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)

t 131 )

them ί For the extent of their wings touching hoth thé
side walls of the Temple, and meeting in the middle,
was more than 48 yards.

And that no suspicion may here arise, in the reader's
inind, äs tö the stated size of the two kinds of cubits,
Josephus informs us, the folding doors of the oracle, in
their aperture, had the extent of 80 cubits, equal to
Ì of the width of the screen: but if the 20 cubits, as-
signed to the Width of the Temple, were customary
cubits, then the whole screen was the door, as that was
SO of those cubits wide, and the absurdity of such ä sup*
position, is evident.

I come now to describe the ordination and dispo-
sition of the grand basilica, and the atrium, or inward
court, which together, occupied the 40 great cubits, be-
fore the foldings of the oracle, to the front doors of the
Temple, as recorded in the 1 Kings, 6 chap. 36 v. "And
he built an inward court with 3 rows of wrought
stone, and 1 of trees of cedar." And in 2 Chron. 4 chap.
9 v. "He also made the court of the priests, and a grand
basilica, and doors in the basilica, which he lined with,
brass."

From the circumstance of gates, or doors, in the
basilica, it is very apparent the atrium was considered,
às a part of the basilica, for the gates were, on the 4 sides
of the atrium. This inward court is said, in the book of
Chronicles, to be the atrium of the priests ; Josephus
says, it was for the admittance of such of the public as
were qualified to enter: and that the part for the priests,
was guarded by a fence 3 feet high, but this were but a
very inadequate fence, and might be passed by a stridei
I' suspect he wrote 3 cubits, because there is no dimea-
sion, in the sacred record, by the foot; his translate*

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