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THESYMBOLICPROPHECYOFTHEGREATPYRAMID

H.SpencerLewis

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Copyright©1936,1963and2015SupremeGrandLodgeOfTheAncientandMysticalOrderRosaeCrucis.AllRightsReserved.

Thispublicationisforyourpersonal,privateuseonly,andmaynotbeusedforanycommercialpurpose.Nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,distributed,displayed,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,includingphotocopying,recording,orotherelectronicormechanicalmeans,includinginformationstorageandretrievalsystems,withouttheexpressandpriorwrittenpermissionofSupremeGrandLodgeOfTheAncientandMysticalOrderRosaeCrucis,exceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedinreviews.Forpermissionrequests,pleasecontact:SupremeGrandLodgeOfTheAncientAndMysticalOrderRosaeCrucis,Inc.,RosicrucianPark,1342NagleeAve,SanJose,California95191.

Theinformationinthisbookisdistributedonan“asis”basis,withoutwarranty.Althougheveryprecautionhasbeentakeninthepreparationofthiswork,neithertheauthornorthepublishershallhaveanyliabilitytoanypersonorentitywithrespecttoanylossordamagecausedorallegedtobecauseddirectlyorindirectlybytheinformationcontainedinthisbook.

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TableofContents

CoverPage

Preface

IAVisittotheLandofMystery

IIMysteriousTraditions

IIITheGeographicalSignificance

IVTheAmazingConstruction

VSymbolicMeasurements

VITheProphecyofEvents

VIITheSecretPassagewaysofthePyramid

VIIIStrangeFacts

IXTheMysteryInitiations

XWhenceCameThisKnowledge?

Appendix

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DEDICATED

totheMemoryofDR.JAMESHENRYBREASTED

whohasgiventotheworldsomuchtruthregardingtheantiquitiesofEgypt.

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BuildingtheGreatPyramidofGizeh.Itisestimatedthatonehundredthousandmenwereemployedtwentyyears

toerectit.Theabovepictureisafamousartist'sconceptionofthemammothtask.

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TheSphinx,guardianoftheages.Betweenitspawsstandsanaltarbeforewhichcandidatesofthemysteryschools,inantiquity,tooktheirobligationspriorto

beingledbysubterraneanpassagewayintotheinitiatorychambersoftheGreatPyramid(showninbackground).

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TheillustriousPharaoh,Akhnaton,of1350B.C.,thefirsttoconceiveandpostulateamonotheisticreligion.HisreligiousviewsinfluencedthereligiousliteratureofthecaptiveJewsandputanindeliblestampuponthe

Christiandoctrinescenturieslater.

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PREFACETherehavebeensomanybooksandpamphlets

writtenabouttheGreatPyramidofGizehinEgyptthatitwouldseemthatonemoreonthesubjectwouldbeuseless.Thegreatdivergencyofopinionsexpressedinthesebookswouldtendtoleadthereadersofthemtofeelthateachnewbookisbutanotherpresentationofpersonalopinions,andthatthemultiplicityofopinionsleavestheseekerfortruthgreatlypuzzled.

Afterall,anydescriptionofthePyramidislikeadescriptionofabeautifulsunsetorofamagnificentpainting.Eachdescriptionisaslightlydifferentpictureofwhatisintheeyesofthebeholder.Thosewhowouldbenefitbysuchdescriptionsmusttakefromeachwhatseemstobeinagreementwiththeothersandwhatcreatesintheirmindsalogicalconception.

CertainitisthatthePyramidintotocanbedescribedfrommanydifferentviewpoints.Thearchitect,thestructuralengineer,thebuilder,thelaborer,theartist,andtheartisanwillfindinthePyramidelementstoholdtheirattention,commandadmirationandrespect,andfurnishmaterialforelaborateandenthusiasticdescriptions.

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Thentherearethehistorian,thephilosopher,thescientist,andthemystic.EachofthemwillfindinthePyramidthatwhichhecanadmireanddwelluponwithecstasy,enthusiasm,orcoldmechanicalrespect.

ThethesisofthispresentbookisthepresentationofthemysticalsideofthePyramidandthesupportofthecontentionpresentedinmanyancienttraditionsthattheGreatPyramidwasbuiltnotasatombforakingwhosoughttoaggrandizehimselfimmediatelybeforeandlongafterhistransition,butasaplacedesignedentirely,andusedexclusively,formysticalceremoniesofinitiationand,incidentally,orcoincidentally,asamonumentforthepreservationofwisdomandtobeeverlastinglyaprophetofthefuture.

Forthisreasonthisbookdoesnotdealexhaustivelywiththemechanical,engineering,scientific,orotherfeaturesofthedesignandstructureofthePyramid,exceptinsofarastheycastlightuponitsmysticalsymbolismanditspracticalusefulnessinaccordancewiththethesisreferredtoabove.

Eventheso-calledreligioussideofitssignificanceistoucheduponbutlightlybecausemanyotherbookshaveelaborateduponthisphaseofthesubject,oftentofanatiCalextremes.Itistooeasytogoastrayandallowone'simaginationandfancytoassociatemanythingsfoundinthe

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PyramidwithstatementstobefoundintheChristianBibleinboththeOldandNewTestaments.ThisisnotduetothefactthattherearesomanydoubtfulorunprovedelementstobefoundinthePyramidwhichmaybeexplainedbyextremeresorttotheimagination,buttothefactthatsomanypagesintheChristianBiblearesusceptibleofvariousexplanationsandinterpretations,oftenthroughelaboratediscussionsoftheprecisemeaningofsomewordinasentence—regardlessofthefactthatmanysuchwordswerearbitrarilychosenbytheinterpretersandtranslatorsoftheBiblewithouthavinginmindtheuniqueapplicationthatmightbemadeoftheshadesofmeaningattributivetosuchwords.

Becauseinancientwritingswefindreferencesto"thefourcornersoftheearth,"weshouldnotassumethattheoriginalwritersofthewords—notthetranslatorsorinterpreters—intendedtoimplythattheearthwassquareandactuallyhadfourcorners.Butsuchphraseseasilylendthemselvestothefanatical,moderninterpretersinwritingabouttheGreatPyramid,whowouldarguethatthePyramidrepresentsthesquarenessoftheearthandthatinthebeginningoftimetheearthmusthavebeensquarebecausetheBiblespeaksofthefourcornersoftheearthandthePyramiditselfhasfourcorners.

Thesameistrueinregardtothemannerof

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interpretingmanyofthepropheticindicationsinthePyramidtoincidentsrelatedintheBible.ByalittlestretchoftheimaginationandtheinsistenceuponcertainshadesofmeaningattributedtowordsdescribingthelifeandactsofJesus,theextremistswouldhaveusbelievethateveryincidentinthelifeofJesusisprophesiedinthePyramid,andthatthefuturelifeofman—asoutlinedintheChristiandogmasandcreeds—isfirmlyestablishedinthepredictionsfoundinthePyramid.ThiswouldmakethePyramidexclusivelyaChristianmonumentwhichmusthavebeen,therefore,designedandcreatedbyChristianstoemphasizetheChristianreligionandtointimatethatonlyChristianswouldfindwisdominitsrevelations.ThefactthatthePyramidwasdesignedandbuiltlongbeforetheChristiandoctrineswerepresentedtomanisnoembarrassmenttotheseextremistswhoexplainthisdifficultybystatingthatthedesignersandCreatorsofthePyramidknewinadvanceofthecomingofJesustheChrist,theteachingsHewouldpresent,theactsHewouldperform,andtheeventualChristianizingoftheentireworldby"theonlytruereligion."

Ichoosetoleavetotheindividualreadersofthisbookthepersonalchoiceofmakingsuchreligiousinterpretations,andthedecisionastowhetherornottheGreatPyramidprophesiestheChristianizingofthewholeworld.Thisisamatter

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thatisentirelyoutsidethescopeofthepresentwork.

TheauthorhasvisitedtheinsideandoutsideofthePyramidandhasstudiedmanyplansofitsmeasurementsanddelineation,andexaminedformanyyearsancientandmodernrecordscontainingtheoldtraditionsandthepresentsecretwritingsandreportsregardingtheoriginalpurposeofthePyramidanditsoccupationanduse.

Mostofthestatementsmadeinthisbook,therefore,arenotthemerepersonalopinionsoftheauthorbutthepersonalopinionsofmultitudesofpersonswhohavebeenincontactwiththoseassociatedwiththePyramidinthetimeofitsmysticaluse,orwhohavemaderecentstudiesofitspresentconditions.Theopinionsofsomemodernwriters,scientists,andinvestigatorshavebeenaddedinsupportoftheancienttraditionsandEndings.Thisbook,therefore,isahandbookofthemysticalsideoftheGreatPyramidandarguesitsthesisfromthepremiseofmanyestablishedfacts.IfanyreaderthereofdesirestoadoptanopposingopinionandtoinsistthattheGreatPyramidofGizehwasnotwhatthisthesisclaims,.heisentitledtohisopinionandtheburdenofproofrestsuponhimtosupporthiscontentionsandatthesametimeexhausthimselfinattemptingtonegatetheoutstandingfacts,well-established,whichsupporttheideaspresentedinthisbook.

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ThebookisconsequentlyachallengeandatthesametimeaninterestingdescriptionofthePyramidasitwasandasitistoday.

THEAUTHOR

February1,1936.

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T

ChapterI

AVISITTOTHELANDOFMYSTERY

OUNDERSTANDandappreciateboththearchitecturalmagnificenceandthemysticalsignificanceoftheGreatPyramid,onemust

understandsomethingaboutmysteriousEgypt.Amongvariousreligiousdenominationsof

moderntimesEgyptisstillcalled"TheLandofDarkness."Tothestudentsofcivilization,andculturalandintellectualdevelopment,Egyptevertypifiestheonetimecenterofworldculture.Tothestudentofmysticismandallthatisweird,alluring,fascinating,andintriguing,thebanksoftheNileremainincreasinglypopularandinteresting.

Whysomeshouldcallit"TheLandofDarkness"isdifficulttounderstand,unlesswelookatEgyptinoneperiodofitsverylonghistoryandwronglyselectthatperiodastypifyingitsspirit.Therearemanylandsintheworldtodaywhichatonetimerosetogreatheightsincultureandintellectualdevelopmentandthendroppedtoa

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verylowplace,butnoneoftheseiscommonlyreferredtoasalandofdarkness.FromareligiouspointofviewtheChristiansandthoseofmoremodernformsofreligionpointoutthefactthatChristianityhasmadelittleheadwayinEgyptinthepastfewcenturies,andfromtheChristianpointofviewthiswouldseemtoindicatealandofreligiousdarkness.ButsuchpersonsforgetthatEgyptwasalandinwhichChristianitydevelopedoneofitsearliestfoundations,andfromwhichitderivedmuchofitscultureandethics.

Tothemystic,orthosemysticallyinclined,Egyptdoesnotpersonifyalandofdarkness,butalandofsleeping,potent—thoughdormant—power,withahidden,secretwisdomandculturethatmaybefannedtoagreatflameandbecomeaninspiringsourceofilluminationatalmostanyperiodofthepresentandfutureyears.Initsownwayitishighlyreligious,andmeasuredfromthebroadstandardsofreligionitisnotwithoutitsbeautifulidealsandwonderfulcontributionstomoralandethicaldevelopment.

ThepeoplesoftheWesternWorldhavedevelopedmanyerroneouspicturesandideasregardingEgyptanditspeople,andtherearetwosourcesofinformation,ormisinformation,whichareresponsiblefortheseerroneousideas.Thefirstarethereportsofthepoliticalsituationthere,withconstantintimationsinthesereportsthatEgyptisa

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landofpeopleincapableofproperlygoverningthemselvesandneedingthecontinuedsurveillance,"protection,"and"guardianship"ofamoremodernnation.Thesecondsourceofmisinformationarethepopularstoriesandtalestoldaboutthecountryinbooksorlectures,magazinearticles,orfeaturereportspreparedbythosewhodeliberatelycolortheiropinionsandjudgment,orignorantlyrecordincompetentanddistortedviewpoints.

ThehistoryofEgyptgoesbacktosuchgreatantiquitythatactualfactsarelostbehindaveilofobscurity,anditisonlywhenthesefactsemergeintheirchronologicalforwardmarchtowardmoremoderntimesthattheytakeonaformthatresemblesrecognitionandestablishment.CarefullysurveyingthehistoryofEgypt,oneisimpressedwiththeideathatitislikelookingacrossthecountryintoadensefog.Themoredistanttheobjectswetrytodiscern,themorevagueandindefinitetheyappeartobeinformandcolor,andeveninrelationshiptotheearthitself.Itisonlythosethingswhichseemtoemergepartiallyfromthefogandcomeclosertousthatgiveusacorrectimpressionorsomethingtangibletorecordinourcontemplation.

IfweweretoflyoverEgyptinamodernplane,asisbeingclonealmostdailyatthepresenttimebytouristsandthosewhohaveimportantmattersto

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dealwithandmustmakehurriedtripstoEgyptandreturn,wewouldbeimpressedwiththefactthatnotonlyisEgyptaverysmallsectionofAfricalocatednearitsnortheastcorner,butthatitisjustalongvalleylyingoneithersideofawonderfulriverendingattheMediterraneanandhavingitsbeginningsomewhereintheruggedmountainsofEthiopiaorAbyssinia.Infact,wereitnotforthisunusualriver—unusualinmanyways—thelandofEgyptwouldbeapartofthedesertwastesofNorthernAfrica.Butdownthroughthisdesertwastenaturedugacanal,andallowedtherainwatersoftheEthiopianmountainstowendtheirwaynorthwardtowardtheMediterraneanthroughthistwisting,turningcanal.Forfifteenhundredmilesthisrivercarriesitslife-givingwaterstothegreatsea,andduringthelasteighthundredmilesofthisdistancewehavethehistoricallyfamousandfascinatingvalleythatconstitutestheessentialheartofEgypt.

ThepartofEgyptthatisthemostinterestingtoalltourists,andthemostattractiveinitspresentationofruinsandmonumentsoffascinatingrevelationscoversadistancealongtheNileofabouteighthundredmilessouthfromCairo,orinotherwords,adistanceequivalenttothevalleylocatedintheCentralportionoftheStateofCalifornia.BecauseoftheannualoverflowofthisNile,resultingininundationswhichCarry

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downfromthemountainsmudandsoil,anddepositthemuponthesandoneithersideofthestream,andirrigatethisotherwisedryandunfertilearea,thecivilizationofEgypthascentereditselfintoanarrowstretchofmudandsandlandborderingthisGod-givenstream.AndbecausetheNileaffordedacoolandveryefficientmeansofnavigation,aswellasirrigatedlandsforagricultureandhabitations,alloftheprincipalcitiesofEgyptwerebuiltalongthebanksoftheNileaswereallofthemagnificenttemples,pyramids,andotherstrangestructures.

EnteringEgyptbymeansoftheairplane,however,isnotthemostinteresting,norprofitablewaytocoveranyportionofitsareas,nortoreachitsborderlands.TwoverypopularmethodsforWesternWorldvisitorsarebyboattoAlexandriaorSuezandthencebytraintoCairo,orbytrainfromPalestine.AsonearrivesbyshipatAlexandria,thefirstsightoflandisimpressivebecauseofthemagnificentbay,themanyshipsanchoredatitsdocks,anditsthousandsofsmallprivateboatsincludingtheyachtsofthewealthywiththeirwhitehullsreflectinginthewaters,andtintedbythevariegatedcolorsonthepatchworksailsofthepoorman'sboats.Thehustleandbustleatthedocks,accompaniedbythefascinatingcostumesoftheorientaltypesamongthosewhohandleyourbaggageandoperatethetraffic

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conditionsatthepiers,theunusualrailroadtrainsandthemethodsofboardingthemandfightingforseatsintheunreservedcompartments,makethefirstfewhoursofyourarrivalinEgyptthebeginningofalongdramaofendlessactsandscenes.

TheridethroughtheDeltaregionwithitsthousandsofsmallirrigationcanals,itsflatlandsofgreens,thestrangemudhutsofthenativesspottedamongmoremodernbuildingsofstone,theagriculturalanddairyindustriesofthisregion,andthepassingofanoccasionalancientlandmark,maketheshortjourneyfromAlexandriatoCairosofascinatingthatthefewhourspassbyalmostunnoticed.Ontheotherhand,asoneboardstheEgyptiantrainatJerusaleminthequaintoldstationwherecamelsarecarryingfreightandbaggagerighttothesideofthetrain,andstrangesignstellofthedepartureofthetrainanditsdestinationinseveraldifferentlanguagesincludingHebrew,andthepeculiarlookingcarsstandwiththeirhigh-pitchedwhistlesconstantlyblowingasawarning,thestrangelookingbaggageporters,andalloftheotheruniquefeaturesofthetripmakethestartinganinterestingoneafteronehasspentmanyfascinatingdaysperhapsjourneyingthroughPalestineandJerusalemsincearrivingonthegreatshipatHaifa.AsthetrainmovesfromJerusalemtowardEgypttheconstantchangeinthenatureof

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thesoilanditsproductsbecomessoevidentastoholdoneinaspellatthewindowofthecompartmentofthetrain.Graduallytherockysurfaceofthelandsmoothesoutintograssandslightlyrollinghills,andthenasthetrainapproachestheoldPhoenicianCoastoftheMediterranean,atonetimetheworld'sgreatestcenterofshippingandnavigation,thefertilesoilgraduallyturnsintosanddunesandthetreesofvariouskindsthatmadePalestinesopicturesquedisappear,andfinallyintheirplaceweseegrovesofpalmtrees.

TheridefromJerusalemtoCairoisaonedayjourneybeginningsoonafterbreakfastandendingjustintimeforonetoenjoyaneveningmealatthehotelinCairo.Butintheintervaloftenortwelvehoursthesitesofancient,historicalplacespassbeforeuslikeapanoramaonthemotionpicturescreen.LittlebylittleweleavebehindusinPalestineamixtureofancientandmoderncivilization,architecture,andindustries,andapproachthemostprimitiveformofhumansettlements.Everyhourorsothetrainishaltedatgraduallymodifiedtypesofrailwaystationarchitecture,untilbymiddaywefindthestationscrudelyconstructedandpeopledbythemostprimitivetypesofagriculturistsattemptingtoturnthebarrenwastelandsofsandintosomemeansofsustenance.Asthetrainhaltsforwaterandthe

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deliveryofmailandbaggage,weseeinthedistancesoneithersideofthetrainpeculiarmudhutsbuiltofstalksofsugarcaneinterwovenwithclothandplasteredwithmud,outofwhichcomethedwellersofthisstrangesectionoftheearth.Thenativeswhosurroundourcompartmentsandpeerintoourwindowsandofferussomeoftheirwaresforsalearekindlylookingpeopledespitetheirprimitiveandpoorclothing,andnotwithstandingthestrangelongingthatissoevidentintheireyes.Theyappreciateeachkindwordthatisspokentothemevenwhentheydonotunderstandthelanguage.TheyareappreciativeofeverybusinesstransactionandvaluehighlytheWesternWorldmoneythattheyreceiveinexchangefortheirwares,butseemtoresentanyideathattheyarebeggingorlookingforcharity.Trueitisthatalargeportionofthenativeswhoflockaroundtouristsateachandeverypointofrest,paintforusapictureofpovertythroughtheirconstantsolicitationsforbaksheesh,orinotherwords,coinsofanykindeitherhandedtothemorthrowntothemfromthecompartmentwindows.Andateachmovemadebythetouristswhenenteringacar,automobile,hotel,ordoorway,orinpickinguporsettingdownapieceofbaggage,orinlookingforsomethingorsomeone,theseprofessionalbeggarsslipquietlytooneside,andasifbymagicseemtotakeholdofthedoorknoband

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baggagehandles,orwhateverthetouristisreachingfor,andwhileofferingitwithonehandtheysolicitmoneywiththeother,untiltheprocessbecomesanannoyanceanditoftencallsfordrasticactiontofreeoneselffrombeingdelayedbyacircleofthesebeggarswhowoulddeliberatelyforceonetopaythemforfreedomofaction.ButinfairnesstothenativesofallofthesecountriesintheNearEastitmustbesaidthatthesebeggars,oftenresortingtotricksorimitatinglameness,blindness,paralysis,andotherappallingconditionsandlaughingatyoulaterwhenyoudiscoveryouhavebeentricked,representaverysmallportionofthepopulace.

AsthetrainmovesontowardtheSuezCanalandcrossesitatKantara,wenotethatthesunisbeginningtosetintheWest,andasweturnoureyestowardEgyptwecanfaintlyseetheoutlinesoftheminaretsthatrisetowardtheskysilhouettedagainstthegoldencolorsofthesun.Ifourjourneyismadeduringthewintermonths—themostappropriatetimeforvisitingEgypt—itisalmostdarkwhenourtrainarrivesatCairoandourbaggageisunloaded,andweenterataxicaborspecialautomobiletobedriventoourhotel.

WhetherwehavecomedirectfromAmericaorotherpartsoftheworldtoAlexandriabyboatandthencebytraintoCairo,orwhetherwehavecomethroughPalestineandSyriaafterhavingvisitedthemanyancientcitiesofthoselandsandthenceby

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traintothegreatEgyptiancity,wecannotfailtobeimpressed,asourautomobiledrivesustowardourhotel,withthefactthatportionsofCairowithitswideboulevards,itsparks,itsshadytrees,itsverymodernbuildingsandoffices,hotelsandstores,itshighstructures,itsmultiplicityofautomobilesandmoderntaxicabs,itsmanypeopledressedinWesternWorldclothing,andthenatureofthehustleandbustle,theelectricsignswithmanyofthemcontainingEnglishwords,giveusanimpressionthatweareinaWesternWorldcity,andnotinoneoftheoldestlandsoftheearth.StandinginthecentralplazaofCairoeitherinmiddayoratnight,onewonderswhetherthisisthePiccadillyorCharingCrossofLondon,thePlacedelaMadeleineofParis,orthecenterofanyothergreatEuropeancity,orpossiblyUnionSquareofSanFrancisco,NewYork,Chicago,NewOrleans,oralmostanywhere.Eventhetrolleycarsandtheironpostsholdingthetrolleywires,theawningsinfrontofthejewelrystoresandotherplaces,thetheaterentrances,thetrafficofficersandthesignals,thenewsboyswiththeirnewspapers,thedrinkingplaces,thehoteldiningroomswiththeirpopularorchestras,allseemtobedisappointing,forweastouristsexpected—what?Itisdifficultforthetouristtosaywhyheisdisappointed.Butthenextmorning,asheistakenbyautomobilefromhishotelthroughthegreatsquare(namedafter

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MohammedAli)tooneofthesurfbeaches,hefindsareplicaofwhathemayhaveseenintheeasternpartsoftheBritishIsles,atOstend,Biarritz,orAtlanticCity,withallofthecolorfulparasols,bathingtents,concessionsandamusements,modernbathingsuits,withmenandwomenfromeverycountryintheworld,mostlyoftheWesternandEuropeantype,enjoyingthesunshineandwarmwavesinamannerindicatingcompleteindifferencetothefactthattheyareinoneoftheancientsectionsofamysteriouscountry.

