DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0232
APPENDIX.
193
JOHANNES HELFRICUS (1565)
Travelled in Egypt, and says that the base of the Great Pyra-
mid was five hundred and sixty feet; that the courses of the
stones were very high; and that it was accessible only on one
part, on account of the ruined state of the exterior. He
mentions that he ascended at the south-western angle by two
hundred and thirty steps or ranges ; but, as he took notice of
a resting-place about half-way up, he probably ascended at the
north-eastern corner. He says that the platform on the top
was capable of holding fifty people, and was about twelve
fathoms in circuit. In the interior, he describes the descend-
ing passage — a small hole that led into an excavation, whence
an ascending passage, about one hundred feet long, commenced.
He mentions the Queen's Chamber, and the well, which was
many hundreds of fathoms deep; he also examined the King's
Chamber, where he found an empty tomb — supposed to have
been the sepulchre of the Pharaoh who was drowned in the lied
Sea.
MR. LAWRENCE ALDERSEY (158G)
Appears to have entered the Great Pyramid; but he does not go
into any particular detail respecting it.
and their meaning may possibly be expressed by the slang phrase, that the Fyramidt
■were a shade too large.
" Pyramides Turres sunt in iEgypto, fastigatoe ultra celsitudinem omnem, qua;
fieri manu possit. Ilaque mensuram egressa' nullas habent umbras."
M. Jomard ascribes this passage to Solinus, and quotes from Ammianus
Marcellinus, lib. jcxii., that the Pyramids are towers of most astonishing height,
gradually diminishing towards the top; and that, on account of their form, their
shadows do not extend beyond their circumference. As the passage is peculiar,
the original words are added : " Pyramides ultra omnem omnino allitudinem qua;
manu confici possit erecta; sunt turres, quarum magnitudo quoniam incelsitndinem
nimium scandens gracilescit paulatim umbras quoque mechanic^ ratione consumit."
He then cites from Cassiodorus, that the shadows are confined to the spaces occupied
by these buildings as follows:—" Pyramides in TEgypto quarum in suo statu se
umbra consumens ultra constructionis spacia nulla parte respicitur."
He likewise mentions, from Aristides, that the priests affirmed that the Pyramids
extended as far below the ground as they were high above it; from Dion Cassius,
•hat Cornelius Gallus, the first governor sent to Egypt by Augustus, inscribed his
deeds upon Pyramids.
VOL. II. O
193
JOHANNES HELFRICUS (1565)
Travelled in Egypt, and says that the base of the Great Pyra-
mid was five hundred and sixty feet; that the courses of the
stones were very high; and that it was accessible only on one
part, on account of the ruined state of the exterior. He
mentions that he ascended at the south-western angle by two
hundred and thirty steps or ranges ; but, as he took notice of
a resting-place about half-way up, he probably ascended at the
north-eastern corner. He says that the platform on the top
was capable of holding fifty people, and was about twelve
fathoms in circuit. In the interior, he describes the descend-
ing passage — a small hole that led into an excavation, whence
an ascending passage, about one hundred feet long, commenced.
He mentions the Queen's Chamber, and the well, which was
many hundreds of fathoms deep; he also examined the King's
Chamber, where he found an empty tomb — supposed to have
been the sepulchre of the Pharaoh who was drowned in the lied
Sea.
MR. LAWRENCE ALDERSEY (158G)
Appears to have entered the Great Pyramid; but he does not go
into any particular detail respecting it.
and their meaning may possibly be expressed by the slang phrase, that the Fyramidt
■were a shade too large.
" Pyramides Turres sunt in iEgypto, fastigatoe ultra celsitudinem omnem, qua;
fieri manu possit. Ilaque mensuram egressa' nullas habent umbras."
M. Jomard ascribes this passage to Solinus, and quotes from Ammianus
Marcellinus, lib. jcxii., that the Pyramids are towers of most astonishing height,
gradually diminishing towards the top; and that, on account of their form, their
shadows do not extend beyond their circumference. As the passage is peculiar,
the original words are added : " Pyramides ultra omnem omnino allitudinem qua;
manu confici possit erecta; sunt turres, quarum magnitudo quoniam incelsitndinem
nimium scandens gracilescit paulatim umbras quoque mechanic^ ratione consumit."
He then cites from Cassiodorus, that the shadows are confined to the spaces occupied
by these buildings as follows:—" Pyramides in TEgypto quarum in suo statu se
umbra consumens ultra constructionis spacia nulla parte respicitur."
He likewise mentions, from Aristides, that the priests affirmed that the Pyramids
extended as far below the ground as they were high above it; from Dion Cassius,
•hat Cornelius Gallus, the first governor sent to Egypt by Augustus, inscribed his
deeds upon Pyramids.
VOL. II. O