DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0041
IS
APPENDIX.
as the inclined entrance leading down to it, remained closed up
with blocks of granite;1 the passage is lined, and the portcullis
is formed of the same material.
The horizontal passage from the portcullis to the apartment is
63 feet in length, 5 feet 10 inches in height, and 5 feet 1 inch
in width. For the distance of 24 feet from the portcullis it had
been broken up, and was much encumbered with rubbish.
The width of the apartment appeared to have been 14 feet,
but it could not be correctly ascertained, as the place was filled
up above the side walls with the fragments of the blocks, which
had belonged to the roof.
The roof had been formed by three tiers of blocks, 48 feet 6
inches in length. Many of them had been destroyed, but upon
the whole the interior was in a better state than that of the other
two Pyramids ; it was, however, completely ruined. The marks
of wedges were every where visible; but it was difficult to
imagine that any power, excepting that of gunpowder, could have
effected so much destruction ; it was not therefore cleared out.
The condition, in which it was found, is represented in one of
the plates ; and in the section it may be observed that the roof-
blocks had been laid with different degrees of inclination, in order
that the vacancy between the tiers might relieve the ceiling of
the apartment from the superincumbent weight. The skeleton
of a starved tiger-cat was found in the apartment.
The position of the granite block in the casing of the passages
beneath the roof (D in the section) is similar to that already
described in the account of the Northern Pyramid, and was no
doubt intended for the same purpose.
Figs. F, G, H, I, J, K, L, shew the principal hieroglyphics ;
but it is to be observed, that nearly every block belonging to the
exterior contained larger or smaller inscriptions, written upon
the light-coloured stones with red ochre, and upon the darker
with white paint.
F was found upon two sides of a stone.
G the same.
J occurred several times, more or less distinctly.
All the characters were upon blocks found on the exterior
of the building, excepting I, which was upon a roof-block, and
was the only inscription observed at these Pyramids upon stone
from Tourah ; whereas the inscriptions found at Gizeh were
invariably upon the blocks from the Arabian mountains.
1 This is an additional proof that these buildings were merely tombs.
APPENDIX.
as the inclined entrance leading down to it, remained closed up
with blocks of granite;1 the passage is lined, and the portcullis
is formed of the same material.
The horizontal passage from the portcullis to the apartment is
63 feet in length, 5 feet 10 inches in height, and 5 feet 1 inch
in width. For the distance of 24 feet from the portcullis it had
been broken up, and was much encumbered with rubbish.
The width of the apartment appeared to have been 14 feet,
but it could not be correctly ascertained, as the place was filled
up above the side walls with the fragments of the blocks, which
had belonged to the roof.
The roof had been formed by three tiers of blocks, 48 feet 6
inches in length. Many of them had been destroyed, but upon
the whole the interior was in a better state than that of the other
two Pyramids ; it was, however, completely ruined. The marks
of wedges were every where visible; but it was difficult to
imagine that any power, excepting that of gunpowder, could have
effected so much destruction ; it was not therefore cleared out.
The condition, in which it was found, is represented in one of
the plates ; and in the section it may be observed that the roof-
blocks had been laid with different degrees of inclination, in order
that the vacancy between the tiers might relieve the ceiling of
the apartment from the superincumbent weight. The skeleton
of a starved tiger-cat was found in the apartment.
The position of the granite block in the casing of the passages
beneath the roof (D in the section) is similar to that already
described in the account of the Northern Pyramid, and was no
doubt intended for the same purpose.
Figs. F, G, H, I, J, K, L, shew the principal hieroglyphics ;
but it is to be observed, that nearly every block belonging to the
exterior contained larger or smaller inscriptions, written upon
the light-coloured stones with red ochre, and upon the darker
with white paint.
F was found upon two sides of a stone.
G the same.
J occurred several times, more or less distinctly.
All the characters were upon blocks found on the exterior
of the building, excepting I, which was upon a roof-block, and
was the only inscription observed at these Pyramids upon stone
from Tourah ; whereas the inscriptions found at Gizeh were
invariably upon the blocks from the Arabian mountains.
1 This is an additional proof that these buildings were merely tombs.