TheinteriorsofthehotelsatCairoimpressusbecauseofthegreatheightoftheceilings,thelargenessofthespaciousbedrooms,diningrooms,andhallways,thebalconiesandporcheswiththeirveryhelpfulshade,theluxuriousnessoftheorientaltapestries,rugs,andantiquesettings,andthemultitudeofservantsdressedinlongwhiterobeswithbrightredsilksashesandtheinevitablefezasaheaddress.Whereverandhoweveronemayturninanypartofthehotel—evenintheprivacyofone'sownbedroomorbathroom—oneofthesesilent-movingservantsisatone'selbow,ortappinguponthedoor,orjustreadytoenter,seeminglyanticipatingeverydesireandeverynecessity.Onemaystepintothehallwaytoapproachtheelevatortogodowntothelowerfloorandseenoservantinsight,yetbeforehecanwalktwofeetwithbaggageinhishandsoraparcelunderhisarm,adozenof

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theseservantswillseemtoapproachfromnowhere,orfromoutoftheshadowsofthenichesthataresetintothehallways,orfromaroundthecorner,orperhapsfromtheveryflooritself,andoffertheiraid.

Thebedroomsarefurnishedmagnificently,buthaveastrangeappearancewiththeirlongwindowsthatopenontobalconies,withtheirVenetianblinds,theirvelourdrapes,andtheirnet-coveredbeds.Thediningroomappearslikeasettingforsomebanquetinagreatpalacewithitsbeautifulcarpets,itsspotlesslinen,itsgreatnumberofsilverpiecesuponthetables,itsbeautifulchina,itslargenumberofwaitersassignedtoeachsection(oftentwotoatable),itscornersspottedwithdivansinorientalstyleoverhungwithcanopiesofrarematerials,itsopulenthanginglampsofEgyptianartwork,itsmagnificentchandelierscontainingthousandsofpiecesofcrystal,anditssoftmusicconstantlybeingplayedbyorientalmusicians.Itsprintedmenuisabeautifulsouvenir,andthefoodiswellpreparedandimpressivelyserved,andthewinesandliquorsflowmorefreelythanwater,forthepeopleoftheWesternWorldcannotenjoythetasteofthedrinkingwaterinEgypt,norisitsafetopartakeofit.Outinthestreetswefindtheboulevardsquitemodern,withthesidestreetsspottedwithantiqueandsouvenirstoreswhereineverythingthatEgyptmanufacturedinthepastis

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duplicatedandeverythingmanufacturedatthepresenttimeisofferedatreasonableprices.

DuringthewintermonthsthetemperatureatmiddayislikethatofafairsummerdayinNewYork,Chicago,London,orParis.Thenightsoftenbecomefairlycoolandmakesleepingenjoyable.WhereveronegoeshefindsnativeswhocanspeakorunderstandtheEnglishlanguage.Bootblacks—wearingthewhiterobeandsash—areatworkeverywhere,asarethesellersofstringsofbeads,souvenircanesandnoveltiesofallkinds.

Atthecurbwearebeckonedtopatronizeopenone-horsecarriagesinwhichfourcanridecomfortably,ormoderntaxicabswiththetopsloweredtomakesightseeingeasier.InafewminutesandforafewpenniesonecanbewhiskedtothemuskysectionofCairowherethenarrow,old-timestreetsarelinedwithbazaarswhereonecanseethemostbeautifulspecimensofhandmadebrassvasesinlaidwithcopperorsilver,orsilkenshawls,cottontableclothsandscarfs,andeveryconceivablekindofarticlemadeoutofwoodandmetalandotherthings,fromsmallportablechairstomagnificentservicesetsforthetable.

Onesoonlearnshowtobargainwiththemenwhooperatethesebazaars.Eachbazaarismerelyaholeinthewall,andseventy-fivepercentofthemerchandisehangsontheoutsideofthestore—wheretheremightotherwisehavebeenaplate-

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glasswindow—orontablesorchairs,andnearlyallofone'sbargainingisdonerightonthestreetwhilebothnativesandtouristsstandandwatch.Theproperprocedureusuallyistoinquirethepriceofsomethingonedesires,buttogiveitonlyacasualexaminationandnotrevealone'sdeepinterestinit.Thenhavingreceivedaquotation,orhavingbeentoldthe"askingprice,"oneproceedstodividethatpricebythedateofthemonth,thensubtractthehouroftheday,andthendividetheremainderbytwo.Thisthenconstitutesyourfirstoffer,anditshouldthenbefollowedbysomemoredivisionandsubtractionuntilafourthandfifthofferhavebeenmade.Then,refusingtoacceptthemerchant'sfinalandlastquotationoneturnsaboutandwalksaway.Itisthenthatthemerchantcomesandmakeshisfirstoffer,andthenthebargainingbeginsagain.

Ifyoubuythearticle,andhaveconductedyourbargainingintherightmanner,youwillhavepaidapproximatelyone-twentiethofthepriceoriginallyasked.Believingthatyouhavebeenverysuccessfulinyourbargainingyouaremadeunhappyafewminuteslaterbytherivalmerchantjustacrossthestreetofferingtoyouthesamepieceofmerchandisefromhisstockatone-halfthepriceyouhavejustpaidtotheother.Andasyouwendyourwayalongthestreetswiththeirbazaars,yourunwrappedpackageunderyourarm—mostthings

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arecarriedthisway—merchantaftermerchantwillpointouttoyouaduplicateofitpossessedbyhimandwhichhewillselltoyouatalowerprice,foreachoneseemstoknowhowmuchyoupaid,andbeforeyouhaveleftthebazaardistrictyourealizethatyoumighthavehadtenshawlsforthepriceyoupaidforone,ortenpiecesofbrass,ortenotherthingsofsimilarvalue.NomatterhowmanytimesyoumaygotothebazaarsofCairo,orevenofLuzororAlexandria,andnomatterhowoftenyoucontinuetobargainuntilyouhavereachedwhatyoubelievemustbetheverylowestprice,youwillfindlaterthatyoubroughtyourbargainingtoaclosefartoosoon.

Butallofthisispartofthefun,theexcitement,thepastimeofyourvisit.Youalwaysknowthatyouhavereceivedfullvalueforthemoneyyouhavespent,andyoufeelreluctanttotakearticlesawayfromthesepersonsatapricethatseemstobeunfairandunreasonablefor,afterall,despitetheirsharpbargainingandtheirexpressionsofresentmentatyourquotations,theyareakindlylotofpeople.Whenyoufindtheminreposeasyoudoatthedoorwaysofthegreatmosquesoruniversitiesandschools,oratthedoorwaysoftemplesandgrottos,orwaitingintheshadowsofthePyramid,orelsewhere,youseeupontheircountenancestheunmistakableexpressionsofsincerity,profoundthought,deepinnerwisdom,

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andamysteriouspower.Manyscenesareamusing,indeed.Itappearsto

beacustominCairoforeachpoormanwhohasaharem—ahouseholdofmorethanonewifeorfemale—totakehiswivesandchildrenforaweeklyrideon.Saturdayafternoon.Thepoorman—andtherearesomanyoftheminandaroundCairo—usuallypossessesonemuleordonkey,andalargetwo-wheeledwagonthatresemblessomeofthesmallhaywagonsorhaycartsseeninotherpartsoftheworldwiththeirslantingsidesandlongextendedplanksinthefloorofthewagon.Thehusbandoftheharemwillplaceallofhiswivesintheforepartofthislittlewagon,andattachalargewickerbasketorenclosureofsomekindontherearpartofitintowhichheplaceschildrenundertheageofsixorseven.Then,walkingandleadingthemuleordonkey,hewillslowlywendhiswayaroundthenativesectionsofthecity,andpartlyoutontothehighwaytogivehisfamilyatwo-hourairingandperiodofenjoyment.Thepoorfellowattheheadoftheprocessionseemstobeaspoorlyfedandaspoorlycaredforastheanimalthatpullsthewagon,andthewomeninthewagonarealwaysdressedincheap,blackmaterialwithblackveilsovertheirheadsandanotheronecoveringthelowerpartofeachface,whilethechildrenarebuthalfdressedinthecheapestandpoorestmaterial.

Whereverthereareharemsownedbythe

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wealthyclasssuchexhibitionsofthefamilyareneverseen,andsooneisapttogathertheimpressionthatalloftheharemsofthatpartoftheworldareownedbythepoorestofmen,whichisnotthetruth.Butincontrasttothisamusingsight,andwhichshouldneverprovokeanyoutermanifestationofamusement,oneconstantlyseesintheshadowsoftemplesandmosques,andevenatthehotellobbiesandstores,thesilentdreamingfigureofthetrueEgyptianwhoisalwayspoliteandreserved,andalwaysmeditativeandimpressiveintherestraintofsomethingthatisdifficultforallbutthemystictounderstand.Hestandswithalmostutterindifference,orisseatedinhiscross-leggedpostureasthoughviewingtheworldandthepasserbywithkeenanalysisandcon-temptation.YoufeelthatheiswonderingwhytheycometoEgyptandleavetheirmoderncitiesbehindthem,ifinthemtheyhavealloftheluxuriesoflifeandalloftheconveniencesofwhichtheyspeak.Youfeelthatheiswonderingwhytheycometohislandtospendsomuchmoney,andtospenditsofreelyanduselesslyastheaveragetouristusuallydoes.YoufeelthathewonderswhetheranyofthosepassingbyhaveseentherealthingsofEgypt,andhavesenseditsrealbeauty,itsrealpowers,anditsrealpossibilities.Andasyoustudyhiminturnyouwonderwhatprofoundknowledgehehasinheritedandwhatgreatwisdomhehasacquiredfromhis

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contactswiththemysticsandtheteachersandthephilosopherswhostillcarryontheirgreatworkinthehiddenpartsofeachsectionofthisancientland.Youwonderwhatitwilltaketoawakensuddenlyandintheflashofaneye,orthetwinklingofaneye,andquickenintoactionallofthepolitical,mental,spiritual,andmysticalpowerpossessedbythelearned,quiet,peacefulcitizensofEgypt.

Theydonotappeartobesuppressednorevendepressedbypoliticalorotherconditionssurroundingthem,andwhiletheydonotappeareithertobesatisfiedandwhollyagreeabletotheconditionswhichexist,theygiveyoutheimpressionthattheyarebidingtheirtimeandareawaitingtheclarioncallfromsomewhere.Theyarepeacefullyandtolerantly,politelyandmercifullyanticipatingsomecyclicaction,somedawnofatomorrowwhen,asinseveralotherperiodsofEgyptianhistory,thegreatandrealpowerofEgyptshallburstforthlikeaflashoflightningandilluminatenotonlyitsownlandbutalltheworld.

Onefeelsintuitivelyandinstinctivelythatsomewhereintherecessesoftheancienttemples,inthehiddenandsecretgrottosbeneaththesand,inthearchivesofthegreatuniversities,intheundergroundchambersofcrudelyformedhuts,therearesecretmeetingsheldandsecretwisdompreservedandperpetuated,butwithitallyousense

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thatwhatissleepingandwaitingthedayofawakeningisnotapoliticalrevolt,areligiousuprising,oranexpressionofintoleranceandhatred,butsomethingofpeace,somethingthatwillmanifestincooperativeactiongivingallthenationsoftheworldcauseforadmirationandrespect,andbringingEgyptanditstruesonsoncemoreintothelimelightoftheworldasleadersofculturalthought,orunsuspectedmysticalpowers,andofspiritualfortitude.

Andasthemysticwendshiswaythroughsomeoftheoldtemplesandisescortedbyakindnativethroughmosquesandsecretplaces,hefeelsthathisaurahasbeenobserved,thathissoulhasrevealeditselftothepsychiceyesightofhisconductor,andthathisloveforEgypt,hisadmirationforthethingsitoncerevealedandstillpossesses,havemadeanimpression.Themysticmomentarilyexpectsthathewillbetakenasideintosomesecludedchamberwheretheatmosphereiscoolandwholesome,whereincensewillbeburning,wherethecolorsfromstainedglasswindowswillmakefascinatingpatternsonthefloor,whereagreatpatriarchoftheoldracesofEgyptwillbeseatedasonathrone,whereintelligentandculturednativeswillbeseatedinagroup,andtherebehindcloseddoorsthemysticdiscoveredduringhisjourneyinthelandwillbewelcomedintosomestrangebrotherhood,orgivenakeytothe

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mysteriesofEgypt,ortoldwhatitspeopleanticipateandareprayingfor.Andsuchthoughtsinthemindofthemysticarenotfantasiesunwarrantedandbeyondthepaleofpossibility.StrangerthingsthanthishavehappenedinEgyptwhenthetrueseeker,thetruemystic,hasgonethereinsincerity,andinhisunderstandingofthemoresacredthingsoflifehasallowedhissoultoexpressitselfinhiscountenanceandinhisreverentialattitude,whileothershavesmiledorscoffedandplainlyindicatedtheirlackofunderstandingandsympathy.

ToalargeportionoftheworldthelandofEgyptmaystillbethe"LandofDarkness,"butoncetherewasauniversaldarknesswhenallwasblackasnight,andchaotic,yetinthestillnessofthatnighttheresuddenlycamethedecreeandcommandandtheWordbecameaLaw,andthedarknesswasfilledwithagreatlight,andwiththecomingofthelighttherecameorderandsystem,andintothemidstthereoftherecamelifeandlove.

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T

ChapterII

MYSTERIOUSTRADITIONS

HEGreatPyramidofEgypt,asidefromitspropheciesoranyofitssecretpurposes,isoneofthegreatworldmysteries.Foragesthe

GreatPyramidhasbeensurroundedbymysterioustraditionswhichhavebecloudedthemindofeveryresearcherandmadetheworkofeveryscientificinvestigatorextremelydifficult.

ThereareseveralwaysinwhichtheinvestigatormayapproachthesubjectofthePyramid—fromthehistorical,thearchitectural,themystical,andthereligiousandprophetic.Ineachoftheseapproachesthefieldwidensandthehorizonbecomesmoreandmoredistantasoneattemptstoreachthegoalofultimateunderstandingandcomprehension.

ItwouldalmostseemthatwiththecomingofthedawnofcivilizationthemysteryofthePyramidwasalreadyatopicofworldinterestandworlddiscussion,keepinginmindthatatthattimethe

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worldwaslimitedtoanareapracticallysurroundingthePyramiditself.

TheearliesthistoriansofthecivilizationsofmanreferredtothePyramid,eachviewingthehugestructurefromdifferentviewpoints,andeachstressinghiscomprehensionofitssignificance.Itislittlewonder,therefore,thateventodaywithallofthelightthathasbeencastuponthePyramid,itisstillamystery,andthatacompletecomprehensionofitappearstobeasfarawayasinthedayswhenWesternWorldcivilizationfirstgazeduponitandattemptedtopiercetheveilofmysterywhichsurroundedit.

Letusstartwithitsnameasabeginning:TheancientEgyptianswereimpressednotsomuchbyanysecretorreligioussignificanceattachedtoit,orbythesizeofitsbase,astheywerebyitsenormousheight.EventodaytouristsfromtheWesternWorldandthoseaccustomedtoviewingtheextremeheightsofmodernskyscraperswiththeirfiftyormoretoweringstories,arestrangelyimpressedbytheheightoftheGreatPyramid.ForthisreasontheEgyptianschoseforanameforthestructureatermthatexpressedtheirappreciationofitsheightratherthanitsdimensionsinanyotherway.TheEgyptianwordPir-em-usmeanttothemsomethingofgreatverticalheight.FromthistheGreekformPyramis,orthepluralPyramideswasformed.AftertheseventeenthcenturytheEnglish

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languageadoptedthesingularformPyramid.Itmustbekeptinmindthatthereareanumber

ofpyramidsinEgypt,andthatmostpopularreferencestothepyramidaretotheso-calledGreatPyramid,thelargestofall.

ManytouristsfromtheWesternWorld,andespeciallyfromAmericaaresurprisedwhentheytourthroughEgypttofindthatthePyramidwhichhasalwaysheldafascinationforthemisbutoneofanumber.ThesecondsurprisecomeswhentheyhavetheirfirstglimpseofthisGreatPyramidfromsomerooftop,oroneofthegarrisonedplacesofCairo.TheGreatPyramidthenappearstobebutasmallstructureindeed,andunworthyofallofthemagnificenttermsappliedtoit.AstouristsgobytrolleycarorautomobiletowardthefamousMenaHouseontheoutskirtsofCairo,andthenmountcamelstotakeafascinatingzigzaggingjourneytothePyramiditself,theexpressionsofdisappointmentonthefacesofthetouristsareatestimonyofthehighesteeminwhichthePyramidisheldinthemindsandtheimaginationsofthosewhohaveneverseenit.

Setoutinthedesertsands,separatedfromanyotherlargestructuresoranypartofthecityitself,andevenwithouttreesclosetoitforcomparison,theGreatPyramidlookslikeatoy.Thisisanopticalillusionduetotwofundamentalandinterestingprinciples.First,theabsenceofany

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otherstructureofcommonsizenearbymakesitimpossibleforthehumanmindtorealizeitssplendorandmagnificenceinheightorwidth.onecannottellatfirstglancewhetherthePyramidistheequivalentofathree-storystructuresuchasonewouldseeinalmostanyWesternWorldvillage,orsomethingoftenormorestoriesinheight.Second,theunusuallyclearatmosphereofEgypt,especiallyinthewintermonthswhentouristsmostlyfrequentthatpartoftheworld,robsalllandscapeviewsofthatstrangeatmosphericsoftnesswhichgivesusasenseofperspectiveanddistance.BuildingsandmonumentsinEgyptamiledistantappearassharpindetailasthoseafewhundredfeetaway.PersonsfromtheWesternWorldareaccustomedtoseeingavioletorbluehazetintthedistanttrees,mountains,andstructuresinsuchamannerastoindicatethedistancebetweentheobjectandtheviewer,andbythetokenofthisatmosphericsoftnessweappreciatenotonlythedistancebuttherealheightoftheobjectviewed.

LookingatthePyramidfromtheMenaHouse,itwouldappeartobenotmorethanonequarterofamiledistant,becauseofthesharpnessofdetailandtheabsenceofanyatmospherichaze.Judgingitsheight,then,assomethingthatisonlyaquarterofamileaway,itappearslowandsmallindeed.Butasonecontinuestherideuponthecamel,thediscoveryismadethatminuteafterminutepasses

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withoutanyapparentdecreaseinthedistancebetweentheviewerandthePyramid.Thelengthofthatrideisanothersurpriseforittakesmuchlongerthanthemindimagines,anditisonlywhentheriderandthecamelarepracticallywithintheshadowofthePyramidandtheeyesareturnedupwardtowarditsapexthatonerealizesitstremendousheight;andthenthecamel,therider,andthenativeguideappearlikepigmies—likelittlegrainsofsand—incomparisontothePyramiditself.

OneofthefirstmysteriesofthetraditionsofthePyramidfoundinalloftheancientrecords,andstillabasisfortheaccumulationofmysterioustraditionsthathavegrownaroundthePyramidinthepastcenturies,isthefactthatthePyramid,informandnature,inarchitecturalandmechanicaldesign,inlocationandappearance,usefulnessandmathematicalcalculation,issymbolicalofsomanythingsthatthelistseemsalmostendless.TheearlyEgyptiansthemselvesdiscoveredthatitsveryformwasnotonlyfamiliarinsomeway,butsuggestiveofthelawsofnature,fortheyhadseeninspecimensofrock,inmineralelements,andeveninsomegrainsofsand,thecrystalformationsthatwerebaseduponthetriangleortheformofthePyramid.Weknowtodaythattherearemanyelementsintheearththataretriangularorpyramidalincrystalformationandthatthepyramid

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andthetrianglearefundamentalmanifestationsofsomeunderlyingprincipleofcreation.

TheearlyEgyptianswereintellectuallydividedintotwoclasses—thosewhowereenslavedbythesuperstitiousteachingsofthepriesthood,andthosewhowereenlightenedbythegreattruthsofthemysteryschools.Inbothclasses,however,therewerethosewhowerefamiliarbycasualobservationwithcertainfundamentallawsofnature,andtheysoughttheexemplificationandmanifestationofthesefundamentallawsinallofnature.ForthisreasontheveryformofthePyramidasaunitinstructurearousedintheirmindsarealizationthatthePyramidwasinsomewayassociatedwithsomethingfundamentalinthecreationoftheuniverse.

AndamongbothclassesoftheearliestcivilizedEgyptianstherewasanappreciationofthefactthatthetrianglerepresentedsymbolicallyandmathematicallyaDivinelaworaCosmiclaw.Thosewhoweresteepedinsuperstitionlookeduponthetriangleasanemblemofeitherwhiteorblackmagic,whilethoseamongtheilluminatedinthemysteryschoolsexpressedtheequationofDivinelawwithatriangle,andreverenceditasasacredtriangleofDivineprinciples.WithoutdoubtthetrianglewastheearliestformofsacredsymbolismamongtheintelligentofEgypt,andasymbolofsuperstitiouspracticesamongthe

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ignorant,whilethesquareorcubewasaworldlyormundanesymboldevoidofsacrednessbutparamountinitsphysicalstrength.

WhenitdawnedupontheseearlyEgyptiansthatthePyramidwasreallyfourtrianglessuperimposeduponasquare,thecombinationofsymbolismthusmademanifestawakenedanewinterestinthePyramidandgavebirthtomoremysterioustraditionsregardingthePyramid'spurposeanditsorigin.

ExceptthoseEgyptianswhoparticipatedinitsbuilding,andthegenerationwhichimmediatelyfolloweditscompletion,alltheothergenerationsofEgyptianslookeduponthePyramidassomethingveryoldandeternallyexistent.TotheilluminatedonesthehistoricalrecordspreservedinthePyramiditself,whichtheywerepermittedtovisitbyvirtueoftheirassociationwiththemysteryschools,andtheotherrecordsmaintainedinthevariousmysterytemples,revealedthetruthoftheoriginandpurposeofthePyramid;buttotheuninitiated,theignorant,andthedevoteesofthepriesthood,theintimationssocarefullyworded,andsignificantlyoffered,becamethetraditionallawsoftheirbeliefs.Tothemthefactthatthesimilaritybetweenthefundamentalcrystalstructureofearthlyelementsandthefundamentalprincipleofthetriangleandsquarewerethingsoftheeternalplanandhadtheiroriginwiththebeginningofthe

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universe,indicatedthatthePyramidmusthaveexistedfromalltime.ForthisreasonthetraditionssoprevalentamongtheignorantofEgypt—whichconstitutedthelargemajority—andwhichbecameelaboratelyinterwoveninalloftheextensiveliteratureorculturalthoughtsofEgypt,arefilledwithstoriesregardingtheage,theantiquity,theorigin,andpurposeofthisoldstructure.ThiswasindeedaproblemtotheearliestinvestigatorsandtheearliesthistorianswhoattemptedtofathomthemysteriesofthePyramid.

UntilthePyramidwasactuallyenteredbytheprofaneworld,representedbyinquiringscientists,theonlyestablishedreportsorstoriesofthePyramidwerethosewhichtracedtheoriginofthePyramidtovariouskingswhoseperiodsandidentitieswereunknown,ortodeifiedpersonagesofgreatantiquity.TogetatthetruthoftheoriginandpurposeofthePyramidwas,therefore,amostdifficultmatter.Becausesomeoftheotherpyramids,smallerinsizeandunliketheGreatPyramidinouterfinishandinteriorarrangement,hadbeenbuiltastombsforkingsormonumentstotheirburial,itwaslogicallybelievedbytheuneducatedEgyptiansthattheGreatPyramidwasjustanothertombforakingthatwasgreaterthananyofhispredecessors.ThisideaofthePyramidbeingatombwassofirmlyfixedinthemindsoftheEgyptianpopulaceatthetimeoftheearliest

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investigationsthatitwouldhavebeenalmostlikeasacrilegetohavedaredtosaytoanyofthenativesoreventheirrulersandleadersthattheGreatPyramidwassomethingotherthanameremonumenttopersonalvanity.

