DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3559#0008
5
PYRAMIDS OF ABOUSEIR.
PLATES V. AND VI.
They are three in number (besides the lower part of another, and the base of a fifth much smaller), and are situated to the
south-eastward of the ruins of Zowyet el Arrian, and of Reegah, about seven miles S.S.E. of those at Gizeh, and about three miles
N.N.E. of Saccara.
They are on an elevation, which is about eighty feet higher than the adjacent plain, and is composed of argillaceous rock, unfit
for extensive excavation; the few tombs which occur are therefore formed of masonry. In Plate V. is a map of the Pyramids, and
in Plate VI. is a general view of them taken from the edge of the cultivated ground.
The Northern Pyramid has been surrounded by a wall, and has also been connected with the plain on the eastern side by
an inclined causeway, formed with rude blocks of limestone, quarried on the spot; and at the eastern extremity of the causeway
there appears to have been a building.
Another inclined way seems to have formed an approach to the Middle Pyramid, although not in a direct course, owing, probably,
to the profile of the ground. Upon the sides of a considerable part of it fragments of black basalt, at nearly equal distances, appear
either to have belonged to an avenue of sphinxes, or to have formed part of a parapet wall. Plate VI. Fig. 8, is a section of this
causeway. These inclined roads were, no doubt, originally constructed for the conveyance of the stone, and of the other materials,
used in the erection of the Pyramids; but they seem afterwards to have constituted the regular approaches. Herodotus mentions
that they were adorned with the figures of animals, which were probably either sculptured hieroglyphics, or an avenue of sphinxes.
The interior of the three Pyramids is upon the same plan. The entrance-passages, in the centre of the northern fronts,
are at first inclined, and afterwards horizontal. The apartments in the centres of the Pyramids range from east to west, and are
covered by inclined roofs, consisting of several courses of stone. The materials and the workmanship are also similar. The bulk
of the building has been in the first instance carried up in degrees, and has been afterwards completed into a pyramidal form.
The greatest part of the material consists of stone found upon the spot; but the exterior casing, the linings of the passages, and
of the apartments, and the roof blocks, are from the Tourah quarries, to which these Pyramids are exactly opposite.
The masonry is in general very rude, and consists of rough blocks of various sizes, put together like rubble work, with Nile
earth instead of mortar. The exterior casing of all the Pyramids has been removed, and the masonry, when exposed to the
weather, of course would be soon destroyed; but it is difficult to account for the disappearance of the materials, unless by supposing
that they have been taken for other buildings; and, as the Pyramids of Gizeh are more conveniently situated for that purpose,
as regards Cairo, it may be inferred that these buildings were destroyed, at an earlier period, for the erection of an antient town
in their more immediate vicinity.
Near the south-western corner of the Great Pyramid are the foundations of another, in which an entrance on the northern
side, and an excavation for a passage and apartments may be traced.
NORTHERN PYRAMID.
PLATE V. Fies. 1, 2, &c.
Original.
Base .... 257 ft. 11 in.
Perpendicular Height . 162 ft. 9 in. .
Angle of Casing . . 51°
Present.
216 ft.
118 ft.
2' 5'
The entrance-passage, in the centre of the northern front, descends at an angle of 27° 5' for 13 feet 8 inches, and then proceeds
in a horizontal direction. At the distance of 27 feet from the incline, it has been closed by a portcullis, formed of a block of
granite 1 foot 3 inches in thickness; and the same material has been employed in the passage, as far as the present entrance,
11 feet 6 inches beyond the portcullis. A view of the entrance in its present state is given in Plate V.
Passage from Entrance to Portcullis .
Ditto ditto
From present Entrance to Apartment
Ditto ditto
Height at Entrance.....
Height near Granite ....
Height at Granite, B.......
Height beyond Granite at Apartment
Apartment breadth North and South .
Height at Sides .......
Height in Centre .....
The apartment extended 9 feet 4 inches to the eastward of the entrance-passage, but its original dimensions are uncertain,
and so indeed are the numbers and position of the apartments. Some however appeared to have been placed under the eastern
part of the edifice, and to have been entered by the low passage (C), Plate V. Fig. 2, but the place was full of rubbish, and
towards the east had been completely ruined.
