DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0231
192
APPENDIX.
and fifty, and the base about three hundred and twenty-five paces;
that he entered it by a square aperture in the northern side,
which was more dilapidated than the others; and that, having
descended by the inclined passage for a considerable distance, he
arrived at the well, said by Pliny to have contained, at the depth
of eighty-six cubits, the waters of the Nile, but that when he saw it,
it was almost entirely filled up with stones and rubbish. He then
ascended, by a passage on the left hand, to a chamber in the centre
of the Pyramid, six paces long, and four broad. It was lined with
polished stone, and contained a large tomb twelve feet long and
six wide, formed of black marble, in which he was told that an
antient king had been buried. He mentions, that the passages
were much encumbered with rubbish, and infested with great
quantities of bats which had long tails.
The Second Pyramid, although actually smaller, appeared at a
distance, from having been built on a higher situation, of larger
dimensions ;—the summit ended in a point, but was inaccessible ;
it was solid, had no opening, and was said to have been covered
with marble, and to have been intended for a tomb. He adds,
that both these buildings were composed of Arabian stone.
The Third Pyramid seemed at first sight, from being placed
ufion still higher ground, to be of equal height with the other
two, although it is in fact considerably less. It was said to have
been erected by Rhodope, and was extremely handsome, as it
was constructed of Ethiopian stone; which, he adds, was of so
hard and close a texture, that it could not be worked with iron
tools.3
There was also a number of smaller pyramids, of different sizes,
near these three.
AUTHORS OF VARIOUS ANTIQUITIES (1560).
The Pyramids are towers in Egypt, of such an height that no
human power could have constructed them; they exceed all
mensuration that could be taken by their shadows :—in fact, they
have no shadows.4
3 A distinction seems to be drawn between tools made of iron and those of
other metals.
4 Professor Greaves alludes to the absurd tradition that the Pyramids had no
shadows. This passage is, however, so obscure, that the Latin words are inserted ;
APPENDIX.
and fifty, and the base about three hundred and twenty-five paces;
that he entered it by a square aperture in the northern side,
which was more dilapidated than the others; and that, having
descended by the inclined passage for a considerable distance, he
arrived at the well, said by Pliny to have contained, at the depth
of eighty-six cubits, the waters of the Nile, but that when he saw it,
it was almost entirely filled up with stones and rubbish. He then
ascended, by a passage on the left hand, to a chamber in the centre
of the Pyramid, six paces long, and four broad. It was lined with
polished stone, and contained a large tomb twelve feet long and
six wide, formed of black marble, in which he was told that an
antient king had been buried. He mentions, that the passages
were much encumbered with rubbish, and infested with great
quantities of bats which had long tails.
The Second Pyramid, although actually smaller, appeared at a
distance, from having been built on a higher situation, of larger
dimensions ;—the summit ended in a point, but was inaccessible ;
it was solid, had no opening, and was said to have been covered
with marble, and to have been intended for a tomb. He adds,
that both these buildings were composed of Arabian stone.
The Third Pyramid seemed at first sight, from being placed
ufion still higher ground, to be of equal height with the other
two, although it is in fact considerably less. It was said to have
been erected by Rhodope, and was extremely handsome, as it
was constructed of Ethiopian stone; which, he adds, was of so
hard and close a texture, that it could not be worked with iron
tools.3
There was also a number of smaller pyramids, of different sizes,
near these three.
AUTHORS OF VARIOUS ANTIQUITIES (1560).
The Pyramids are towers in Egypt, of such an height that no
human power could have constructed them; they exceed all
mensuration that could be taken by their shadows :—in fact, they
have no shadows.4
3 A distinction seems to be drawn between tools made of iron and those of
other metals.
4 Professor Greaves alludes to the absurd tradition that the Pyramids had no
shadows. This passage is, however, so obscure, that the Latin words are inserted ;