, and the work done by Erbkam, and the majority of Egyptologists adopted it, and still maintain it.  It was vigorously attacked by Perrot-Chipiez and by Petrie; it was afterwards revived, with amendments, by Borchardt whose conclusions have been accepted by Ed. Meyer.  The examinations which I have had the opportunity of bestowing on the pyramids of Saqqara, Abusir, Dahshur, Rigah, and Lisht have shown me that the theory is not applicable to any of these monuments.

This hypothesis is not borne out by facts:  such a small pyramid as that of Saqqara belonged to a Pharaoh who reigned thirty years, while “the Horizon” of Gizeh is the work of Kheops, whose rule lasted only twenty-three years.

[Illustration:  208.jpg MAP OLEANDER LOWER]

The plan of each pyramid was arranged once for all by the architect, according to the instructions he had received, and the resources at his command.  Once set on foot, the work was continued until its completion, without addition or diminution, unless something unforeseen occurred.  The pyramids, like the mastabas, ought to present their faces to the four cardinal points; but owing to unskilfulness or negligence, the majority of them are not very accurately orientated, and several of them vary sensibly from the true north.  The great pyramid of Saqqara does not describe a perfect square at its base, but is an oblong rectangle, with its longest sides east and west; it is stepped—­that is to say, the six sloping sided cubes of which it is composed are placed upon one another so as to form a series of treads and risers, the former being about two yards wide and the latter of unequal heights.  The highest of the stone pyramids of Dahshur makes at its lower part an angle of 54 deg. 41’ with the horizon, but at half its height the angle becomes suddenly more acute and is reduced to 42 deg. 59’.  It reminds one of a mastaba with a sort of huge attic on the top.  Each of these monuments had its enclosing wall, its chapel and its college of priests, who performed there for ages sacred rites in honour of the deceased prince, while its property in mortmain was administered by the chief of the “priests of the double.”  Each one received a name, such as “the Fresh,” “the Beautiful,” “the Divine in its places,” which conferred upon it a personality and, as it were, a living soul.  These pyramids formed to the west of the White Wall a long serrated line whose extremities were lost towards the south and north in the distant horizon:  Pharaoh could see them from the terraces of his palace, from the gardens of his villa, and from every point in the plain in which he might reside between Heliopolis and Medum—­as a constant reminder of the lot which awaited him in spite of his divine origin.  The people, awed and inspired by the number of them, and by the variety of their form and appearance, were accustomed to tell stories of them to one another,