Gabb, Thomas: Finis pyramidis or Disquisitions concerning the antiquity and scientific end of the great pyramid of Giza, or ancient Memphis, in Egypt, and of the first standard of linear measure (Retford, 1806)

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hint, which I hay e not neglected ; but have improvecl
to an extent of discovery, whereby not only the real
size of the foot, used by these authors, is completely
ascertained, but also some other particulars brought to
light, which I flatter myself will be found by no means,
uninteresting.

The foot measure, then, demonstrated, in this trea-
tise, to be that assumed by Pliny, Vitruvius, and to this
day, by the architects at Rome, will be proved, from pre-
mises supported by undeniable arguments, to have been
the foot used by the Egyptians, by the first settlers at
Athens, by Herodotus, by the Syracusians,Cprinthians&c
I shall commence my essays with this investigation,
since without knowing the size of the foot, by which
authors have reported dimensions, either of magnificent
temples, or other wonderful structures, whereof no re-
mains exist as a criterion, we can form no just idea : nor
can we have any certainty of the real extent of geome-
trical lines recorded, in ancient authors, by the foot or.
cubit, unless we know the standard from which they are
derived, and compare the same with our own.

This position no where more forcibly obtains, than
in perusing the dimensions, recorded in the Holy Bible, of
the most renowned and magnificient temple, ever beheld
by human eyes. Whereof the architectural perfections,
both in the disposition and in the symmetry, Villalpan-
dus would persuade us, were inspired, immediately by
heaven, into the mind of Solomon ; and insinuates, that
both the Egyp tians and Tyrians, as well as the Greeks
and Romans, derived their principles of architecture
from that noble source. The Scriptural narrative,
however, authorizes no such conclusion ; on the contrary
we there read, Solomon himself acknowledged the

superiority