DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0304
APPENDIX.
265
predecessors, particularly of that of Rhampsinitus. He conjectures
that Cheops assumed the surname of Chemmis, given to him by
Diodorus, from the city of Chemmis, now Eckmim. He takes
notice of the excavations to the eastward of the Great Pyramid,
and also of the three small Pyramids near them, in which he could
not discover any cavity or entrance. He then mentions the ruined
buildings on the southern side, and conceives that one of them was
the tomb of Cheops's daughter. The Second Pyramid, he says, was
built by Chephren (brother to Cheops), who he concludes, had not
sufficient money to complete the revetment in marble. The base
appeared to be smaller than that of the Great one, although the
height was nearly the same, and it was built upon a more elevated
situation. . He conceives from the account of the subterranean
excavation mentioned by Herodotus, that the Great Pyramid was
surrounded by a canal, and that the excavations on the western
side formed part of it.8 He states, that the Second and the other
Pyramids were much dilapidated; that, although the ascent of
the Second is extremely difficult, some of his party succeeded with
the assistance of the Arabs, in climbing up to the bottom of the
casing on the western side, which he considers to be forty feet from
the top, in order to ascertain of what it was composed.9 The lower
part of this Pyramid he imagines to have been built upon a square
base or pedestal. He also states, upon the authority of Diodorus
Siculus, that, after all, neither Cheops nor Chephren were actually
buried in these tombs. He objects to the account of M. Maillet,
particularly as to the air-channels, as he could not find any traces
°fthem on the exterior of the Great Pyramid. Respecting the
Third Pyramid, he remarks, it was built by Mycerinus, and that,
like the Second, it had the addition of a temple on the eastern
s'de, and that the blocks of granite with which it had been cased
were scattered around it; that the rock had been levelled on the
western side, in the same manner as it had been near the Second
Pyramid, and that chambers had been excavated in it.1 He
then takes notice of the three Pyramids to the south of it, the
Sphinx, the Dykes, and the other remains of antiquity, and
' They are oblong pits of no great depth, and are supposed to have contained
•be mortar for building the Pyramids.
' "On a tire des fragmens de'ce revetement; il ne reste plus de doute sur la
Datiere dont il est forme." He afterwards says, that this material was plaster.
1 No chambers are to be seen at present, nor any place in which they could have
keen formed.
265
predecessors, particularly of that of Rhampsinitus. He conjectures
that Cheops assumed the surname of Chemmis, given to him by
Diodorus, from the city of Chemmis, now Eckmim. He takes
notice of the excavations to the eastward of the Great Pyramid,
and also of the three small Pyramids near them, in which he could
not discover any cavity or entrance. He then mentions the ruined
buildings on the southern side, and conceives that one of them was
the tomb of Cheops's daughter. The Second Pyramid, he says, was
built by Chephren (brother to Cheops), who he concludes, had not
sufficient money to complete the revetment in marble. The base
appeared to be smaller than that of the Great one, although the
height was nearly the same, and it was built upon a more elevated
situation. . He conceives from the account of the subterranean
excavation mentioned by Herodotus, that the Great Pyramid was
surrounded by a canal, and that the excavations on the western
side formed part of it.8 He states, that the Second and the other
Pyramids were much dilapidated; that, although the ascent of
the Second is extremely difficult, some of his party succeeded with
the assistance of the Arabs, in climbing up to the bottom of the
casing on the western side, which he considers to be forty feet from
the top, in order to ascertain of what it was composed.9 The lower
part of this Pyramid he imagines to have been built upon a square
base or pedestal. He also states, upon the authority of Diodorus
Siculus, that, after all, neither Cheops nor Chephren were actually
buried in these tombs. He objects to the account of M. Maillet,
particularly as to the air-channels, as he could not find any traces
°fthem on the exterior of the Great Pyramid. Respecting the
Third Pyramid, he remarks, it was built by Mycerinus, and that,
like the Second, it had the addition of a temple on the eastern
s'de, and that the blocks of granite with which it had been cased
were scattered around it; that the rock had been levelled on the
western side, in the same manner as it had been near the Second
Pyramid, and that chambers had been excavated in it.1 He
then takes notice of the three Pyramids to the south of it, the
Sphinx, the Dykes, and the other remains of antiquity, and
' They are oblong pits of no great depth, and are supposed to have contained
•be mortar for building the Pyramids.
' "On a tire des fragmens de'ce revetement; il ne reste plus de doute sur la
Datiere dont il est forme." He afterwards says, that this material was plaster.
1 No chambers are to be seen at present, nor any place in which they could have
keen formed.