DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0221
182
APPENDIX.
ihen were spent on this, and on the snhterraneous chambers in the
hill on which the Pyramid stands, which he constructed for his
own vaults in an island made by introducing a canal from the
Nile. But twenty years were expended on the construction of the
Pyramid itself, which is square, each side being of eight hundred
feet, and of equal altitude. It is of polished and most accurately
jointed stones, no single stone being less than thirty feet. This
Pyramid was constructed in the manner of steps, by some called
parapets (krossai); by others, little altars ;* such being its original
construction, they raised the remaining stones with machines, made
of short pieces of wood, from the ground to the first layer of steps,
and when the stone was let down on this, it rested on a second
machine standing on the first layer; from this it was drawn to the
second layer, where another machine lay to receive it—for there
were just so many machines as layers of steps; or perhaps, they
transferred the same single portable machine to each layer on
removing the stone. We choose to mention both accounts as they
were related to us. Thus, the upjier part of the Pyramid was first
finished off,3 then the next part, and last of all the lower ground
part. Now, the sum that was spent on radishes, onions, and
garlic, for the workmen, is marked in Egyptian characters on the
Pyramid; and, as I well remember what the interpreter, as he
read over the writing, said to me, it made up a sum of sixteen
hundred silver talents. If these things be so, how much besides
may we calculate was spent on the iron with which they worked,
and on bread and clothes for the workmen, as they were occupied
the above-mentioned time in constructing these works, and no
little time besides, as I conceive, in cutting and carrying the
stones, and making the subterraneous excavation ? Cheops, they
continued, descended so low, that for want of money he placed his
own daughter in a chamber, and charged her to get a certain sum
of money, which they did not specify. She not only obtained the
sum appointed by her father, but on her own account was minded
to leave a memorial behind her, and asked each of her visitors to
give her one stone for the works. Of these stones, they said, the
4 These steps have been already alluded to: they were probably progressive
stages, diminishing towards the top like those in the Fourth and Sixth Pyramids, as
the several tiers of stones could not have been of sufficient width to support machines
of any power. The Third Pyramid appears to have been built in this manner, and
the superficies to have been afterwards filled up into one continuous line.
1 This finishing from the top applies solely to the trimming off and smoothing
the surface of tl.e casing-stones, which had been roughly cut to the proper angle.
APPENDIX.
ihen were spent on this, and on the snhterraneous chambers in the
hill on which the Pyramid stands, which he constructed for his
own vaults in an island made by introducing a canal from the
Nile. But twenty years were expended on the construction of the
Pyramid itself, which is square, each side being of eight hundred
feet, and of equal altitude. It is of polished and most accurately
jointed stones, no single stone being less than thirty feet. This
Pyramid was constructed in the manner of steps, by some called
parapets (krossai); by others, little altars ;* such being its original
construction, they raised the remaining stones with machines, made
of short pieces of wood, from the ground to the first layer of steps,
and when the stone was let down on this, it rested on a second
machine standing on the first layer; from this it was drawn to the
second layer, where another machine lay to receive it—for there
were just so many machines as layers of steps; or perhaps, they
transferred the same single portable machine to each layer on
removing the stone. We choose to mention both accounts as they
were related to us. Thus, the upjier part of the Pyramid was first
finished off,3 then the next part, and last of all the lower ground
part. Now, the sum that was spent on radishes, onions, and
garlic, for the workmen, is marked in Egyptian characters on the
Pyramid; and, as I well remember what the interpreter, as he
read over the writing, said to me, it made up a sum of sixteen
hundred silver talents. If these things be so, how much besides
may we calculate was spent on the iron with which they worked,
and on bread and clothes for the workmen, as they were occupied
the above-mentioned time in constructing these works, and no
little time besides, as I conceive, in cutting and carrying the
stones, and making the subterraneous excavation ? Cheops, they
continued, descended so low, that for want of money he placed his
own daughter in a chamber, and charged her to get a certain sum
of money, which they did not specify. She not only obtained the
sum appointed by her father, but on her own account was minded
to leave a memorial behind her, and asked each of her visitors to
give her one stone for the works. Of these stones, they said, the
4 These steps have been already alluded to: they were probably progressive
stages, diminishing towards the top like those in the Fourth and Sixth Pyramids, as
the several tiers of stones could not have been of sufficient width to support machines
of any power. The Third Pyramid appears to have been built in this manner, and
the superficies to have been afterwards filled up into one continuous line.
1 This finishing from the top applies solely to the trimming off and smoothing
the surface of tl.e casing-stones, which had been roughly cut to the proper angle.