DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0143
APPENDIX.
115
contains many subterraneous chambers and passages: but, as I
have before observed, owing to the echoes, occasioned by the
immense size and relative positions of these vast buildings, the
ear is not entirely to be trusted.
The structure appears to have been surrounded by a pavement,
although its extent has not been ascertained, excepting at the
centre of the northern front; and a substruction of large stones has
been laid at some distance from the north-eastern and south-
eastern angles of the building, in order, probably, to secure the
base.
The two lower tiers, about seven or eight feet in height, have
been facings of granite, as Herodotus has truly described; but,
with the exception of the entrance-passage (likewise composed of
that material), the masonry is by no means equal to that of the
Great Pyramid.
Mr. Perring is of opinion that the iuterior is divided by
massive walls of wrought stone into square compartments, which
have been filled up with a sort of gigantic rubble-work, composed
of large blocks and of mortar; however that may be, it is so irre-
gularly built, that since the removal of the casing, the desert sand
and rain have penetrated in several places to a considerable dis-
tance. It was this looseness of construction that impeded M.
Belzoni's operations, and occasioned the stones to collapse in the
excavation made by the Caliphs.
The stones on the summit of the building have been thrown
down ; the top of it is, at present, about nine feet square; the
casing has also been removed to within 130 to 150 feet of the present
summit. It was made of a hard stone from the Mokattam, of the
same quality as the blocks at the base of the Great Pyramid, and
the part, which now remains, was probably left on account of the
difficulty of removing it.9
The ruined building near the eastern front, and those similarly
placed near the Great and Third Pyramids' have been probably
hypajthral temples. The remains of another construction, built
with enormous blocks, are likewise to be seen opposite the southern
front.
The inscription found by M. Belzoni in this pyramid is given in
his book, page 272, from a translation by M. Salame, as follows:
" The master, Mohammed Ahmed Lapicide, has opened them;
8 The casing appears to have been perfect in 1638 (see extracts from Sandy's,
Villamont's, and Greaves's travels)—it is said to have been dilapidated by Careri, in
1695.
115
contains many subterraneous chambers and passages: but, as I
have before observed, owing to the echoes, occasioned by the
immense size and relative positions of these vast buildings, the
ear is not entirely to be trusted.
The structure appears to have been surrounded by a pavement,
although its extent has not been ascertained, excepting at the
centre of the northern front; and a substruction of large stones has
been laid at some distance from the north-eastern and south-
eastern angles of the building, in order, probably, to secure the
base.
The two lower tiers, about seven or eight feet in height, have
been facings of granite, as Herodotus has truly described; but,
with the exception of the entrance-passage (likewise composed of
that material), the masonry is by no means equal to that of the
Great Pyramid.
Mr. Perring is of opinion that the iuterior is divided by
massive walls of wrought stone into square compartments, which
have been filled up with a sort of gigantic rubble-work, composed
of large blocks and of mortar; however that may be, it is so irre-
gularly built, that since the removal of the casing, the desert sand
and rain have penetrated in several places to a considerable dis-
tance. It was this looseness of construction that impeded M.
Belzoni's operations, and occasioned the stones to collapse in the
excavation made by the Caliphs.
The stones on the summit of the building have been thrown
down ; the top of it is, at present, about nine feet square; the
casing has also been removed to within 130 to 150 feet of the present
summit. It was made of a hard stone from the Mokattam, of the
same quality as the blocks at the base of the Great Pyramid, and
the part, which now remains, was probably left on account of the
difficulty of removing it.9
The ruined building near the eastern front, and those similarly
placed near the Great and Third Pyramids' have been probably
hypajthral temples. The remains of another construction, built
with enormous blocks, are likewise to be seen opposite the southern
front.
The inscription found by M. Belzoni in this pyramid is given in
his book, page 272, from a translation by M. Salame, as follows:
" The master, Mohammed Ahmed Lapicide, has opened them;
8 The casing appears to have been perfect in 1638 (see extracts from Sandy's,
Villamont's, and Greaves's travels)—it is said to have been dilapidated by Careri, in
1695.