Hans Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> cladking Wrote:
>
> Al-Mas’udi, Meadows of Gold (c. 947-956 CE)
> Chapter 31
> ...On the question of the construction of the
> pyramids: “They were,” he (the Copt) continued,
> “the tombs of the kings. When one of their kings
> died, his body was placed in a stone basin similar
> to what is called a djarun in Egypt and Syria;
> this they sealed with a lid, and they started to
> construct the pyramid from the base up to a
> certain height. The sarcophagus was deposited at
> the center of the building, and they continued to
> raise the vault up to the height you see.

I could find no context for this.

> Al-Idrisi, History of the Pyramids (c. 1150 CE)
> The Pyramids are six miles from Cairo. The height
> of them is four hundred cubits, and the square of
> the bases the same. The blocks, with which they
> were built are five cubits high, and ten or
> fifteen cubits long. They diminish at the top to a
> space scarcely sufficient for a camel to lie down.
> The way to them is by a bridge, and by a town,
> called Dashur, where Joseph was imprisoned, a
> distance of three miles; and to the Pyramids is
> five miles; and they are the same distance from
> the river. These buildings were covered with
> inscriptions, which are nearly effaced; and in the
> interior of each of them there is a passage,
> barely allowing of an entrance. The two Great
> Pyramids have a subterraneous communication; and
> they are said to have been tombs, and previously
> granaries.

This specificaklly states they were built as granaries rather than tombs.

Many intrusive burials have been found in and around all the great pyramids.

> Abd Al-Latif al-Baghdadi, Account of Egypt (after
> 1200 CE)
> I have read in some of the books of the antient
> Sabaeans, that one of these two Pyramids is the
> tomb of Agathodaemon, and the other of Hermes, who
> are said to have been two great prophets, of whom
> Agathodaemon was the most famous and the most
> antient. It is also said, that people used to come
> from all parts of the world on a pilgrimage to
> these tombs.

There isn't any reference to pyramids or Khufu.

> Abu Al-Makarim, History of Churches and
> Monasteries (13th century CE)
> Folio 59a
> In the western part of Al-Jiziyah (Giza) are the
> tombs of the kings or Pharaohs, in which are their
> treasures, all traces of which have been effaced.

This mentions "tombs" specifically, not pyramids.

> Folio 68b
> Near the town [of Memphis] are the pyramids, three
> in number. The height of the great pyramid is four
> hundred cubits. The pyramids were the landmarks
> and the dwelling-places built by Asghusa, the
> greatest of all the kings of the earth, and by
> Arghash, the brother of Shaddad, and by Shaddad,
> son of 'Ad, and Malik, son of 'Ad. and Farmashat,
> brother of 'Ad, whose ancestor was the king
> Arzakusha. He built here eight hundred courses,
> and then died. In these high towers, which are the
> two great landmarks, [these kings] placed their
> treasures and their tombs.

This comes closest to suppoting your contention that the belief in tombs goes back before the 1830's but I'd remind you that no treasure was found by Al Mammum and that the entrance to G1 was said to lead "obliquely" to the tomb which was surrounded by water.

You can't pick and choose what you believe in science and have to go where evidence and experiment leads.

> Al-Dimashqi, Cosmography 1.9 (before 1327)
>
> In front of each of these apartments, there is an
> idol hollowed out of gold, holding his hand in his
> mouth; on his forehead he bears a Himyarite
> inscription; when one reads it aloud, he opens his
> mouth, and therein is the key to the lock. The
> Copts claim that these two pyramids and the little
> ones are tombs;

It specifically suggests the queens pyramids are "tombs" if it's to be believed at all.

> Abu al-Fida, Historia Ante-Islamica 5 (1329)
> They (the Sabaeans) also worship the pyramids of
> Egypt, one of which is said to be the tomb of
> Seth, son of Adam, and the other that of Idris or
> Enoch.

These individuals are both believed to be "imaginary" today. I would maintain the definition of "tomb" mandates mortal remains meaning they can't be tombs.

> Bernhard von Breydenbach, Peregrinatio in terram
> sanctam (1486)
> Latin version of 1486, folio 116 recto
> Beyond the Nile we beheld many pyramids, which in
> ages past the kings of Egypt caused to be built
> over their tombs, of which the vulgar say that
> these are the granaries or storehouses which were
> built there by Joseph in order to store grain.
> However, this is clearly false, for these pyramids
> are not hollow inside.

Again, granaries, not tombs.

____________
Man fears the pyramid, time fears man.