DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4376#0114
98 HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERT
Egyptian king Bhampsinitus/ On the west or
outer side, the marble slabs were flush with the
green stone, which was continued as a pavement
fill within 16' of the stair,'1 where it ceased flush
with the native rock. It may be inferred that on
the inner or east side of the great stone, the marble
pavement was continued eastward at the same
level; for, as will be seen by Plate VIII., the ends
of the slabs under the great stone projected over a
lower course of green stone, below which was the
native rock. This marble pavement covered a
drain which runs east and west from the interior
of the basement into a gallery to be presently de-
scribed. Between the great stone1 and the gallery,
this drain is cut in the native rock : within the
Quadrangle, it runs between courses of green stone.
It is to be observed that these slabs were the only
marbles belonging to the edifice which were found
in position; and, it is to be presumed that they
would not have escaped the spoilers of the Mau-
soleum, had it not been for the difficulty of dis-
placing the immense stone placed upon them,—a
difficulty which we only overcame by the application
of two screw-jacks.
The position of this remnant of marble pavement
leads me to infer that a passage paved with marble
led from the great stone into the royal sepulchral
6 See Herod, ii. 121.
h These slabs extended as far as the lower gallery, to be de-
scribed herenfter, of which they formed the roof.
' In the Plan this drain is marked " Marble Drain." It is also
shown in the upper View, Plate VIII.
Egyptian king Bhampsinitus/ On the west or
outer side, the marble slabs were flush with the
green stone, which was continued as a pavement
fill within 16' of the stair,'1 where it ceased flush
with the native rock. It may be inferred that on
the inner or east side of the great stone, the marble
pavement was continued eastward at the same
level; for, as will be seen by Plate VIII., the ends
of the slabs under the great stone projected over a
lower course of green stone, below which was the
native rock. This marble pavement covered a
drain which runs east and west from the interior
of the basement into a gallery to be presently de-
scribed. Between the great stone1 and the gallery,
this drain is cut in the native rock : within the
Quadrangle, it runs between courses of green stone.
It is to be observed that these slabs were the only
marbles belonging to the edifice which were found
in position; and, it is to be presumed that they
would not have escaped the spoilers of the Mau-
soleum, had it not been for the difficulty of dis-
placing the immense stone placed upon them,—a
difficulty which we only overcame by the application
of two screw-jacks.
The position of this remnant of marble pavement
leads me to infer that a passage paved with marble
led from the great stone into the royal sepulchral
6 See Herod, ii. 121.
h These slabs extended as far as the lower gallery, to be de-
scribed herenfter, of which they formed the roof.
' In the Plan this drain is marked " Marble Drain." It is also
shown in the upper View, Plate VIII.