Feet.
Inches.
4
OX.
^2
high.
4
0
wide.
71
4
long.
4
2
wide.
5
10
6
4
4
5
4
H
11
8
9
4
12
6
Most of the pavement had been destroyed, as well as a sarcophagus formed of black basalt, the fragments of which were
well polished but quite plain.
The granite in the sides and in the roof of the passage at B (Plate V. Figs. 1 and 2) was apparently intended to give
strength to the masonry, where its solidity was weakened; and as an additional security, there had been three tiers of roof
blocks, the footings of the upper rows of which had been carried beyond those of the lower, in order to distribute the pressure
over as great a base as possible. These roof-blocks were of immense size, in some instances they were 35 feet long, 9 feet
wide, and 12 feet thick; yet so completely had they been destroyed, that of the upper tiers only two perfect blocks, and
fragments of two others remained.
The indefatigable exertions therefore of the people, who broke in and destroyed these Pyramids, cannot but excite surprise,
and in some degree admiration, although they were probably occasioned by no better motive, than a desire to obtain the hidden
treasures.
The apartments and passages had been constructed with large blocks of Tourah stone, beautifully worked and well put
together.
A recess in the casing above the entrance appeared to have been intended to receive an inscription, like that which we
are informed by Diodorus was placed over the entrance of the Third Pyramid of Gizeh, and this circumstance may in some degree
account for the inscriptions said by Herodotus and by other authors to have been seen upon the Pyramids.
DD, Plate V. Fig. 2, are retaining walls, about 24 feet asunder. They are composed of large blocks laid in more regular
courses, and built with more care than the rest of the Pyramid. They were probably run up in order that the bulk of the
Pyramid might be carried on before the passages were finished, which, on account of their superior masonry, must have required
considerable time and attention. Upon these walls the hieroglyphics A, B, C, and D, were written in red ochre.
A pavement two feet in thickness, extended around the building to the peribolus; and where the rock was low, the pavement
was placed upon a layer of sand.
PYRAMIDS OF ABOUSEIR.
PLATES V. AND VI.
They are three in number (besides the lower part of another, and the base of a fifth much smaller), and are situated to the
south-eastward of the ruins of Zowyet el Arrian, and of Reegah, about seven miles S.S.E. of those at Gizeh, and about three miles
N.N.E. of Saccara.
They are on an elevation, which is about eighty feet higher than the adjacent plain, and is composed of argillaceous rock, unfit
for extensive excavation; the few tombs which occur are therefore formed of masonry. In Plate V. is a map of the Pyramids, and
in Plate VI. is a general view of them taken from the edge of the cultivated ground.
The Northern Pyramid has been surrounded by a wall, and has also been connected with the plain on the eastern side by
an inclined causeway, formed with rude blocks of limestone, quarried on the spot; and at the eastern extremity of the causeway
there appears to have been a building.
Another inclined way seems to have formed an approach to the Middle Pyramid, although not in a direct course, owing, probably,
to the profile of the ground. Upon the sides of a considerable part of it fragments of black basalt, at nearly equal distances, appear
either to have belonged to an avenue of sphinxes, or to have formed part of a parapet wall. Plate VI. Fig. 8, is a section of this
causeway. These inclined roads were, no doubt, originally constructed for the conveyance of the stone, and of the other materials,
used in the erection of the Pyramids; but they seem afterwards to have constituted the regular approaches. Herodotus mentions
that they were adorned with the figures of animals, which were probably either sculptured hieroglyphics, or an avenue of sphinxes.
The interior of the three Pyramids is upon the same plan. The entrance-passages, in the centre of the northern fronts,
are at first inclined, and afterwards horizontal. The apartments in the centres of the Pyramids range from east to west, and are
covered by inclined roofs, consisting of several courses of stone. The materials and the workmanship are also similar. The bulk
of the building has been in the first instance carried up in degrees, and has been afterwards completed into a pyramidal form.
The greatest part of the material consists of stone found upon the spot; but the exterior casing, the linings of the passages, and
of the apartments, and the roof blocks, are from the Tourah quarries, to which these Pyramids are exactly opposite.
