Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Ancient Lodges, Or Places Of Initiation Into The Cabiric Mysteries.
fierce dogs appeared to rise from the earth , and with dreadful bowlings endeavoured to overwhelm the aspirant with alarm ; and how bravely soever his courage might sustain him in this unequal conflict , he seldom escaped unhurt . After proceeding through many other ceremonies of the like nature , he came to a private door , which being opened , there issued forth such bowlings and cries of lamentation and dismay , as
struck him ivith new and indescribable emotions of terror . He turned his eyes , by an involuntary impulse towards the place from whence tliese miserable bewailings appeared to proceed , and beheld exhibited , in every appalling form , the torments of the wicked in Hades . Turning with disgust from this scene of woe , he was passed through some other dark caverns and passages ; until , having successfully penetrated
through a devious labyrinth of vaults , connected by winding galleries . each opening with a narrow stone portal , the scene of some perilous adventure ; ancl having by the exercise of fortitude and perseverance been triumphantly borne through this accumulated mass of difficulty and danger , the doors of the Sacellum were thrown open , and his darkness was changed into light * . With this description before us , let us examine the present state of a few of these caverns , and they will bear ample testimony to the dreadful
scenes which were heretofore enacted within their secret recesses . A cavern of extraordinary capacity was found by Pococke , in the neighbourhood of Thebes , in Upper Egypt . " The grottos are cut in the rock in a most beautiful manner , in long rooms or galleries under the mountains , which are of a close white freestone that cuts like chalk , and is as smooth as the finest stucco work . The galleries are mostly about
ten feet wide and high ; four or five of these galleries , one within the other , from thirty to fifty feet long , generally lead to a spacious room , in which is seen the tomb of the king , with his figure cut in relief on the lid . In the furthermost room of another , the picture of the king is painted on stone , at full length ; both the sides and ceilings of the chambers are cut with hieroglyphics of birds and beasts , and some of
them painted , being as fresh as if they were just finished , though they must be above two thousand years old . The galleries have hieroglyphics cut on each side , first in a sort of compartment next to the ceiling , in the manner of a freize ; lower , figures are cut out representing mummies ; below these , for seven feet from the ground , are hieroglhics all down the sidesdivided by lines into different columns ; in
yp , the middle ofthe ceiling there are figures of men for about three feet in breadth , with stars on each sidef . " This extract will require no explanation ; the narrow passages leading to a spacious Sacellum , m the centre of which is an altar , erroneously called a tomb ; the various
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Ancient Lodges, Or Places Of Initiation Into The Cabiric Mysteries.
fierce dogs appeared to rise from the earth , and with dreadful bowlings endeavoured to overwhelm the aspirant with alarm ; and how bravely soever his courage might sustain him in this unequal conflict , he seldom escaped unhurt . After proceeding through many other ceremonies of the like nature , he came to a private door , which being opened , there issued forth such bowlings and cries of lamentation and dismay , as
struck him ivith new and indescribable emotions of terror . He turned his eyes , by an involuntary impulse towards the place from whence tliese miserable bewailings appeared to proceed , and beheld exhibited , in every appalling form , the torments of the wicked in Hades . Turning with disgust from this scene of woe , he was passed through some other dark caverns and passages ; until , having successfully penetrated
through a devious labyrinth of vaults , connected by winding galleries . each opening with a narrow stone portal , the scene of some perilous adventure ; ancl having by the exercise of fortitude and perseverance been triumphantly borne through this accumulated mass of difficulty and danger , the doors of the Sacellum were thrown open , and his darkness was changed into light * . With this description before us , let us examine the present state of a few of these caverns , and they will bear ample testimony to the dreadful
scenes which were heretofore enacted within their secret recesses . A cavern of extraordinary capacity was found by Pococke , in the neighbourhood of Thebes , in Upper Egypt . " The grottos are cut in the rock in a most beautiful manner , in long rooms or galleries under the mountains , which are of a close white freestone that cuts like chalk , and is as smooth as the finest stucco work . The galleries are mostly about
ten feet wide and high ; four or five of these galleries , one within the other , from thirty to fifty feet long , generally lead to a spacious room , in which is seen the tomb of the king , with his figure cut in relief on the lid . In the furthermost room of another , the picture of the king is painted on stone , at full length ; both the sides and ceilings of the chambers are cut with hieroglyphics of birds and beasts , and some of
them painted , being as fresh as if they were just finished , though they must be above two thousand years old . The galleries have hieroglyphics cut on each side , first in a sort of compartment next to the ceiling , in the manner of a freize ; lower , figures are cut out representing mummies ; below these , for seven feet from the ground , are hieroglhics all down the sidesdivided by lines into different columns ; in
yp , the middle ofthe ceiling there are figures of men for about three feet in breadth , with stars on each sidef . " This extract will require no explanation ; the narrow passages leading to a spacious Sacellum , m the centre of which is an altar , erroneously called a tomb ; the various