WenotetodayfromastudyofarchitecturealonethatsuchstructuresaspyramidsbeganinthemiddleperiodofEgyptianhistory,orduringtheperiodfromthefourthtothetwelfthdynasty.

PriortothebuildingoftheGreatPyramidwhensmallpyramidswerebuiltastombs,asquarechamberoranoblongchamberwassunkinthedrysandofEgypt,generallyataplacewheretheinundationsoftheNilewouldnotreachthesite,andherethesunkenchamberwaslinedwithstone,paintedordecoratedwithsymbolsappropriatetothepoliticalpositionofthedeceasedanddescriptiveofthehistoricaleventsofthetime.Itwasthencoveredoverwitharooftoprotectit,anduponthesitewasbuiltapyramidslightlylargerinitsbasethantheundergroundtomb.Thissortofburialplacewasanadvancementovertheformertypeinwhichcasetheundergroundtombwascoveredeitherwithstone,orwithpilesofbrushwoodinterwovenwithstone,orreedsofgrassplasteredwiththickmudandthencoveredwithsand.Thepassingofyears,however,provedthatsuchtombswouldnotaffordtheeternalprotectionthatwashopedfor.

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Followingtheperiodwhenpyramidbuildingwaspopular,itwasdiscoveredthattheenormouscostinvolvedinbuildingpyramidsmightbesavedbybuildingstoneroofsoverthesunkenchambers,orerectingasmalltempleorchapelchambersabovethemaffordingprotectiontothechamberbeneath.Manyofthistypewerebuilt,buttheshiftingofthesandssooncoveredthemuporthesandstormsofmanyagescutdeeplyintothestructuresthatroseabovethesandanddestroyedthem,anditisonlyinrecentyearsthatmanyoftheseundergroundtombshavebeendiscovered.

Itmaybeinterestingtothereaderatthispointtodescribesomethingofthenatureofthesesandstorms,andhowandwhysomanyofthemagnificentstructuresofEgyptgraduallydisappearedfromsight,andinmorerecentyearshadtobeexcavated.

OnmyfirstvisittoEgypt,Idiscoveredthattheprimitivemakeofautomobile,whichwasputinanopenspaceatLuxor,Egypt,directlyacrosstheNileRiverfromtheValleyoftheKingswherethetombsofancientThebesarelocated,soonbecamecoveredwithalayerofsand.ThesandstormsfromtheSaharaDesertblowingeastwardacrosstheNiletowardtheeasternhorizoncarrythesandsatcertainperiodsoftheyearinhugecloudsacrossthevacuumedspaceoftheNileandallowthesandstosettleontheeasternbanks.Insevendays'

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timethesanddepositontheautomobilewasoveraneighthofaninchinthickness.Suchstormscontinuingmonthaftermonth,yearafteryear,andcenturyaftercentury,depositedmountainsofsandinvariousplacesalongtheNileuntilthesandwasabovethetopsofthehigheststructuresandtemples.ThetemplesofLuxorandKarnakthemselveswereatonetimebeneaththesands,andevenintheyears1900to1920therewereportionsofLuxoruponwhichnativemudhouseshadbeenbuiltwithoutanysuspicionthatbeneathsuchprimitivehomesthereexistedhugetemples.ThecolumnsoftheTempleofLuxor,overeightyfeetinheight,wereatonetimeentirelybeneaththesurfaceofthesandsthathadaccumulated,andallofthishadtoberemovedbasketfulbybasketfultounearthanduncoverthemagnificenttemplesbeneath.

ItmustbekeptinmindalsothatthecivilizationorpopulationofEgyptcentereditselfonalongnarrowstripofland,fromAlexandriatothemountainregionsinthesouth,alongeithersideoftheNileRiver.ThiswasbecauseagriculturehadtobeconfinedtothebanksoftheNile.Atcertainperiodsofeachyearthewatersroseinabundance,overflowedthelowbanksandinundatedthelandtoacertainnarrowdistanceoneitherside.Here,then,werebuiltallofthehabitationsandnativevillages,andherealloftheagricultureofthe

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countrywasconfined.AlltemplesandedificessuchashomesorschoolswerebuiltfartherawayfromtheNile,generallytowardthewestsoasnottousurpanyofthevaluable,fertilesoilneartheriverwhichwasneededforagriculturalpurposes.

AlongmostportionsoftheNiletheeasternbankrisesabruptlytoagreatheightprincipallybecauseofthesandstormswhichcarriedsandsacrosstheriveranddepositedthemontheeasternside.TodaytheNileRiveratLuxor,andatmanyotherpoints,ismanyfeetbelowthesurfaceoftheroadwaythatwasbuiltalongthebank,andabovethisroadwaytowerthecolumnsoftemplesseventytoeighty-fivefeethigh.Yetthese,too,wereatonetimedeeplyburiedbeneaththesand.AtthenorthernendoftheNileRiverwhereithasitsoutletintotheMediterraneanSeaisthefamousDelta,atriangularshapedpieceofswamplandinterspersedwithnaturalandman-madecanalsandrivulets,constitutingoneofthemostfertilesectionsofEgypt,andinancienttimesthiswasthesiteofmanyoftheearliesthabitations.Heliopolis,thegreatmysticalcitywithitsthreetoweringobelisks,wasjustnorthofCairo(nowaboutthirtyminutes'ridebytrolleyorautomobile).OnlyoneoftheobelisksnowremainstomarkthesiteoftheancientcityadjoiningCairo,whichhasthelargesthotelandmoderntouristplaygroundintheworld.

Manyofthemostbeautifulofthecolumnsand

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architecturalfeaturesofancienttempleshavebeencutandwhippedbytheblowingsands,whichinmostcaseshavethinnedthecolumnstomereskeletonform,orcarvedthegreatstonesintosmallpieces.ItisforthisreasonthatthesidesoftheGreatPyramid,thosefacingthemostgeneralsandstorms,havebeenlashedsogreatlyinthepastcenturythattheoutercasing,asmoothandmagnificentfinish,hasbeencutawayleavingtoviewthecrudeunder-blocksofstone.

SomeoftheearlierandlaterpyramidsbuiltinEgyptastombsorhistoricalmonumentsbyvariouskings,queens,orpotentates,werenotfinishedsmoothlyontheoutsidebutwereleftintheformofsteps.Thesearecalledthesteppedpyramids.Noneofthepyramidsbuiltasmonumentswasafamilymonumentbuteachbelonged,asdoallotherEgyptiantombs,tooneperson,orwasconstructedtothememoryofoneperson.Itwasbelievedthatbybuildingamonumentintheformofapyramidthesandstormswouldnothavethesamedestroyingactionupontheslantingsurfacethattheywouldhaveuponabuildingformedintheshapeofacubeoranoblong.ThiswouldindicatethatatthetimeofthebuildingofthefirstpyramidsastombstheearlierstructuresortombsinEgypthadbeenbuiltsomanycenturiesbeforethatthesandstormshadalreadydemonstratedtheirpowertodestroythem.Inmanycasesacourtyardor

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sunkenplazawasconstructedaroundthepyramidwithadepressionoftenortwentyfeetbelowthesurfaceofthesurroundingdistrictandwithawallaroundtheplazaofsufficientheighttokeepthesandfromblowingintotheplazaandfillingit.TherearesectionsofruinedwallsinevidencetoshowthattheGreatPyramidwassurroundedatonetimebysuchaplaza.WhenoneviewstheGreatPyramidfromanairplaneflyinghighabove,thebrokensectionsofthisancientwallaroundtheplazarevealthemselvesthroughtheshadowsofthesuninastraightlinegivingaveryexcellentideaofthelargesizeofthesquareplazaaroundthePyramid.

AmongthemysticsormembersofthemysteryschoolsofEgyptthetraditionsalwaysexplainthattheGreatPyramidwasgreatinmorewaysthanone.DespitethefactthatnoentrancewaseverforcedintotheGreatPyramid,northeinsideofiteverseeninmoremoderntimesuntiltheyear820A.D.,thesecretschoolsofEgyptinsistedthattheinteriorofitwaswellknowntothemandthatitwasnotatombofanygreatking,noraburialchamberofanykind,exceptthatitdidhaveonechamberforsymbolicalburialasapartofanancientinitiationritual.Accordingtothesemysticaltraditions,atwhichmanyoftheancientinvestigatorsandhistoriansscoffedandridiculed,therewereundergroundpassagewaysbywhichthe

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interiorofthePyramidcouldbeenteredgraduallyandinvariousstagesofinitiationwithdifferentmysticalchambersattheendofeachstageofinitiatoryprogress,andthatthehighestandultimatestageofinitiationwasrepresentedbytheKing'sChamber,whichbythewaywasgivenanentirelydifferentnameintheancientritual.Littlebylittlesomeofthesetraditionalstatementswereverifiedas,forinstance,whenitwasdiscoveredthattherewassomeconnectionbetweentheSphinxandtheGreatPyramid,andthattherewasaconnectionbetweentheSphinxandanancientundergroundtemplelocatedneartheSphinx.ThenwasdiscoveredasecretcourtoropentemplebeforethepawsandbreastoftheSphinx;butsincemostofthesewerestillburiedbeneathdeepsandthefactscouldnotbeprovedorreadilydemonstrated.

ThroughoutalloftheagestherehasbeenadeterminedeffortonthepartoftheknowingonesinEgypttodenytothegeneralpublicthattherewereanychambersorpassagewayswithintheGreatPyramid,orthattherewasanyproperandarchitecturallydesignedentrancewaytotheGreatPyramid.Itbecomesapparentasonestudiesandanalyzesthecarefullywordeddenialofthesechambersandpassagewaysasfoundinthewritingsofearlyinvestigatorsandhistorians,andasrepeatedeventodaybymanyoftheEgyptians,that

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therewassomesortofancientcurseplaceduponthosewhowouldrevealtotheprofaneortheuninitiatedtheexistenceofthesechambersandpassageways,orthefactthattheGreatPyramidwasatempleofmysticalinitiationandceremony.

Itisamusingtofindthateventodayvisitorswhoaredeemedworthyandsecurethenecessarypassesaftertheproperidentification,andareallowedtoenterthePyramidandvisitsomeofitspassageways—eventheso-calledKing'sChamber—arewarnedastheyleavethePyramidtosaynothingoftheirentranceintothePyramid,andaresignificantlytold,"Yousee,thereisnoentrancewaytothePyramid,andthereisnothingwithinit!"Thusthefarce—ortraditionalinjunction—ismaintainedtoacertaindegree,andonewillmeettouristsinEuropereturningfromEgyptwhowillseriously,andwithconsiderablenervousness,explainthattheyknowthereisnopassagewaytothePyramid,andnothingtobeseenwithinit.ItdoesnotdawnuponthesepersonsthatonlyonewhohasbeenwithinthePyramidcouldpossiblyaffirmwithpositivenessthattherewerenopassagewayswithinit.

Thatthepassagewaysandchainbershavebeendesecratedinthepastisself-evidenttoonewhospendstimewithinthePyramid,withsearchlightsandcameras,andrecordscarefullyeveryinchofthewallsofbothpassagewaysandrooms.Oneis

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remindedoftheancientproverb,"Fools'nameslikefools'facesarealwaysseeninpublicplaces,"forthereishardlyasquareinchofthemagnificentwallsoftheGreatKing'sChamberthatisnotinjuredandmutilatedbythecarvednames,initials,anddates,ofpersonswhohavevisitedthere,andthesameistrueofmanyofthepassageways.Fortunately,manyoftheverybeautifulandsymbolicalpiecesofequipmentthatoncestoodinthesechambersandpassagewayshavebeenremovedtosecretmuseumsandhidingplaceswhereonlytheinitiatedmayseethem.Undoubtedly,iftouristscouldhavehadtheirwaytheGreatPyramidtodaywouldbescatteredthroughoutthecivilizedworldinlittlebitscutoffandcarriedawaybythesouvenirhunterswhomonemeetseverywhere,andwhoaresoeasilysatisfiedbythecommercialartisanswhocontinuallymanufactureandsellpiecesoftheoriginalcrossofcrucifixion,thetombofJesus,andthealabasterjarsofKingTut.

PerhapsweshouldnotattempttovisittheinteriorofthePyramidonthedayofourfirstinspectionofit,forwemaybecomeeasilytiredbygivingsufficienttimetotheoutside.Beforeleavingitsenvironment,however,toreturnhomebycamelandthenbyautomobileortrolleycar,wewillnotethatthehugestonescomposingthewallsofthePyramidarehigherthanourownheightandthatto

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climbthemonemustbequitegymnastic,However,littleEgyptianurchinschallengeusandtellusthatforbaksheesh—whichmeanscoininanyone'smoney—theywillclimbthesteepoutsideofthePyramidandreachitstoweringtopinsevenminutes,Knowingfromlongexperiencejustwhichcrevicestouseingettingafootholdandfingerhold,wefindtheseyoungstersscalingthesideofthePyramidrapidly.

UpontheirreturntheyofferforadollarAmericanmoneytotakeustothetopthatwemighthavethegreatdistinctionandhonorofbeingoneAmericanwhohasscaledthePyramid.Beingflatteredatthispossibledistinctionwebegintoclimb.BythetimewehavereachedthecenterofthesideofthePyramidwefeelthatwehavegonehigherthanwehaveeverbeeninanystructureintheworld,andthisencouragesustogotothetop,whichweseeispartiallyflattenedbytheabsenceoftheoriginalapexstone.Ourguidetellsusthatwhen,andif,wereachthetop,wemaysitthereandrestforawhile,andhaveamagnificentviewofEgypt,whileweponderoverouruniqueachievementortheraredistinctionthatwillbeours.Continuingourclimbfromthehangingpositioninwhichwerestedforamoment,weeventuallyreachthetopandaresurprisedtofindarichlyrobedArabawaitingus,andreachingovertogiveusafinalhelpwithanextendedhand.Justas

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weareabouttoindulgeinamoment'sadmirationofourpersonalenduranceandprowess,andthinkofthedistinctionswehavebroughttoourracebythisunusualachievement,wediscoverthatthereisatableplaceduponthishugeplatformofthePyramidwithchairsandalloftheequipmentforservingtea,andthatwearebutoneofthemanywhodailyreachthetopandarelookeduponwiththesamecasualinterestasthepasserbywhodropsintooneofthelittlecoffeeshopsforacupofblackcoffee.Wewelcometheopportunitytorestandviewthecountrywhich,becauseoftheclearatmospherereferredtopreviously,maybeseenformany,manymiles,andfinallymakeourdescentwithadegreeofrapiditywhichcomparesfavorablywiththerapiditywithwhichwelostallofouresteemandprideinattainingthetop.

Nevertheless,aswewendourwaytowardthehotelintheheartofthebusycitywhichlooksmuchlikeParis,orothergreatmetropolitancitiesofEurope,werealizethatthereisstillsomuchmysteryaboutthePyramidthatitwillbeworthyofallthetimeandthoughtwegivetoit.

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ChapterIII

THEGEOGRAPHICALSIGNIFICANCEHElocationoftheGreatPyramid,aswellasitsunusualsizewhichdistinguishesitfromalltheotherpyramidsofEgypt,verydefinitely

refutesalloftheargumentstotheeffectthattheGreatPyramidwasbuiltasatombforaveryambitiousandvainpharaoh.

Itistruethataveryvainpharaohmighthaveconceivedofbuildingalargerpyramidthananyoftheothersmerelytoaggrandizehisreputationinthefuture,anditispossiblytruethathewouldhaveselectedanunusualsiteforitfarfrommanyoftheothertombsofpharaohsandhisroyalconsortsandrelatives,buttherearesomanythingssurroundingtheGreatPyramidthatdistinguishitfromallotherpyramids,andwhichwerewhollyunnecessaryifithadbeenintendedasanelaboratemonumenttotherecordofanegotisticalruler,that

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oneisforcedtoexaminemorecarefullyallofthehistoricalreferencestothismonumentalstructure.

Turningtosomeoftheoldestrecordsavailable,theso-calledholyscripturesorspiritualwritingsofthepast,wefindtheGreatPyramidunquestionablyreferredtobyIsaiah.InIsaiah19:19-20wefind;"InthatdaythereshallbeanaltartotheLordinthemidstofthelandofEgypt,andapillarattheborderthereoftotheLord.AnditshallbeforasignandforawitnessuntotheLordofhostsinthelandofEgypt..."InJeremiah32:18-20wehaveanotherreference,whichinthelightoftimecanreferonlytotheGreatPyramid,includingthefollowingwords:"...whichhastsetsignsandwondersinthelandofEgypt..."

TheoldestofthewritingsoftheancientsreferredtotheGreatPyramidasthe"PillarofEnoch."TurningtotheBiblewefindreferencestoEnochtalkingwithGod,andwefindthatEnoch'slifeisgivenashavingcovered365years.Thisbeingsymbolicalofthenumberofdaysoftheyearistypicalofotherreferencestoayearofyearswhichwascalledbytheancientsthe"PhoenixCycle."ThewordPhoenixistheGreektermfortheEgyptianwordPa-hanokwhichmeans"TheHouseofEnoch."InthiswiseandthroughothersimilarreferenceswefindthePhoeniciansidentifiedasthedescendantsofEnoch,andthisgivesustheexplanationastowhytheGreatPyramidwascalled

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bytheancients,"ThePillarofEnoch,"havingbeenbuiltbythePhoenicianswhowerethedescendantsofEnoch.

Josephus,theancientJewishhistorian,wroteinhisfamousrecordsareferencetothePyramidanditssignificanceinwhichhestatesthattheancientpeopleplannedtobuild,andactuallydidbuild,twogreatpillars(oneinbrickandoneinstone)uponwhichtheancientsinscribedtheirdiscoveriesandmarvelousknowledgethatitmightbepreservedforthefuture.Josephusconcludesthisreferencewiththesewords,"NowthispillarofstoneremainsinthelandofSiriad(Egypt)untilthisday."ItisonthispointwefindthatgreatCopticwriter,Masoudi,whosemanuscriptispreservedinOxford,statingthattheGreatPyramidcontains"thewisdomandacquirementsinthedifferentartsandsciences,thescienceofarithmeticandgeometry,thattheymightremainasrecordsforthebenefitofthosewhocouldafterwardcomprehendthem."HeexplainsthattheGreatPyramidcontainstheknowledgeofthestarsandtheircycles,alongwiththehistoryandchronicleofpasttimesandpredictionsofthingstocome.HemakesitperfectlyplainthateveninhisdaytheoldrecordswhichhesawandexaminedreferredtothePyramidasamonumentthathadbeencarefullyplannedandsoconstructedthatinitsmeasurements,initslocation,andinallofits

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interiorandexteriorsymbolismitwouldrepresentcertainfundamentallawsofnature,aswellaspreserveinitsinscriptionsanoutlineofthegreatknowledgewhichtheancientshadachieved.

Nowletuslookatitslocation,ThePyramidallegoryisreferredtointhesacredtextsandwritingsofEgyptknownasthe"BookoftheDead."InthosetextstheGreatPyramidiscalled"TheTempleofAmen,"whichmeans"theSecretHouseoftheHiddenOne."DonotletusoverlookthefactthatintheNewTestamentoftheChristianBible,Jesusisreferredtoasthe"GreatAmen."OtherallegoricaltermsusedtodescribetheGreatPyramidinthe"BookoftheDead"are"TheHouseoftheHiddenPlaces,"and"TheHouseofLight."

Inconsideringthefulfillmentoftheancientpropheciesregardinganaltartobebuiltinthecenterofthelandtoremaineternallyasa"witness"totheLord,wemustkeepinmindthefactthatthesizeoftheworld,oratleastofthelandsurfaceorpopulatedsurfaceoftheearthatthetimetheseancientwritingswereinscribed,waslimitedinthemindsofeventhemostadvancedofthephilosophersandthinkers.ItisdifficultforusofmoderntimestothinkofthesiteofthePyramidasbeingthecenterofanygreatterritoryofpopulationexceptwhenwestoptoconsiderandrealizethatthewesternendoftheMediterraneanwhereit

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connectswiththeAtlanticOceanwas"theedgeoftheearth"totheancients,andthattheonlyknownpopulatedareasoftheearthwerethosewhichcenteredaroundtheMediterraneanSea;andwhenwerealize,too,thatEgyptwasinoneperiodofherhistorythemosthighlyculturedandcivilizednationofthesmalllimitedarea,wecanunderstandwhyadistrictnearCairomighthavebeenselectedasthecenteroftheearthinthemindsoftheancientpeoples.

ButthetruthofthematteristhatthetrulylearnedonesofEgypt,thosewhoweremembersoftheilluminatedmysteryschoolsandwhosoughttopreservetheiraccumulatedwisdomforthefuture,werefarmoreadvancedintheirknowledgeoftheearthanditssizeandhabitableareas,andofthestarryheavensandtheplanets,thanwerethemassofthepopulace.Evenourpresent-dayscienceofastronomyowesitsearlyfoundationtotheadvancedandextraordinaryknowledgewhichtheseearlymysteryschoolspossessed.Thereareverydefiniterecordsintheearliestreferencestoastrology—theforerunnerofastronomy—thattheseancientmysticalstudentsandscientistsknewofamajorityoftheplanetsnowknowntous,andofthestars,despitethefactthattheydidnothaveanythinglikeourmoderntelescopes.Theygavetothoseplanetsnameswhichweretaintothisday,andtheymadereferencestotheirorbitsand

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transitsandtheeclipses,andotherastronomicalphenomenawhichdefinitelyprovetousthatthemysticalphilosophersandscientistswerefairlywell-acquaintedwiththeuniverseinwhichtheylived,aswellaswiththesizeandnatureoftheearth.

OneoftheverydefiniteandstartlingfactsaboutthelocationoftheGreatPyramidisthatitisnotonlyinthecenterofthegreatlandofEgypt,andverynearlyinthecenterofthemosthabitableportionsoftheancientworldknowntothepopulace,butitisinthecenterofthelandsurfaceoftheearthasitnowexists,andmusthaveexistedatthetimethePyramidwasbuilt.Inotherwords,ifwetakeamapoftheearthasitexiststodayandspreaditoutonaflatsurfaceanddrawlinesuponitwhichareinaccordancewiththelandsurfaceareas,weshallfindthatthesecrossedlinesindicatethecenterofthelandsurfaceoftheearthasbeingpreciselywheretheGreatPyramidisbuilt.

AndthereisjustoneotherpointwhichmaybeofferedatthismomentinsupportoftheargumentthattheGreatPyramidwaserectedbythosewhowerefamiliarwiththeuniverseandthegreatastronomicalandgeometricalfacts.ThatinterestingpointisthefactthatthegreatPolestaroftheheavenswasknowntothesedesignersandbuildersofthePyramid,formanyofthemathematicalandphilosophicalinscriptionspertainingtothe

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propheciesofthefuturearebaseduponthepositionofthisPolestar.

