DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0341
302
APPENDIX.
the well, and afterwards arrived at the end of the inclined pass-
age, where he could perceive the open air at the entrance ; and
he observed, that at night the polar star might he distinctly seen
from this point. The passage then became horizontal for twenty-
eight feet, and entered a chamber, sixty-six feet long, twenty-seven
feet wide, and between twelve and fourteen feet high, which was
supposed to be exactly under the centre of the Pyramid, and con-
siderably lower than its base. It appeared to be unfinished, lie
then mentions the passage to the southwards; and another, forty
feet long, which proceeded from a species of arch in the eastern
side of the Queen's Chamber.1 He did not examine these pass-
ages himself; but, without the most positive and undoubted
authority to the contrary, he is inclined to believe that they con-
tinued on, and ultimately communicated with the open air, and
were intended for secret communications. The chamber, although
recently opened by M. Caviglia, appeared to have been frequently
visited in former times, as it was covered with smoke, and as
some Roman characters had been written on the ceiling with the
smoke of a candle. It appeared to the author to have been
alluded to by antient historians, but it did not answer the descrip-
tion of Herodotus. Dr. Richardson considered that this apart-
ment must have been of importance, from its great dimensions and
from its form, and also from the care that had been taken in con-
structing the passage, which he observed was lined with finely
polished slabs of syenite, behind which, he conceives, other
communications may exist. He concludes, as all the chambers
already known (with the exception of the subterraneous apart-
ment) are on the west of the entrance-passage, that the other
three spaces have their chambers also ; and he is surprised that
no attempt has been made to discover a passage entering from
the southern, eastern, or western sides of the edifice, particularly
on the southern, where a door might be concealed under the rub-
bish, which a careful examination would discover. He conceives
also, that the small tunnel from the King's Chamber may com-
municate with other chambers, or with the open air. He does
not believe that the Pyramids were intended for astronomical
purposes, because the passages were closed up with masonry, and
1 Tliere are many inaccuracies in this narrative. The passage said to pass under
an arch is a mistake. No such communication exists. In Mr. Salt's manuscript,
the excavation under the niche in the Queen's Chamber is said to have been cleared
out by M. Caviglia, and part of this account must have been copied from it.
APPENDIX.
the well, and afterwards arrived at the end of the inclined pass-
age, where he could perceive the open air at the entrance ; and
he observed, that at night the polar star might he distinctly seen
from this point. The passage then became horizontal for twenty-
eight feet, and entered a chamber, sixty-six feet long, twenty-seven
feet wide, and between twelve and fourteen feet high, which was
supposed to be exactly under the centre of the Pyramid, and con-
siderably lower than its base. It appeared to be unfinished, lie
then mentions the passage to the southwards; and another, forty
feet long, which proceeded from a species of arch in the eastern
side of the Queen's Chamber.1 He did not examine these pass-
ages himself; but, without the most positive and undoubted
authority to the contrary, he is inclined to believe that they con-
tinued on, and ultimately communicated with the open air, and
were intended for secret communications. The chamber, although
recently opened by M. Caviglia, appeared to have been frequently
visited in former times, as it was covered with smoke, and as
some Roman characters had been written on the ceiling with the
smoke of a candle. It appeared to the author to have been
alluded to by antient historians, but it did not answer the descrip-
tion of Herodotus. Dr. Richardson considered that this apart-
ment must have been of importance, from its great dimensions and
from its form, and also from the care that had been taken in con-
structing the passage, which he observed was lined with finely
polished slabs of syenite, behind which, he conceives, other
communications may exist. He concludes, as all the chambers
already known (with the exception of the subterraneous apart-
ment) are on the west of the entrance-passage, that the other
three spaces have their chambers also ; and he is surprised that
no attempt has been made to discover a passage entering from
the southern, eastern, or western sides of the edifice, particularly
on the southern, where a door might be concealed under the rub-
bish, which a careful examination would discover. He conceives
also, that the small tunnel from the King's Chamber may com-
municate with other chambers, or with the open air. He does
not believe that the Pyramids were intended for astronomical
purposes, because the passages were closed up with masonry, and
1 Tliere are many inaccuracies in this narrative. The passage said to pass under
an arch is a mistake. No such communication exists. In Mr. Salt's manuscript,
the excavation under the niche in the Queen's Chamber is said to have been cleared
out by M. Caviglia, and part of this account must have been copied from it.