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Howard-Vyse, Richard William Howard
Operations carried on at the Pyramids of Gizeh in 1837: with an account of a voyage into upper Egypt, and Appendix (Band 2) — London, 1841

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APPENDIX.

317

ideas, a reference to the book is absolutely necessary. The
following remarks on the Three Pyramids are, therefore, only
added.

THE GREAT PYRAMID.

The author having quoted from Pliny, " est autem saxo na-
turali elaborata et lubricata," in support of his opinion that the
exterior of the Pyramid had been originally saturated with some
fluid, such as oil or varnish,0 observes, that the liquid, whatever
it may have been, appears to have been transparent, and nearly
colourless; and that the brownish tinge upon the stones, which
formed the casing, has been acquired by time. He does not
conceive that any part of the Pyramids had been painted red,
or it would have been mentioned by Herodotus, and by other
antient authors, although the pavements and steps around them
may have been stained with some dark colour. He is of opinion,
that the Great Pyramid had been revetted in the same manner
as the Second, because he has seen fragments of stones pre-
cisely similar to those, which covered that building, the external
faces of which had been " lubricated." With respect to the
interior of this Pyramid, he found the angle of entrance to be
26° 34'; and, referring to a diagram, proceeds with many con-
jectures and calculations, which it is not necessary to detail. He
is of opinion, that many other apartments, besides those already
known, exist; and that more than one person was interred in the
edifice ; that several pits and deep channels, with places on their
sides for the reception of mummies, have been excavated in con-
centric squares, the area of each diminishing by one-half succes-
sively ; and that, by the extent of these works, the length of
time taken up in their construction might be ascertained. He
imagines that there must be a second entrance at the base, either
at the northern, or eastern side ; and mentions the grotto in the
well, and several other points, where apartments and passages
""glit probably be found.

THE SECOND PYRAMID.

He considers, that the exterior is steeper by one degree than
that of the Great one; and that its summit is higher above the

c The word " lubricata" simply means a surface polished, or made slippery, and
Joes not infer that oil or liquid of any kind had been applied to produce the effect.
 
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