DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0040
appendix.
17
Pyramid. They were probably run up in order that the bulk
of the Pyramid might be carried on before the passages were
finished, which, on account of their superior masonry, must
have required considerable time and attention. Upon these walls
the hieroglyphics A, B, C, and D, were written in red ochre.
A pavement two feet in thickness, extended around the
building to the peribolus ; and where the rock was low, the
pavement was placed upon a layer of sand.9
MIDDLE PYRAMID.
The appearance of this Pyramid is that of a square mound ;
and the masonry is only visible where the rubbish has been
removed from the angles.
Mr. Perring employed all the people, whom he could spare
from the Northern, upon the Middle Pyramid, and began to
remove a great accumulation of rubbish near the base: after six
days' labour the pit or hollow, A,, was discovered; it was com-
posed of small stones without mortar, and was apparently
intended to prevent the entrance from being choked up by
sand and rubbish ; it was cleared out in eight days; a few
pieces of granite were found in it, and fragments of stone in-
scribed with hieroglyphics. It then became necessary to clear
away the front of the Pyramid, as the rubbish fell down upon the
people employed in the pit. In ten days' time the entrance-
passage, B, was discovered, and, as it was regularly filled up with
masonry, it was evident that the Pyramid had been forced from
above. After six days' additional labour a forced entrance was
discovered by Abd el Ardi, which led down to a horizontal
passage, running north and south from the bottom of the inclined
entrance (see Plate). This forced entrance was choked up with
rubbish; it was very narrow, and, in attempting to widen it, blocks
continually fell in from the masonry above, which could only be
removed by ropes and pulleys, so that it was eleven days before
the passage was practicable.
Supposed Original. Present.
Base .... 274 ft. 0 in. 213 ft.
Perpendicular Height - - 171 ft. 4 in. 107 ft.
The present entrance (see Plate) is by a forced excavation,
cut down perpendicularly through the masonry for about 40
feet into the regular passage near a portcullis, which, as well
9 The lid of a wooden cup, containing red ochre, which was found at this
Pyramid, had an iron fastening.
vol. iii. c
17
Pyramid. They were probably run up in order that the bulk
of the Pyramid might be carried on before the passages were
finished, which, on account of their superior masonry, must
have required considerable time and attention. Upon these walls
the hieroglyphics A, B, C, and D, were written in red ochre.
A pavement two feet in thickness, extended around the
building to the peribolus ; and where the rock was low, the
pavement was placed upon a layer of sand.9
MIDDLE PYRAMID.
The appearance of this Pyramid is that of a square mound ;
and the masonry is only visible where the rubbish has been
removed from the angles.
Mr. Perring employed all the people, whom he could spare
from the Northern, upon the Middle Pyramid, and began to
remove a great accumulation of rubbish near the base: after six
days' labour the pit or hollow, A,, was discovered; it was com-
posed of small stones without mortar, and was apparently
intended to prevent the entrance from being choked up by
sand and rubbish ; it was cleared out in eight days; a few
pieces of granite were found in it, and fragments of stone in-
scribed with hieroglyphics. It then became necessary to clear
away the front of the Pyramid, as the rubbish fell down upon the
people employed in the pit. In ten days' time the entrance-
passage, B, was discovered, and, as it was regularly filled up with
masonry, it was evident that the Pyramid had been forced from
above. After six days' additional labour a forced entrance was
discovered by Abd el Ardi, which led down to a horizontal
passage, running north and south from the bottom of the inclined
entrance (see Plate). This forced entrance was choked up with
rubbish; it was very narrow, and, in attempting to widen it, blocks
continually fell in from the masonry above, which could only be
removed by ropes and pulleys, so that it was eleven days before
the passage was practicable.
Supposed Original. Present.
Base .... 274 ft. 0 in. 213 ft.
Perpendicular Height - - 171 ft. 4 in. 107 ft.
The present entrance (see Plate) is by a forced excavation,
cut down perpendicularly through the masonry for about 40
feet into the regular passage near a portcullis, which, as well
9 The lid of a wooden cup, containing red ochre, which was found at this
Pyramid, had an iron fastening.
vol. iii. c