which they are let down, as into a Well, by means of a Rope and the
assistance of a Servant with a Light in their Hands, tho’ in some few
they can climb up and down, by setting their Feet in certain gaps in the
Wall, as appears by the Plate at _p._ 203. Letter E. This Well or
Descent into these _Caves_ is about 16 or 18 Foot deep, and at bottom,
the Passage of it is so low, they are forc’d to stoop and creep thro’,
where they arrive in a four-square Chamber or Repository, [Sidenote: The
_Chamber_.] 24 Foot every way, on each side of which, next the Wall,
stand Bases or Tables cut out of the Rock, about five Foot long, two and
a half broad, and one high, whereon are plac’d the dead Bodies,
_Embalm’d_ and adorn’d after the manner before describ’d, and put into
Coffins of Wood or Stone, carv’d after their own similitude. Many times,
besides the number of Coffins just mention’d, there lye round about upon
the Floor several other little ones, which seem to be the Coffins of
Children. Sometimes there are abundance of these _Caves_ near each
other, as you may imagine by the Plate before-mention’d; but that you
may have a more clear _Idea_ of all that is here describ’d, I have added
another, the Description of which is as follows: [Sidenote:
_Description_ of the _Ichnography_ and _Scenography_ of these _Caves_.]
A. A. A. A. shows the _Ichnography_ of a _Burying-Place_, wherein are
nine Chambers or Apartments all of an equal bigness, mark’d with the
Letters, B. B. B. Each of these has four Bases whereon the Coffins are
set, as appears by the Figures 1. 2. 3. 4. The Walls or Partitions are
represented by the Letters C. C. C. but these are all more exactly seen
in the _Scenography_, in which D. and E. shows two _Caves_ with their
Walls turn’d over with Arches. Adjoyning to the Walls lye four Bases in
each _Cave_, whereon the Coffins are set, mark’d by the Letters F. G. H.
I. K. L. _&c._ At the Head of the Coffin, stands a Figure like a Boy in
Swadling-Clouts, and at the Feet a Hawk, being their Tutelar Gods, by
whose Presence and Assistance they thought the Bodies would be defended
from all kinds of Violence, and over these, against the Wall, were cut
in an oval form _Hieroglyphics_, mark’d M. N. O. P.
[Illustration:
Tho. Platt Sculp.
To Robert Nelson Esq_{ꝫ}. who has been pleas’d to encourage this Work,
this Plate is humbly dedicated by
His most humble Servant Thomas Greenhill.
]
This may suffice for a general Description of these _Caves_, [Sidenote:
_Observations_ on the _Subterranean Caves_.] yet it may not be amiss to
add a few Observations made by Father _Vansleb_ on this Subject: He
tells us he went on purpose to see these _Caves_, and gives us every
particular Instance that happen’d to him; but this we must also take
notice of, that _Le Bruyn_ attributes the very same Remarks to one
_Milton_ an _English_ Man, and he that pleases to give himself the
trouble to read both, will find them much of a piece. They are as
follows: After having said that first an Agreement must be made with the
_Arabians_ of the Borough of _Sacara_, about the number and quality of
_Wells_ one would have open’d, as also what was to be given them for
their Trouble, and that for better security 12 _Arabian_ Horsemen ought
to be brought along with one; he adds, That the first _Well_ he went to
see was that of _Embalm’d_ Birds, [Sidenote: _Wells_ of _Embalm’d
Birds_.] and that having caus’d the Sand that cover’d the Mouth of the
_Well_ to be remov’d, thro’ which he was to go down, and from thence to
enter into the _Cave_, he caus’d himself and his Companions to be let
down one after another, by tying a double Rope about their Middles. So
soon as they were at the bottom, and that every one had lighted his
Flambeau, and several Matches they had brought along with them, they
crept on their Bellies into a _Cave_, which was an Entry cut thro’ the
Rock about a Man’s height, a Fathom wide, and extraordinary long. On
each side they found other Entries, cut also into the Rock, where were
several Chambers full of a great number of Earthen-Pots, with Covers of
the same. In these were contain’d _Embalm’d_ Birds of all kinds, every
Bird having a Pot to it self. They found there also several Hen-Eggs
whole, but which were empty, and consequently had no ill Smell.
Having sufficiently view’d this _Cave_, they were drawn up again in like
manner as they were let down. Then having commanded their _Arabians_ to
open a _Virgin-Well_ [Sidenote: A _Virgin-Well_.] (for so such are
call’d as have never been open’d) they were immediately let down into
it, in the same manner as before describ’d; but being come to the
bottom, they found such a horrid Stench, and so close an Air, that they
were not only not able to breath, but it also put out their Flambeaus,
as likewise their Matches every time they endeavour’d to light them, so
that they were thereupon forc’d to cause themselves to be drawn up again
with all speed, without having been able to advance one step. Our Author
says, that all he could say of this _Well_ was, That it was much deeper
than the former.
