DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0267
228
APPENDIX.
sonry.8 He remarks that this communication had never been satis-
factorily explored, and that the Pyramid had always been entered by
the regular passage. He conceives that the interior construction
of it was a profound secret, and that none of these tombs were
violated until the time of the Mahometans. He says, that the
one in question appeared to have been entered by the Caliph Mah-
moud, who died in the 205th year of the Hegira ; and who em-
ployed three years, and considerable sums, in the undertaking; and
that he found little or no treasure, but saw an inscription, in letters
of gold, on the side of the chamber, declaring that the impious
violator of the tomb should experience, as his sole reward, the
regret of having committed a sacrilegious action without any
successful result. M. Maillet justly remarks, that this part of
the Arabian history brings the whole account into question, as the
language of the times when the Pyramids were built, and the
hieroglyphics in which the inscription was expressed, must have
been unintelligible to the Mahometans. He further adds, that
some of the Arab historians say that the Caliph Mahmoud had
an exact plan of the interior of the Pyramid, whilst other
accounts ascribe the opening to the Caliph Haroun-el-Raschid ;
but that, at all events, it seemed that the entrance was known to
be on the northern front.
He then states that the ranges of stone, besides two or three
which might have been wanting at the top, were two hundred and
eight, and that the Pyramid, when complete, was six hundred
feet high. He says, that the names of the kings who built the
Pyramids were unknown, and that history, in this respect, was
not to be trusted ; for that some of the Arabian traditions ascribe
their construction to giants who lived before Adam ; while other
authorities give a fabulous account of a monarch called Gian,
and of his mighty exploits. He also observes, that Innumerable
tombs, and also a number of pyramids of various dimensions,9 had
been found on the neighbouring rocks, which shewed the high
degree of science at which the Egyptians had arrived in the earliest
times : but he adds, that it did not appear that any of them,
excepting the Great Pyramid, had been opened.
8 It is remarkable that lie was not led by these considerations to form any idea
that the entrance-passage continued in a regular descent, and communicated with
the well or shaft.
8 It seems that, at the time when M. Maillet visited the Pyramids, great incon-
venience was experienced from the accumulation of sand and rubbisli in the interior;
and likewise that considerable danger was to be apprehended from the Arabs.
APPENDIX.
sonry.8 He remarks that this communication had never been satis-
factorily explored, and that the Pyramid had always been entered by
the regular passage. He conceives that the interior construction
of it was a profound secret, and that none of these tombs were
violated until the time of the Mahometans. He says, that the
one in question appeared to have been entered by the Caliph Mah-
moud, who died in the 205th year of the Hegira ; and who em-
ployed three years, and considerable sums, in the undertaking; and
that he found little or no treasure, but saw an inscription, in letters
of gold, on the side of the chamber, declaring that the impious
violator of the tomb should experience, as his sole reward, the
regret of having committed a sacrilegious action without any
successful result. M. Maillet justly remarks, that this part of
the Arabian history brings the whole account into question, as the
language of the times when the Pyramids were built, and the
hieroglyphics in which the inscription was expressed, must have
been unintelligible to the Mahometans. He further adds, that
some of the Arab historians say that the Caliph Mahmoud had
an exact plan of the interior of the Pyramid, whilst other
accounts ascribe the opening to the Caliph Haroun-el-Raschid ;
but that, at all events, it seemed that the entrance was known to
be on the northern front.
He then states that the ranges of stone, besides two or three
which might have been wanting at the top, were two hundred and
eight, and that the Pyramid, when complete, was six hundred
feet high. He says, that the names of the kings who built the
Pyramids were unknown, and that history, in this respect, was
not to be trusted ; for that some of the Arabian traditions ascribe
their construction to giants who lived before Adam ; while other
authorities give a fabulous account of a monarch called Gian,
and of his mighty exploits. He also observes, that Innumerable
tombs, and also a number of pyramids of various dimensions,9 had
been found on the neighbouring rocks, which shewed the high
degree of science at which the Egyptians had arrived in the earliest
times : but he adds, that it did not appear that any of them,
excepting the Great Pyramid, had been opened.
8 It is remarkable that lie was not led by these considerations to form any idea
that the entrance-passage continued in a regular descent, and communicated with
the well or shaft.
8 It seems that, at the time when M. Maillet visited the Pyramids, great incon-
venience was experienced from the accumulation of sand and rubbisli in the interior;
and likewise that considerable danger was to be apprehended from the Arabs.