DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0311
272
APPENDIX.
the sanctuary at Karnac, and many of the stones of which it was
formed were covered with inverted hieroglyphics, and must there-
fore have belonged to a former building.1
Colonel Coutelle examined the well in company with M.
Alibert. He observes, that it was so encumbered with large stones
that the space was narrowed, in one place, to the width of
two hundred and seventy-one millimetres.2 Having arrived at
the end of the cord by which he was lowered down, he descended
without it, to the stones and rubbish at the bottom. He brought
some of them up, and they were found to be similar to those
in the walls and roof of the Grotto. He, therefore, concluded
that they had been thrown down from that place ; and that,
in the construction of the well, a vein of loose gravel had made
it necessary to build up the sides of the shaft, and that the
walling had afterwards been broken into, and the Grotto hollowed
out in search of treasures supposed to have been concealed behind
it; but that the well was made when the Pyramid was built.
He states that the thermometer was at 25° at the bottom of
the shaft. He does not seem to have had any idea that the first
inclined passage was continued beyond its junction with the
ascending one, and communicated with the well. The well was
afterwards cleared out to the depth of sixteen or seventeen
metres. The Arabs worked about four hours in the morning
and three in the evening, with an intermission of four or five
hours, that the air might be renovated; and the operation
was continued till military occurrences removed the French from
Gizch.
The bed, upon which the corner-stone at the north-eastern
angle of the Pyramid had been placed, was discovered at the
distance of2ra^from the apparent base, and the rock had been
well levelled and hollowed out to the depth of two hundred and
seven millimetres for the space of 3m'9 by 3m'4. The original
base was also traced at the north-western angle, at the same
level, and at the same distance from the building; and the whole,
entered. And it may also be added, tliat they did not perceive that the entrance
passage went on beyond its forced junction with the ascending passage, in a straight
line towards the centre of the Pyramid, or suspect that it communicated with the
well; but it is clear that they did not.
1 Mr. Wilkinson considers that this part of the Temple of Karnac is above 100
years older than any other building at Thebes, and is also of opinion that it had
succeeded a more antient edifice.
3 These stones were subsequently removed by M. Caviglia.
APPENDIX.
the sanctuary at Karnac, and many of the stones of which it was
formed were covered with inverted hieroglyphics, and must there-
fore have belonged to a former building.1
Colonel Coutelle examined the well in company with M.
Alibert. He observes, that it was so encumbered with large stones
that the space was narrowed, in one place, to the width of
two hundred and seventy-one millimetres.2 Having arrived at
the end of the cord by which he was lowered down, he descended
without it, to the stones and rubbish at the bottom. He brought
some of them up, and they were found to be similar to those
in the walls and roof of the Grotto. He, therefore, concluded
that they had been thrown down from that place ; and that,
in the construction of the well, a vein of loose gravel had made
it necessary to build up the sides of the shaft, and that the
walling had afterwards been broken into, and the Grotto hollowed
out in search of treasures supposed to have been concealed behind
it; but that the well was made when the Pyramid was built.
He states that the thermometer was at 25° at the bottom of
the shaft. He does not seem to have had any idea that the first
inclined passage was continued beyond its junction with the
ascending one, and communicated with the well. The well was
afterwards cleared out to the depth of sixteen or seventeen
metres. The Arabs worked about four hours in the morning
and three in the evening, with an intermission of four or five
hours, that the air might be renovated; and the operation
was continued till military occurrences removed the French from
Gizch.
The bed, upon which the corner-stone at the north-eastern
angle of the Pyramid had been placed, was discovered at the
distance of2ra^from the apparent base, and the rock had been
well levelled and hollowed out to the depth of two hundred and
seven millimetres for the space of 3m'9 by 3m'4. The original
base was also traced at the north-western angle, at the same
level, and at the same distance from the building; and the whole,
entered. And it may also be added, tliat they did not perceive that the entrance
passage went on beyond its forced junction with the ascending passage, in a straight
line towards the centre of the Pyramid, or suspect that it communicated with the
well; but it is clear that they did not.
1 Mr. Wilkinson considers that this part of the Temple of Karnac is above 100
years older than any other building at Thebes, and is also of opinion that it had
succeeded a more antient edifice.
3 These stones were subsequently removed by M. Caviglia.