1781.b.39, 9(25)

Inscription: Inscribed in the negative, 'Frith 152.'

Genre: Architectural Photography

View looking across the sands towards the Pyramid of Khafra (Chephren), with trees and a figure in the foreground: 'This is, perhaps, the most beautiful view of the Pyramids in this series. The distance and size of the chief monument are not so apparent as in other views, but the beauty of the whole subject, and the astonishing clearness of the details, are unequalled. The masonry of the Pyramid, the surface of the sand around, the rugged trunks and scanty foliage of the sycamores, and the feathery heads of the group of palms, are all worthy of attentive study. The chief monumnet in this view is the Second Pyramid, easily distinguishable from the rest by its not having lost its casing for half the distance from the summit downwards. The spectator nearly fronts the eastern face, but also sees part of the southern face. Beneath the Pyramid is seen the side of a rocky ridge, in which are interesting excavated tombs, among which is that called the Gazelle's, on account of a very beautiful bas-relief on one of its walls representing a gazelle. To the right, at a little distance, are seen the remains of the structure which has been supposed to be a temple connected with this Pyramid. To the left, we can perceive, through the foliage of the sycamores, a small ruined Pyramid, standing upon an excavated eminence, which we described in the account of another view. The trees are remarkable objects here in the desert. Probably the soil of the valley extends thus far, though the surface is of drifted sand. The sycamores are of extreme age, and the trunks of the palms show that they too are old. Beneath the latter are a sarcophagus and its lid.'