[Sidenote: A _Cave_ with two _Mummies_.]
After this he caus’d another _Cave_ to be open’d, which was not a
_Virgin-Well_ as the former. Being let down into it he found there two
_Mummies_, one greater and the other lesser of a Child, both in Coffins:
The biggest was of Marble, cut after the likeness of him for whom it was
made. He caus’d them to be open’d but found nothing extraordinary in
them, therefore took no Account of them, but left them where he found
them.
[Sidenote: A _Cave_ call’d the _Church_.]
He went down next into a _Cave_ call’d the _Church_, which, he says, was
the shallowest of all he had seen, it being nothing but a long Entry
under Ground, well Plaister’d and Painted every-where with
_Hierogliphics_. He tells us there was so great a quantity of Sand in
this _Cave_, that he and his Company were forc’d to creep along on their
Knees; for as soon as any one has seen these _Wells_, the _Arabians_ are
wont to fill them up again with Sand, if the Wind does not do it for
them, that they may get more Money by them another Time; for this is the
greatest Livelihood these miserable Creatures have, and the least they
take for opening a _Virgin-Well_ is 30 [6]_Piasters_. The reason of this
high Price is, that those which cause them to be open’d, have the
liberty to carry away all the Curiosities and _Mummies_ they find there.
Footnote 6:
Each _Piaster_ is 5 _s._ Sterling or thereabouts, so the whole may
make near 9 _l._
Now to give a perfect _Idea_ of this Plain of _Mummies_, the antient
Burying-Place of the _Egyptians_, you must represent to your self a vast
and boundless Champion Country, cover’d all over with Sand, where there
are neither Trees, Plants, Grass, Houses, nor any thing like them to be
seen, but the whole Surface is strew’d with dry Bones of Arms, Legs,
Feet, Heads, old Linnen Rags, broken Tombs or Coffins, and a great many
little Idols, some of Wood, and others of Earth glaz’d with a green
colour, and mark’d before and behind with _Hieroglyphics_: In some
places you may see great Tomb-Stones, engrav’d with Cyphers and
Ænigmatical Figures, that represent something of Chymistry and other
Sciences and Mysteries of the antient _Egyptians_, as also some strange
Characters that are no _Hieroglyphics_. These are the remains of their
Pride and Vanity, as likewise sad Proofs that all Men are subject to
Death: This causes Horrour to those that come first into the Plain, and
if one considers attentively the number of Bones wherewith it is
strew’d, one would be apt to think that Place had formerly been a Field
of Battel. So much for the _Pyramids_ and _Subterranean Caves_, now
there only remains to speak of the _Sepulchral Lamps_, which some assert
to have burnt perpetually, and have therefore been the Subject of much
Discourse among the _Virtuosi_ of all Ages.
[Sidenote: _Authors_ who have written of _Sepulchral Lamps_.]
_Clemens Alexandrinus_, _Appian_, _Burattinus_, _Hermolaus Barbarus_,
_Costæus_, _Citesius_, _Cælius_, _Casalius_, _Cedrenus_, _Delrius_,
_Ericius_, _Foxius_, _Gesnerus_, _Jacobonus_, _Leander_, _Libavius_,
_Lazius_, _Langius_, _Licetus_, _Maiolus_, _Maturantius_, _Baptista
Porta_, _Pancirollus_, _Ruscellius_, _Scardeonius_, _Tassonius_,
_Ludovicus Vives_, _Volateranus_ and many other learned and ingenious
Authors, who have written of these _Sepulchral Lamps_, do most of them
believe and strenuously assert, that they burn’d for several Hundreds of
Years, and would have so continu’d, perhaps for ever, had they not been
broken by the unadvis’d Irruptions of Rustics and Husbandmen, by diging
up the Ground, or otherwise extinguish’d by the like Accidents. ’Tis
true, there are not many that affirm that they themselves saw any of
these _Lamps_ burning, but then they give you abundance of Instances of
such as did, and where they were found, which being too many to be
inserted here, we shall only mention a few, after having inquir’d to
what End and Purpose they were invented and made use of; of what Matter
and Fashion they were compos’d, and whether it were possible for any of
them, when once lighted, to burn perpetually without any addition or
supply of fresh Aliment.
[Sidenote: _Perpetual Lamps_ to what end invented.]