The masonry is in general very rude, and consists of rough blocks of various sizes, put together like rubble work, with Nile
earth instead of mortar. The exterior casing of all the Pyramids has been removed, and the masonry, when exposed to the
weather, of course would be soon destroyed; but it is difficult to account for the disappearance of the materials, unless by supposing
that they have been taken for other buildings; and, as the Pyramids of Gizeh are more conveniently situated for that purpose,
as regards Cairo, it may be inferred that these buildings were destroyed, at an earlier period, for the erection of an antient town
in their more immediate vicinity.
Near the south-western corner of the Great Pyramid are the foundations of another, in which an entrance on the northern
side, and an excavation for a passage and apartments may be traced.
NORTHERN PYRAMID.
PLATE V. Fies. 1, 2, &c.
Original.
Base .... 257 ft. 11 in.
Perpendicular Height . 162 ft. 9 in. .
Angle of Casing . . 51°
Present.
216 ft.
118 ft.
2' 5'
The entrance-passage, in the centre of the northern front, descends at an angle of 27° 5' for 13 feet 8 inches, and then proceeds
in a horizontal direction. At the distance of 27 feet from the incline, it has been closed by a portcullis, formed of a block of
granite 1 foot 3 inches in thickness; and the same material has been employed in the passage, as far as the present entrance,
11 feet 6 inches beyond the portcullis. A view of the entrance in its present state is given in Plate V.
Passage from Entrance to Portcullis .
Ditto ditto
From present Entrance to Apartment
Ditto ditto
Height at Entrance.....
Height near Granite ....
Height at Granite, B.......
Height beyond Granite at Apartment
Apartment breadth North and South .
Height at Sides .......
Height in Centre .....
The apartment extended 9 feet 4 inches to the eastward of the entrance-passage, but its original dimensions are uncertain,
and so indeed are the numbers and position of the apartments. Some however appeared to have been placed under the eastern
part of the edifice, and to have been entered by the low passage (C), Plate V. Fig. 2, but the place was full of rubbish, and
towards the east had been completely ruined.
Feet.
Inches.
4
OX.
^2
high.
4
0
wide.
71
4
long.
4
2
wide.
5
10
6
4
4
5
4
H
11
8
9
4
12
6
Most of the pavement had been destroyed, as well as a sarcophagus formed of black basalt, the fragments of which were
well polished but quite plain.
The granite in the sides and in the roof of the passage at B (Plate V. Figs. 1 and 2) was apparently intended to give
strength to the masonry, where its solidity was weakened; and as an additional security, there had been three tiers of roof
blocks, the footings of the upper rows of which had been carried beyond those of the lower, in order to distribute the pressure
over as great a base as possible. These roof-blocks were of immense size, in some instances they were 35 feet long, 9 feet
wide, and 12 feet thick; yet so completely had they been destroyed, that of the upper tiers only two perfect blocks, and
fragments of two others remained.
The indefatigable exertions therefore of the people, who broke in and destroyed these Pyramids, cannot but excite surprise,
and in some degree admiration, although they were probably occasioned by no better motive, than a desire to obtain the hidden
treasures.
The apartments and passages had been constructed with large blocks of Tourah stone, beautifully worked and well put
together.
A recess in the casing above the entrance appeared to have been intended to receive an inscription, like that which we
are informed by Diodorus was placed over the entrance of the Third Pyramid of Gizeh, and this circumstance may in some degree
account for the inscriptions said by Herodotus and by other authors to have been seen upon the Pyramids.
DD, Plate V. Fig. 2, are retaining walls, about 24 feet asunder. They are composed of large blocks laid in more regular
courses, and built with more care than the rest of the Pyramid. They were probably run up in order that the bulk of the
Pyramid might be carried on before the passages were finished, which, on account of their superior masonry, must have required
considerable time and attention. Upon these walls the hieroglyphics A, B, C, and D, were written in red ochre.
A pavement two feet in thickness, extended around the building to the peribolus; and where the rock was low, the pavement
was placed upon a layer of sand.