Eveninregardtothesunanditsdailymovement,theGreatPyramidissolocatedastohaveadefiniterelationshipwiththesunanditsmovement,andthereareothermechanicalrelationshipstotheCosmicaswellasthesizeoftheearth,itssurface,curvature,anddistributionoflandandwater.

CertainlyallofthesesymbolicalreferencestothePyramidthatitwastobebuiltasanaltartotheLord,andapillarattheborderofthelandofEgypt,andtothesignsandtestimonieswhichitwouldContainwhenbuilt,aswellasthefulfillmentofthesepropheciesinthePyramiditself,provetotheunbiasedinvestigatorthatthisgreatstructurewasneverintendedtobeameremonumenttothevanityofapharaoh,noraglorifiedtombforthemortalremainsofaking.

YettherearewritersandinvestigatorsofthesubjectwhostillmaintainthattheGreatPyramidwasbuiltsolelyasanextravagantsepulcherandashallow,emptytestimonialofthevanityandegotismofaninsignificant,unrememberedindividual.

AsweponderovertheseveryearlydescriptionsofamagnificentaltartotheLordthatwastobebuiltinthemidstofthelandofEgypt,andthenfindtheevidencethatitissosignificantlysituated

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andsurroundedwithsomanyrevealingprinciples,therealmysteryofthePyramiddeepensandwebecomedeterminedtoinvestigatethestructureitself.

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T

ChapterIV

THEAMAZINGCONSTRUCTIONHEscientific,andespeciallytheengineering,worldofmoderntimesisjustasgreatlymystifiedasisthepopulaceofallthecivilized

countriesastothemethodsthatwereusedtobuildthisenormousmonumentofstone,especiallyinthelocationwhereithasstoodforsomanycenturies.

AsonestandsatthebaseoftheGreatPyramidandlooksoutoverthesurroundingterritory,orasonestandsuponitsflattenedtopandlooksintospacefarmanymilesineverydirection,notingallofthesurroundingdesertspaceandabsenceofgreathills,onewondersfirstofallwherethestonecamefromwhichwasusedinbuildingit.Havingclimbedupitssidetoreachthetopofit,thereisleftinmindthedefiniteimpressionoftheenormoussizeofthestoneswhichwereused.Mostofthembeinggreaterinheightthanourownbodies,andseeminglytwiceaslongastheyare

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high,theweightofthesestoneswouldseemtobebeyondhumanmanipulation.WecanrecallallofthefancifulstorieswehaveheardofagreatcontractorwiththousandsuponthousandsofEgyptianslavespullingonenormousropesandcablestodragthesemonumentalstonesfromsomewhereintopositionatthePyramid.Andwecanrecallhowtheseslavessufferedunderthelashingofthewhipandatthehandsofthecontractorandbuilder,andhowtheytoiledforyearsinbuildingthePyramid.

Buteverycontractorandeveryindividualwhohaseverdealtwithhumanlaborunderanycondition,andespeciallywhileitwasworkingunderthelashingofawhip,knowsthatthereisalimittothenumberofhumanbeingsthatmaybeattachedtoropesorcables,andtotheconcentratedandefficientpowerthatmaybederivedfromsuchindividuals.Thereisapointintheschemeofthingswherealargenumberofindividualsstrugglinginthismannerbecomesaninterference,andwhereefficiencyislessenedbytheincreaseofthenumber.Notonlyistheirabilitylimitedintheexertionofpower,butthespacetheyoccupy,thenecessaryropestobeattached,andthemanipulationoftheworkcausesasituationinwhichnorealresultscanbeobtained.Wemightjustaswellimaginethebuildingofagreatwallthatwastobecomposedofahundredthousandbricks

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inonesection,andtosavetimeandbuildthewallquickly,wewouldsecureonehundredthousandmen,eachtoplacehisonebrickintheproperpositionatthesamemoment,thuscompletingthesectionofthewallinoneortwominutes.Eveninourmodernmethodsofconstructingourhomesorofficebuildings,thereisapointintheemploymentofmenwhereanincreaseinthenumberofworkersbecomesaninterferenceandslowsuptheprogressratherthanhelps.

Inourpresentcenturymoderncontractorsandengineershavefounditdifficulttolifttothetopofgreatarchesthekeystonestocompletethearches,whensuchkeystonesrepresentedinweightandsizebutacornerofoneofthegreatstonesofthePyramid.YettodaywehaveenormousmechanicalderricksandmotivepowerwhichtheEgyptiansdidnothave.

Acasualinquiryrevealstousthatthenearestpointwheretheenormousstonescouldhavebeenquarriedwasmany,manymilesawayfromthepresentsiteofthepyramid.TheycouldnothavefloatedthemuponraftsdowntheNileRiver,fornoraftcouldhavesupportedtheweightofthestones.Werecalltheproblemthatfacedmarineengineersin1879whenoneoftheobelisksfromHeliopoliswastoberemovedfromEgypttoNewYork.Noshipcouldbefoundthatwouldcarryitsafely,andthefirstattempttofloatituponahuge

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raftpulledbyapowerfulsteamshipprovedafailure.TohavedraggedtheseenormousstonesoverthesandsofEgyptfromquarrieshundredsofmilesdistantatThebesseemslikeanengineeringimpossibilitytothemodernmind.Yetthestoneswerebroughtfromsomewhereandliftedintoplace.Weknowfromanexaminationoftheinterior,aswellastheexteriorofthePyramid,thatthousandsofskilledmechanics,artistsandartisanswereemployedintheplanning,construction,andcompletionofit—notallatonetime,butoverthecourseofalongperiodoftime.ItisdoubtfulthatthePyramidcouldhavebeenplannedsocarefully,thestonesandothermaterialssocarefullyandcriticallyprepared,theconstructionworkcarriedoutwithsuchprecision,andtheinteriordecoratingdonewithsuchdevotionandundersuchexpertguidanceaswasnecessarytomakeeverymarkandeverylineandeverybitofcolorhaveitsscientificsignificance,andtheentirestructurecompletedinthelifetimeofanyonepharaoh.ThisinitselfarguesagainstthecontentionthatapharaohduringtheheightofhisregimeorderedthePyramidtobebuiltashistombsothatitmightbecompletedbeforehisdeathandbereadyforhisburial.Itwasquitecustomaryforthepharaohstomakesurethatthefinalrestingplacesoftheirmummieswouldbeadequateinsplendorandintheprotectiontheywouldaffordagainstrobbers,thieves,andthe

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curious.Inorderthattheirmindsmightresteasilyinthisimportantregard,theysawtoitthatpropertombsbeneathorabovethegroundwereconstructedandcompletedassoonaspossiblesothattherewouldbenopossibilityoftransitioncominguponthembeforeaplaceofguaranteedprotectionandglorywascompleted.Notoneofthemwouldhaveallowedtheplanofatombwhichwouldhaverequiredmanyyearstodesign,manymoreyearstoprepareforinthecuttingofstonesandthemakingofelaboratemechanicalarrangements,andascoreormoreyearsfordecoratingandcompleting,fortheywouldhaveknownthatthecompletionwouldhavepassedfarbeyondtheirlifetimeandtherewouldhavebeenthepossibilityofafuturepharaohoccupyingtheplaceinstead.

Becauseofthemysteryofitsconstruction,andespeciallybecauseofthesignificanceandpropheciesthatareassociatedwitheachmeasurement,eachpassageway,eachchamber,andeachlittleincidentofitsdesignandcompletion,weshalllookintothismattermorethoroughly.

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S

ChapterV

SYMBOLICMEASUREMENTSINCEtheGreatPyramidwastobeamonumentofwisdomandprophecyandcontaininsomepermanentformthe

outstandingincidentsofthepast,present,andfuturehistoryoftheworld,theproblemofputtingthatinformationintosuchlanguage,signs,hieroglyphs,orsymbolsthatallfutureracesofmencoulddecipherandinterpretmusthavebeenoneofthemostseriousofalltheconsiderationssurroundingtheconstructionofthePyramid.

Weareremindedoftheproblemswhichconfrontedtheseancientswhentheydecidedtoleaveakeyforfuturegenerationstodeciphertheirhieroglyphiclanguage.TheEgyptiansrightlyconcludedthatthetimewouldcomeinthedistantfuturewhenthecarvedwritingsandhieroglyphs—aswellasallthesymbolsandsignsoftheirlanguageandoftheirknowledge—mightremain,butaknowledgeofthemeaningofthesestrange

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marksmightbelost,and,therefore,futuregenerationsmightlookuponthemysteriouscarvingsandengravingsonstoneandmetalandunderstandnothingofthegreatwisdomhiddenthere.

Themethodsusedbymanthroughoutcivilizationtoconveyhisthoughts,includingthespokenlanguagesandthewrittenlanguages,havechangedfromcenturytoCenturyuntiltodayexplorersoftencomefacetofacewithunknown,forgotten,andlostlanguages,andareunabletodeciphermuchthatwouldbeofgreatvalue.TherearecarvingsandwritingsuponthestonesofthemountainsidesinOregononthewestcoastoftheUnitedStates,intheKlammathsection,whichbytheirverynatureindicatethattheywerecarefullyplacedtherewithsomeimportantmotive,andintendedforpermanencyandtherevelationofgreatwisdomatsomedistanttime.Astowhenthesewritingswerecarvedinthestoneandwhatthecarefullyexecutedhieroglyphsmean,noauthorityhasyetventuredtostate,andresearchhasledtonoclue.UndoubtedlythesewritingswerecarvedinprehistorictimesbyaraceofpeoplethatantedatesanyoftheknownracesthatoccupiedtheUnitedStatesprecedingtheAmericanIndians.BecauseofthesimilarityofthesewritingstothoseinotherplacesinandaroundthePacificOcean,itisnaturallyassumedthattheyweremadebythe

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descendantsoftheLemurians;butifso,itwasaspecialformofwritingnotcommonlyusedbytheLemuriansandprobablychosentobeaclassicallywrittenlanguageofsomekindthatmightbeinterpretedinthefuture.

InthecaseoftheRosettaStone,thedesirewastopreventthehieroglyphiclanguageoftheEgyptiansfrombecomingpermanentlylostandthusmakingitimpossibleforfuturegenerationsofmankindtointerpretallofthesacredwritingstobefoundinthetemplesanduponthewallsandobelisksandotherpermanentstructuresofthatcountry.Infact,thehieroglyphiclanguageoftheEgyptianswasadeadandunknownlanguageuntiltheRosettaStonewithacarefullyplannedkeywasdiscovered.Onthisstonecertainhistoricalpassageswerewritteninthreelanguages,includingtheEgyptianhieroglyphsandtheGrecian.Bycomparingtheonelanguagewiththeotherininterpretingthesamepassage,thekeytoallofthefundamentalprinciplesoftheEgyptianhieroglyphiclanguagewasrevealed,andthediscoveryoftheRosettaStonewasoneofthemostimportantscientificeventsofrecenthistoryandcontributedverygreatlytoourpresentunderstandingoftheEgyptianlanguage,Egyptianwritings,andEgyptianknowledge.

ButthebuildersofthePyramidanticipatedthattheRosettaStonemightneverbefound,orany

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similarkey,andthateventhoselanguagesthenexistingoutsideoftheEgyptian,suchastheGreeklanguage,mightpassintooblivion,andthereforesomeothermethodforindicatingtheeventsofthefuturehistoryoftheworldwouldhavetobeadoptedtoassureadefiniteandcorrectinterpretation.Inotherwords,thepropheticknowledgeandwisdom,aswellasthehistoricalfactsofEgyptandofancientcivilization,wouldhavetobeindicatedincertainwaysthatwerenotdependentuponanyonelanguageoranyonesystemofregisteringthoughts.Itwouldhavetobebaseduponsomemethodthatwouldbeeternallypermanentanduniversallyrecognized.Certainlythiswasamomentousproblem.ButinsolvingtheproblemtheseancientEgyptiansadoptedamethodwhichsciencetodaywouldadoptinsimilarcircumstances.Therearecertainprinciplesintheuniversethatareuniversalandwillbeeternalandthesearerelatedtothegeometrical,mathematical,andphysicalfactsoftheearthandtheuniverseitself.Therefore,geometryandmathematicsandtheprinciplesofcosmologywerecombinedtouseasthefundamentalsofalanguage.

Inthefirstplace,theselectionofthesiteforthePyramidhadtobegiventheutmostconsiderationsincebyitsverylocationfuturegenerationswouldbeabletodetermineoneimportantfact:thattheEgyptianswhoplannedit

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wereacquaintedwithtwofundamentalsourcesofknowledge,namely,theexactamountoflandonthesurfaceoftheearthanditsgeographicaldistributionand,secondly,therelationshipofthatpointontheearth'ssurfacetotheprincipalstarsoftheheavensandcertaincosmologicalorastronomicallandmarks,sotospeak.

Iffuturegenerationsdiscoveredthesetwogreatfacts,theywouldbetemptedtodeterminehowmuchfurthertheEgyptianshadgoneinthebuildingofthePyramidtoutilizetheirknowledgeofgeometryandastronomytomakethePyramidsymbolic.Ininterpretingsuchsymbolismfrombothamathematicalandscientificpointofview,theywouldnotfailtodiscoverthemysteriousknowledgethatwasconcealedinthedimensionsandstructuraldetailsofthePyramid.ThisinturnwouldtemptinvestigatorstobeCautiousinexaminingeveryminutedetailofthestructureandinrelatingittocyclesandmathematicalscalescoveringpasthistoryandthroughthisdiscoverthepropheciesregardingthefuturehistoryofman.Itwasamagnificentanddaringidea.ItcalledforthecarefulandpreciseapplicationofallthegreatknowledgepossessedbytheEgyptians,andforthecarefulreadingofthefuturebywhatevermysticalmeanstheyhadusedintheirmysteryschoolsforages,andclassifyingthispropheticknowledgeinasystematicmannersothatitmightbeproperly

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recordedinsymbolismandmeasurements.Itwassoondiscoveredbythosewho

investigatedthePyramidinlatercenturiesthatotherpyramidsandtemplesbuiltinancienttimeshadbeenorientedtodefiniteastronomicalalignments.SirNormanLockyerwasbutoneofthescientificinvestigatorswhopointedouttotheworldatlargethesignificanceoftherelationshipbetweentheorientationorpreciselocationofthesepyramidsandtemplestoastronomicalfacts,particularlytotheoutstandingastronomicalfactsofthetimesinwhichthestructureswerebuilt.Butitwasdiscoveredthatofallthemysteriousandsymbolicalstructuresfoundanyplaceintheworldtherewerebuttwowhosedimensionsorstructuralfeatures,whenreducedtomeasurementsbyadefinitestandard,werefoundtorepresentcertainelementsofthefunctionsofthesolarcircle.ThesetwomysteriousstructuresaretheGreatPyramidinEgyptandtheStonehengeCircleinEngland.

SirFlindersPetriediscovered,forinstance,aftermuchresearch,thatacircledrawnwithintheinteriorofthegreatstonecircleatStonehengehasadiameterof1163Britishinchesandis3653inchesincircumference.ThesefiguresapproximatethedimensionsoftheSolarCircleonareducedscaleof10inchesperdayandalsoapproximatethedimensionsoftheEgyptianAurora.SinceitwasknownthattheStonehengeCircle,aswellasother

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mysticalcirclesfoundinruinsinremoteplaces,hadservedtheearlyBritishpriest-astronomersandespeciallythemysticsofthestrangeBrotherhoodofDruidsasasundialoftheseasons,itwasrecognizedatoncethattherewasasymbolicrelationshipbetweentheearth'smathematicalfeaturesandtheastronomicalelementsandthesemysteriousstructures.AlsosinceStonehengewasundoubtedlyerectedaboutonethousandyearslaterthantheGreatPyramid,andbyrepresentativesofthesameraceknownastheAryan-Phoenicians,itwasbelievedthatthemeasurementsoftheGreatPyramid,locatedinthepreciselandcenteroftheearth,wouldrevealmanyfundamentalgeometricalandastronomicalprinciples.

AssoonasthescientistsbegantomeasuretheoutersurfacesanddimensionsofthePyramidandthenallitssecretpassageways,theirwidth,height,inclinations,andrelationshiptooneanother,andtotheoutersurfacesofthePyramidandthentotheastronomicalelements,manyinterestingfactspileduprapidlyuntiltheinvestigatorsoneafteranotherwereastoundedatthegeniusofthosewhoplannedthePyramidandofthosewhosocarefullyCarriedouttheplans.

Inthefirstplace,wemustrememberthattheverynamePyramidasgiventothesegreatstructuresinEgyptwassymbolic,becausethewordisreallyGreekandnotEgyptian.IntheGreek

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languagethewordpyrameansfire,orlight,orilluminationthatrevealssomethingormakesthingsvisibleindarknessaswellasgivingheat.Thewordmidosmeansmeasures.TheGreekshadderivedthesewordsfromthePhoenicianwordpurim-middoh,whichmeant"light-measures."EvenintheHebrewlanguagetherewasawordverysimilarwhichmeantmeasuresthatrevealedsomething,orrevelationmeasures.Therefore,thePyramiditselfmeantsomethingthatconstitutedmeasuredrevelationsorrevelationsthroughmeasurements.

ThefirstproblemthatfacedthearchitectsofthePyramidwastodetermineuponaunitofmeasurement,WeoftodaywhoaresoaccustomedinAmerica,forinstance,totheyardstickininchesandfeet,donotstoptorealizethattheinchasaunitofmeasurementwasanarbitrarilyadoptedthingandthateventheBritishinchisnotpreciselythesameastheAmericaninch,andthatinancienttimestherewereunitsliketheinchandtowhichwereferasaninchbutwhichwereofadifferentlengththanthepresentAmericanorBritishinch.Themetricsystemconstitutesanotherarbitrarilyadoptedunitofmeasurement.

WhatunitofmeasurementshouldtheEgyptiansuseinbuildingthePyramidwhichwouldbeeternalanduniversal?ThescientistsdiscoveredthattheunitformeasurementusedinthePyramidandnowcalledthe"Pyramidinch"wasadopted

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becauseitwasequivalenttoaprimitivePolarDiameterinchwhich,bytheway,wastheunitofmeasurementadoptedbytheHebrews,asdeterminedbySirIsaacNewtoninhisinvestigations.SincethePolarDiameteroftheearthis500,000,000Pyramidinchesor500,500,000Britishinches,thedifferencebetweenthesetwounitsofmeasurementwouldbeonly1-1000thofaninch.AtonetimeinBritishhistory,however,thePolarinchandtheBritishinchwereequal.TheinterestingfactisrevealedherethatsincetheAnglo-SaxonracehadadoptedtheancientHebrewinchitwouldindicatethatthisracedescendedfromtheHebrew.AnditwouldindicatealsothattheEgyptiansinadoptingsuchaninchrealizedthattheAnglo-SaxonraceswouldbethefirsttorecognizetheunitofmeasurementandthereforelookuponthemessagesconcealedintheGreatPyramidasintendedforthemprincipally.Forinstance,iftheGermanortheFrenchnationsshouldmeasurethePyramidinallofitssymbolicmathematics,usingsomeothersystemsuchasthemetricsystemwithitsunit,theywouldfindlittlesymbolicalknowledgeandnothingofastartlingnature.

ThusifweapproachtheinteriorofthePyramidwithatapemeasureofPolarinchesorBritishinches,thePyramidbeginstotalkandbringforthitshiddenrevelations,tellingusthestoryof

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pastcenturiesbeforethePyramidwasbuilt,thestoryofthetimeswhenitwasbuilt,andofmany,manycenturiestocome.

Beginningwithourmeasurements,therefore,wefindthatthePyramidrestsuponasquare,andifwemeasureeachsideofthissquarefromcornertocornerwherethebasesocketsofthePyramidarelocated,wefindthateachsideis9,131Pyramidinchesinlength.Ifweaddthesefoursidestogetheritwouldbeequivalenttotakingalongtapemeasureandgoingfromonecornertotheotheruntilthetapehadcompletedthefoursidesofthebaseandifstraightenedoutthenintoonelongstraightline,wewouldfindithadatotallengthof36,524inches,withperhapsavariationofapartofaninchduetoerrorsinmeasurementordislocationofpartsoftheouterstone.Nowthisnumberof36,524willberecognizedinstantlybyanypersonacquaintedwiththefundamentalprinciplesofastronomy.Ifweallow2/10ofaninchforerrorsinmeasurement,whichistheaverageoferrorasrecordedbyscoresofmeasurements,wefindtheapproximatelyprecisefiguretobe36,524.2.Thisweseeatonceis100timesthelengthofthesolaryearor,inotherwords,365.242days.

ThissurprisingfactfurnishesuswiththefirstdefinitekeyandmakesusrealizethatthePyramidisnotonlysymbolicalinallofitsmeasurements,

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butthattheEgyptianshadapreciseknowledgeofthesolaryearandofotherimportantastronomicalfeatureswhichtheyhaveembodiedinthePyramidmeasurements.Therefore,wearetemptedtosecureanaccuratemeasurementofthePyramid'sheight,includingtheoriginalapexstone.This,sciencehasfound,is5813frombasetoapex.Usingourgeometricalknowledgewefindthatthisisequaltotheradiusofthecircleof36,524.2inchescircumference.Inotherwords,theheightofthePyramidisequivalenttotheradiusofthecircleofthesolarcycle.

WecanpauserighthereforamomenttopayhomagetotheseancientsfortheirwisdomandknowledgeandtothinkagainofthestatementmadesooftenbythedoubtersofthesignificanceofthePyramidwhoclaimthatitwasbuiltasthevainattemptofapharaohtobuildamoremagnificenttombforhimselfthananyotherpharaohhadeverbuilt.Thepharaohmighteasilyhaveconstructedsuchamagnificentandimpressivepyramid,toweringallothertombsinitsheightandwidth,withoutbecominginvolvedinsuchhighlytechnicalandunimportantelementsasastronomicalmeasurementsandsolarunits.Weareagainimpressedwiththefactthatthisgreatstructurewasnotdesignedasameretomb.Ithasbecomeentirelytoosignificanttohavebeenmerelytheprotectionofasecretburialchamber.

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OtherlinesofmeasurementinthePyramidrevealthetrueorbitalyearof365.259daysandthesiderealyearbythemeasurementof36,525.6inches.ThesepointsandtheirsignificancehavebeenrevealedandCarefullyanalyzedbythateminentEnglishscientist,Mr.DavidDavidson,inhislearnedarticlesdealingwiththePyramidwhichappearedinTheMorningPostinEngland.

AnothermeasurementdiscoveredbyMr.Davidsongivesininchestheradiusoftheearth'sorbit.ThusfarwehavefoundthatthemeasurementsofthePyramidrepresentthesolarCircleandthedifferencebetweenthesolar,sidereal,andorbitalyears,therebyresultinginmeasurementsthatgiveusthesun'saveragedistancefromtheearth,theearth'ssurfacedisplacements,andthedisplacementsoftheearth'sorbit.*1

WithinthePyramidallofitshalls,rooms,andpassagewaysrevealintheirformandrelationshiptoeachotherandtothePyramiditself,anditsrelationshiptotheearthandtheheavens,certainothersignificantfeatures,andthesehavetobeworkedoutverycarefullyusingtheunitsofmeasurementasascaleofyearsfordeterminingpastandfutureevents.

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KEYTOTHECHART

BL—BeveledBaseLine.PIT—Unfinished.Symbolizesbottomlesspit—

noescape,butbywelluppastCrossofChrist.AT—Atonement.Symbolizedbythewell

whichrepresentsChrist'sdescentfromtheCrossintoSheolandbacktoHisresurrection.Upthispassagebelieverscanescape;evenfromthebrinkofhell.

