DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6552#0383
344
APPENDIX.
which they were intrusted, removing each day, with great diffi-
culty, one or two stones, which were forced out of their places
by levers and wedges, and afterwards drawn down with cords.
When at last one of these enormous blocks fell, the tremendous
noise was heard at an immense distance, and the concussion
shook the ground, and made the mountains tremble. On its
fall it became so deeply imbedded in the sand, that it was
moved with the greatest difficulty, when it was broken up by
means of wedges, and the fragments were conveyed to the foot of
the adjoining mountain. At length, having exhausted all their
pecuniary resources, their resolution grew proportionably weaker
as their labour and difficulties increased, and they Avere at last
obliged to give up the undertaking as hopeless. This took place
in the year of the Hegra 593. Considering the vast masses
that have been taken away, it might be supposed that the build-
ing would have been completely destroyed ; but so immense is
the pile, that the stones are scarcely missed ; and it is only on
one of its sides that any trace of the impression, which was at-
tempted to be made, can be discovered, and on which the revet-
ment is imperfect.1 Observing one day the extreme labour it
that the whole of the entire surfaces were not covered with them. It is also said,
that no remains of hieroglyphics whatever are to be found,either upon the numerous
fragments which are scattered about the base of the Pyramids, or upon any
of the pieces of granite or marble which formerly made part of their revetment,
and which are at this day to be found at Gizeh and elsewhere, where they serve for
lintels, thresholds, and door-posts ; but it may be doubted whether this fact has ever
been satisfactorily ascertained, which after all affords only a negative argument."—
M. Be Sacy.
1 " It appears that at the time when Abd Allatif wrote, the three Great Pyramids
had still their revetment entire, which induced him to believe that the Third had
been built entirely of red granite. In the " Description of the Pyramids of Gizeh,"
by M. Grobert, this species of granite is described very correctly; but there are
several faults in the printing.
" 'The revetment of this Pyramid has been removed in modern times. The
fine pieces of Elephantine granite, which are heaped up near its base, still retain
their rectangular form (l'appareil des deux pavemens taille a l'equerre), which in-
contestably proves that the surface had been constructed in ascending steps.'
" Norden says, that the summit of the Second Pyramid is covered with granite on
the four sides; but this assertion, entirely contrary to the accounts of Arabian
authors, is completely refuted by M. Grobert.
"Many Arabia nauthors name the Third Pyramid which must be trans-
lated 'coloured, or of colour,' not 'painted.'
" M. Wahl has substituted 'basalt' for 'granite,' in his account of Abd
Allatif; but the reasons which lie gives for doing so do not justify that translation."
—M. Dt Sacy.
APPENDIX.
which they were intrusted, removing each day, with great diffi-
culty, one or two stones, which were forced out of their places
by levers and wedges, and afterwards drawn down with cords.
When at last one of these enormous blocks fell, the tremendous
noise was heard at an immense distance, and the concussion
shook the ground, and made the mountains tremble. On its
fall it became so deeply imbedded in the sand, that it was
moved with the greatest difficulty, when it was broken up by
means of wedges, and the fragments were conveyed to the foot of
the adjoining mountain. At length, having exhausted all their
pecuniary resources, their resolution grew proportionably weaker
as their labour and difficulties increased, and they Avere at last
obliged to give up the undertaking as hopeless. This took place
in the year of the Hegra 593. Considering the vast masses
that have been taken away, it might be supposed that the build-
ing would have been completely destroyed ; but so immense is
the pile, that the stones are scarcely missed ; and it is only on
one of its sides that any trace of the impression, which was at-
tempted to be made, can be discovered, and on which the revet-
ment is imperfect.1 Observing one day the extreme labour it
that the whole of the entire surfaces were not covered with them. It is also said,
that no remains of hieroglyphics whatever are to be found,either upon the numerous
fragments which are scattered about the base of the Pyramids, or upon any
of the pieces of granite or marble which formerly made part of their revetment,
and which are at this day to be found at Gizeh and elsewhere, where they serve for
lintels, thresholds, and door-posts ; but it may be doubted whether this fact has ever
been satisfactorily ascertained, which after all affords only a negative argument."—
M. Be Sacy.
1 " It appears that at the time when Abd Allatif wrote, the three Great Pyramids
had still their revetment entire, which induced him to believe that the Third had
been built entirely of red granite. In the " Description of the Pyramids of Gizeh,"
by M. Grobert, this species of granite is described very correctly; but there are
several faults in the printing.
" 'The revetment of this Pyramid has been removed in modern times. The
fine pieces of Elephantine granite, which are heaped up near its base, still retain
their rectangular form (l'appareil des deux pavemens taille a l'equerre), which in-
contestably proves that the surface had been constructed in ascending steps.'
" Norden says, that the summit of the Second Pyramid is covered with granite on
the four sides; but this assertion, entirely contrary to the accounts of Arabian
authors, is completely refuted by M. Grobert.
"Many Arabia nauthors name the Third Pyramid which must be trans-
lated 'coloured, or of colour,' not 'painted.'
" M. Wahl has substituted 'basalt' for 'granite,' in his account of Abd
Allatif; but the reasons which lie gives for doing so do not justify that translation."
—M. Dt Sacy.