DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0300
APPENDIX.
261
He conceives that Greaves and Niebuhr are mistaken in the
height of the Pyramid. He says, that the ranges of stone are from
two feet to four feet high, the larger at the bottom; and that
Greaves's account should be five hundred and seventeen feet. He
observes, that Greaves, Maillet, Thevenot, and Pococke, appear
all to have ascended and made their observations at the north-
eastern angle; that Albert Lewinstein, Belon, and Prosper Al-
pinus, ascended at the south-eastern or south-western angles; and,
as these travellers give a greater number of ranges of stone, he con-
cludes that that part of the Pyramid wras not so much covered by
the desert sands ;* and says, that their accounts agree better with
Diodorus and with Strabo. He considers that the Pyramid is at
least six hundred feet high ; and that, as Pliny has stated that the
entrance was in the exact centre of its northern side, and as it is
now only one hundred feet high, the rubbish and sand must have
formed a hill of two hundred feet above the base.5 He remarks also
that, according to Pliny, the building covers a space of eight acres ;
and quotes from that author, Herodotus, and Diodorus Siculus,
that the Pyramid was cased with one uniform surface ; and from
Strabo, that it had been closed up. He agrees entirely with the
opinions of M. Maillet, which he inserts at great length ; and he
mentions that, according to some Arabian authors, the Pyramid
was opened by the Caliph Mahmoud at the beginning of the
eighth century ; according to others, that it was opened by the
Caliph Haroun-el-Raschid (who, he observes, sent a water-clock
to Charlemagne, the first that was ever seen in France). He
believes that the Pyramid was a tomb, notwithstanding the
opinions of M. Pauw.
The Second Pyramid, built by Chephren, brother to Chemmis,
appeared almost as high as the first, which coincided with the
accounts of Strabo and of Diodorus Siculus ; but its base was
smaller. He observes, that the revetment of this Pyramid was
entirely destroyed to within sixty feet of the top, and he concludes
that that part was left merely on account of the difficulty of its
removal. M. Savary does not conceive that this Pyramid had
ever been entered. To the east of these two he saw another,
similar in structure, but of much less dimensions. The base of it,
however, was about three hundred feet square. It was built by
4 The accumulations of rubbish and sand are at present higher on the southern
side.
' Pliny does not appear to have mentioned the entrance.
261
He conceives that Greaves and Niebuhr are mistaken in the
height of the Pyramid. He says, that the ranges of stone are from
two feet to four feet high, the larger at the bottom; and that
Greaves's account should be five hundred and seventeen feet. He
observes, that Greaves, Maillet, Thevenot, and Pococke, appear
all to have ascended and made their observations at the north-
eastern angle; that Albert Lewinstein, Belon, and Prosper Al-
pinus, ascended at the south-eastern or south-western angles; and,
as these travellers give a greater number of ranges of stone, he con-
cludes that that part of the Pyramid wras not so much covered by
the desert sands ;* and says, that their accounts agree better with
Diodorus and with Strabo. He considers that the Pyramid is at
least six hundred feet high ; and that, as Pliny has stated that the
entrance was in the exact centre of its northern side, and as it is
now only one hundred feet high, the rubbish and sand must have
formed a hill of two hundred feet above the base.5 He remarks also
that, according to Pliny, the building covers a space of eight acres ;
and quotes from that author, Herodotus, and Diodorus Siculus,
that the Pyramid was cased with one uniform surface ; and from
Strabo, that it had been closed up. He agrees entirely with the
opinions of M. Maillet, which he inserts at great length ; and he
mentions that, according to some Arabian authors, the Pyramid
was opened by the Caliph Mahmoud at the beginning of the
eighth century ; according to others, that it was opened by the
Caliph Haroun-el-Raschid (who, he observes, sent a water-clock
to Charlemagne, the first that was ever seen in France). He
believes that the Pyramid was a tomb, notwithstanding the
opinions of M. Pauw.
The Second Pyramid, built by Chephren, brother to Chemmis,
appeared almost as high as the first, which coincided with the
accounts of Strabo and of Diodorus Siculus ; but its base was
smaller. He observes, that the revetment of this Pyramid was
entirely destroyed to within sixty feet of the top, and he concludes
that that part was left merely on account of the difficulty of its
removal. M. Savary does not conceive that this Pyramid had
ever been entered. To the east of these two he saw another,
similar in structure, but of much less dimensions. The base of it,
however, was about three hundred feet square. It was built by
4 The accumulations of rubbish and sand are at present higher on the southern
side.
' Pliny does not appear to have mentioned the entrance.