First then we are to understand, that as the _Egyptians_ (thro’ a firm
belief they had of the _Metempsychosis_) affected to procure a Perennity
to the Body by _Balsamation_ or _Embalming_, and the security thereof by
_Pyramids_, _Subterranean Vaults_, &c. so they endeavour’d to animate
the Defunct by perpetual Fire, which answer’d the Nature of their Souls:
[Sidenote: _Fire_ an _Emblem_ of the _Soul_.] For with them Fire was the
_Symbol_ of an Incorruptible, Immortal and Divine Nature, and hence some
will have it, they erected _Pyramids_ ([7]the _Symbols_ of Fire) of that
Solidity as easily to overcome the Injuries of Time, and by their Figure
to demonstrate the Immortality of the Soul. And whereas flaming Fire was
more corruscating and enlightning than any other Matter, they invented
_Lamps_ to hang in the Sepulchres of the Rich, which would burn
perpetually without any assistance or addition. This as it was a
_Symbol_ of the Immortality of the Soul, so did it likewise serve for a
_Symbol_ of their grateful Intentions towards the _Manes_ and Guardian
Gods, who protected the Bodies in their Sepulchres, thereby both
venerating, honouring and respecting the Souls of the Deceas’d, and also
rendring what was very grateful and acceptable to them. [Sidenote: And
of _Eternal Life_.] Now whereas the _Egyptians_ signify’d Life by a
_Lamp_, and also believ’d that their Immortal Souls tarry’d in the Grave
with their Bodies, so after having _Embalm’d_ those Bodies to prevent
the Souls forsaking them, by reason of their Corruption and Dissolution,
they deposited them in _Subterranean Caves_, where they had provided
_Lamps_ that would burn perpetually, to the end that their Souls might
not lye miserably imprison’d in darkness, and thereby any hurt befal
them; but on the contrary, enjoy eternal light and be free from all
evil, or that when the Soul should wander, it might not mistake its
Residence, but be by the light of the _Lamp_ guided and conducted to
return to its former Habitation.
Footnote 7:
_Pyramis_, ἀπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς, _quod ad ignis speciem extenuatur in Conum_.
These are the absur’d Opinions of the Superstitious _Egyptians_, and the
Reasons why they plac’d burning _Lamps_ with the Dead in their
_Subterranean Vaults_, as _Jacobonus_, _Foxius_, _Scaliger_ and others
relate; therefore the next Thing which we shall consider, is, whether
there ever was or can be such a Thing made as a perpetual burning
_Lamp_. Most of the before-mention’d Authors believe there were such
_Lamps_: _Licetus_ particularly has writ a whole _Folio_ to prove it,
and _Kircher_ produces a Story out of _Schiangia_, an _Arabian_ Author,
which he thinks will solve it; but however, whether there have been any
perpetual burning _Lamps_ or not, since no Author of good Credit ever
saw one, it is nevertheless very certain that _Lamps_ are frequently
found in the Sepulchres and _Subterranean Caves_ of the Dead, which, to
what end and purpose they were there plac’d, will still remain a great
_Quere_, unless it were for the above-alledg’d Reasons, since _Licetus_
and other Authors say, These were the proper Places for them, asserting
they might be extinguish’d by the admission of Air in the breaking up of
such Places. _Greaves_ at the end of his Description of the first
_Pyramid_, p. 99. takes notice of two Inlets or Spaces in the _South_
and _North_ side of the Chamber, just opposite to one another, very
evenly cut and running in a straight Line about six Foot into the
thickness of the Wall, [Sidenote: _Lamps_ suppos’d to have been in the
first _Pyramid_.] which, he says, by the blackness within, seem to have
been a Receptacle for the burning of _Lamps_. _T. Livius Burattinus_
would gladly have believ’d it had been an Hearth for one of these
perpetual _Lamps_ which we now are speaking of; but _Greaves_ imagines
the Invention not to be so antient as this _Pyramid_: However,
_Burattinus_ in his _Italian_, and _Michael Schatta_ in his _Arabic_
Letter to _Kircher_, which you may read in _Oedipi Ægyptiaci Theatrum
Hierogliphicum_, p. 544. affirm that they found many _Lamps_ in the
_Subterranean Caves_ of old _Memphis_, [Sidenote: _Lamps_ in the
_Subterranean Caves_ of _Memphis_.] some having three, four, eight or 12
Lights, and made in the shape of Dog, Man, Bull, Hawk, Serpent and the
like. Also _Casalius_ tells us he had some _Lamps_ of Brass which
represented a Dog, Ox, Sphinx, _&c._ and some made of Earth. Seeing
therefore they are so different in their matter, shape and number of
Lights, I have given you the Sculptures of 15 of them, with their
Description more at large.
[Illustration:
Sturt sculp.
_To M^r George Rolfe Surgeon:
Who has been pleas’d to encourage this Work
This Plate is humbly dedicated by
His most humble Servant_ Tho. Greenhill.
]
[Sidenote: A _Description_ of some _Lamps_]