DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4376#0182
164 BESTOllATION OP THE MAUSOLEUM.
shock of earthquakes, by preventing any forward or
lateral slipping. Fig. 1 shows the arrangement
of the steps. The ridges at the side are curved in
section, so as to form a good weather-joint at the
junction of two adjoining steps. On the face of each
stone were four cramp-holes, uniting the stone to
those on each side. It has been already stated,
ante, p. 105, that in many of the steps the copper
cramps, slightly bent by their dislocation, were
still fixed on their first discovery.
From forty to fifty of these steps were found. In
all cases but two, the treads measured exactly 1' 9",
or 1' 5". That these stones had been arranged so as
to form a pyramid of oblong form, is proved from
the fact that four or five corner-stones Avere found
having on one side a tread of 1' 9", and, on the
return, one of 1' 5".
I have mentioned that there Avere tAAO steps
differing from the others as to the width of tread ;
but with similar dimensions in other respects.
One of these (Plate XXV. figg. 4, 5, 6) had a tread
of 9", and ridges on the back and sides; but these
lateral ridges Avere not continued as far as the line of
the tread, but had been chiselled off square a little
short of it. This stone fits exactly on the stones
Avhich have a tread of 1' 5", the ridge of one filling
the groove of the other.
The other stone had a tread of 10^", and a
groove underneath, but no ridges.
These two stones being of an exceptional cha-
racter, though plainly forming part of the pyramid,
it seemed to me that there Avas sufficient reason
shock of earthquakes, by preventing any forward or
lateral slipping. Fig. 1 shows the arrangement
of the steps. The ridges at the side are curved in
section, so as to form a good weather-joint at the
junction of two adjoining steps. On the face of each
stone were four cramp-holes, uniting the stone to
those on each side. It has been already stated,
ante, p. 105, that in many of the steps the copper
cramps, slightly bent by their dislocation, were
still fixed on their first discovery.
From forty to fifty of these steps were found. In
all cases but two, the treads measured exactly 1' 9",
or 1' 5". That these stones had been arranged so as
to form a pyramid of oblong form, is proved from
the fact that four or five corner-stones Avere found
having on one side a tread of 1' 9", and, on the
return, one of 1' 5".
I have mentioned that there Avere tAAO steps
differing from the others as to the width of tread ;
but with similar dimensions in other respects.
One of these (Plate XXV. figg. 4, 5, 6) had a tread
of 9", and ridges on the back and sides; but these
lateral ridges Avere not continued as far as the line of
the tread, but had been chiselled off square a little
short of it. This stone fits exactly on the stones
Avhich have a tread of 1' 5", the ridge of one filling
the groove of the other.
The other stone had a tread of 10^", and a
groove underneath, but no ridges.
These two stones being of an exceptional cha-
racter, though plainly forming part of the pyramid,
it seemed to me that there Avas sufficient reason