G—Grotto.SymbolicofParadise,ortheplacewhereOldTestamentsaintsawaitedtheatonement.

2144—Possibledateoferection.F—TimeofFlood,630yearsbeforethe

Exodus.1647—TheinchyearsbetweenExodusandthe

BirthofChrist.Thispassagewithitsgraniteplugsymbolizeslaw-waytoeternallife,whichisblockedbyoursinfulnatures.

331/2—TheinchyearsofChrist'slife.R—Marksthepointwherethestonecoverof

thewellwasburstupward,symbolizingChrist'sresurrection.

GA—GospelAge,symbolizedbytheGrandGallery,28feethigh.

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K—King'sChamber.J—JewishorQueen'sChamber;symbolizes

presentblindnessandfuturegloryoftheJews.P—GrandChamber,thoughttoexistinupper

partofthePyramid,symbolicofheaven.

1. Davidson'swasoneofthefirstbooksonthepyramidprophecies.Therearemorerecentoneswhichareauthoritativeandslightlyoutdatehiswork.back

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A

ChapterVI

THEPROPHECYOFEVENTS

SHASalreadybeenstated,theinterioroftheGreatPyramid,aswellastheexterior,indimensions,lengthoflines,thecrossingof

lines,theintersectionofpassageways,andnumerousotherdetails,revealsthetimeandperiodofvariouseventsinthehistoryofman.Inadditiontotheseprophecies,thePyramidcontainsinitssecretmarksandsignificantelementsanoutlineoftheancientwisdomandmysteries.

Letusexaminetheprophecies.WemustkeepinmindthatsincethePyramidisveryold,alargenumberofthepropheciesitcontainshavealreadybeenfulfilled.Wemustthereforelookinretrospectionatmostoftheprophecies.

Manywillsaythatitisaneasymattertopickouttheimportantdatesofpasthistoryandthenfindmeasurements,dimensionsandmoreorlesssignificantcrossingoflinestocorrespondtothedateselected.Critics,andthosewhodoubtthatthe

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Pyramidwasamonumentofprophecyaswellasmystery,willarguethatitiswellenoughtopointoutnowhowthevariouslinesanddimensionsofthePyramidwereintendedtoindicatecertaineventsofhistory.Thereisnowaytoprovetothesepersonsthattheeventshavenotbeenselectedtofitthedimensionsandcross-linesofthePyramid.Ouronlyargumentisthatmanyofthesedimensionsprophesyingfutureeventswerediscoveredandgiventotheworldmanyyearsagobeforesomeoftheoutstandingeventsofpasthistoryhadoccurred.ItwasthroughcheckingupthepropheticlinesanddimensionsofthePyramidwithpasteventsthattherealkeytotheprophecieswasfound.

AmongthemanypersonswhodevotedagreatdealoftimetothestudyofthepropheciesofthePyramidisMr.DavidDavidson.HeiswidelyknownasanexpertonthesecretnatureofthePyramid,andamanwhosepatienceandintegrityinhischosenfieldofresearchhaveawardedhimthehighestpositionasanauthority.Asaneminentstructuralengineer,aswellasabrilliantscientist,hisfindingsaftertwenty-fiveyearsofstudyandresearchinconnectionwiththeGreatPyramidwerepublishedbyhimin1924inamonumentalbookoflimitedcirculationentitled,TheGreatPyramid,ItsDivineMessage,inwhichheillustrateswitheightyplatesandninety-sevensheetsof

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archaeological,historical,andastronomicaltables,thecorrectnessofthekeytothePyramidprophecieswhichhediscovered.

Othersbeforehimhaddevotedmuchtimetosimilarresearches.AmongtheearliestwasJohnGreaves,professorofastronomyatOxford,whoexploredthePyramidin1637;andColonelHowardVysespentapersonalfortuneinvestigatingthesubject.SirJohnHerschel,thefamousastronomer,interestedhimselfinthesameproblem,andhisastronomicalknowledgeenabledhimtomakemanyimportantdiscoveriesregardingthesignificanceoftheconstructionofthePyramid.In1859JohnTaylor,aLondonpublisherandeminentmathematician,issuedabookwhereinherevealedthesignificanceofsomeofthePyramid'sdimensions.ItwashewhorevealedanimportantkeyinexplainingthePolarDiameterInchinconnectionwiththePyramid'sdimensions.Prof.PiazziSmythe,intheyears1864-65,foundstrongconfirmationofMr.Taylor'sdiscoveries.ThisprofessorwasfollowedbySirWilliamPetrie,therenownedarchaeologist,whoappliednewscientificmethodsinverifyingthegreatstructureandcomparedthePolarInchtotheBritishinch,therebyfurnishingMr.DavidDavidsonwithadditionalkeys.

Thosewhowouldliketodelvemoredeeplyintothesignificanceofthemeasurementsand

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structuraldetailsofthePyramidasrelatedtopropheciesareurgedtosecureandreadMr.Davidson'swonderfulbook.

Letitbeknown,therefore,thataccordingtotheseeminentauthorities,alloftheoutstandingeventsofthehistoryofmankindareplainlyindicatedinchartsanddiagramsbaseduponthemeasurements,structurallines,dimensionkeys,andcross-lineswithinthePyramid;as,forinstance,wherethelinesofonefloorofachambercrossthelinesofanuprightpartition,orwherethelinesofhorizontalwallsdescendandcrossthelinesofanotherlevel.IfthespacesbetweenthesecrossingsaremeasuredinthePyramidInchandassociatedwithyearsandmonthsanddays—andinsomecaseswithactualhours—significantdatesareobtained,andbytheirassociationwiththelinesthatriseupwardorpasshorizontallyordropvertically,certainsignificanceisgiventothepropheticdate.AlsotheassociationoftheselinesofmeasurementwithcertainchamberpassagewaysandstrangearrangementswithinthePyramidhelptorevealthenatureoftheeventthatwastooccuronthedateprophesiedbythedimensions.

TogiveacompletelistofallthepropheciescontainedwithinthePyramidthathavebeenfulfilled,includingthoseofrecentyears,wouldrequireaverylargevolume.Anditmustberememberedthatmanyofthepropheciesoutlined

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byMr.DavidDavidsoninhisbookissuedin1924havebeenfulfilledsincetheninthesameprecisemannerasweretheeventsofthepast.Futureyearswillcontinuetoshowthecorrectnessofthediscoveriesandresearchesmadebytheseeminentmen.

PLATETWO

ACrossSectionofthePyramid

AmongtheearliestpropheciesindicatedbythePyramidarethosepertainingtothecreationoftheearth,thegreatuniversalflood,theriseandfallofman'sspiritualandworldlyunfoldment,andtherulershipofvariouskingdomsbygreatmen,theoutstandingwarsbetweennations,andthedevelopmentofreligiousandmoralmovementsamongmen.

Reachingbackwardintotheseprophecies,letusbeginabriefindexofthemwiththeExodusof

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theIsraelitesfromEgypt.ThisisdefinedinthePyramidbytheintersectionofthefloorlineoftheAscendingPassagewiththecentrallineoftheDescendingPassage,givingthedateofthe15thofNisan(April4)in1486B.C.

Skippingoveranumberofintermediatehistoricalevents,wetakethenextoutstandingoneasbeingthatofthebirthofJesustheChrist,whichaccordingtotheprophecyofthePyramidwastotakeplaceonOctober4(Gregoriancalendar)intheyear4B.C.ItmustbeunderstoodthattheactualbirthdateofJesushasbeendisputedandarguedformanycenturiesandthereisnothingintheoldScripturestowarrantthepositivestatementthatJesuswasborninDecember.Thecalendarhasbeenchangedsogreatlysincethateventthatitisoflittleaidintheanalysisofthismootedpoint.HistoricalrecordsshowthatintheearlyChristiancenturiesthebirthdateofJesuswasnotdefinitelydecideduponuntilatagreatconclaveitwasarbitrarilysetforDecember25.TheactualperiodoftheyearhasbeensetbymanyauthoritiesasbetweenthefirstofOctoberandthe23rdofMarch.

Theyearalsoisindispute,foraccordingtothestoryintheBibleregardingthecensusthatwasbeingtakenatthetimeofthebirthofJesus,theyearofthebirthisthreeorfouryearsinerroraccordingtoourmoderncalendar.Butsincethe

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propheciesofthePyramidinregardtoallothergreateventsprovedtobesoaccurate,thereisnoreasonwhyweshouldnotacceptthePyramiddateasbeingtheverybestauthority.ThedateoftheNativityofJesusisdefinedbytheintersectionoftheproducedfloorlinesoftheQueen'schamberwiththefloorlineoftheAscendingPassage.InthismanneratriangleisformedhavingforitshypotenusetheslopingflooroftheAscendingPassage.Inmeasuringthishypotenuse,wearriveatafigurewhichtranslatedintosolaryearsgivesus331/2lunaryears,ortheexactlengthofthepubliclifeofJesus.

PassingoverothereventsindicatedduringthelifetimeofJesus,wecometoameasurementthatgivesusthedateoftheCrucifixion,April5,30,A.D.

SkippingpastmanygreateventsofhistoryoccurringbetweentheearlyChristianperiodandourpresentcenturies,whichwouldrequiretoomanypagesinthisbook,wefindsuchinterestingpropheciesasthatforAugust2,1909,indicatingtheestablishmentofcertainrelationshipsbetweentheCzarofRussiaandsomeofthegreatcountriesofEurope,whichprophecywasfulfilled.

ThenextgreatimportantdatewasthatofOctober27-28,1912,indicatingthebeginningoftheBalkantroubles.

ThenonMarch12of1913wasfulfilled

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anotherprophecygivenbydimensionsattheentrancetothesubterranean"ChamberofChaos,"indicatingtheconflictsandsuddenreversalsinworldaffairsbeginningasecondBalkandisturbanceandanattitudeofdepressionandfearthroughoutEurope.

Thenextdate,August10,1913,indicatedbyonedropinthestepsoftheroughfloorofthepitinthePyramid,predictedtheTreatyofBucharestbywhichBulgariafoundherselfforcedtogiveGreecetheterritoryshehadacquiredfromTurkey,causingEuropeanstatesmentobecomegreatlyconcernedoverthenewturnofeventsintherestlessnessinEurope.

Thenextdate,August4-5,1914,whichwasindicatedbythemeasurementsthatleadtotheentranceintothefirstlowpassageofthePyramid,foretoldthebeginningofGermany'sactivitiesandwasfulfilledbyGermany'smobilization.TheexacthourofthecrisisofthatperiodwasindicatedbythePyramidtooccuronAugust5at3:54a.m.Historyrecordsthatsomewherenearmidnightonthatday(whichmaymeanaroundtwo,three,orfourinthemorning)GermanywasnotifiedthatGreatBritain'sultimatumhadnotonlyexpiredbutwasfinallyendedandthiswasequivalenttoadeclarationofwar.

ThedateofJanuary31,1917,indicatedinthePyramidbyaterminalpointoftheso-calledindex

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inthePyramid,predictedthattheUnitedStateswouldspirituallycontacttheGreatWarandthatwithin65to70daysshewouldbeinvolved.ThisbroughtthedateofactionclosetotheearlypartofApril,1917,anditwasonApril5-6of1917thattheUnitedStatesenteredintotheconflictabroad.

ThereareotherinterestingdatessuchasDecember11,1917,predictingthattheJewsandtheircountrywouldhaveanotheroneofthemanyexperienceswhichthePyramidhadindicatedinthepast,anditistobenotedthatonthisdateinDecember,1917,JerusalemwasdeliveredbyGeneralAllenby.

ThenextsignificantdatewasJanuary18,1918,indicatedbyaverticallinetothesouthernendofthewalloftheso-calledKing'sChamber.ThisdatewasassociatedinitsprophecieswiththeprecedingonedealingwiththeinterestsoftheJews,anditisnotablethatonJanuary18,1918,theSovietRepublicwasfoundedatPetrograd.

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PLATETHREE

TheGrandGallery,or"HallofIllumination

Itisinterestingtonotethatwefindanotherdateindicatedforthesameyear,thatofNovember10-11,1918,whichdatewasrevealedbythedimensionsandlinesattheendofthefirstlowpassage.ThisdatefiguresoutastheexactdateoftheflightoftheGermanKaiserintoHolland,

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whichresultedthefollowingdayintheArmisticeandtheendingoftheWorldWar[I].Sincethedatewasindicatedbythelinesattheendofthefirstlowpassage,itindicatedverydefinitelytheendingofallthetribulationsandwarringactivitiessignifiedbythelowpassageitself.ThosewhohadbeenfollowingthePyramidpropheciesthroughouttheperiodoftheWorldWarlookedforwardtoNovember10-11,of1918astheendingoftheessentialactivitiesofthewar,eveniftheArmisticehadnotbeensignedonthatday.ButthesigningoftheArmisticemadeaverydefiniteendingtothewarinitsexistingform.

AnotherdateanticipatedbythestudentsofPyramidprophecieswhoareinterestedinworldeventswasthatofDecember12,1919,whichwasindicatedbythelinesatthebeginningoftheredgranitefloor.Thesignificanceherewasofsomenewandsteadyinfluencethatwouldbecreatedonthe12thofDecemberthatwouldaffectthefoundationsofnationsinEurope.Itistobenotedthatonthisdatewasheldthefirstpost-warconferenceoftheso-called"BigFour"nations;namely,GreatBritain,theUnitedStates,France,andItaly.Theresultofthisconferenceistoowellknowntorequireanyexplanationhere.

ThencamethedateofJuly11,1920,suppliedinthePyramidbytheprojectinginchinthemeasurementofthefaceoftheGraniteLeaf.On

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thisdatetheTreatyofSevresregardingtheAllies'finaltermsconstitutedanotherultimatumofinternationalimportance.Thefollowingdate,August10,1920,indicatedinthesamemannerinthePyramid,wasthedateofthesigningoftheTurkishTreaty.

Passingoveranumberofintermediatedatesthathadtodowiththesigningoftreatiesandtheagreementsbetweennationsofinternationalimportance,andcoveringsuchimportantmattersasthefirstcouncilmeetingofthenewcabinetheldbytheSultanofEgypt,LordCurzon'sultimatumtotheTurks,theFranco-BritishcrisisregardingtheRuhr,theabdicationoftheSultanofTurkey,theassassinationofthechiefoftheRussiansecretservice,andtheexposureswhichfollowed,thesurprisingearthquakeinJerusalemthatrevealedsomeimportantmatters,andsimilaraffairs,wecometomoremoderndates.

Followingoutoneofthepropheticindicationsandmeasuringitoffininches,thedateofOctober29,1929,wasobtainedasbeingadateofimportancetoAmericaandmanysectionsoftheworldinaneconomicmanner.Thisprovedtobethetimeofthegreatfinancialearthquakethataffectedthestockmarketandeconomicconditionsgenerallythroughoutthewholeworld.EverystudentofthePyramid'sprophecies,followingthesystemoutlinedbyMr.Davidsonandothers,and

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interpretingvariousotherindications,fullyanticipatedtheworldcrashwhichoccurredin1929.AnotherdateindicatedtheDisarmamentConferenceinGenevaandallthatitrepresented.

Onedatein1932hadaverydefiniteassociationwithanotherdate,thatofSeptember16,1936.Accordingtothesetwodatesandtheirindications,itappearedfromthesymbolismthatinAmericatherewouldbeagreatchangeinthespiritofthepresidencyandintheconstitutionalformofgovernment.Itwasplainlyindicatedthatjustpriorto1936theAmericannationwouldadoptamoderateformofdictatorshipwithadefinitetendencytowardstatesocialism.Theindicationswerethatthismodifiedformofgovernmentwouldrunintothespringof1937andpassthefatefuldateofSeptember16,1936.ThislatterdatewasindicatedbythemeasurementswhichjustreachedandbegantoentertheKing'sChamber,which,accordingtothesymbolismofthePyramid,isthe"HallofJudgmentandofResurrection."

AccordingtotheseindicationsitwouldappearthatinSeptemberof1936agreatchangeistocomeintothelifeandspiritofthegovernmentoftheUnitedStateswherebyitsformerconstitutionalactivitieswillbejudgedandfromthejudgmentwillariseanewandbetterformofgovernmentbaseduponmodificationsgrowingoutofthejudgment.OtherindicationsrevealthatthepeopleofIsrael,

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aswellasthepeopleofGreatBritainandAmerica,shallpassthroughthisHallofJudgmentandResurrectionjustpriortoSeptember,1936,andthatonthatdate,the16th,at1:40a.m.,therewillbesomeimportantactperformedthatwillbeofinternationalimportance,butespeciallyaffectingthepeopleofIsrael,GreatBritain,andtheUnitedStates.

Otherdatesindicatethattheeffectofthisimportanteventwillshowitsculminationsonthe27thofNovember,1939,andonthe20thofAugustin1953.RelatingthesedatestoBiblicalphraseology,whichisveryeasytodobecauseofthespecialscripturalkeysthatarecontainedinthepropheciesofthePyramid,wefindthatonthenightofSeptember15-16,1936,therewillbeheraldedtheFeastoftheTrumpets,andthattheSeventhAngelofRevelationwillsoundtheSeventhTrumpet.Thisisreferredtointhe10thchapter,7thverseoftheBookofRevelation.ThePyramidpropheciesclearlyindicatethatinvarioussectionsoftheworldtherewillbeageneralgatheringandgreatconference,eithersecretorsemisecret,markingthebeginningofaverydefiniteperiodthatwillnotbelonginrevealingitselftotheworld.

Lookingalittlefurtherforward,wefindthataprophecyindicatedbythesouthernedgeoftheapexofthepyramidgivesthetimeofthe31stof

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Januaryintheyear1947.ThisprophecyindicatesthattheperiodofresurrectionandregenerationwillbecompletedandindicatesalsoareconstructionofchurchandstateinbothAmericaandGreatBritain.

Othermeasurementsarebeingmadetointerpretthepropheciesofthenexttenorfiftyyearsandthosewillprobablyberevealedwithinthenextfewyears.

Itshouldbenotedthatinadditiontotherelationshipoftheseprophesieddatestoworldaffairs,eachsymbolizedindicationisassociatedwithBiblicalorScripturalpropheciesasfoundinthewritingsintheHolyBibleandothersacredwritingsoftheEast.

Theelaboratechartsthatarenecessaryforthetabulatingofthesemeasurementsandpropheticindicationsareimpossibletoreproduceinasmallbook,inasmuchassomeofthechartscovermanysquarefeetandifreducedtoogreatlythemanydelicatelinesandcrossingsbecomeobliteratedandthesignificanceofthetextimpossibletoread.

However,thebriefoutlinegiveninthischapterwillindicatetowhatextent,andtowhatdegreeofprecision,thepropheciesofthePyramidhavebeendiscovered,revealed,andeventuallyfulfilled.WhatliesstillhiddenintheunmeasuredanduntabulateddimensionsandsignificationsofthePyramidisasgreatamysteryasthePyramiditself.

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I

ChapterVII

THESECRETPASSAGEWAYSOFTHEPYRAMID

NADDITIONtothesecretpassages,chambers,halls,andotherfeaturesofthemainorcentralpartofthePyramidwhichwerefor

centuriesunknownandstillconstituteamysteriousstudy,therehavebeentraditionsformanyyearsregardingtheotherpassagewaysinthePyramidorbeneathitwhichhavenotyetbeenfullyrevealed,andthepassagewaysthatleadtothePyramidfromnearbypoints.InanyrealstudyofthePyramidanditsmysticaluse,theenvironsofthePyramidmustbetakenintoconsideration,includingtheSphinx,thecourtyardinfrontoftheSphinx,andthetemplethatadjoinedtheSphinxandwhichhasrecentlybeenexcavated.

Accordingtothetraditionsandtosomeofthemysticalmanuscriptsthathavebeenreleasedinalimitedmannerinrecentyears,theGreatPyramid

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isbutthecentralpointorfeatureofamagnificentsymbolicalplotorsectionofEgyptthatcontainsamysteryineachsquareyardofitssurface.

Aswitheveryothertempleofmystery,therearestories,reports,andtraditionswhichscientistsdenyandmanyso-calledauthoritiesridicule.ButinthepastfewCenturiesanumberofthesetraditionshavebeenliftedoutofthecategoryofmeremysticalfictionintofactbytheexcavationsthathavetakenplace.ForcenturiestherewasawhisperedstorytotheeffectthattherewasaCeremonialcourtorCourtyardinfrontoftheSphinx,buriedbeneaththesands,inwhichcourtinitiationceremonieswereheldpriortotheentranceintothePyramid.ForcenturiesthiswhisperedstorywasridiculedbygeologistsandsomehistoriansandbymanyofthenativesandofficialsofEgypt.However,inrecentyearsthesandaround,andespeciallyinfrontof,theSphinxhasbeenremovedrevealingaverybeautifulpavementofacourtyardbetweenthepawsandinfrontofthebreastoftheSphinx,andinthecenterofthiscourt,asymbolicalaltarsuchashadnouseinanyofthepriesthoodreligionsofEgyptbutwasknowntohaveitsplaceinthetemplesofmysteryforinitiationceremonies.Thusthesunlighthastouchedupontheancientpavementbytheremovalofthesands,andthelightoftruthhasconfirmedoneoftheoldtraditions.

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AnotherofthetraditionswastotheeffectthatagreatmovablestoneorslabinfrontofthebreastoftheSphinx,betweenitspaws,blockedtheentrancewaytoasecretpassagethatranbeneaththeSphinxandbeneaththesandstothecenteroftheGreatPyramid,andthatthislongpassagewaywasthesecretceremonialpassagewayfromtheoutercourtinfrontoftheSphinxtotherisingpassagewaysandchambersinthePyramiditself.

Oldstoriestoldhowthisgreatstonewithitssymbolicalwritings,warnings,andlawsfortheinitiate,wouldmovemysteriouslyuponinvisiblehingesandopentothecommandsofcandidatesstandinginthecourt,orinfrontofit,uponthepronunciationoftheproperword.Thenthecandidateswiththeofficialtorchbearerandguardianwouldenterthepassagewaychanting,andasthelastnoteofthechantwassoundedthegreatstonedoorwouldsilentlymovetoaclosedpositionandtheworldwasshutoutagainwhilethepilgrimageofinitiatesmovedonward,towardthePyramid,beneaththesandsofthedesert,hiddenfromalltheworld,andinasoundlesspassagethatwassignificantoftheearlyperiodoftheuniversewhentheworldwaswithoutsound.Suchstories,ofcourse,havebeenrejectedandscoffedatbutstilltheypersist.

TherecentlyexcavatedtempleadjoiningtheSphinxwasnotbelievedtobeinexistenceeither,

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andnowitislookeduponasthepreparationchamberfortheinitiatesbeforetheyenteredthecourtinfrontoftheSphinx.AsonelooksdownintotheuncoveredchambersofthistempleadjoiningthePyramid,onewonderswhatotherusetherecouldhavebeenforasubterraneantemple,oranykindoftemple,inthispeculiarpositionalongsidetheceremonialcourtoftheSphinx.Stillscientists,historians,andofficialsscoffattheideathatithadanythingtodowithinitiationceremonies.

