DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0107
66
APPENDIX,
been carried up with less care than the lower, and was also com-
posed of smaller stones; but, whatever may have been the cause,
the effect is unpleasant, particularly when compared with the fine
proportions of the Northern Pyramid.
The beds of the casing-stones are not horizontal, but incline
downwards towards the interior of the edifice, in order, probably,
to obtain greater solidity, and likewise to save the materials, as
less of the external faces of the stones thus laid, would require to
be planed away to complete the exterior of the building. This
incline, however, is not uniform, nor at right angles to the exte-
rior, but it seems to be regulated by the shapes of the blocks; in
the upper part it is generally at an angle of 3° 30', and in the
lower part it varies from 6° 30' to 9°. The casing-stones of the
lower part are very large, some of the courses being 4 feet 8 inches
in height; but they are often divided into two layers, and the
joints at the sides, instead of being vertical, are cut to fit the
adjacent stones. The courses in the upper part are seldom more
than 2 feet in height. Although a good deal of the casing
remains, the building towards the top is much injured by the
weather, and most probably has never been completed. The
masonry in the lower part has also been destroyed, principally, it
is said, by the late Deftardar Mahommed Bey, to get materials
for his palace near Cairo. Upon the exterior were several holes,
in every respect like those observed in the casing of the North-
ern Brick Pyramid, and they had been concealed in the same
manner.
The body of the Pyramid is built with stone from the imme-
diate vicinity, and much of it seems to have been quarried near
the northern and eastern faces; but the casing-blocks, and those
immediately behind them, together with the linings of the pas-
sages and chambers, consist of stone from the Mokattam, which
has induced a belief that the whole edifice is composed of that
material.
The building has been surrounded by a stone wall; and a
causeway, composed of blocks from the Mokattam, has led from
the north-eastern angle of the enclosure to a small valley extend-
ing to the plain below. (See Map.)
Feet. Inches.
Base -
Perpendicular height of lower part
G16 8
147 4
172 2
319 6
upper part
Total height at present
APPENDIX,
been carried up with less care than the lower, and was also com-
posed of smaller stones; but, whatever may have been the cause,
the effect is unpleasant, particularly when compared with the fine
proportions of the Northern Pyramid.
The beds of the casing-stones are not horizontal, but incline
downwards towards the interior of the edifice, in order, probably,
to obtain greater solidity, and likewise to save the materials, as
less of the external faces of the stones thus laid, would require to
be planed away to complete the exterior of the building. This
incline, however, is not uniform, nor at right angles to the exte-
rior, but it seems to be regulated by the shapes of the blocks; in
the upper part it is generally at an angle of 3° 30', and in the
lower part it varies from 6° 30' to 9°. The casing-stones of the
lower part are very large, some of the courses being 4 feet 8 inches
in height; but they are often divided into two layers, and the
joints at the sides, instead of being vertical, are cut to fit the
adjacent stones. The courses in the upper part are seldom more
than 2 feet in height. Although a good deal of the casing
remains, the building towards the top is much injured by the
weather, and most probably has never been completed. The
masonry in the lower part has also been destroyed, principally, it
is said, by the late Deftardar Mahommed Bey, to get materials
for his palace near Cairo. Upon the exterior were several holes,
in every respect like those observed in the casing of the North-
ern Brick Pyramid, and they had been concealed in the same
manner.
The body of the Pyramid is built with stone from the imme-
diate vicinity, and much of it seems to have been quarried near
the northern and eastern faces; but the casing-blocks, and those
immediately behind them, together with the linings of the pas-
sages and chambers, consist of stone from the Mokattam, which
has induced a belief that the whole edifice is composed of that
material.
The building has been surrounded by a stone wall; and a
causeway, composed of blocks from the Mokattam, has led from
the north-eastern angle of the enclosure to a small valley extend-
ing to the plain below. (See Map.)
Feet. Inches.
Base -
Perpendicular height of lower part
G16 8
147 4
172 2
319 6
upper part
Total height at present