Погребённый с фараонами

           Thegreatestpyramid,whichliesnearestthemodernroad, wasbuiltbyKingCheopsorKhufuabout2800B.C., andstandsmorethan450feetinperpendicularheight. InalinesouthwestfromthisaresuccessivelytheSecondPyramid,builtagenerationlaterbyKingKhephren,andthoughslightlysmaller,lookingevenlargerbecausesetonhigherground,andtheradicallysmallerThirdPyramidofKingMycerinus,builtabout2700B.C.NeartheedgeoftheplateauanddueeastoftheSecondPyramid, withafaceprobablyalteredtoformacolossalportraitofKhephren,itsroyalrestorer,standsthemonstrousSphinx—mute,sardonic,andwisebeyondmankindandmemory. 

           Minorpyramidsandthetracesofruinedminorpyramidsarefoundinseveralplaces,andthewholeplateauispittedwiththetombsofdignitariesoflessthanroyalrank. Theselatterwereoriginallymarkedbymastabas,orstonebench-likestructuresaboutthedeepburialshafts, asfoundinotherMemphiancemeteriesandexemplifiedbyPerneb’sTombintheMetropolitanMuseumofNewYork. AtGizeh,however,allsuchvisiblethingshavebeensweptawaybytimeandpillage;andonlytherock-hewnshafts,eithersand-filledorclearedoutbyarchaeologists,remaintoattesttheirformerexistence. Connectedwitheachtombwasachapelinwhichpriestsandrelativesofferedfoodandprayertothehoveringkaorvitalprincipleofthedeceased.