DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0111
G8
APPENDIX.
of the passage is horizontal for 2 feet 8 inches; after which, for
16 feet 2 inches, it is 40 feet 9 inches in height, and is con-
structed like the ascending gallery in the Great Pyramid of Gizeh.
An apartment is then entered about 20 feet 6 inches in length,
north and south, 16 feet 1 inch in width, and 80 feet in height.
The walls are closed in on all sides, by the gradual projections of
the fifteen upper courses, till the ceiling is about a foot wide.
This is, probably, the apartment mentioned by Mr. Melton. It
had been filled up with a masonry of small squared stones (see
B 13), to a level with the top of the passage, which had also been
in like manner built up. This masonry had been partially
removed, but it probably now conceals a sarcophagus, or the
entrance to a secret apartment. The Pyramid, however, appeared
to have been exposed to great violence, and many of the stones
were broken ; but the walls had not been blackened by smoke.
From another passage, 10 feet long, in the southern side of
the room, and opposite to the entrance, is a shaft 42 feet 6 inches
in height, which again communicates, by the opening C, with the
apartment, at about half its height; but the shaft does not appear
to be connected with any other place, unless it be continued down-
wards. Many of the stones in this apartment have given way
under the superincumbent pressure, and the settlement must
have taken place whilst the building was going on, because most
of the f.iulty places have been covered over with plaster. After
a great deal of trouble wood and ladders were introduced ; and by
means of a scaffolding the aperture on the southern side of the
apartment was examined, from which a decayed cord formed of
papyrus was suspended. The masonry was found to have been
cut through, in order to connect the apartment with a horizontal
passage, which communicated with the western entrance. (See
Plate.) This cutting, 61 feet 8 inches in length, was not straight,
nor regularly formed, but was slightly inclined upwards. The
right-hand corner of the upper end (marked x) had been rounded,
and a small recess had been cut out on the opposite side of the
horizontal passage, apparently for the conveyance of a long solid
body into the lower apartment.
The entrance from the western front of the Pyramid was by a
passage 222 feet 8 inches long, 3 feet 4 inches wide, and 3 feet
4 inches high, and laid at an angle of 26° 36'. Tlie greater part
of it was closed up with large blocks, which had only been
removed for about 60 feet at the lower end. The entrance on
the outside of the Pyramid was so well concealed as to have
escaped the closest examination, and the blocks within it appeared
APPENDIX.
of the passage is horizontal for 2 feet 8 inches; after which, for
16 feet 2 inches, it is 40 feet 9 inches in height, and is con-
structed like the ascending gallery in the Great Pyramid of Gizeh.
An apartment is then entered about 20 feet 6 inches in length,
north and south, 16 feet 1 inch in width, and 80 feet in height.
The walls are closed in on all sides, by the gradual projections of
the fifteen upper courses, till the ceiling is about a foot wide.
This is, probably, the apartment mentioned by Mr. Melton. It
had been filled up with a masonry of small squared stones (see
B 13), to a level with the top of the passage, which had also been
in like manner built up. This masonry had been partially
removed, but it probably now conceals a sarcophagus, or the
entrance to a secret apartment. The Pyramid, however, appeared
to have been exposed to great violence, and many of the stones
were broken ; but the walls had not been blackened by smoke.
From another passage, 10 feet long, in the southern side of
the room, and opposite to the entrance, is a shaft 42 feet 6 inches
in height, which again communicates, by the opening C, with the
apartment, at about half its height; but the shaft does not appear
to be connected with any other place, unless it be continued down-
wards. Many of the stones in this apartment have given way
under the superincumbent pressure, and the settlement must
have taken place whilst the building was going on, because most
of the f.iulty places have been covered over with plaster. After
a great deal of trouble wood and ladders were introduced ; and by
means of a scaffolding the aperture on the southern side of the
apartment was examined, from which a decayed cord formed of
papyrus was suspended. The masonry was found to have been
cut through, in order to connect the apartment with a horizontal
passage, which communicated with the western entrance. (See
Plate.) This cutting, 61 feet 8 inches in length, was not straight,
nor regularly formed, but was slightly inclined upwards. The
right-hand corner of the upper end (marked x) had been rounded,
and a small recess had been cut out on the opposite side of the
horizontal passage, apparently for the conveyance of a long solid
body into the lower apartment.
The entrance from the western front of the Pyramid was by a
passage 222 feet 8 inches long, 3 feet 4 inches wide, and 3 feet
4 inches high, and laid at an angle of 26° 36'. Tlie greater part
of it was closed up with large blocks, which had only been
removed for about 60 feet at the lower end. The entrance on
the outside of the Pyramid was so well concealed as to have
escaped the closest examination, and the blocks within it appeared