DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0324
APPENDIX.
285
The following measures were taken from his own ohser-
o
vations :
English feet. Inches.
Length of the Chamber where is the Sarcophagus -
34
9
Breadth of do. -
17
4
Height -
22 •
0
Length of the Lower Chamber
20
0
Breadth of do. - - -
17
0
Height of do. ...
15
0
Length of the Sarcophagus ...
7
6
Breadth of do. -
3
6
Height of do. - - - -
3
6
Thickness of sides ...
0
6
Mr. Hamilton considers that the Pyramids were
tombs
i, and
that the granite chest was a sarcophagus ; but that, whatever
might have been its destination, it is evident that the build-
ing was constructed for the express purpose of containing it,
from its peculiar situation within the building, and also from the
exact correspondence of its dimensions with those of the several
passages and doorways. He can scarcely believe that any of
these vast buildings, particularly the large one, could have been
be<run and finished in one reign.
He remarks, that the Second Pyramid is smaller than the great
one; and that the differences of forty feet in its height, mentioned
by Herodotus, and of seventy-five feet in its base, stated by Dio-
dorus Siculus, appear to be near the truth. He then adverts to
the difficulty which exists, in the present state of these monu-
ments, to account for the canal by which the waters of the Nile
were said to have been introduced; and expresses his belief, that
the whole of the revetment of the Second Pyramid was not
entirely completed.
He found that the base of the Third Pyramid was three hundred
feet, and that it was one hundred and fifty-six feet in height; and
observed, that it retained several blocks of the Ethiopian stone,
with which, according to Diodorus and Herodotus, it was reveted
half way up to the summit. He remarks, that it had never been
satisfactorily ascertained whether the Pyramids in general were
entirely built upon the rock, or round one or more detached
bills ; and observes, that the account given by Mr. Bruce of
fragments of rock existing in the roof of the large gallery, in the
Great Pyramid, is a mistake, and that the. whole of the roof is
composed of masonry. He then takes notice of the three smaller
285
The following measures were taken from his own ohser-
o
vations :
English feet. Inches.
Length of the Chamber where is the Sarcophagus -
34
9
Breadth of do. -
17
4
Height -
22 •
0
Length of the Lower Chamber
20
0
Breadth of do. - - -
17
0
Height of do. ...
15
0
Length of the Sarcophagus ...
7
6
Breadth of do. -
3
6
Height of do. - - - -
3
6
Thickness of sides ...
0
6
Mr. Hamilton considers that the Pyramids were
tombs
i, and
that the granite chest was a sarcophagus ; but that, whatever
might have been its destination, it is evident that the build-
ing was constructed for the express purpose of containing it,
from its peculiar situation within the building, and also from the
exact correspondence of its dimensions with those of the several
passages and doorways. He can scarcely believe that any of
these vast buildings, particularly the large one, could have been
be<run and finished in one reign.
He remarks, that the Second Pyramid is smaller than the great
one; and that the differences of forty feet in its height, mentioned
by Herodotus, and of seventy-five feet in its base, stated by Dio-
dorus Siculus, appear to be near the truth. He then adverts to
the difficulty which exists, in the present state of these monu-
ments, to account for the canal by which the waters of the Nile
were said to have been introduced; and expresses his belief, that
the whole of the revetment of the Second Pyramid was not
entirely completed.
He found that the base of the Third Pyramid was three hundred
feet, and that it was one hundred and fifty-six feet in height; and
observed, that it retained several blocks of the Ethiopian stone,
with which, according to Diodorus and Herodotus, it was reveted
half way up to the summit. He remarks, that it had never been
satisfactorily ascertained whether the Pyramids in general were
entirely built upon the rock, or round one or more detached
bills ; and observes, that the account given by Mr. Bruce of
fragments of rock existing in the roof of the large gallery, in the
Great Pyramid, is a mistake, and that the. whole of the roof is
composed of masonry. He then takes notice of the three smaller