DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6553#0114
APPENDIX.
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to have been fitted with the greatest accuracy. In one place, E,
on the southern side of the passage, two upright pieces of wood
had been let into a recess in the stone-work. The horizontal
passage at the end of the incline was on a level with the base of
the Pyramid. It was remarkably well construcftd, and was
3 feet 4 inches wide, 5 feet 4 inches high, and G5 feet G inches in
length. It contained two portcullises of a peculiar construction,
see Plate, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 1 shews the position of the
slab, which, during the building of the Pyramid, had probably
been propped up, and, upon the removal of the support had slid
down the incline, and had closed the passage, as shewn in the
other figures. This portcullis was found in its place, but the
upper part had been broken away to allow of an entrance. The
portcullis must have been let down when both of the entrance-
passages were open, as it had been plastered on both sides. The
eastern end of the horizontal passage communicated with an
apartment 21 feet 6 inches long, 13 feet 6 inches wide, and
52 feet 6 inches high. It had been constructed like the other,
and had been built up to a great height with small stones. An
excavation had been carried on, to the length of about 12 feet,
into this masonry near the floor, and the apartment had been
entirely ruined. This is the only inclined entrance hitherto dis-
covered in a Pyramid from any other quarter than from the
north, for the passage from the southern front of the Pyramid
of Saccara is horizontal; and it seemed to be the principal
entrance, for the northern was constructed with inferior masonry,
and had not the defence of a portcullis.
Fig. 4 represents some rude characters near the mouth of the
northern entrance. In Sir J. G. Wilkinson's opinion, they were
inscribed at a comparatively late period, in which case the
passage must have been accessible when hieroglyphics were still
in use; and according to Zoega, " De Obeliscis," that mode
of writing, together with idolatry, gradually disappeared, when
the Christian religion was introduced, about the third century.
Cordage, and antient baskets formed of the papyrus, were found
in the passages of this Pyramid; and the operations carried on
at the Northern Brick Pyramid seem to prove, that in some
instances, the Egyptians themselves broke open and destroyed
these antient tombs.
Plate 1. Fig. 1, is a vertical section of the Pyramid along
the western entrance-passage, looking north.
GO
to have been fitted with the greatest accuracy. In one place, E,
on the southern side of the passage, two upright pieces of wood
had been let into a recess in the stone-work. The horizontal
passage at the end of the incline was on a level with the base of
the Pyramid. It was remarkably well construcftd, and was
3 feet 4 inches wide, 5 feet 4 inches high, and G5 feet G inches in
length. It contained two portcullises of a peculiar construction,
see Plate, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. Fig. 1 shews the position of the
slab, which, during the building of the Pyramid, had probably
been propped up, and, upon the removal of the support had slid
down the incline, and had closed the passage, as shewn in the
other figures. This portcullis was found in its place, but the
upper part had been broken away to allow of an entrance. The
portcullis must have been let down when both of the entrance-
passages were open, as it had been plastered on both sides. The
eastern end of the horizontal passage communicated with an
apartment 21 feet 6 inches long, 13 feet 6 inches wide, and
52 feet 6 inches high. It had been constructed like the other,
and had been built up to a great height with small stones. An
excavation had been carried on, to the length of about 12 feet,
into this masonry near the floor, and the apartment had been
entirely ruined. This is the only inclined entrance hitherto dis-
covered in a Pyramid from any other quarter than from the
north, for the passage from the southern front of the Pyramid
of Saccara is horizontal; and it seemed to be the principal
entrance, for the northern was constructed with inferior masonry,
and had not the defence of a portcullis.
Fig. 4 represents some rude characters near the mouth of the
northern entrance. In Sir J. G. Wilkinson's opinion, they were
inscribed at a comparatively late period, in which case the
passage must have been accessible when hieroglyphics were still
in use; and according to Zoega, " De Obeliscis," that mode
of writing, together with idolatry, gradually disappeared, when
the Christian religion was introduced, about the third century.
Cordage, and antient baskets formed of the papyrus, were found
in the passages of this Pyramid; and the operations carried on
at the Northern Brick Pyramid seem to prove, that in some
instances, the Egyptians themselves broke open and destroyed
these antient tombs.
Plate 1. Fig. 1, is a vertical section of the Pyramid along
the western entrance-passage, looking north.