Inrecentyearsthegreatstoneslab,firmlyfixedagainstthebreastoftheSphinxinfrontofthetwopaws,hasbeenrevealedanduncoveredanduponitaresymbolicalwritingsandwarningsthatmaybeinterpretedinvariousways,butcertainlyhavesignificancetocandidatesofthemysteriesandtotheexpectantinitiate.Whetherthatstoneslab,hugeinsizeandweight,ismovableornothasnotbeendetermined,andwhetherthereisapassagewaybehindithasnotyetbeenconclusivelydetermined.

Speakingoftheimpossibilityofahugestoneofthissizeandweightmovingofitsownaccorduponinvisiblehinges,letusnotforgetthattherewasoneothercourtofmysteryatonetimewheresuchthingsdidoccur.Heavygatesguardedtheentrancewaytothiscourtandtheycouldnotbeopeneduntilasacredceremonywasheldaround

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thealtarbeforethem.Here,withfireburninguponthealtar,andwiththechantingofvoices,atthecrucialmomentofthespiritualritual,thehugegatesautomaticallyopenedandthedevoteeswerepermittedtoenter.Withinthewallstheyfoundatemplethereinthecourtyardandfountainsthatwouldplaywithstreamsofwaterthroughtheeffectofmusicandchanting.Scienceinvestigatedthesemysteriesandfoundthatonemastermechanicianofthetime,knownasHeronofAlexandria,utilizedsomeofthegreatknowledgeofthelawsofphysicsknowntotheEgyptianmysteryschoolsandconstructedmanymarvelouspiecesofmechanismthatoperatedthroughlawsandprinciplesrediscoveredonlyinmoderntimesbyeminentscientists.

IfthegreatgateswhichHeroninventedwouldmoveinsomemysteriousmannerthroughnaturallaws,thereisnoreasonforustodoubtthepossibilityofahugestonegatemovinginthesamemannerbeforetheSphinxinEgypt.

Therearestillmanystoriestoldandmanysecretorprivateexplanations,accompaniedwithdiagramsandarchitecturaldesigns,givenregardingthepassagewaysconnectingtheSphinxwiththePyramid,andthesegivecolortomanystrangeincidentsreferredtointhesecretwritingsoftheancientEgyptians.Someoftheseundergroundpassagewaysandtheirconnectionsareshownin

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theaccompanyingdiagrams.UntilgreaterexcavationsaremadearoundthePyramidandthesepassagewaysareactuallyrevealedtothepublicandtothelightofdaysothattheymaybephotographedandenteredunderspecialpermission,theirexistencemustremainaspartofthetraditions,forthisisthelawofthemysteryschoolsofEgyptandstillinforce.Thatwhichisnotrevealedtothepublicremainsatraditionalsecretandthepublicisinvitedtoacceptthetraditionsorrejectthemasitmayseefit.Thestrongerthedenialonthepartofthevariouspersonsofauthorityinregardtotheexistenceofsomeofthesesecretpassagewaysandtemples,*1thestrongerisone'sfaithinthepossibilityoftheirexistence,forsuchalsoseemstobethelawofhumannaturewhendealingwiththingsofthisstrangeland.

▽▽▽

1. ArecentarticleintheSanJoseNewsreportsonexperimentstobeconductedbytheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleyandAinShamsUniversityofEgyptusingX-rayandcomputerequipmenttodeterminewhethertherearehiddenchambersinthepyramidofChephren.Itisbelievedthatcosmicrayswillgetthroughharderandthickermateriallessthan

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throughareaswheretherearechambersandpassages.back

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B

ChapterVIII

STRANGEFACTSECAUSEoftheverymysteriousnatureofthesubjectitself,andbecauseofthemanyweirdtraditionsthathavesurroundedthe

Pyramid,manypamphlets,books,magazineandnewspaperarticleshavebeenpublisheddealingwiththePyramidfromvariousangles;andmanyofthesehavebeenwrittenbythosewhoareextremelyfanatical,illogical,andunfamiliarwiththerealbackgroundofthehistoryofOrientalmysticism.ForthisreasononewillfindreligiousandpoliticalfanaticsusingthePyramidfordissertationsanddiscoursesinwhichridiculousandfarfetchedpropheciesandpredictionsaremadeinthehopeofstrengtheningvariousreligiousorpoliticalcontentions.

ThestudentofthePyramidshouldalwaysjudgethereliabilityofanythingthatiswrittenandpublishedaboutthePyramidbyjudgingtheauthor'smotive.Ifthemotiveappearstobetosupportsomestrangereligiousrite,dogma,orcreed,oneshouldbewareofanycoloringand

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imaginaryconditionsthatmaybepresentedinthedescriptionofthePyramidanditspredictions.

Themotivebackofthepublicationofthisbook,whichthereadernowhasinhishands,issolelytoemphasizethemysteriousoriginandpurposeofthePyramid,independentofanycult,anyreligion,oranypoliticalsupportthatmaybefoundintherevelationsofthePyramid.Inthatregardonlyisthisbookbiased.ItisdeliberatelybiasedinfavoroftheideaorpostulationthatthePyramidwasbuiltasatempleofmysticalinitiationandofprophecyandnotmerelyasanelaboratetombtosatisfythevanityofsomeking.

TherearemanystrangeandpeculiarfactsconnectedwiththeGreatPyramidthatmayormaynothavetheirfoundationsintruth,orinrelatedfacts.Itisclaimed,forinstance,thatatthetimethatthePyramidwasbuiltthesunatnoonpassedimmediatelyoverthePyramidsothatwhenthesunwasatitszenithatnoontherewasnoshadowonanyofthefoursidesofthePyramid.Thisisnottruetodayandscientificexplanationsstatethatthisisbecauseofthechangeintheheavensandintherotationoftheearththathasoccurredinthepastcenturies.Weknowthattheprecessionoftheequinoxesandthechangeoftheaxisoftheearth,orrotationofthepoleposition,havemadechangesofvariouskindswhichcouldexplainwhythesundoesCastashadowonsomesidesofthePyramid

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todayifitdidnotdosocenturiesago.Anotherclaimisthatoneofthepassageways

pointingupwardtowardtheheavensfromthecenterofthePyramidwasoriginallydirectedtowardthepolestarandthatifonestoodinthecentralchamberlookingupwardthroughoneofthesepassagewaystowardtheouteropeninginthePyramid,thepolestarcouldbeseen.Thismayormaynotbetrue,butthereisapossibilityofitshavingbeentrue.ItwouldfurtherindicatetheexcellentknowledgewhichtheEgyptiancreatorsofthePyramidhadofastronomicallawsandprinciples,anditwouldhavebeennaturalforthemtohaveplannedthePyramidinthismannersincethepolestariseventodayacentralpointintheheavensfromwhichtomakemeasurementsandlocatepositionsonthefaceoftheearth.

Theso-calledKing'sChamber,inwhichthereremainstodayahugestonecasketwithoutanylidcoveringit,wasnotaburialchamberandcouldnothavebeenusedassuch.Thestonecoffinwasnotmadeaswereanyofthecoffinsinthedayswhenkings,pharaohs,oreminentpeoplewereburiedinEgyptiantombs,andtheoriginalhieroglyphsthatcoveredthesidesandprobablythetopstone,althoughhardlydiscerniblenow,werenotlikethosethatwereusedontombs.Theotherarrangementsoftheroomandthemarkingsonthewallswerenotlikethoseofothertombs.

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Thestonethatlayuponthetopofthecaskethasdisappeared,andtodayeveryinchofthewallsandlowceilingofthatchamberiscoveredwithinitials,names,anddatesruthlesslycutintothewallsandceilingbythethousandsofvisitorswhohavehadentrancetothatroominyearsgonebywhenextremecarewasnotusedinregardtotheadmissionofvisitors.Thishasdesecrated,destroyed,andobliteratedmostoftheoriginalfinishandmarkingsofthischamber.

ThecoffinthatstillremainsintheKing'sChamberwasundoubtedlyusedinthesamemannerthatacoffinorcasketwasusedinmanyancientinitiationceremonies,andisstillsymbolicallyusedintheinitiationsofsomefraternities.Aroundthisstoodtheofficersandthecandidateandtherewasasymbolicalceremonyinvolvingthelawsoftransition,regeneration,resurrection,andreincarnation.

Oneoftheascendingpassages,theprincipalonethathasbeendiscovered,iscalledtheHallofIllumination,ortheGrandGallery,becauseasthecandidateascended,hereachedagreaterheightinhissymbolicalattainmentofmysticalLight.Thishallway,asshowninillustrationsanddiagrams,isstrangelyformed,butthisisduetothefactthateachofitslinesanddimensionsandpartofitsformisinvolvedintheschemeofpropheticindications.Inascendingthispassagewaytodayone

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hastouseatorchbecauseofthedarkness,whileinsomeotherpassagestheceilingsaresolowthatonehastocrawlonhandsandknees.

StructuralengineerswhohavestudiedthedesignandconstructionofthePyramidpointoutmanyfactstoprovethatthedesignersofthePyramidwerereallyexpertsinthematter.Thefact,forinstance,thattheKing'sChamberisnotintheprecisecenterofthePyramidispointedoutasastructuralfeatureofnecessity.ThemannerinwhichthestonesareplacedtoaffordanopeningabovetheKing'sChamberispointedoutasamethodofgivingspecialsupporttoprotecttheceilingoftheKing'sChamber.ThepurposeofthevariousverynarrowairventsascendingfromthepassagewaysorchamberstoprotectedopeningsintheouterwallofthePyramidisconsideredanengineeringnecessitythatwouldhavetobeadoptedtoday.

TheexistenceofthevariousundergroundpassagewaysfarbeneaththebaseofthePyramidisstillamysteryandisverygreatlydisputedbyvariousauthorities.Ontheotherhand,eminentmenhavefromtimetotimegivenexcellentargumentsfortheirexistence,andinrecentyearssoundingsandmeasurementshavebeenmadewhichhaveverifiedtheclaimsmadeinthepastthatsomesuchpassagewaysdoexist.TheentirebaseandsurroundingareaoftheGreatPyramid

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hasnotbeencompletelyexplored.otherpassagewayssuchasthatleadingfromtheSphinxtothePyramid,andperhapsinotherdirections,willprobablybediscoveredatsomefuturetime,ifalloftheindicationsinregardtosuchpassagewaysarecorrect,Anyclaims,however,totheeffectthatpersonshavewanderedthroughthesepassageways,andknowthattheyexist,shouldbelookeduponwithconsiderabledoubt.

TherearesomeancientmanuscriptstobefoundinIndiaandpartsoftheOrientreferringtoaGreatMasteranddivinelycreatedearthlybeingwhohadhisyouthfulinitiationintheGreatPyramid.MostofthesestatementsundoubtedlyrefertoJesus,althoughHisnameassuchisnotgiven.ItmustberememberedthatinmanyoftheseOrientallandsandamongthewritersofmysticalliteraturethenameofJesusmeantnothing,foritwaspurelyalocalnameofsignificanceorinteresttotheJews.TothemysteryschoolshewasknownastheChristus,orbysimilarnameswhichweretoosacredtobeincludedintheirwritings.WhetherthesereferencestosuchaninitiationinthePyramidaretrueornotwillprobablyneverbeprovedbeyondthedoubtofthosewhoprefertobelievethatJesustheChristinHisyouthhadnospecialearthlypreparationorinitiationofanykind.

Muchhasbeensaidintimespastregardingthe

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apexofthePyramidwhichisnowmissing.IthasbeenclaimedthatitwasofgoldwhichglitteredbrilliantlyinthesunandhelpedtomakethePyramidvisibleandsignificantatgreatdistances.Weknowthatincenturiespast,whenwarringarmieswerecenteredinEgypt,thetombswereraidedandgoldofallkindswastakenfromthemtobecarriedtoothercountriesandusedforwarringpurposesorfortheenrichmentofthenation.ItisclaimedthatthegoldapexofthePyramidwasthusremovedbecauseofitsvalue

Napoleon'sarmyiscreditedwithhavingdonemoredestructiveworkinEgypt,withoutNapoleon'sapproval,thananyotherarmy."HerewemustCorrecttheoft-repeatedstorythatNapoleon'ssoldiersbrokeoffthenoseoftheSphinxwhenusingitasatargetforriflepractice.ThestoryisrefutedbytheArabhistorianElMalcrizi(d.1436):

InourtimetherewasamanwhosenamewasSaim-el-Dahr,oneoftheSufis.Thismanwishedtoremedyreligiousmatters,andhewenttothepyramidsanddisfiguredthefaceofAbul-Hol(oneoftheArabicnamesoftheSphinx),whichhasremainedinthisstatefromthattimetothepresent."*1

Othertraditionssaythatthevastamountofgoldthatwascontainedintheholytemples,tombs,andsacredplacesofEgyptrepresentedfarmore

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goldthancouldeverhavebeenproducedthroughminingprocessesinanypartoftheworldatthetimethesetemplesandplaceswerebuilt.Itisargued,therefore,thattheEgyptianmysteryschoolsknewtheartoftransmutationandthatthinsheetsofleadweretransmutedintogoldforliningthecasketsandforcoveringmummyCasesorcoveringthewallsoftombs.Certainitisthatallofthisgoldthatonceadornedthesetemples,accordingtoancientwritingsandcarvingsonthetombsthemselves,hasbeenremoved.Whetheritwastransmutedgold,whichwouldhavehadthesamevalueasanyothergold,isapointthathasnotbeenproved.Thatthemysticsinsomeofthemysteryschoolsknewtheartoftransmutationisafact,butwhethertheycouldhaveproducedsuchanenormousamountofgoldbytheirprocessisanotherquestion.

Instructure,someoftheotherpyramidsdifferconsiderablyfromtheGreatPyramid.ThepyramidatCholulawasflatontopandsurmountedbyatemplededicatedtooneofthemythologicalgods.Ontheotherhand,thegreatpyramidofIzamalisuniqueinthatitconsistsoftwopyramidalpilesofmasonry,oneontopoftheother.ThepyramidatUxmalisprobablythemoststatelyinformandproportionandconsistsofthreestages,andsupportsanornatetemple.

Anotherinterestingfactisthatthecross,

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nowadaysrecognizedasthesymbolofChristianity,isfoundinitsprimitiveforminthecarvingsinthePyramidandisfoundinotherplacesassociatedwiththemysteriesofEgypt.EveninsomeofthestatuettesinotherlandssuchasGuatemala,Nicaragua,andlocalitiesofCentralAmerica,thecrosscanbefound.Thecrosswasnotoriginallyapurelyreligioussymbolandcertainlynotasectariansymbol.ItwasmanyyearsaftertheCrucifixion,infact,severalcenturies,thatthecrosswasadoptedasthedistinctiveemblemofChristianity.

TheCruxAnsata,consistingofpartofacrosssurmountedbyanoval,andwhichisseenmostfrequentlyinEgypt,especiallyinthehandsofgodsandgoddesses,andiscalledtheKeyofLife,wasinventedordesignedbytheEgyptianmysteryschoolsasasymbolofimmortalityandasasymboloflifeonearth.ItwasoriginallymeanttorepresentthemaleandfemalesexorganswhichCarriedontheprocessofreproduction.Thereproductionofseed,andthereproductionoflivingthingsoftheirownspecies,representedtotheearlymysticsthegreatestmysterythattheycouldobserveanddirectinitsaction.Theideadevelopedthatsinceeachspeciescouldreproduceitselfcontinually,thiswasproofoftheimmortalityofsomethingintheseed.Thusthissymbolbecameasacredemblemofthecontinuityoflife,orimmortality.Astimepassed,theassociationofthesymboltothesexorganswas

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forgottenandthebeautifulthoughtofimmortalitybecametheparamountideaassociatedwiththis"KeyofLife."Theprocessesofreproduction,biologically,arestillthegreatestmysteriesconfrontingthescientistaswellasthelayman.

MarkingsonthewallofthePyramidshowthatthePyramidDay,asabasisforallmeasurementsandComputations,beginsatmidnight,andthePyramidYearbeginsattheautumnalequinox.AnotherclaimisthatthePyramidwasbuiltintheyear2140B.C.andthatinthatyearatmidnightoftheautumnalequinoxthepolestar,whichatthattimewasAlphaDraconis,ortheDragonStar,shonedownthePyramid'sDescendingPassagewhileatthesametimeAlcyonewascrossingthemeridianofthepyramidtothesouth.SuchpositionsastronomicallyinrelationtothePyramidwillnotberepeatedagainuntil25,6941/2yearshavepassed.OtherscientistsstatethatsincethereisnowayofknowingwhetheratthetimeofthebuildingofthePyramidthecalenderwasreckonedaswenowreckonit,thedateofitsconstructionmayhavebeen2144B.C.insteadof2140B.C.whileaccordingtootherviewpoints(expressedinChapterX)thetimeoferectionmayhavebeen2900B.C.

AninterestingstructuralfactaboutthePyramidisthatitsfoursidesarenotperfectlyflatbutareslightlyconcave,asthoughhollowedoutinthe

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centers,toaslightdegreethatismeasurable.WhenthesuncastsashadowinaslantingangleonthesidesofthePyramidthisslighthollownessofthesidesisplainlyvisible.ThishasbeenclaimedtobeanimportantengineeringfactorandaddstoouradmirationoftheknowledgepossessedbythedesignersandbuildersofthePyramid.

OtherscientistsclaimthatwhenthePyramidwasoriginallybuilt,itsfoursidespointedaccuratelytothenorth,south,east,andwest,thoughbecauseofthegradualmovementoftheearth'ssurface,thisorientationofthePyramidisnotabsoluteatthepresenttimebutvariesaboutfivedegreesofanarc.Thiswouldgiveusadditionalscientificproofthatthecrustoftheearthisconstantlyshifting.

Onecouldspenddays,weeks,andmonthsstudyingthePyramidinsideandoutfromaconstructionalpointofview,aswellasfromamysticalpointofview,andeachdaywouldbringforthsurprisingrevelations.LargevolumescouldbewrittenaboutthepeculiaritiesofthePyramidfromeitherpointofviewandthereforealistofitsoutstanding,uniquefeatureswouldbetoolongtoincludeinavolumeofthissize.

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1. °QuotedfromThePyramid,byAhmedFakhry.back

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I

ChapterIX

THEMYSTERYINITIATIONS

NCONNECTIONwiththethoughtexpressedthattheGreatPyramid—aswellasmanyofthetemplesofEgypt—wasusedformystical

initiation,itmaynotbeoutofplacetomakesomecommentsregardingtheseinitiationsandtheirpurposeandsignificance.

IntheWesternWorldtodaythemindoftheaverageintelligentpersonisdividedbetweenaninterestandlikingforinitiationsandinitiationceremonyandritual,andacompleteabhorrenceofsuchthings.Itisunquestionablytruethatagreatmanypersonshaverefrainedfromcontinuingintheirchurchesasmembersandparticipatinginallofthechurchactivitiesbecauseoftheirdislikeofceremonyandritual,evenofasacrednature,anditisundoubtedlytruethatmultitudesofpersonsintheWesternWorldhaverefrainedfrombecomingaffiliatedwithmanyofthelargerfraternalorganizationssimplybecausetheyfeelan

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antagonisticattitudetowardanyorganizationormovementthatdealswithinitiationsorclaimstoperforminitiations.Ontheotherhand,therearemultitudesintheWesternWorldalso—perhapsmillionsofpersons—whoseemtohaveaninner,inherentlikingandloveforritualism,elaborateceremony,andmysticalinitiations,themoresecret,themoremystifying,andthemoresymbolical,thebetter.

Veryoftenthosewhoobjecttojoiningwithanymovementthatrequiresorconductssomeformofinitiation,aspartoftheentrancetomembership,haveanentirelyerroneousideaofwhatconstitutestherealpurposeofinitiationandwhatisitsrealsignificance.Manyofthesepersons,ifnotamajority,carryoutmanyformsofritualismthroughouttheirdailylivesbutdonotrealizethattheiractsareritualisticandthattheirmethodsofthinkingandactingareinthemselvesacontinuouschainofinitiation.Suchpersonsoftenhaveaverydefiniteprocedureinarisinginthemorninginregardtotheirmethodofbathing,dressing,andeatingbreakfast,andtheyneverallowanythingtointerferewitheachstepoftheprocedure.Ithasbecomearitualwiththemthatmeanssomethingandisofvalue,buttheywouldactuallyprotestatthisceremonialprocessoftheirshavinganystrangeorunusualsignificance.

ButintheOrient,initiationofsomekind,and

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ritualismofmanykinds,havebeensofrequentandhavecoveredsomanyyearsofthehistoryofcivilizationthatitseemsonlynaturaltothesepersonstobegineachnewventureinlife,eachnewstageofprogressandunfoldment,withsomeformofceremony.IntheWesternWorldevenourHousesofCongressandcourtsoflaw,andourschools,opentheirdailyserviceswithaformofceremonythatismoreorlessfixedandritualisticinnature.Concertsandpubliclectureshaveaceremonialopening.Thismayindeedbepurelyritualismandshallowinnature,buttotheOrientalmindritualism,whenassociatedwithinitiationorwithanythingofasacrednature,hasasignificanceofanintellectualaswellasapsychic,mystical,orreligiousquality.

Infact,ifwetracethehistoryofdramawefinditsfoundationintheearliestformsofinitiationceremonieswhereintheprinciplesbeingtaughtbythechurchorthemysteryschoolweredramatizedandpresentedvisuallyanddemonstrablywiththeenactmentofwhatmightbetermedaplaywhereinthecandidateforinitiationtookanimportantpart.Infact,inalltruemysticalinitiationsthecandidateisthecentralfigureandtheentireprocedureoftheritualturnsaroundthecandidateasthoughhewerethepivotalpoint.Itisthisfeaturethatimpresseshimgraduallyandgivessignificancetotheinitiationaswellasanintellectualcomprehensionofthe

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principlesthusbeingdramatizedandimpresseduponhismind.

WemustalsotakeintoconsiderationthattherewasconsiderablerivalryintheOrientinconnectionwithritualismandceremoniesofallkinds.Justaswehavetodaythechurcheswiththeirhighmassesandhighfeastsofaritualisticnature,andthesecretsocietiesorfraternalorganizationswiththeirritualismofinitiation,andcertainformsofritualisminvariousotherdepartmentsoflife,sointheancientdaysthepriesthood,representingthevariousreligiousmovements,hadveryelaborateceremoniesnotonlyofacceptanceofnewmembersbutofdailyandweeklydevotionintheirchurchesortemples.Ontheotherhand,theunorthodoxmovementsoftheday,suchasthesecretsocietiesandtheso-calledmysteryschoolsofwisdom,hadtheirelaborateceremoniesnotsolelyforthepurposeofrivalingoroutdoingtheelaborateCeremoniesofthepriesthoodandthechurch,butforthepurposeofimpressingtheirnewmemberswiththesignificanceofthepurposesofthesocietiesorschools.Ifwestoptoconsideralsothatmostofthesecretsocietiesandmysteryschoolsofancienttimeswereorganizedandformeddeliberatelyforthepurposeofopposingthesuperstitiousbeliefsandpracticesofthepaganpriesthoods,wewillrealizethatitwaspartoftheirprogramtomakethecandidate,theinitiate,

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thoroughlyacquaintedwiththedistinctiveviewpointandthedifferencesofopinionheldbythesesecretschoolsandsocieties.

