DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0321
282
APPENDIX.
leading to the sepulchral chamber ; and he remarks also, that
it must have been open even in the time of Herodotus, as he
speaks of subterraneous chambers, which must have been seen to
have been described. He conceives, therefore, that the interior
was accessible in the earliest ages, and that perhaps it had never
been completely closed up.2 He refers the reader to Greaves's
admeasurement, but observes, that the entrance inclined at an
angle of 26°, and that the bottom of the ascending passage was
closed up with blocks of granite, and that a forced communication
had been carried round them, which he entered. At the end of
this ascending passage (one hundred and ten feet in length) he
came to the well, which was, according to Pliny, one hundred and
twenty-nine feet deep, and, according to Greaves, only twenty feet;
and he conjectures, that the difference between these statements
was occasioned by the indirect course of the shaft, as a large
stone, which was thrown into it, was for some time delayed by
the sinuosities of the channel, but at lengtli fell to the bottom
with a loud and "splashing sound, as if it had been broken into
pieces," and had fallen into a reservoir of water of considerable
depth, which agrees with Pliny's assertion, that there was water
at the bottom of this well.3 He also states, that two or three
small ducts or channels, branching off to the east and west
from this passage, were observed when the well was examined ;
and as they are not described by Sandys, Greaves, Vansleb,
Pococke, Shaw, Niebuhr, Maillet, Lucas, Norden, Savary, or any
author that he had consulted, he supposes they were made by the
French. Dr. Clarke and his party entered several of them, but
could not make any progress. They found in one a small square
apartment, about three feet in height, into which a quantity of
loose stones had been thrown, apparently in clearing out the
passage leading to it. These hollows appeared to be accidental,
and of little or no consequence.4 He then proceeded by the hori-
zontal passage to the Queen's apartment, and mentions its in-
clined roof; and having returned towards the well, he ascended to
the King's Chamber. He did not perceive the white and polished
2 He liad not observed that the passages have been stopped up with solid
masonry, and with a portcullis.
3 It is remarkable that Dr. Clarke did not know that the well had been repeat-
edly examined, and that the French had excavated in it.
* No such excavations exist at present, unless the grotto in the well, or part of the
forced passage made by the caliphs, are alluded to; but neither of them answers
this description.
APPENDIX.
leading to the sepulchral chamber ; and he remarks also, that
it must have been open even in the time of Herodotus, as he
speaks of subterraneous chambers, which must have been seen to
have been described. He conceives, therefore, that the interior
was accessible in the earliest ages, and that perhaps it had never
been completely closed up.2 He refers the reader to Greaves's
admeasurement, but observes, that the entrance inclined at an
angle of 26°, and that the bottom of the ascending passage was
closed up with blocks of granite, and that a forced communication
had been carried round them, which he entered. At the end of
this ascending passage (one hundred and ten feet in length) he
came to the well, which was, according to Pliny, one hundred and
twenty-nine feet deep, and, according to Greaves, only twenty feet;
and he conjectures, that the difference between these statements
was occasioned by the indirect course of the shaft, as a large
stone, which was thrown into it, was for some time delayed by
the sinuosities of the channel, but at lengtli fell to the bottom
with a loud and "splashing sound, as if it had been broken into
pieces," and had fallen into a reservoir of water of considerable
depth, which agrees with Pliny's assertion, that there was water
at the bottom of this well.3 He also states, that two or three
small ducts or channels, branching off to the east and west
from this passage, were observed when the well was examined ;
and as they are not described by Sandys, Greaves, Vansleb,
Pococke, Shaw, Niebuhr, Maillet, Lucas, Norden, Savary, or any
author that he had consulted, he supposes they were made by the
French. Dr. Clarke and his party entered several of them, but
could not make any progress. They found in one a small square
apartment, about three feet in height, into which a quantity of
loose stones had been thrown, apparently in clearing out the
passage leading to it. These hollows appeared to be accidental,
and of little or no consequence.4 He then proceeded by the hori-
zontal passage to the Queen's apartment, and mentions its in-
clined roof; and having returned towards the well, he ascended to
the King's Chamber. He did not perceive the white and polished
2 He liad not observed that the passages have been stopped up with solid
masonry, and with a portcullis.
3 It is remarkable that Dr. Clarke did not know that the well had been repeat-
edly examined, and that the French had excavated in it.
* No such excavations exist at present, unless the grotto in the well, or part of the
forced passage made by the caliphs, are alluded to; but neither of them answers
this description.