The pyramid of Mycernius, the third in size of the Jizeh group, is about 330 feet square at the base, and 174 feet high.  This pyramid has never been opened.

There are some large pyramids at Sakkarah, one of which is next in dimensions to the pyramid of Cheops, each side of the base being 656 feet, and the height 339 feet.  At Dashour there are also some large pyramids, one of which has a base of 700 feet on each side, and a perpendicular height of 343 feet; and it has 154 steps or platforms.  Another pyramid, almost as large at the base as the preceding, is remarkable.  It rises to the height of 184 feet at an angle of 70 deg., when the plane of the side is changed, to one of less inclination, which completes the pyramid.  At Thebes, there are some small pyramids of sun dried bricks.  Herodotus says, “About the middle of Lake Moeris, there are two pyramids, each rising about 300 feet above the water.  The part that is under the water is just the same height.”  It is probable that these pyramids were built on an island in the lake, and that Herodotus was misinformed as to the depth of the water.  There are numerous pyramids in Nubia—­eighty or more—­but they are generally small.

The object of the Egyptians in building these pyramids, is not known.  Some writers maintain that they were as memorials, pillars, or altars consecrated to the sun; others, that they served as a kind of gnomon for astronomical observations; that they were built to gratify the vanity and tyranny of kings, or for the celebration of religious mysteries; according to Diderot, for the transmission and preservation of historical information; and to others, for sepulchres for the kings,—­which last was the common opinion of the ancients.  Some suppose that they were intended as places for secret meetings, magazines for corn, or lighthouses; but their structure, and great distance from the sea, are sufficient refutations of these absurd hypotheses.

PERILOUS ASCENT OF THE PYRAMID OF CEPHREN.

The upper part of this pyramid is still covered with the original polished coating of marble, to the distance of 140 feet from the top towards the base, which makes the ascent extremely difficult and dangerous.  Mr. Wilde, in his “Narrative of a Voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe, and along the shore of the Mediterranean,” published in 1840, made the ascent to the top, and thus describes the adventure: 

“I engaged two Arabs to conduct me to the summit of the pyramid—­one an old man, and the other about forty, both of a mould, which for combination of strength and agility, I never saw surpassed.  We soon turned to the north, and finally reached the outer casing on the west side.  All this was very laborious to be sure, though not very dangerous; but here was an obstacle that I knew not how the Arabs themselves could surmount, much less how I could possibly master—­for above our heads jutted out,