Inthosedayseveryindividualwhocouldstanderect,andwhocouldseeandhearandunderstand,eitherhadtoallyhimselfwiththepaganpriesthoodandacceptitssuperstitiousbeliefs,itscontroloverthethinkingandactingofthepublic,orbecomeahereticandunitewiththemysteryschoolsorsecretsocietiesthatwereattemptingtofreemanfromthebondageofsuperstitiousbeliefsandpractices.Veryfewindividualsdaredtoopposeorcriticizethepriesthood,andevenfewerwerebraveenoughintheiroppositionorcriticismtoallythemselveseitheropenlyorsecretlywiththemysteryschools,orthosegroupsofindividualswhowereseekingtooverthrowthetyrannicaldominationofthepriesthood.BeingunderthedominanceofthepriesthoodnotonlymeantbeingheldinConstantignorance,andunderconstantinfluenceofsuperstitiousbeliefsandpractices,butitmeantyieldingconstantlytoheavytaxation,toacontinuouspaymentofworldly,materialthingstothepowerful,richgroupofindividualsconstitutingtherepresentativesofthepriesthood.Inmanycasestherulersofthecountries,theprincesundertheserulers,andthelocalgoverningrepresentatives,wereapartofthepriesthood,andthepoorman'sstatusfinanciallyandsocially—as

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wellashishealthandhappiness—wereinjeopardyifhedidnotopenlyassociatehimselfwiththepriesthoodandthepaganreligiousservicesandgivepromptobediencetothedictatesofthepriesthood.Whenwarswereproclaimeditwasoftentheruler,theking,thepharaoh,orprince,whoselectedfromhisimmediatedomainsthosehereticsorthosepersonswhorefusedtobecomeadherentstothepriesthoodpracticesasthefirsttogoforthtothefronthuesofbattle,andinthiswaythousandsofthemwereslaughteredandbroughttoanuntimelyend,asthoughbysacrifice,becauseoftheirdisbeliefinthepriesthoodteachings.Thefaithful,so-called,werealwaysgivenpositionsofsafetyintimesofwarandshowneverypreferenceineveryotherway.Itiseasytounderstandhowtheaccumulatingwealthofthepaganpriests,withtheirroyalsupportfromthekingorruler,andtheprotectionofallthehighestlawsoftheland,enabledthemtobuildmagnificenttemplesandtosquanderwealth—takenfromthepoorpeople—inelaboratecostumesandelaboratesettingsfortheirmythologicalandsuperstitiousreligiousservices.Andinordertoimpresstheignorantfollowerstheyhadtoprovide"miracles"fromtimetotime.Thistemptedthemtoindulgeinso-calledblackmagicandintrickery,andineveryformofdeceptionthatwouldbehighlyimpressiveandwouldholdinabeyancetheproperanalyticalreasoningonthe

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partofthefollowers.Everystrangeoruncommonoccurrenceinhumanaffairswasinstantlyseizeduponbythepriesthoodasanexampleofeitherthepleasureofthepagangodsortheirwrathanddispleasure.Everyillnessthatbefelltheheretics,thedoubters,wasclaimedtobeapunishmentbecauseoftheirlackoffaithfulness,andnopropermedicalattentionandnoproperassistancewasallowedtotheseunfaithfulonesinthetimesoftheirgreatestsuffering.Unusualstorms,cyclones,earthquakes,floods,andotherincidentsofnaturewerepointedoutaseitherbeneficentgiftsfromthemythologicalgodstothefaithfuloraschastisementsvisitedbythegodsupontheunfaithful.

Andbecauseofthegrandeurofthepagantemples,therichnessoftheirrobesandtempleornaments,thewealththatCouldbeusedforsuchpurposes,theceremonieswithinthepagantemplesweremostimpressiveandmostbeautifulineveryworldlysense.Thisbecameachallengetothesecretschoolsandmysteryschoolsbecauseitwasnecessaryforthemtodotwothingswhentakingacandidateintotheirmembershipandattemptingtopreparehimtobeagoodandfaithfulfollowerofthehigherandmoretruthfulprinciples.Theydidnotdaretoletthecandidatethinkthataschooloftruthcouldnotrevealtherichnessofthoughtandthegrandeurofceremonyandthatonlyschoolsof

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erroranduntruthwereinpossessionofthegreatsecretsandpowersoftheworld.Therefore,theyhadtoseekinallofthesciencesandallofthefundamentallawsofnatureforthoseelementswhich,ifbroughtintoplayanddemonstrationinaceremony,wouldimpressthecandidateandthefollowersmoredeeply,moreprofoundly,andmorelastinglythananythingtheyhadeverwitnessedinthepagantemples.

Itwasfortunate,indeed,forthestrugglesthatwerecarriedonformanycenturiesbythemysteryschoolsprovedthattruthinitselfisalwaysmoreimpressive,morebeautifulinitsexpression,andmoremystifyinginitsdemonstrationsthanuntruth.Werethisnotso,itismorethanlikelythatthroughouttheworldtodaythepaganpriesthoodwouldstillbeinexistenceandman'sadvancementtowardthetruthsoflifewouldhavebeenveryslowindeed.

Butwithoutthegreatwealthwhichthepaganpriesthoodpossessed,andwithoutthesupportandprotectionofthegovernmentsandtheirrulers,themysteryschoolsoftruthandancientwisdomwereforcedtohavetheirmeetingplacesandtheirtemplesofceremonyandinstructioninhiddenplaces,andinundergroundgrottoswheretherewasatotallackofbeautyandrichnessinthesetting.Theywerehandicappedbytheactivitiesofspiesandbytheconstantthreatofdeathand

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imprisonmentiftheywerediscoveredintheiractivitiesofopposingthechurchandgivinguntomankindthetruthsthatwouldmakehimfree.

Considering,therefore,theplacesinwhichthesemysteryschoolsmetandtheconditionsunderwhichtheyhadtooperate,andthelackoffundsandlackofsponsorshipandguardianship,wemustmarvelattheprogresstheymadeandthemagnificentmannerinwhichtheyprotectedtheirteachingsandpreservedthemforposterity.Butintheirritualsandceremonieswefindthehistoryoftheirsufferings,wefindthepictureoftheirlaborsandambitions,theirrewardsandtheirultimateaims.AndastheinitiationceremoniesweremodifiedfromyeartoyearandperiodtoperiodthroughoutthecenturiesprecedingtheChristianeratheybecamemoresignificantinthedramatizationofthelivesofthosefewpeopleineverycommunityandineverycountrywhobecametheleadersoffreethought,ofindependentthinking,ofhonestdevotion,sincereworship,andadvancingcivilization.

Wecansee,therefore,howitmayhavecomeaboutthatAmenhotepIV,thegreatrulerofEgyptinthe14thcenturyprecedingtheChristianera,hadreceivedfromhisforebears,whowerealsorulersofEgypt,certainknowledgeandtruthsregardinglifethathadestablishedinhisconsciousnessarealizationofthegreatfactswhichwouldmake

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manalivingimageofGod.Hisimmediateforebearshadbecomeinterestedintheteachingsofthemysteryschoolsandhadsecretlyindulgedinthem,fearlesslyriskingtherevoltofthepriesthoodagainstthem.InEgyptandinmanylandsthepriesthoodhadbecomesopowerfulinwealthandinpoliticalinfluencethroughthelargepercentageoffollowersthatkingsandqueensfearedthemandhadtodothebiddingofthepriests.ItwasAmenhotep'simmediateforebearswhoventuredtobreakthepowerofthepriesthood,althoughthisventurewasforalongtimekeptsecretandonlytheforemostworkersinthemysteryschoolsknewthattheyhadontheirsidetheapprovalofthepharaohsandqueens,foritwasnotsufficientprotectionforthemtocarryontheirgreatworkopenly.

ItwasAmenhotepIVasayoungmanwhodaredtoproclaiminopenmannerhisallegiancetothemysteryschoolsandhisundyingoppositiontothepriesthood.Tohimhadcometheprivilegeofannouncingtothepeopleofhiscountryanewreligionbasedupontherevelationsthathadbeengiventothefollowersofthemysteryschools.Heitwaswhoproclaimedforthefirsttimeinthehistoryofcivilizationanofficialreligionofapublicnaturebaseduponthetruththattherewasnotamultiplicityofgodsandgoddessesasthepriestshadtaught,butonlyone"EverlivingGod"residing

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intheheavensorCosmicaboveandwhowastheFatherofallmankind.Thisastonishingoppositiontothepriesthoodteachingseventuallycosthimhislife,butinthefewyearswhichhemighthavenumbereduponthefingersofhishands,hehadnotonlyrevolutionizedtheart,literature,sciences,andthereligionofEgyptanddestroyedmostofitspaganmonuments,butsentaflashofthegreatlightoftruththroughouttheworldtobecarriedintorchesintothedarkestrecessesofsemicivilizedlandstobepreservedtothisverydayasthetruereligiousconceptofourspiritualexistence.

Butthisonefundamentalprincipleofamonotheisticreligion—ofanonlyGod—wasnotthesolecontributiontocivilizationthatcameoutofthemysteryschoolsoftheOrient.Longbeforethis,scientificknowledge,marvelousknowledgeoftheartsandliterature,profoundprinciplesthatstillformthefoundationofouradvancingculture,cameoutoftheseschoolsofancientwisdom,andintheirrituals,whichtheypreservedforourusetoday,wehavethedramatizationofthisimportanthistoryofman'sgrowthanddevelopment.

ItwasforthepurposeofinitiatingindividualsintothegreatmysteryschoolofEgyptthatthePyramidofGizehanditsadjoiningsubterraneanhallsandpassagewayswerebuilt.Wecanunderstandwithwhatprideandjoythegreatleadersofthemysteryschoolsconceivedof

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buildingthegreatestofalltheirmysterytemplesabovethegroundandintheopenspaceofsunlightandfreedom.Aftercenturiesoflaborinhiddenplacesbeneaththesand,aftercenturiesofexistenceasfugitiveshidinginsecrecy,theywerehappyinthefactthatalthoughthepriesthoodstillexistedandthepaganformsofworshipstillcontinued,thegreatlightofunderstandingandoftruthhadgiventhemtheopportunitytocomeoutintotheopenandtobuildamagnificenttemplemorebeautifulthananythingthepriesthoodeverbuiltandnotbuiltwiththeaccumulatedwealththatwasill-gotten,butbuiltwithservicelovinglydonatedandbuiltwiththelovingassistanceofenlightenedfollowers.

Stillitwasnecessarytoexaminecarefullysuchcandidatesaswererecommendedforinitiationintothemysteryschoolsandtoputthemthroughalongperiodoftestandtrial,ofkeepingthemunacquaintedwithwhatwastaughtandrevealeduntilsuchtimeastheyweredulyandtrulyqualifiedtocrossthethresholdundertheguidanceofaguardianandenterasealedandclosedplacewherewithproperceremonyandritualtheywouldbeimpressedwiththesignificanceoftheirinitiation,theimportanceoftheirobligation,andthedutieswhichtheyweretoperform.

ThusitwasthatalthoughthePyramidasamagnificenttempleofinitiationandCeremonyrose

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toasublimeheightinthelandwhereallotherstructuresweremuchlessimpressive,stillwhatwentonwithinthePyramidwascarefullyconcealedandtheideathatitmightbeatombwastoleratedinthemindsofthepublicwhilethesecretentrancewayswerecleverlyconcealedandneverrevealedexcepttoonewhohadprovenworthyaftersufficienttestandtrial.ItisforthisreasonthatthePyramid,theSphinx,andtheadjoiningstructureswereunitedbyundergroundpassagewayswithentrancesatvariousplacesunsuspectedandnotrevealedtothepublicformany,manycenturies.Andwecanunderstandalsowhyinthissamemagnificentstructure,toweringtotheheightsthatwouldindicateitsloftyidealsandambitiontobeapartofthespiritualworldabovetheearth,therewererecordedinitslinesandmeasurements,initsformandenclosedspaces,aswellasinhieroglyphsandunusualmarkingsonitsinnerwalls,thesecretkeystotheknowledgepossessedbytheancientmysteryschools,thehistoryoftheiractivities,andthepredictionsofthefutureracesofman.ThustheGreatPyramidbecameinoneembodimentahouseofsacredceremonies,aschoolofgreatwisdom,anarchiveofpreservedknowledge,andamonumentofprophecy.

TodaytheGreatPyramidisoneofthesevenwondersoftheworldasitwascenturiesago.Itis

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doubtfulifmanwilleverbuildatanytimeinthefutureastructureofanykindthatwillbemoremagnificentinitssymbolism,morerevealinginitswisdom,andmoreinfluentialinitseffectsuponposteritythantheonestrangestructurestandingsosilently,sostrangely,inthemidstofacountrythatmayatsometimeinthefuturearousethesleepingpowerthatstillremainsintheintelligent,peaceloving,spiritualEgyptianandmakethatlandoncemoretheculturalcenteroftheworld.

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W

ChapterX

WHENCECAMETHISKNOWLEDGE?

EAREconstantlyremindedofthetremendousprogressmanhasmadewithinthepasttwocenturies.Incomparisonwith

hislifeintheMiddleAges,thefacilitiesandadvantageshehastodaydomarkthepresenteraasadvanced.Infact,untilthebeginningofthenineteenthcentury,ourmodeoftransportationonland,insofarasmotivepowerwasconcerned,wasthesameasinthedaysoftheancientRomans,Greeks,andeventheEgyptians.Thehorsedidnotceasetobeourfastestandmostdependablemeansoftransportationuntilthecloseoftheeighteenthcentury.Intheearlypartofthesamecentury,communicationwascarriedonbyindividualandgovernmentinthesamemannerashadbeendoneduringtheRomanEmpire.Communicationswereexpeditedbyamountedcourierortransferredfromonehorse-drawnstagetoanotheruntiltheyreachedtheirdestination.

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Thatintwohundredyearssuchstupendoustransformationcouldtakeplaceintransportation,communication,industry,architecture,andscienceseemstodistinguishtheperiodasanoutstandingoneinhistory.Actuallyinourwrittenhistorynoprevioustimeismarkedbysuchamultitudeofachievements,yettheseaccomplishmentsarenottheresultofsuddenlyinspiredvisions.Themindsofmenwithinthelasttwocenturieswerenotspontaneouslyimbuedwithawisdomwhichmadethesethingspossible.Thesewondersoftodayaretheslowdevelopmentofcauseswhichbegancenturiesago.Thecauses,thoughlesssensational,werereallymoreremarkableandattestmoretothegreatnessofmanthantheresultswhichtheybroughtabout.Thecausesbeganabout250B.C.,weshallsay,atthetimeofthegreatschoolofphilosophyandlearningatAlexandria,Egypt.Thereforthefirsttime,sofarasweknow,beganasystematicclassificationofallphysicalphenomenaknowntoman.Theseclassificationscorrespondedinageneralwaytooursciencesoftoday.Themindsofmenembracedwhatweretothemvirgintruths.Groupsofmindsclungtenaciouslytotherevelations,eachgroupbelievingthatthenaturallawswhichtheyanalyzedwerethesolekeytotheuniverse'smysteries.Fewcouldseefarenoughaheadtopointwheretheapparentlyparallellinesofscientificresearchwouldconverge.Centuriesof

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systematicandsincerestudyandprobingresultedinanaccumulationofworkabledata.

Theknowledgeofeachfieldofphenomenaspreadintoeveryother.Physicsjoinedforceswithchemistry;biologywithanatomy;physiologywithpsychology.Theinterrelatingoffactsquickenedinvention.Eachscienceborrowedfromtheother;themissingprincipleinonerealmofnaturewassuppliedbyanother.Thepatternsuddenlytookformwithinthepasttwocenturies.Itsdesignwasdazzlinginitsorderliness,anditsusefulnessveryapparent.Neverbeforeinthememoryofmanhadanythingbeenseenlikeit.Thosewhohavebeenfortunateenoughtoliveinthisperiodofthelasttwohundredyearshavemadethemistakeofcomparingtheresultsastheyknowthemwiththebeginnings.Tothemitseemedthatmanhadachievedmoreintherecenttwocenturiesthaninaprevioustwenty-twocenturies.Theyfailedtorealizethatdevelopment,thoughmoreimpressivethanitscauses,isalesserachievement.Causeshaveaninherentmomentumwhichtheycarryondowntotheireventualend,andresultsconsequentlymustfollow;butanoriginalcauseisadistinctdeparturefromonegrade,classification,state,orconditiontoanother.Acauseisthecompletetransformationofonenatureintothenucleusofanother.Thus,thestepforwardmanmadefrominarticulationtospeechwasfargreaterthanfrom

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thefirstutteranceofgutturalwordstofloweryoratory.Therefore,thoughourpresentcivilizationiscompelledtolinkitsattainmentswiththecontributingcausesofthepast,thereisaperiodinhistorywhenmandidinonestepadvancefrombarbarismtoacivilizationembracingartsandsciences,andtheintervalbetweenisapparentlydevoidofthecauseswhichbroughtthegreatwisdomabout.

Preceding3100B.C.allstructuresinEgyptwereone-story,builtofsunbakedmudbrick.Thebuildingswereuglyandrepresentativeoflittlethatcouldbeconsideredskillorworkmanship.EventuallytheEgyptiansbuiltasecondstoryuponatriangularlowfirststoryofthemudbrick.Thissecondstorydidnotquitecoverthesamearea,soitmadethestructurehaveaterracedappearance.Finally,manysuchstructureswerebuilt,butthenumberofstoriesgraduallyincreased,andtheyweresetbackslightlyastheyroseinheightuntiltheyhadthegeneralappearanceofpyramids,exceptthattheirslopingsideswerestepped.

Notlongafter3000B.C.theEgyptianswitnessedthebuildingofthefirstmasonrypyramid.ThemasterbuilderandarchitectwasknownasImhotep,theWise,andminiaturebronzestatuettesofhimhavebeenfound.HeerectedthisgreatmonumentforKingZoser.Thecoppertoolsemployedbeforethistimewereincapableof

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carvingandsawinglimestoneoutofwhichthissteppedpyramidwasbuilt.Theresuddenlycameintoexistence,fromwherenooneknows,toolswhichmadethismasonryarealizedfact.Thetoolswerenotdevelopedbyusage,fortherewerenomasonryworkorstonebuildingswhichwouldhaverequiredsuchtools.Immediatelyfollowingthismasonrypyramid,otherswereerected,andin2930B.C.thefirstpyramidwhich,whencompleted,didnothaveaterracedappearancewasbuilt.Itrosetoaheightof214feetandhaditsterracesfilledinwithmasonrysothatitsslopingsidesweresmooth.Thissmoothnesswasaccomplishedbytheexcellentfittingofsmallstonescomparabletothebestmasonrywearecapableoftoday.

Approximatelytwentyyearslater,or2910B.C.,thefirstpyramidwasbuiltthatwasintendedasapyramid.Itsheight,dimensions,andgeneralappearancewereconceivedbeforeitserection,anditwasnotbuiltinsuccessivesteps,butitsblockswerelaidaccordingtoamathematicalexactitude,andeachlayerofstonesrecededjustenoughtoConformtotheproperslopeofaperfectpyramid.

Tenyearslater,orabout2900B.C.,thegreatpyramidofKingKhufu,orCheops,astheGreeksnamedhim,wasbegun.ApproximatelyonecenturyandahalfwasallthetimethatelapsedbetweentheearlieststonemasonryandthebeginningoftheGreatPyramidofGizeh.Morethanhighlyefficient

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toolswererequiredtobuildthatstupendousmonumentalstructure.Greatknowledgewasalsonecessary.Chemistryofasortmusthavebeenknown,forthecementusedbetweenthehugeblockswasappliedinlayersasthinasasheetofnewspaper,andyet,ithadadhesivepropertiesfarexceedinganycementinusetoday.

ThefactthattheGreatPyramidwaserectedinthecenterofthelandsurfaceoftheearthatthattime,provesaknowledgeofworldgeographybyitsbuildersatatimewhenwethinkmanknewofnolandwestofGibraltarandeastofwhatisnowIraq.Further,theGreatPyramidwasinperfectproportion.Itsapexwasabovetheexactcenterofitsbase,provingitsbuildersweremastermathematicians.Anapertureinitsapexwasusedforastronomicalobservations,andthedescendingpassagepointeddirectlyatthattimetoThubaninDraconis,revealingthatthosewhodesignedithadaknowledgeofastronomyandtheabilitytomakeastronomicaldelineations.Onemustnotoverlookthefactthatitsbuildersalsowerewell-acquaintedwiththatphaseofphysicsknownasleverage.Everyengineerwillreadilyconcedethatthehugeblockscouldhavebeenputinplaceonlybyamechanicalmeansemployingthelawsofleverage.Stillfurther,theexquisitelyfinedesignsanddelicateshadesofcolorputuponthewallsofsomeofthepassagewaysandchambersrequiredsomeunusual

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artificialmeansofillumination.Themanyanglesofthepassagewaysremovethetheoryofreflectedsunlightbymirrors,andiftorches,whichwereprevalentinthatperiod,hadbeenused,thedesignswouldhavebecomeblackenedwithsmoke.

Admirationforthisgreatworkoftheancientsisequalledonlybyamazementattheirwisdomandthemysteryofwhencecamethisknowledge.Howwasitpossibleinonlyonehundredandfiftyyearsformannotmerelytoimproveonscience,todeveloporadvanceit,buttodiscovertheverylawsofwhichthesciencesconsisted,createtheminotherwords,andthenforthefirsttimeemploytheminsuchahighlyefficientmanner?Alittleoveracenturyandahalfpreviousthesescienceswerenotknowntomanevenintheirmostelementaryform,accordingtorecordsleftbytheancientEgyptiansthemselves.Neverinanyotherperiodinthehistoryofmanhashediscoveredthelawsofcertainrealmsofnature,organizedthemintodefinitesciencesandappliedthemsosuccessfullywithinsuchashortperiodoftime.WasthereasuddeninfluxofDivineWisdom?WeremengivenaninsightbyCosmicdecreeintonature'ssecretsforabrieftime?WasthereimplantedinEgyptduringthisperiodaraceofsupermenwhocameintobeingwithafullydevelopedknowledgeofthescienceswhichwereusedinbuildingtheGreatPyramid?These

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suppositionsaretoohighlyfantastictobeacceptedtoday,andyet,someanswermustbegiventothequestion:Fromwhencesprangthisknowledge?foritseemedtospringintoexistence,becausenoevidenceofitsaccomplishmentsprecededit.ThoughwemayscoffattheideathattheEgyptiansatthetimeweresuddenlyevolvedandtheirconsciousnessinfusedwithararewisdom,wemustgivecredencetothattheorywhichdeclaresthattheircivilizationwasenrichedbythecomingintotheirmidstofmembersofastrangeraceofpeoplewhohadgreatwisdomacquiredfromacivilizationprecedingtheEgyptianonebycenturies.ThistheoryisfoundeduponthestrangetalestheEgyptianstoldandwhichhaveenduredwiththedustoftheagesintheirtombs.

