Note 153 — THE CALIPH AL-MAAMUN AND THE PYRAMIDS[153] OF EGYPT.

Arab. “Al-Ahrám,” a word of unknown provenance. It has been suggested that the singular form (Haram), preceded by the Coptic article “Pi” (= the) suggested to the Greeks “Pyramis.” But this word is still sub judice and every Egyptologist seems to propose his own derivation. Brugsch (Egypt i. 72) makes it Greek, the Egyptian being “Abumir,” while “pir-am-us” = the edge of the pyramid, the corners running from base to apex. The great Egyptologist proves also what the Ancients either ignored or forgot to mention, that each pyramid had its own name.