DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0375
336
APPENDIX.
" A few years ago, the red Pyramid, which is the Third or
smaller one, was opened on its lower skirt on the north side ;
but it is not known who opened it. An alley was found leading
down about twenty draas, or more; and on its extremity a
narrow place that affords room for one person only. After
which, a road is entered, of difficult and fatiguing passage,
where one creeps along upon the stomach for above twenty
draas more, until an oblong square room is reached, in which
several pits are seen, that were dug by those who went in quest
of treasures. From thence another room is entered, the four
walls of which are formed by six or seven chambers with arched
doors, as are the doors over the small private chambers in the
baths. In the middle of the space on the side, and round which
these chambers extend, is a long blue vessel quite empty. The
Shereef Abou Al Hosseyn, of the family of Mymoon Ibn Hambe,
has told me that he was present when the opening into this
Pyramid was effected by people who were in search after trea-
sures. They worked at it with axes for six months, and they
were in great numbers. They found in this vessel, after they had
broken the covering of it, the decayed, rotten remains of a man,
but no treasures on his side, except some golden tablets inscribed
with characters of a language nobody could understand. Each
man's share of these tablets amounted to one hundred dinars."3
The following extract was translated by M. Jomard : "The
Pyramids are six miles from Cairo. The height of them is four
hundred cubits, and the square of the bases the same. The
blocks, with which they were built are five cubits high, and
ten or fifteen cubits long. They diminish at the top to a space
scarcely sufficient for a camel to lie down. The way to them
is by a bridge, and by a town, called Dashoor, where Joseph
was imprisoned, a distance of three miles;9 and to the Pyramids
is five miles ; and they are the same distance from the river.
These buildings were covered with inscriptions, which are nearly
effaced; and in the interior of each of them there is a passage,
barely allowing of an entrance. The two Great Pyramids have
a subterraneous communication ; and they are said to have been
tombs, and previously granaries.
8 This account is copied exactly from the MS.
9 This was probably intended for a description of the road which passes near
Saccara during the inundation.
APPENDIX.
" A few years ago, the red Pyramid, which is the Third or
smaller one, was opened on its lower skirt on the north side ;
but it is not known who opened it. An alley was found leading
down about twenty draas, or more; and on its extremity a
narrow place that affords room for one person only. After
which, a road is entered, of difficult and fatiguing passage,
where one creeps along upon the stomach for above twenty
draas more, until an oblong square room is reached, in which
several pits are seen, that were dug by those who went in quest
of treasures. From thence another room is entered, the four
walls of which are formed by six or seven chambers with arched
doors, as are the doors over the small private chambers in the
baths. In the middle of the space on the side, and round which
these chambers extend, is a long blue vessel quite empty. The
Shereef Abou Al Hosseyn, of the family of Mymoon Ibn Hambe,
has told me that he was present when the opening into this
Pyramid was effected by people who were in search after trea-
sures. They worked at it with axes for six months, and they
were in great numbers. They found in this vessel, after they had
broken the covering of it, the decayed, rotten remains of a man,
but no treasures on his side, except some golden tablets inscribed
with characters of a language nobody could understand. Each
man's share of these tablets amounted to one hundred dinars."3
The following extract was translated by M. Jomard : "The
Pyramids are six miles from Cairo. The height of them is four
hundred cubits, and the square of the bases the same. The
blocks, with which they were built are five cubits high, and
ten or fifteen cubits long. They diminish at the top to a space
scarcely sufficient for a camel to lie down. The way to them
is by a bridge, and by a town, called Dashoor, where Joseph
was imprisoned, a distance of three miles;9 and to the Pyramids
is five miles ; and they are the same distance from the river.
These buildings were covered with inscriptions, which are nearly
effaced; and in the interior of each of them there is a passage,
barely allowing of an entrance. The two Great Pyramids have
a subterraneous communication ; and they are said to have been
tombs, and previously granaries.
8 This account is copied exactly from the MS.
9 This was probably intended for a description of the road which passes near
Saccara during the inundation.