ThewritingsofthePyramidAgeofEgypt—thatperiodwhenmostofthepyramidswerebuilt,andwhichlastedfromabout3000B.C.to2500B.C.—areveryfew.Allthatremainsarefragmentsofstonetablets.TheageimmediatelyfollowingisknowntohistoriansandtoEgyptologistsastheFeudalAge,theperiodofthewealthyandpompousnobleswhoownedvast,flourishingestates,workedbythousandsofslaves.Writinghadgraduallydeveloped,andpapyrusreplacedstoneforordinarywritingpurposes.Manyofthenotableshadgreatlibrariesconsistingofshelvesoftheselongpapyrusrolls,whichwerecomparableto

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ourbooksoftoday.Theserollsdealtwithcurrenttopics,accountsofthenoble'stravels,andtheaccomplishmentsandexploitsofhisfatherandimmediatefamily;andtheyalsorecordedtalesofEgyptianhistory,whicheventhenwereConsideredancient.Someofthenoble'sfavoritepapyrusrolls—thosehehadenjoyedreadingthemost—wereentombedwithhimafterhisdeathinarock-hewntombinaprecipitousCliffonhisestateoverlookingthemuddyNilewhichranthroughhislands.There,sealedagainsttimeandtheelements,theykeptintacttheirage-oldstories.

InoneoftheFeudalAgetombswasfoundascrollwritteninthedemoticwritingoftheperiod,recountingthetaleofashipwreckedsailorwhocenturiesprevioushadbeenCastupontheshoresofastrangelandofanexceedinglywisepeople—alandwhichlatersankintothedepthsoftheseaandfromwhichsomeofitspeopleweresaidtohaveescapedtoEgypt.Thisland,itwasrelated,existedbeyondtheRedSeaatthegatetoanunknownocean,orwhatwouldcorrespondtotheIndianOcean.Apageofthisscrollreads,"Thosewhowereonboardperished,andnotoneofthemescaped.ThenIwascastuponanislandbyawaveofthegreatsea.Ipassedthreedaysalonewithonlymyheartasmycompanion,sleepinginthemidstofashelteroftreestilldaylightenvelopedme;thenIcreptoutforaughttofillmymouth.Ifoundfigs

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andgrapesthere,andallfinevegetables,etc...."Hecontinued,sayinghewasbroughtbeforethegreatkingofthisstrangelandwhoresidedintheinteriorandatthemagnificentcourtofthekingwitnessedgreatfeatsofmagicandphenomenalpower.Hewaskeptbythekingthreemonths,andthenreturnedtoEgyptwithgreattreasures.

ThislegendcouldbeattributedtoanancientSinbadtheSailoryarn,ifitwerenotforsomeverysignificantfacts.First,thetimethatthislandorislandwassaidtohavevanishedcorrespondstothatperiodoftheonehundredandfiftyyearswhentheEgyptiansmiraculouslyacquiredaknowledgewhichmadethemcapableofbuildingtheGreatPyramid.Secondly,recentoceanographicexpeditions,financedbytheIndiangovernment,havedisclosedavasttablelandorplateausubmergedintheIndianOcean.Onallsidesofthissubmergedplateauaregreatforedeepsasthoughithadnorelationtotheregularflooroftheocean.Thisandotherreasonsindicateitwasonceabovethesurface.TheeasternmostendextendsnearlytoSumatraandtheMalayStraits,inthejunglesofwhichhavebeenfoundvestigesofoncegreattemplesandforgottencivilizations.

Wemaydiscreditthetalesofsunkencontinentsandvanishedraces,butwecannotremovesoeasilyevidencesofthesimilarityofdisintegratingstructuresinminedcitiesseparatedbythousandsof

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milesofsea.Also,itismorethancoincidencethatseveraloftheAztecpyramidsofMexicoareoftheterracedtype,resemblingthefirstEgyptianpyramids,andthatthesizeofthestonesusedisalsothesame,aswellasotherdistinguishingcharacteristics.ArchaeologistsadmitthatintheiropiniontheAztectemplesandpyramidsantedatetheEgyptianones.

WhyistheresucharesemblancebetweenAztec,Mayan,andEgyptianarchitecture?ManyoftheseruinsarefoundinYucatan,Mexico,whichisnotmuchmorethananisthmus.Whydidthesepeoplesettletherewhennorthofthemwasamuchmoreexpansiveterritory?EastofYucatanliesthebigbasinoftheGulfofMexico.WasthesubmergedlandonceabovewaterandpartofthemainlandofMexico?WasitthicklypopulatedanddiditcontainmagnificenttemplesandpyramidsliketheremnantsfoundinYucatan?Ifso,whenthegreatcatastropheofitssinkingoccurred,undoubtedlysomeofitsinhabitantsfledtothemainlandeastofthem,toNortheastAfrica.BetweenYucatanandNortheastAfricaliesnotonlytheGulfofMexicobutthevastAtlanticOcean.However,thewesternshoreofthelegendarycontinentofAtlantisissaidtohavenearlyembracedNorthAmerica,anditseasterncoastincludedwhatisnowtheAzoresIslands.Soinhabitantsontheeasternshoreoftheill-fated

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continentwouldnothavehadfartojourneytoAfrica.

Itislogicaltoassumethatthesurvivorswouldhaveperpetuatedthewisdomtheypossessed,wouldhaveclungtenaciouslytoitandwouldhaveavoidedslippingbackintothebarbarismtheymusthavefoundinEgypt.Whethertheypasseditfromonegenerationtoanotheroftheirownkind,ortaughtittoacertainfewoftheEgyptiansisanotherenigma.Itispossiblethattheyfoundtheirkindbecomingextinctabout2900B.C.andbuilttheGreatPyramidasalastingmonumenttothegreatknowledgetheyinheritedfromtheirforebears.

WhatmakesthisquiteprobableisthatlatergenerationsoftheEgyptianslookedwithasmuchastonishmentuponthemysteryoftheGreatPyramidaswedotoday,indicatingthattheylackedthewisdomwhichwasrequiredtobuildtheGreatPyramidoritwouldnothavesomystifiedthem.IfithadbeenbuiltsolelyforthevainpersonalinterestsofKingCheops,assomethink,itwouldhaveborneeveryindicationofthisfactasdothelesserpyramidswhichwerebuiltbyotherkingsandpharaohsastombsorpersonalmonuments.TheGreatPyramidisfreefromthehieroglyphsfoundinthesmallerpyramids,anditschambersandpassagewaysareevidencethatitwasusedasaplaceofassemblyandfororalinstruction.Itisquite

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probablealsothatKingCheopsconsideredhimselffortunatetohaveinhismidstthosecapableofexecutingsuchawork,andinconsiderationofitserectionanddedicationtohimself,waswillingtograntitsbuilderstheprivilegetouseitforpurposesoftheirownandtoerectitaccordingtotheirinheritedwisdomandsecretideals.ItsbuildersmusthaverealizedthatfuturemankindwouldfindintheGreatPyramidafargreatertributetoalostknowledgethantothepersonalityofakingreigningatthetimeofitsconstruction.

Itisinterestingtonotethatthoughmanytribesandpeopleshavefantasticlegendsrelatingtotheirorigin,andstillothershavenonetoexplainthereasonfortheirpresenthabitat,theMayansandAztecsbothhavetraditionaltaleswhichimplythattheymigratedfromadistantplace.TheMayansintheirtraditionsclaimthattheycamefromalandfarnorthandwest,pointingtowardtheNorthwestortheNorthPacific.TheAztectraditionscarrythembacktoanoriginfromanislandcaveinAztlan,whichhasbeensoughtinNorthernMexicoandbeyond—thewordAztlanmeaning"Aztec'sPlace."

Thesinkingandmigrationofcontinentsissoundscientificfact.Modernsciencehasandisdetectingandmeasuringthesinkingandmovementofcontinentstoday.Inadditiontotheslowsinkingandmovementattherateofafewinchesorfeetayearofthelargerbodies,hardlyayearpasses

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withoutsomebodyofland,eventhoughitmaybebutasmalltropicalvolcanicisland,beingsuckedbeneaththesea.Ifthisispossibletoday,itwaspossibleintheyesterdaysofcenturiespast,andgeologistsandoceanographersdeclarethatourpresentoceanbasinsaretheresultofsuchmigrationofcontinents.

ProfessorGeorgeW.MunroofPurdueUniversityrecentlywrote,"IfthecontinentalmassesmovedoverthePacificarearidingdowntheblocksofoceanbottom,itmightreasonablybeexpectedthatasthecontinentalmotionceased,thedown-goingblockswouldbecaughtandjammedinplaces,formingdeepholesintheoceanbed.TheforedeepsofthePacificconstitutepreciselysuchasystemasmightbeexpected.ThecentralpositionoftheMid-Atlanticswellindicatesapproximatelyequalmassesoflandineachofthetravelingcontinents,oranearlierstoppageoftheAmericanside.ThegeneralabsenceofforedeepsofftheAmericanshoreindicatestheformer,whiletheGulfofMexicoandtheeasternDividepointtoacollisionstoppageoftheAmericanfragment.AnyonewhoacceptsasreasonablethehypothesisofrapidcontinentmigrationherepresentedwillrecognizethatthefrailisthmusstructureconnectingthetwoAmericascouldneverhavewithstoodthehazardsofsoturbulentavoyage.Clearly,thenotchformedbytheGulfofMexico

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andtheCaribbeanSeawasmadeafterthecrossing.ThemostplausibleviewofsuchahappeningisthatthecentralpartoftheAmericancontinentencounteredanoceanbottomwhichdidnotyieldandthattheinertiaoftheendwassufficienttobreakitsback."

Wemustrememberthatthreetimesdefinitelyinthehistoryofthescienceofarchaeologyhastheageofcivilizationbeenadvanced,whichprovesifnothingelsethatthepresentconclusionastoitsagemayexist,fornootherreasonthanlackofnewknowledgetochangeit;inotherwords,ourpresentideaofthetimethatcivilizationoriginatedisconclusiveonlyinthesensethatwehavenotfoundnewfactstosupplantthosewenowhave.DailywemayexpecttheannouncementofpositiveproofthattheprehistoriccivilizationsofLemuriaandAtlantisexisted,andthefurtherdeclarationthatitwasthewisdomoftheirsurvivinginhabitantswhichgavetheEgyptiansnotonlytheGreatPyramidbuttheirfirstexperienceinthemasteryofnature'slaws.1

1. °SeeLernuria,theLostContinentofthePacific.back

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APPENDIXThetwodiagrammaticdrawingsshownin

ChapterVIIdepicttherelationshipoftheGreatPyramidtothetwoothernearbypyramidsandtheSphinx,andindicatehowthesestructuresareconnectedwithsubterraneanpassagewaysleadingnotonlytothepyramidsandSphinx,buttolong-forgottenreceptionhalls,smalltemples,andotherenclosures.

TheseunusualdrawingsweremadefromsecretmanuscriptspossessedbyarchivistsofthemysteryschoolsofEgyptandtheOrientandarepartofsecretmanuscriptstellingoftheancientformsofinitiationsheldintheSphinxandtheGreatPyramid.Theexistenceofthesesubterraneanhalls,suchastheonebeneaththeSphinxandindicatedintheseconddiagram,andthepassagewaysandotherfeatures,hasbeendeniedrepeatedlybyEgyptianandotherauthoritiesandevenbyeminentarchaeologistsandinvestigatorsfromvariouspartsofEurope.Sopersistenthavebeenthesedenialsthattheclaimsoftherepresentativesofthemysteryschoolshavebeenlookeduponbythepublicaspiecesoffiction,deliberatelyinventedandperiodicallywhisperedinordertomystify

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visitorstoEgypt.Infact,theattitudeofscientistsistypifiedbytheexpressionofoneofthemwhosaid:"NooneshouldpayanyattentiontothepreposterousclaimsinregardtotheinteriorofthePyramidorthepresumedpassagewaysandunexcavatedtemplesandhallsbeneaththesandinthePyramiddistrictmadebythosewhoareassociatedwiththeso-calledsecretcultsormysterysocietiesofEgyptandtheOrient.Thesethingsexistonlyinthemindsofthosewhoseektoattracttheseekersformysteryandthemorewedenytheexistenceofthesethings,themorethepublicisledtosuspectthatwearedeliberatelytryingtohidethatwhichconstitutesoneofthegreatsecretsofEgypt.Itisbetterforustoignorealloftheseclaimsthanmerelydenythem.AllofourexcavationsintheterritoryofthePyramidhavefailedtorevealanyundergroundpassagewaysorhalls,temples,grottos,oranythingofthekindexcepttheonetempleadjoiningtheSphinx."

Itiswellenoughforthesescientistsandotherstomakesuchstatementsastheforegoing,butwemustrememberthatmanyyearsagotheyalsoclaimedthattherewasnotempleadjoiningtheSphinx.TheclaimwasmadethateveryinchoftheterritoryaroundtheSphinxandPyramidhadbeenexploreddeeplyandthoroughly,yetsomeyearslatertheundergroundtempleadjoiningtheSphinxwasfoundandtodayitisopentothepublic.The

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scientistsmayhaveforgottenthisincidentbutthepublichasnotforgotten,andespeciallythatportionofthepublicwhoseinterestinthePyramidandtheSphinxandtheterritoryaroundthemisjustaskeenlyalivetodayasiteverwas.

TheclaimwasoncemadealsobyscientiststhattherewasnocourtyardorreceptioncourtbetweenthepawsoftheSphinxwithanaltarinitscenterandagreatstoneslabagainstthebreastoftheSphinxonwhichwascontainedsecretandcipherinstructions.YetwithinthepasttenyearsthatcourtyardhasbeenclearedoncemoreofthesandsandtodaythepavementofthatcourtyardandthealtarinitscenterandthehugestoneslabattherearareopentothesunlightandthevisionofallwhostandaroundtheSphinx.

ItiseitheruntruethatinthepastcenturieseverysquarefootoftheterritoryaroundtheSphinxandPyramidhadbeenthoroughlyexploredwithconstantexcavations,orsuchexplorationshaverevealedcertainthingstotheinvestigatorswhohavequicklyanddeliberatelycovereduptheirexcavationsandConcealedwhattheyhavefound.

SincethemainportionofthisbookdealingwiththePyramidwasdictated,therehascomeintomyhandsamagazineeditedinEgypt,andmoreorlessprivatelypublishedinLondon,dealingwithEgyptanditsexplorations;andwefindinthisJanuary,1935,copyofthepublicationanarticleby

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HamiltonM.Wrightdealingwiththerecentdiscoveriesofthepyramid,accompaniedwithoriginalphotographsbytheauthor,madewiththepermissionofDr.SelimHassan.Dr.Hassan,anativeofEgyptandoneofthosescientificinvestigatorswhodoesnottakethewordofothersaslaw,hasbeenconductingextensiveexcavationsfortheUniversityofCairo.Inthisrecentpublicationlieisquotedassaying:

"WehavediscoveredasubwayusedbytheancientEgyptiansof5,000yearsago.ItpassesbeneaththecausewayleadingbetweenthesecondPyramidandtheSphinx.Itprovidesameansofpassing,underthecauseway,fromthecemeteryofCheops,whobuiltthefirstorGreatPyramidofGizeh,tothecemeteryofChephren,whobuiltthesecondPyramid.Fromthissubwaywehaveunearthedaseriesofshaftsleadingdownmorethan125feet,withroomycourtsandsidechambers."

Thenthearticlegoesontodescribetheunearthingofthecausewaybetweenthetempleofthesecondpyramid,ontheplateau,andthetempleoftheSphinx,immediatelyadjoiningtheSphinx,whichwasunearthedafewyearsago.Butitstatesthatthediscoveryofthenewsubwayorpassagewayunderneaththepubliccausewayontopofthesandshasoccurredwithinthepastthreemonths.

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Dr.HassanexplainsthatthecausewaywasconstructedatthesametimethatthesecondPyramid,orthePyramidofChephrenwasbuilt.HesaysthatevidencehehasunearthedleadshimtobelieveitwasconstructedbeforethebuildingoftheSphinx.ChephrenorKhepren,orKha-f-ra,wasthethirdkingofthe4thdynasty.

ThenewexcavationsnowleadDr.HassanandotherstobelievethatwhiletheageoftheSphinxhasalwaysbeenanenigmainthepast,itmayhavebeenapartofthegreatarchitecturalplanthatwasdeliberatelyarrangedandcarriedoutintheearlyerectionoftheGreatPyramid.

In1909thefirstsubterraneantemplenearthePyramidswasfoundandapassagewaybetweenitandtheSphinxhithertounknownwasalsodiscoveredatthesametime.

ItshouldbenotedbyallstudentsofmysticismandespeciallyofRosicrucianphilosophyandteachingsthattheyear1909wastheyearwhenmorerevelationsofamysticalnature,andmoreincidentsofthereawakeningofthemysticalspiritthroughouttheworldasfosteredandprotectedbythesecretmysteryschools,occurredthaninanyotheryearinrecentcenturies.Itwasintheyear1909thatmanypersonsjourneyedfromvariouspartsoftheworldtoEuropeandtheOrienttosecurepermissionforthere-establishmentorreawakeningoftheRosicrucianactivitiesinvarious

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countries,anditwasinthesameyearthatmanytombsof"ChristianRosenkreuz"wereopenedandmanyscientificdiscoveriesleadingtorevelationspertainingtothemysteryschools.ThepresentcycleoftheRosicrucianOrderinNorthAmericadatesitsauthorityfromtheyear1909,duetospecialhighcouncilmeetingsofinternationalRosicrucianmysticsthatwereheldinvariouscitiesinthatyear.

Dr.Hassan'srecentexcavationshavedisclosedthatthissubterraneanpathwayis,asamatteroffact,agiganticstonecauseway,22meterswideandabout450meterslong.ItconnectsthesecondpyramidtotheSphinxandtothetempleoftheSphinxadjoining.LargenumbersofmenarestillatworkonthesandyslopebetweenthesecondpyramidandtheancientSphinx.Mr.Derwish,whoisinchargeofpartoftheexcavationsundertheguidanceofDr.Hassanstates:

"Thecausewaybetweenthesecondpyramidisconstructedofenormousblocksoflocalizedstoneandhasthreedivisionsofseparatepathways.ThemiddlepathwayliesbetweentwowallsconstructedoffineTurahlimestone.Thesewallswereroofedoverasisprovedbytheremainsofstonesfoundhereandthereonthecauseway.ThereasonthatthesubwaywasconstructedwasthatthetwowallsabovementionedpreventedpassagewayfromthecemeteryofCheopstothatofChephren...The

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newlyexcavatedsubwaywascutthroughhardsandrockandisabouteightfeetinheight.Twoorthreepeoplecaneasilywalkabreastinit.InthecenterofthesubwaywasthedeepshaftofwhichDr.Hassanhasspoken....Thisnewlyexcavatedshaftisanenormousfour-sidedholeabouteightfeeteachwayleadingstraightdownthroughthelimestonelikeamineshaft.Thisshaftendsinaspaciousroom,inthecenterofwhichisanothershaftwhichdescendstoandendsinaroomyCourtflankedwithsevensidechambers,someofwhichcontainhugesarcophagiofbasaltandgranite.Inoneofthesesevenroomstherewasalsocutdownathirdshaftendinginasidechamber,whichisnowfloodedwithwater,butapparentlycontainsasarcophagus.Wearehopingtofindsomemonumentsofimportanceafterclearingoutthiswater.Thetotaldepthoftheseseriesofshaftsismorethan40metersormorethan125feet....Inthecourseofclearingthesouthernpartofthesubwaytherewasfoundaveryfineheadofastatuewhichisveryexpressiveineverydetailoftheface."

WehaveseenaphotographofthisstatueanditappearstobeinthatsameexcellentformofsculpturingrevealedinthefamousbustofNefertiti,andundoubtedlyasampleofthatraretypeofartinauguratedintheAmenhotepregime.

Adescriptionofthechambersandroomsbeneaththesands,connectedbythesesecret

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passageways,revealsthattherewereinnercourtsandoutercourtsandaChapelofOfferingcutintooneofthehugerockswiththreepillarsinitscenter.Thethreepillarsrepresentingatrianglearehighlysignificantpointsinthestudyandanalysisofthepurposeoftheseundergroundchambers.

Anotherchamber,muchlikeaburialchamberbutundoubtedlyaroomofinitiationandreception,wasfoundattheendofaslopingpassage,cutdeepintotherockinthewestsideoftheChapelofOffering.InthecenterofthischamberwasanotherlargesarcophagusofwhiteTurahlimestone,andtherewereexcellentexamplesofalabastervesselsfoundinthechamber.

ThewallsarebeautifullypaintedandsculpturedwithscenesandinscriptionsandtheLotusflowerisanimportantembleminthepictures.OtherchamberswerediscoveredwithpillarsinthecenterandinsomeofthesewereCarvedfiguresofayoungwomaninabeautifulgown,plainlyindicatingaceremonialrobe.

Therearemanymagnificentlycarvedfiguresinthesevariousundergroundroomsandchapels,temples,andhallways,alsomanybeautifullycoloredfriezes.Inexaminingthephotographsofsomeofthesewearedeeplyimpressedwiththeimprovedformoftheart,showingthedistinctivecharacteristicsoftheperiodthatfollowedAmenhotep'smysticalreawakeningofEgypt.

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TheforegoingfactsarebutafewofthemanycontainedinDr.Hassan'slatestreport.Theyverifyinpartatleastthethingsindicatedonthetwodiagramsshowninthisbookandundoubtedlythepassingoftimewillverifyotherpartsofthesediagrams.Soonceagainthestrangedrawings,manuscripts,andwritingsofthemysteryschoolswhichClaimedtopreservetheancientknowledgeofEgyptandotherlands,risetoanotherdegreeofacceptability.Despiteallthathasbeensaidbyformerexplorersandexcavators,thetruthappearstobethateveryfootoftheterritoryaroundthePyramidandtheSphinxhasnotbeenexploredpreviouslybecauseDr.Hassanandhisassociateshavejustrecentlytakenoutoftheseundergroundtemples,halls,andpassagewaysrarespecimensofart,rarerelicsofvariouskinds,afewofwhichwehopetohaveintheRosicrucianmuseumintheverynearfuture.Ifthesethings,passageways,andundergroundhallsandtemples,hadbeendiscoveredinthepastandthensecretlycoveredupagaintopreventusfromlearningthetruth,theexplorerswouldnothavehesitatedtobringtolighttherarerelicsthatremainedinthem,forthesethingsrepresentthemostpreciousgiftsthatEgypthastooffertothemuseumsoftheworldandwhicheveryscientistandexplorerisjustifiedinbringingtolight.

Thoseskepticsanddoubterswholookwith

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distrustuponallbooksdealingwiththePyramidfromthemysticalpointofview,andwhobelievethattheRosicruciansandothersdonotpossessanyknowledgenotpossessedbytheeminentexcavatorsandexplorersofthepast,mayrealizenowthatnothalfthetruthhasbeentoldabouttheGreatPyramidanditsenvironsandwhathasbeenrevealedbythemysteryschoolsismorethanlikelytobeverifiedinthenearfuture.

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PLATEFOUR

PLATEFIVE

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THEROSICRUCIANORDER,AMORC

PurposeandWorkoftheOrder

TheRosicrucianOrder,AMORC,isaphilosophicalandinitiatictradition.Asstudentsprogressintheirstudies,theyareinitiatedintothenextlevelordegree.

Rosicruciansaremenandwomenaroundtheworldwhostudythelawsofnatureinordertoliveinharmonywiththem.IndividualsstudytheRosicrucianlessonsintheprivacyoftheirownhomesonsubjectssuchasthenatureofthesoul,developingintuition,classicalGreekphilosophy,energycentersinthebody,andself-healingtechniques.

TheRosicruciantraditionencourageseachstudenttodiscoverthewisdom,compassion,strength,andpeacethatalreadyresidewithineachofus.

www.rosicrucian.org

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