DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0038
16
APPENDIX.
and to have been entered by the low passage (C, in plan),
but the place was full of rubbish, and towards the east had
been completely ruined.
Most of the pavement had been destroyed, as well as a
sarcophagus formed of black basalt, the fragments of which were
well polished, but quite plain. Two small iron wedges, 4 or
5 ounces in weight, which might possibly have been used in
destroying the building, were also found; they were about 3
inclies in length, and l|inch in breadth at the edge.
The granite in the sides and in the roof of the passage at
B (in plan and section) was apparently intended to give strength
to the masonry, where its solidity was weakened; and, as an
additional security, there had been three tiers of roof-blocks,
the footings of the upper rows of which had been carried beyond
those of the lower, in order to distribute the pressure over as
great a base as possible. These roof-blocks were of immense
size, in some instances they were 35 feet long, 9 feet wide, and
12 feet thick ; yet so completely had they been destroyed, that
of the upper tiers only two perfect blocks, and fragments of two
others remained.
The indefatigable exertions therefore of the people, who broke
in and destroyed these Pyramids, cannot but excite surprise, and
in some degree admiration, although they were probably occa-
sioned by no better motive, than a desire to obtain the hidden
treasures. The Earl of Mount Norris appears to be of the same
opinion.8
The apartments and passages had been constructed with large
blocks of Tourah stone, beautifully worked and well put together.
A recess in the casing above the entrance appeared to have
been intended to receive an inscription, like that which we
are informed by Diodorus was placed over the entrance of
the Third Pyramid of Gizeh, and this circumstance may in some
degree account for the inscriptions said by Herodotus and by
other authors to have been seen upon the Pyramids.
DD, in plan and section, are retaining walls, about 24 feet
asunder. They are composed of large blocks laid in more
regular courses, and built with more care than the rest of the
6 See Lord Valencia's "Travels," vol. III. page 433 :—" I cannot but sus-
pect that the conquerors of this country found treasures concealed in some
of the stones of the antient edifices, and that the expectation of finding more
led to the laborious destruction of these massive temples, which seem to have
hcon constructed to bid defiance to time itself."
APPENDIX.
and to have been entered by the low passage (C, in plan),
but the place was full of rubbish, and towards the east had
been completely ruined.
Most of the pavement had been destroyed, as well as a
sarcophagus formed of black basalt, the fragments of which were
well polished, but quite plain. Two small iron wedges, 4 or
5 ounces in weight, which might possibly have been used in
destroying the building, were also found; they were about 3
inclies in length, and l|inch in breadth at the edge.
The granite in the sides and in the roof of the passage at
B (in plan and section) was apparently intended to give strength
to the masonry, where its solidity was weakened; and, as an
additional security, there had been three tiers of roof-blocks,
the footings of the upper rows of which had been carried beyond
those of the lower, in order to distribute the pressure over as
great a base as possible. These roof-blocks were of immense
size, in some instances they were 35 feet long, 9 feet wide, and
12 feet thick ; yet so completely had they been destroyed, that
of the upper tiers only two perfect blocks, and fragments of two
others remained.
The indefatigable exertions therefore of the people, who broke
in and destroyed these Pyramids, cannot but excite surprise, and
in some degree admiration, although they were probably occa-
sioned by no better motive, than a desire to obtain the hidden
treasures. The Earl of Mount Norris appears to be of the same
opinion.8
The apartments and passages had been constructed with large
blocks of Tourah stone, beautifully worked and well put together.
A recess in the casing above the entrance appeared to have
been intended to receive an inscription, like that which we
are informed by Diodorus was placed over the entrance of
the Third Pyramid of Gizeh, and this circumstance may in some
degree account for the inscriptions said by Herodotus and by
other authors to have been seen upon the Pyramids.
DD, in plan and section, are retaining walls, about 24 feet
asunder. They are composed of large blocks laid in more
regular courses, and built with more care than the rest of the
6 See Lord Valencia's "Travels," vol. III. page 433 :—" I cannot but sus-
pect that the conquerors of this country found treasures concealed in some
of the stones of the antient edifices, and that the expectation of finding more
led to the laborious destruction of these massive temples, which seem to have
hcon constructed to bid defiance to time itself."