Pyramid myths

Steve Marshall enjoys a comprehensive exploration of legends and fanciful beliefs about the most iconic of ancient monuments

The Legends of the Pyramids

Myths and Misconceptions about Ancient Egypt

Jason Colavito Red Lightning 2021 Hb, 222pp, £15.99. ISBN 9781684351480

In 2012 a presenter of the US TV show Ancient Aliens claimed on social media to have evidence that the building of the Great Pyramid was inspired by extraterrestrials. Author Jason Colavito set out to prove that this claim was wrong, and devoted seven years to researching the issue, which resulted in this book.

Colavito has done an admirable job in identifying the many pyramid myths, chronicling from where and when they originated. He goes on to show how these core untruths have been copied, misquoted and distorted over the centuries – a process that continues to this day.

The Great Pyramid of Giza was already 2,000 years old when Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt. Claiming to have interviewed Egyptian priests directly, Herodotus alleged that Egypt’s history of kings could be traced back over 10,000 years. He attributed the building of the pyramid to Khufu (Cheops), traditionally a cruel tyrant who used forced labour for his building projects.

Some of the misinformation reported by Herodotus persisted for centuries. Inside the pyramid, he claimed, was an underground burial chamber with an artificial lake fed by a secret channel from the Nile; at its centre was an island housing the King’s sarcophagus. Herodotus went on to explain how the pyramid had been erected by stacking stones in layers, then adding casing stones from the top down, to form perfectly smooth sides. Inscriptions, he claimed, covered the pyramid, documenting its construction and the vast amounts of money spent on supplies and food for the workers

– 1,600 talents of silver spent on radishes alone!

Scores of later Greek and Roman writers wrote about the pyramids, though they added little, concentrating on the monument’s great size and the money spent on radishes.

Early mediæval Christians were confused by the pyramids, which were not mentioned in the Bible despite its many references to events in Egypt. Some experts of the time believed, from the account and dimensions in Genesis, that Noah’s Ark was pyramid shaped. Just as the Ark preserved life through the Flood, perhaps the Egyptian pyramids were built to preserve knowledge? Several writers reported that a horizontal line could be seen on pyramids, indicating the water level of the Flood.

Another popular belief, persisting for centuries, was that the pyramids were not the tombs of kings, but storehouses built by the biblical Joseph to hold grain for seven years of famine.

Some of today’s misconceptions about pyramids can be traced back to mediæval Islamic accounts, and tales of the mythical King Surid. The Copts alleged that written on the pyramids was an Arabic inscription: “I, Surid, the King, built these pyramids.” He claimed that the construction took six years, and defied those who would come after him to dare knock them down, adding: “I also covered the pyramids in silk: let those who come after me cover them in turn.” It is hard to imagine anyone rising to this challenge, except possibly the 20th-century land artist Christo. Perhaps the story is confused with descriptions of the Ka’bah in Mecca, which is still covered with silk?

Many Islamic authors wrote slightly differing accounts of King Surid. They also established the pyramid myths that we are still familiar with today – Indiana Jones’s world of hidden subterranean tunnels, murderous booby traps, curses and vengeful mummies.

Islamic ideas were propagated throughout western Europe by such luminaries as Athanasius Kircher, who believed the pyramids and obelisks of Egypt to have been built by Hermes Trismegistus as a treasury of ancient knowledge. Kircher’s bizarre interpretations of hieroglyphic texts were regarded as the truth until Champollion came along to spoil things with his Rosetta Stone.

Europeans began flocking to Egypt but not all were equally impressed by its wonders: Sir Walter Scott found the pyramids “disagreeable” and “a waste of labour”.

Still the myths continued to grow in popularity and craziness. I found this part of the book enormously enjoyable. Astrological alignments, huge blocks of stone levitated by sound waves, gold tarot cards hidden in secret chambers, Freemasons, the Great Seal of America… They’re all in here! Madame Blavatsky, HP Lovecraft, Erich von Däniken; the list continues, up to the present day claims of Robert Schoch, David Childress, Graham Hancock et al.

This highly recommended book is well researched, entertaining and original. ★★★★★