The second Pyramid, situated about 200 yards southwest of the Great Pyramid, was erected by Chephren (q.v.), the successor of Cheops, and was called by the Egyptians 'great is Chephren.' Its present perpendicular height is 450 feet (formerly 458 feet), while the sloping sides, measuring each feet at the base, rise at an angle of 52° 20' to the height of 566% feet. Part of the original casing still remains at the top. The fact that it stands upon a higher level than the pyramid of Cheops gives it the appearance of greater height. The rocky ridge upon which it is built rises somewhat toward the west and north, and a considerable part of it had to be cut away in order to secure a level surface. The leveled space around the base of the pyramid was paved with blocks of limestone. Two passages, both on the north side, give access to the interior. One of these is in the pavement in front of the pyramid, the other is 3S feet above the surface of the ground. The upper passage descends at an angle of 25' 55' to a depth of 103 feet, and leads through a horizontal corridor to the sepulchral chamber called, from its discoverer. Belzoni's Chamber. It is hewn in the rock and is feet long. feet wide, and feet high. Belzoni, who opened the pyramid in 151S. found in this cham ber a granite sarcophagus filled with rubbish. The lower passage. beginning in the pavement in front of the north face of the pyramid. first descends at an angle of 21° 40', then runs hori zontally for 59 feet, and then ascends. terminal Mg in the horizontal corridor leading to Belzoni's Chamber; the total length of the passage is 97 feet. Near the middle of its horizontal portion a small chamber introduced, and a descending passage, 22 feet long, leads to another chamber, 34 feet 3 inches long. 10 feet 4 inches and S feet 5 inches high.
The Third Pyramid, called by the Egyptians Neter-ifeakaare, 'Menkaure is divine.' was built Uy Menkaurt, the sueeessor of Chephren. and the Mycerinus of Herodotus. It- perpendicular height is 204 feet. and the sides, which slope at an angle of 51°, rise to the height of 262% feet. Each side measures 356e, feet at the base. The lower part of the pyramid is eased with slabs of polished red granite. The entrance is about 13 feet above the ground on the north side. From it a passage slopes down at an angle of 26° 2' for a distance of feet, then, be &lining nearly horizontal. passes through an ante chamber 12 feet long, 10 feet wide. and 7 feet high, and finally enters a large chamber feet long, feet wide, and 13 feet high. in which were found the remains of a stone sar eophag,us. From the floor of this chamber a shaft leads to the tomb chamber, which lies below. It is paved with fine granite blocks, and has an arched roof formed of blocks placed against each other at an ankle, and hollowed out on the inside. In this chamber Colonel Vyse found the basalt sarcophagus of Myeerinus, but it was lost at sea in 1535 while being conveyed to England. In the chamber above were found a part of the wooden coffin of the King and some of his mummy. To the south of this pyramid are three small pyramids. prob ably constructed for members of the family of Myeerinus.
South of Ghizeh are the pyramids of Abasir. the ancient Busiris, erected by kings of the Fifth Dynasty. The entrances of these pyramids. are. as usual, on the north side. and in all of them the tomb chamber is reached by a passage at first slanting and afterwards horizontal. The
northernmost of the three largest pyramids (originally fourteen in number) is that of Salm rt., the second of the Fifth Dynasty. Its perpendicular originally feet, is now only l IS feet. The central pyramid is that of Iltsen-woser, the sixth King of the same dynasty. The largest of the three. which has a perpendicular height of 165 feet I formerly 229 feet), has not yet 1/Z)en identified. The other pyramids of this group are mere heaps of ruins.
The burial field of Saqqara contains a con siderable number of pyramids. Of special in terest is the so-called 'step pyramid.' the tomb of Zoser, the second King of the Third Dynasty. It rises in six steps which are respectively 3S, 36, 32, 31, and feet in height; the width of each step is from 6 to 7 feet. The perpendicular height is 197 feet. The interior of the pyramid contains a very numerous and complicated series of pas-sages and chambers. According to Petrie, it is not a true pyramid at all, but a mastaba enlarged by successive addi tions into the pyramidal shape. The slope of the sides (about 75') differs considerably from that of the true pyramids. Near it is the pyramid of teas, the last King of the Fifth Dynasty. and in the vicinity are the pyramids of the Pharaohs Teta, Pepi 1., Mer-en-rt, and Pepi If. of the Sixth Dynasty. These pyramids were opened in 1851. and the wails of their chambers were found to be covered with long religious texts.
South of Saqqara are the pyramids of Dahshtir, which are in a simple and massive style much like those of Ghizeh. The group consists of two large and two smaller pyramids of stone, and two of mud bricks, the latter being usually known as the 'black pyramids.' The more northerly of the two brick pyramids, which formerly had a easing of stone, is the tomb of Usertcsen Ill. of the Twelfth Dynasty. Its pres ent height is 90 feet. To the southwest of it is a large stone pyramid 326 feet high and 7412 feet in width. To the south and east are the remains of other pyramids, and still farther to the south is a pyramid of peculiar form, usually termed the 'blunted pyramid.' The lower portion slopes at an angle of 54° 41'. while the sides of the apex form an angle of 42° 5!)'. It is 321 feet in height and 620 feet square. The name of the builder is unknown, but it probably belongs to the oldest period of Egyptian history.
The next group of pyramids, south of Dahshnr, is the group of Lisht. of which the more south erly is the tomb of l'Sertesen I. of the Twelfth Dynasty. Still farther south is the pyramid of Medum (q.v.). To the west of Medum, on the edge of the Fayum, are the pyramids of Illahun and Hawara. the former the tomb of Usertesen IL, the latter that of Amenemhat The pyramid of illahnn is built with a frame work of stone filled up with mud bricks, while that of Ilawiira is built entirely of mud bricks, though it was doubtless originally cased over with title stone.
Consult : Description fin PEyyple ( Pa Hs. I sof).
29 ) Lepsius. Deakmaler (Berlin. 1s19:59) ; Perring, Pyramids of t i i, eh ( London, 1 s39-42) Ityse. Operations Parried art at the Pyramids of GItn-li in. 137 (London, 1S40-421; Smyth, Life and at the Oreat Pyramid (London, 1s67 ) : Petrie. Pyramids and Temples of Oi;:elt ( London. 18s31 1.4 ';!i ; Kahun ( London, 1890 ; Illnhun edam ( 1892l ; Baedeker, Ara/fp/474 14th ed.. Leipzig, 1)07).