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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acroter placed on the ridge of the pediment. But these
pediments were at first, amongst the ancients, made
very flat. The deals were probably covered with thiii
stones prepared by masons, and wrought down very
thin at one edge. What leads to this conjecture is, the
money, mentioned in the 2 Kings, 12 chap, collected by
order of Jeoash the king, for the repairs of the Temple,
was paid principally to carpenters and masons, by
which I conceive it was the roof that was repaired* : for
such were the stones, that composed the walls above
12 feet thick, as to leave little probability of their being
injured. But as I am now unable to procure all the
information I could wish ; I pass to the next considera-
tion, the

Entablature of the portico ; whereof the symmetri-
cal height I have represented to be 4 diameters and
about 43 minutes ; which is much more than twice the
height allowed by the best of modern architects : and
flouhle of any entablatures found in the Greek or Ro-
man antique. However, I take to myself neither
commendation nor blame, in having the 33 cubits for the
height of the entablature ; for neither the moderns, nor
the antique remains, nor my own judgment are con-
sulted, but inferences are drawn from the sacred text, to
prove that it must have been about that height. And the
only liberty of deviating, is confined to the height of
the stylobate, or pedestal, and that in a very small
degree. I have taken for the die of the stylobate, the
least height of the two dimensions of stones recorded
for that purpose, 1 Kings, 7 chap. 10 v. " Foundations
of costly stones, great stones of 8 or 10 cubits." But

if

*In the Vulgate the words are Sarta tecta, which indicate 3
repaired roof.