DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0378
APPENDIX.
339
base, and completed to a point, the different parts rest upon and
support each other, and gravitate towards the centre.
" But to return to the two Great Pyramids. Those, who have
taken their dimensions, assert that the base of each is four
hundred black cubits in length, as many in breadth, and also in
perpendicular height. Their pyramidal form is broken at the
top, where there is a plane ten cubits square. The following
remarks are the results of mine own observations. One of our
party shot an arrow in the direction of the perpendicular height
of one of these Pyramids, and of that of its thickness towards the
base, and it fell nearly upon the half of that space.4 Being
told that, in a neighbouring village, there were people who
were accustomed to ascend to the summits, we sent for one of
them, and, upon giving him a trifle, he immediately began to climb
up in the same manner, and even more expeditiously than anyone
could mount a staircase,5 without even taking off his slippers, or
his clothes, which were very full.6 I desired him, when he arrived
upon the top of the Pyramid, to measure it with his turban; and
when he came down again, we found it to be eleven cubits,
(coudee naturelle). A man, who was well versed in the art
of taking admeasurements, made the perpendicular height of
the Pyramid to be nearly three hundred and seventeen cubits;
and to each of the sides of the four triangular planes, which in-
cline upon that perpendicular, he gave four hundred and sixty
cubits. I believe these admeasurements to be wrong,7 and that
* This sentence is very obscure.
6 It is to be observed, that Abd Allatif says, "Comme nous aurions monte" un
escalier," &c, which would imply steps ; however, if he really saw inscriptions, the
revetment must have remained.
6 "Mr. White very justly observes in his Notes, that the passage in Pliny, where
lie says, speaking of the Pyramids, ' Pyramides sitae sunt in parte Africa;, monte
saxeo sterilique, inter Memphim oppidum et quod appellari diximus Delta, a Nilo
minus quatuor miliia passuum, a Memphi septem; vico appOtito quam vacant
Busirin, in quo sunt assueti scandere illas,' supposes that, in the time of that writer,
the Pyramids still had their revetment; for, says Mr. White, 'res erat baud sane
memoi-abilis, si non perfectissima operis la;vitudo, contra quam nunc est, lubricum
et difh'cilem ascensum prabuerit.' The same observation has not escaped M.
Quatremere de Quincy. The argument applies to the expression of Abd Allatif,
and authorises the inference that the Pyramids retained the greatest part, at least, of
their revetment, in the thirteenth century."—AZ. De Sacy.
7 These admeasurements are the same as those given by Mohalli, an Arabian
writer, and quoted by Ed. Bernard; except that Mohalli only gives nine cubits
as the square on the top of the Pyramid. According to the testimony of Kircher,
339
base, and completed to a point, the different parts rest upon and
support each other, and gravitate towards the centre.
" But to return to the two Great Pyramids. Those, who have
taken their dimensions, assert that the base of each is four
hundred black cubits in length, as many in breadth, and also in
perpendicular height. Their pyramidal form is broken at the
top, where there is a plane ten cubits square. The following
remarks are the results of mine own observations. One of our
party shot an arrow in the direction of the perpendicular height
of one of these Pyramids, and of that of its thickness towards the
base, and it fell nearly upon the half of that space.4 Being
told that, in a neighbouring village, there were people who
were accustomed to ascend to the summits, we sent for one of
them, and, upon giving him a trifle, he immediately began to climb
up in the same manner, and even more expeditiously than anyone
could mount a staircase,5 without even taking off his slippers, or
his clothes, which were very full.6 I desired him, when he arrived
upon the top of the Pyramid, to measure it with his turban; and
when he came down again, we found it to be eleven cubits,
(coudee naturelle). A man, who was well versed in the art
of taking admeasurements, made the perpendicular height of
the Pyramid to be nearly three hundred and seventeen cubits;
and to each of the sides of the four triangular planes, which in-
cline upon that perpendicular, he gave four hundred and sixty
cubits. I believe these admeasurements to be wrong,7 and that
* This sentence is very obscure.
6 It is to be observed, that Abd Allatif says, "Comme nous aurions monte" un
escalier," &c, which would imply steps ; however, if he really saw inscriptions, the
revetment must have remained.
6 "Mr. White very justly observes in his Notes, that the passage in Pliny, where
lie says, speaking of the Pyramids, ' Pyramides sitae sunt in parte Africa;, monte
saxeo sterilique, inter Memphim oppidum et quod appellari diximus Delta, a Nilo
minus quatuor miliia passuum, a Memphi septem; vico appOtito quam vacant
Busirin, in quo sunt assueti scandere illas,' supposes that, in the time of that writer,
the Pyramids still had their revetment; for, says Mr. White, 'res erat baud sane
memoi-abilis, si non perfectissima operis la;vitudo, contra quam nunc est, lubricum
et difh'cilem ascensum prabuerit.' The same observation has not escaped M.
Quatremere de Quincy. The argument applies to the expression of Abd Allatif,
and authorises the inference that the Pyramids retained the greatest part, at least, of
their revetment, in the thirteenth century."—AZ. De Sacy.
7 These admeasurements are the same as those given by Mohalli, an Arabian
writer, and quoted by Ed. Bernard; except that Mohalli only gives nine cubits
as the square on the top of the Pyramid. According to the testimony of Kircher,