DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0236
APPENDIX.
197
Emo, the Venetian consul, who told him that it would endanger
the town of Cairo.
He then says that the first part of it was formed like a square
tunnel,2 that it hecame round, and gradually decreased till a man
could scarcely penetrate when lying flat upon his stomach. At
the end of this passage the space hecame larger, and contained on
the right hand the well mentioned by Pliny, nearly filled up with
sand and stones. From this place a broad passage ascended to a
great opening, which had a high-coved roof of polished stones, so
well put together, that the joinings could scarcely be seen; and
the floor was so slippery that the ascent was effected by means
of small holes cut for that purpose. This passage was quite
straight, and longer, he observes, than those in Venetian palaces.
At the upper end of it, a square low entrance, fifteen or twenty
paces in length, conducted to another large ascending passage
precisely like the former, whence a second low passage, also about
fifteen or twenty paces long, opened into a square chamber, the
roof of which was formed by five polished stones; in which he found
a long chest of black marble, without a lid, twelve feet long, five
feet high, and as many broad. The sides of the chest were so thin,
that it was doubted whether it was made of marble or of some
composition.* Upon being struck, it sounded like a bell. He
adds that there was a channel to admit light into the chamber,
but that he made use of torches. He then mentions an accident
which happened to one of his partyr, who, in going down the last
ascending passage, lost his hold and fell to the bottom, " non
absque multo timore, et sui corporis damno" (as might be easily
imagined by those who know the place). The author further
observes, that he found the well did not contain any water for
seventy feet, as he went down in company with a friar, Paulo
Bigi, who had lately arrived from Mount Lebanon ; and he adds
that, upon consideration, he does not believe that it was intended
for that purpose, but to serve as a communication with the lower
parts of the Pyramid, which (he believed) extended to as great a
depth underground as it was high above the base. The well was
easily explored to the depth of seventy feet, when a vacant space
occurred whence two passages proceeded, corresponding with those
found in the upper part of the Pyramid ; the one conducting to the
Sphi nx,4 and the other to the Second Pyramid, which building was
' " Trumbae."
3 "Seu materia qua marniorii lapides nobilissimi adulteiari solent."
4 A mistake, probably, for the grotto.
197
Emo, the Venetian consul, who told him that it would endanger
the town of Cairo.
He then says that the first part of it was formed like a square
tunnel,2 that it hecame round, and gradually decreased till a man
could scarcely penetrate when lying flat upon his stomach. At
the end of this passage the space hecame larger, and contained on
the right hand the well mentioned by Pliny, nearly filled up with
sand and stones. From this place a broad passage ascended to a
great opening, which had a high-coved roof of polished stones, so
well put together, that the joinings could scarcely be seen; and
the floor was so slippery that the ascent was effected by means
of small holes cut for that purpose. This passage was quite
straight, and longer, he observes, than those in Venetian palaces.
At the upper end of it, a square low entrance, fifteen or twenty
paces in length, conducted to another large ascending passage
precisely like the former, whence a second low passage, also about
fifteen or twenty paces long, opened into a square chamber, the
roof of which was formed by five polished stones; in which he found
a long chest of black marble, without a lid, twelve feet long, five
feet high, and as many broad. The sides of the chest were so thin,
that it was doubted whether it was made of marble or of some
composition.* Upon being struck, it sounded like a bell. He
adds that there was a channel to admit light into the chamber,
but that he made use of torches. He then mentions an accident
which happened to one of his partyr, who, in going down the last
ascending passage, lost his hold and fell to the bottom, " non
absque multo timore, et sui corporis damno" (as might be easily
imagined by those who know the place). The author further
observes, that he found the well did not contain any water for
seventy feet, as he went down in company with a friar, Paulo
Bigi, who had lately arrived from Mount Lebanon ; and he adds
that, upon consideration, he does not believe that it was intended
for that purpose, but to serve as a communication with the lower
parts of the Pyramid, which (he believed) extended to as great a
depth underground as it was high above the base. The well was
easily explored to the depth of seventy feet, when a vacant space
occurred whence two passages proceeded, corresponding with those
found in the upper part of the Pyramid ; the one conducting to the
Sphi nx,4 and the other to the Second Pyramid, which building was
' " Trumbae."
3 "Seu materia qua marniorii lapides nobilissimi adulteiari solent."
4 A mistake, probably, for the grotto.