yranny to which they had
been subject, swore that they would tear the bodies of these Pharaohs
from their tombs, and scatter their fragments to the winds: they had
to be buried in crypts so securely placed that no one has succeeded in
finding them.

Like the two older pyramids, "the Supreme" had its anecdotal history,
in which the Egyptians gave free rein to their imagination. We know
that its plan had been rearranged in the course of building, that it
contained two sepulchral chambers, two sarcophagi, and two mummies:
these modifications, it was said, belonged to two distinct reigns; for
Mykerinos had left his tomb unfinished, and a woman had finished it at
a later date--according to some, Nitokris, the last queen of the VIth
dynasty; according to others, Rhodopis, the Ionian who was the mistress
of Psammetichus I. or of Ainasis.*

* Zoega had already recognized that the Rhodopis of the
Greeks was no other than the Nitokris of Manetho, and his
opinion was adopted and developed by Bunsen. The legend of
Rhodopis was completed by the additional ascription to the
ancient Egyptian queen of the character of a courtesan: this
repugnant trait seems to have been borrowed from the same
class of legends as that which concerned itself with the
daughter of Kheops and her pyramid. The narrative thus
developed was in a similar manner confounded with another
popular story, in which occurs the episode of the slipper,
so well known from the tale of Cinderella. Herodotus
connects Rhodopis with his Amasis, AElian with King
Psammetichus of the XXVIth dynasty.

The beauty and richness of the granite casing dazzled all eyes, and
induced many visitors to prefer the least of the pyramids to its two
imposing sisters; its comparatively small size is excused on the ground
that its founder had returned to that moderation and piety which
ought to characterize a good king. "The actions of his father were not
pleasing to him; he reopened the temples and sent the people, reduced
to the extreme of misery, back to their religious observances and their
occupations; finally, he administered justice more equitably than all
other kings. On this head he is praised above those who have at any time
reigned in Egypt: for not only did he administer good justice, but if
any one complained of his decision he gratified him with some present in
order to appease his wrath." There was one point, howe