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)

ί 135 y

will admit 4 columns, with 5 inter-columns, of the;
same marble materials, and the same stylobates, as,
in the side rows ; and furnish a more spacious inter-
column, in the centre, of ft.18, in.11.04, which we
may reasonably believe, was so disposed, to furnish
sufficient room to pass, when the priests carried the
ark, through the atrium and basilica, to deposite it, in
the oraele.

To complete the area of the atrium, and in the dis-
position of a square, or quadrangular court, pursuant to
the order, directed in the sacred text, there must be 3
rows of stone, or marble columns, and one row of cedar;
which most probably, were erected on marble stylobates,
as the others were ; these cedar-columns, 4 in number,
ranging with the sixth column, under the galleries, right
and left, and disposed right opposite to the 4 marble
columns, next to the front wall, would perfect the qua-
drangular court, which, reckoning the angular columns
each time, comprized 6 columns in each of it's sides; in
the 4 middle intercolumns were the 4 grand gates lined
with brass, which was plated with gold ; and the other
intercolumns were inclosed by ballustrades.

The symmetrical, or commensurate height of the
column, is taken at 10| diameters, equal to ft.73, in.6,
which, with the stylobate of ftl8, in.2.88, will leave
ft.17, in.8.4 for the epistyles, and their ornaments. The
capitals of these columns were carved, no doubt, in the
form of the molten capitals of the metal columns, which
will be discussed in the next chapter.

Thus I have suggested what appears to me to have
been the ordination and disposition of this noble atrium,
and grand basilica ; nor have I much doubt of the
«racle also having been surrounded by columns, in the

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