DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0233
194
APPENDIX.
M. JEAN PALER ME (1581),
Secretary to the Duke of Anjou and of Alencon, who was brother
to Henry III. of France, gives the following account of the
Pyramids of Gizeh, which he visited in 1581.
He says, that, upon a close inspection, they greatly exceeded his
expectations ; and he considers, that they were justly esteemed one
of the seven wonders of the world, observing that all the others
had long since disappeared. He says, that the Great Pyramid had
been built above three thousand years, and that it was constructed
by one of the Pharaohs —the same who perished in the Red Sea.
According to some people, the square of the base was one
thousand six hundred and eighty feet ; and the summit, when
complete, one thousand four hundred and forty feet in height:
according to other accounts, there were two hundred and fifty
ranges of stones, each from three feet nine inches to four feet two
inches high, which, he remarks, would give a height of about eight
hundred feet5 — but he adds, that he only counted two hundred and
thirteen ranges ; and as they were of different dimensions, some
being so high that he required assistance to climb over them, and
others not more than two feet, it was difficult to calculate by them
the height of the building. It had, however, been taken by an
English traveller with an astrolahe, and was found to be one hun-
dred toises by perpendicular admeasurement; and the base was a
square of one hundred and ten toises, each of six feet, and each
foot consisting of twelve inches.6 It was, therefore, three times
higher than the church of Notre Dame ; but easier of ascent,
on account of the extent of the base : indeed, otherwise, it would
have been scarcely practicable: he heard, indeed, as it was, that
one traveller had accidentally fallen from the top, and had been
dashed to pieces. He found the summit to be a square of ahout
four paces, and capable of holding about forty persons; and he
caught upon the top of it one of the white birds called Pharaoh's
hens. He was much surprised at the wonderful state of preser-
vation in which the Pyramids had existed for so long a time ;
and ohserved, that they were built with blocks of Arabian stone,
5 It appears, according to this statement, tliat the height would be nine hundred
and eighty-seven feet six inches, or one thousand and forty-one feet eight inches.
6 lie adds, that un pat dc roi consisted of three feet.
APPENDIX.
M. JEAN PALER ME (1581),
Secretary to the Duke of Anjou and of Alencon, who was brother
to Henry III. of France, gives the following account of the
Pyramids of Gizeh, which he visited in 1581.
He says, that, upon a close inspection, they greatly exceeded his
expectations ; and he considers, that they were justly esteemed one
of the seven wonders of the world, observing that all the others
had long since disappeared. He says, that the Great Pyramid had
been built above three thousand years, and that it was constructed
by one of the Pharaohs —the same who perished in the Red Sea.
According to some people, the square of the base was one
thousand six hundred and eighty feet ; and the summit, when
complete, one thousand four hundred and forty feet in height:
according to other accounts, there were two hundred and fifty
ranges of stones, each from three feet nine inches to four feet two
inches high, which, he remarks, would give a height of about eight
hundred feet5 — but he adds, that he only counted two hundred and
thirteen ranges ; and as they were of different dimensions, some
being so high that he required assistance to climb over them, and
others not more than two feet, it was difficult to calculate by them
the height of the building. It had, however, been taken by an
English traveller with an astrolahe, and was found to be one hun-
dred toises by perpendicular admeasurement; and the base was a
square of one hundred and ten toises, each of six feet, and each
foot consisting of twelve inches.6 It was, therefore, three times
higher than the church of Notre Dame ; but easier of ascent,
on account of the extent of the base : indeed, otherwise, it would
have been scarcely practicable: he heard, indeed, as it was, that
one traveller had accidentally fallen from the top, and had been
dashed to pieces. He found the summit to be a square of ahout
four paces, and capable of holding about forty persons; and he
caught upon the top of it one of the white birds called Pharaoh's
hens. He was much surprised at the wonderful state of preser-
vation in which the Pyramids had existed for so long a time ;
and ohserved, that they were built with blocks of Arabian stone,
5 It appears, according to this statement, tliat the height would be nine hundred
and eighty-seven feet six inches, or one thousand and forty-one feet eight inches.
6 lie adds, that un pat dc roi consisted of three feet.