DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0338
322
A few miles below Bedresclime, we visited several quarries in
the Eastern rocks, whence have been taken for a succession of
ages the materials of pyramids and temples*; where these
mountains form as it were a sharp promontory, and approach
within half a mile of the river. This space has been fortified by
the exertions of Ismain Bey, who several years ago had succeeded
for a time in expelling his enemies Murad and Ibrahim Bey from
the capital. The wall is well built, with embrasures for cannon
and holes for smaller fire-arms: and it is strengthened by two
very respectable fortresses attached to it;—these have been long-
since deserted, but might easily be repaired, if judged expedient.
It could, however, have been but of little use to the builder of
it, unless ho was in possession of the hills on its flank. The wall
joins the river at the village of Toura, six miles from Cairo ;
supposed by some travellers to have retained the name from
Troy, of which the antient town on this site is said to have been
a colony.
We continued our voyage towards Cairo, and disembarked at
Gizch on the 12th of February, after an absence of sixteen weeks.
It was from Gizeh that 1 had visited the pyramids that have
taken its name, in the month of October last. These stupendous
monuments of the Pharaohs have been so frequently described
by travellers, and particularly by the French men of letters, who
during their long stay at Cairo had frequent opportunities of exa-
mining them, that 1 shall only add a few observations on their
present appearance, the different measurements that have been
* This, position is plainly marked by Strabo, lib. xvii.------ov vipav h ry 'Af atla, t^ujmov
t) xaAsTra/ rfer^wSts Uavui; ofo;, xa.) a-tr^aia. uito a'uro, kol\ xoifj.1) TtXrpiov xcu rurai; x.a) ?w
TtorttfiM, rpcia. xaAs^ivi), xarowia tfaXaia—x. r. \.
The same excavations are also mentioned by Herodotus, lib. ii. § 8. *£" *£ xa!
given.
A few miles below Bedresclime, we visited several quarries in
the Eastern rocks, whence have been taken for a succession of
ages the materials of pyramids and temples*; where these
mountains form as it were a sharp promontory, and approach
within half a mile of the river. This space has been fortified by
the exertions of Ismain Bey, who several years ago had succeeded
for a time in expelling his enemies Murad and Ibrahim Bey from
the capital. The wall is well built, with embrasures for cannon
and holes for smaller fire-arms: and it is strengthened by two
very respectable fortresses attached to it;—these have been long-
since deserted, but might easily be repaired, if judged expedient.
It could, however, have been but of little use to the builder of
it, unless ho was in possession of the hills on its flank. The wall
joins the river at the village of Toura, six miles from Cairo ;
supposed by some travellers to have retained the name from
Troy, of which the antient town on this site is said to have been
a colony.
We continued our voyage towards Cairo, and disembarked at
Gizch on the 12th of February, after an absence of sixteen weeks.
It was from Gizeh that 1 had visited the pyramids that have
taken its name, in the month of October last. These stupendous
monuments of the Pharaohs have been so frequently described
by travellers, and particularly by the French men of letters, who
during their long stay at Cairo had frequent opportunities of exa-
mining them, that 1 shall only add a few observations on their
present appearance, the different measurements that have been
* This, position is plainly marked by Strabo, lib. xvii.------ov vipav h ry 'Af atla, t^ujmov
t) xaAsTra/ rfer^wSts Uavui; ofo;, xa.) a-tr^aia. uito a'uro, kol\ xoifj.1) TtXrpiov xcu rurai; x.a) ?w
TtorttfiM, rpcia. xaAs^ivi), xarowia tfaXaia—x. r. \.
The same excavations are also mentioned by Herodotus, lib. ii. § 8. *£" *£ xa!
given.