DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0340
APPENDIX.
301
plane, and that the edge of this inclined plane was fourteen
inches hroad. He supposed that the perpendicular height of this
gallery was ahout twenty-six feet, and its length about one hun-
dred and twenty. Proceeding onwards from the top of this
ascent, he entered, by a passage about twenty-four feet long, the
King's Chamber, which was thirty-seven feet tbree inches long,
seventeen feet two inches wide, and about twenty high. It was
composed of highly polished masses of red granite, that reached
from the floor to the ceiling,^ which was formed of nine large
flat blocks of the same material, extending from wall to wall.
Towards the western end of this apartment, a sarcophagus of red
granite had been sunk in the pavement, which had been par-
tially removed in order to examine a small apartment beneath
it. The length of the sarcophagus was seven feet six inches, the
depth three feet three inches and a half, the breadth three feet
three ; and its interior dimensions proved that mankind were
formerly of the same stature as they are at present. It was
highly polished, but without hieroglyphics, sculpture, or orna-
ment of any description ; nor did he observe any in the chamber
or in the Pyramid. The sarcophagus had not any lid, and con-
tained merely a small quantity of dust, and a few pieces of broken
stone. He was of opinion that it had been introduced into the
chamber before the building was finished, although he perceived
that its dimensions exactly corresponded with those of the pass-
v ages. He observed a small tunnel at the south-western corner
of the chamber, which sloped upwards as if to communicate with
the external air ; and he says, that round the sides of the chamber,
at the bottom of the granite flags with which the walls are lined,
a small groove, about ten inches wide, had heen left, apparently for
the insertion of the stones, and had not afterwards been filled up.
He concluded that, as this chamber did not extend beyond the
centre of the Pyramid, a passage might be concealed by one of
the stones that formed the walls, and that it might lead to other
apartments. He did not enter Davison's Chamber, but con-
cluded, from what he had heard, that it had been formed to
relieve the ceiling of the King's from the superincumbent weight
of the building; and that, as it had a regular entrance, it was
probably also intended to answer some other purpose. In de-
scending to the subterraneous chamber, he passed the bottom of
9 This account shews the excellence of the masonry. The blocks are in hori-
zontal courses.
301
plane, and that the edge of this inclined plane was fourteen
inches hroad. He supposed that the perpendicular height of this
gallery was ahout twenty-six feet, and its length about one hun-
dred and twenty. Proceeding onwards from the top of this
ascent, he entered, by a passage about twenty-four feet long, the
King's Chamber, which was thirty-seven feet tbree inches long,
seventeen feet two inches wide, and about twenty high. It was
composed of highly polished masses of red granite, that reached
from the floor to the ceiling,^ which was formed of nine large
flat blocks of the same material, extending from wall to wall.
Towards the western end of this apartment, a sarcophagus of red
granite had been sunk in the pavement, which had been par-
tially removed in order to examine a small apartment beneath
it. The length of the sarcophagus was seven feet six inches, the
depth three feet three inches and a half, the breadth three feet
three ; and its interior dimensions proved that mankind were
formerly of the same stature as they are at present. It was
highly polished, but without hieroglyphics, sculpture, or orna-
ment of any description ; nor did he observe any in the chamber
or in the Pyramid. The sarcophagus had not any lid, and con-
tained merely a small quantity of dust, and a few pieces of broken
stone. He was of opinion that it had been introduced into the
chamber before the building was finished, although he perceived
that its dimensions exactly corresponded with those of the pass-
v ages. He observed a small tunnel at the south-western corner
of the chamber, which sloped upwards as if to communicate with
the external air ; and he says, that round the sides of the chamber,
at the bottom of the granite flags with which the walls are lined,
a small groove, about ten inches wide, had heen left, apparently for
the insertion of the stones, and had not afterwards been filled up.
He concluded that, as this chamber did not extend beyond the
centre of the Pyramid, a passage might be concealed by one of
the stones that formed the walls, and that it might lead to other
apartments. He did not enter Davison's Chamber, but con-
cluded, from what he had heard, that it had been formed to
relieve the ceiling of the King's from the superincumbent weight
of the building; and that, as it had a regular entrance, it was
probably also intended to answer some other purpose. In de-
scending to the subterraneous chamber, he passed the bottom of
9 This account shews the excellence of the masonry. The blocks are in hori-
zontal courses.