DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3559#0019
16
PYRAMIDS OF DASHOOR.
retaining more of its original form than the others, it is called by the Arabs, " Haram Mesinee," the Pointed or Sharp Pyramid.
It is also called " Haram el Wataweet," from the number of bats within it; and sometimes " Haram e Silsili," on account of a
chain said to have been suspended from the entrance of the passage between the second and third chambers.
The centre of the entrance is 12 feet 6 inches to the eastward of the centre of the northern front, and the bottom of it
is 94 feet perpendicularly higher than the base of the building. The passage is 3 feet 5\ inches wide, 3 feet 11 \ inches in
height, and has an inclination of 27° 56'. Its original length was 205 feet 6 inches, of which 4 feet 6 inches have been
destroyed by the removal of the external casing. The lower part, and a horizontal passage, 24 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet
5\ inches wide, and 4 feet 5\ inches high, leading from the bottom of it to the first chamber, were much encumbered with
rubbish.
The first chamber is 27 feet 5\ inches in length, north and south, and 11 feet 11 inches east and west. The floor is on
a level with the base of the Pyramid. The four lower courses of the walls, to the height of 11 feet 8J inches, are perpendicular,
but each of the eleven courses above them sets over nearly 6 inches, so that the ceiling is only 1 foot 2 inches in width.
The two lower projecting courses are 3 feet in thickness; the others rather more than 2 feet 6 inches; and the height of
the chamber is about 40 feet 4J inches.
A passage, 10 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet 5\ inches wide, and 4 feet 5\ inches in height, leads from the south-western
corner of this chamber to another apartment, exactly similar, excepting that it is about 2 inches shorter from north to south.
The pavement of this second chamber has been removed, and the room is full of rubbish. At the end of it, and at the
height of 25 feet 3\ inches from the original floor, a passage, 3 feet 5\ inches in width, runs southward for 23 feet 11 inches,
to a third chamber, the floor of which had been taken up to the depth of 14 feet. The floor of the above-mentioned passage
(which was originally 3 feet 5\ inches high) had also been taken up, in order, probably, to facilitate the removal of the large
blocks from the inner chamber.
The third chamber is 27 feet 3\ inches long from east to west, and IS feet 7\ inches wide from north to south. The
sides are perpendicular for 12 feet 1 inch, after which fourteen courses project inwards, as in the other apartment; and the
total height from the original floor to the ceiling, is 48 feet 1 inch.
Base
Height
Original.
719 ft. 5 in.
342 ft. 7 in.
Angle of External Casing
43°
Present.
700 ft. 0 in.
326 ft. 6 in.
36' 11"
Plate XIV. Fig. 1, is a vertical section of the Pyramid, through the entrance-passage and the first chamber, looking west.
a a a, on the sides of the Pyramid, are parts of the casing.
Fig. 2, a sectional plan, upon a level with the third chamber, and with the horizontal passage leading to it from the second
chamber.
Fig. 3. A vertical section, as at Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4. A transverse section of the second chamber, looking south. It shews the entrance of the passage (b) leading to the
third chamber.
Fig. 5. Sectional plan of chamber, on a level with the passage (£).
Fig. 6. Plan of the entrance-passage, and of the first and second chambers.
Fig. 7. Vertical section of the second and third chambers, along the passage (h).
Fig. 8. View of the northern face, taken near the north-eastern angle, with the Southern Stone Pyramid in the
back-ground.
THE SOUTHERN STONE PYRAMID.
PLATES XV. AND XVI.
It is built in two inclinations, so that the lower part has the form of a truncated, and the upper that of a perfect
Pyramid; which mode of construction, according to Sir J. G. Wilkinson, was probably occasioned by a desire to complete the
building more quickly than it was at first intended: and it may be added, that this conjecture was in some degree confirmed
by Mr. Perring's researches, by which it appeared, that the upper part had been carried up with less care than the lower,
and was also composed of smaller stones; but, whatever may have been the cause, the effect is unpleasant, particularly when
compared with the fine proportions of the Northern Pyramid.
The beds of the casing-stones are not horizontal, but incline downwards towards the interior of the edifice, in order,
probably, to obtain greater solidity, and likewise to save the materials, as less of the external faces of the stones thus laid,
would require to be planed away to complete the exterior of the building. This incline, however, is not uniform, nor at
right angles to the exterior, but it seems to be regulated by the shapes of the blocks; in the upper part it is generally
at an angle of 3° 30', and in the lower part it varies from 6° 30' to 9°. The casing-stones of the lower part are very
large, some of the courses being 4 feet 8 inches in height; but they are often divided into two layers, and the joints
at the sides, instead of being vertical, are cut to fit the adjoining stones. The courses in the upper part are seldom more
than 2 feet in height. Although a good deal of the casing remains, the building towards the top is much injured by
the weather, and most probably has never been completed. The masonry in the lower part has also been destroyed, principally,
it is said, by the late Deftardar Mahommed Bey, to get materials for his palace near Cairo. Upon the exterior were several
holes, in every respect like those observed in the casing of the Northern Brick Pyramid, and they had been concealed in the
Base
same manner.
The body of the Pyramid is built with stone from the immediate vicinity, and much of it seems to have been quarried
near the northern and eastern faces; but the casing-blocks, and those immediately behind them, together with the linings of
the passages and chambers, consist of stone from the Mokattam, which has induced a belief that the whole edifice is composed
of that material.
The building has been surrounded by a stone wall; and a causeway, composed of blocks from the Mokattam, has led from
the north-eastern angle of the enclosure to a small valley extending to the plain below. (See Map, Plate XIII.)
Perpendicular Height of Lower Part
Upper Part
Total Height at present .
Feet. Inches.
616 8
147 4
172 2
319 6
The original perpendicular height, if the casing had been completed, would have been 335 feet 9 inches.
Angle of the Casing of the Lower Portion
54° 14' 46"
Upper Portion . . .42° 59' 26"
The Platform at Top is about 40 feet square.
There are two inclined entrance-passages. The one, which is open, is in the centre of the northern front, twelve courses
above the present level of the ground, and 34 feet 10 inches perpendicularly higher than the base: it is difficult of access.
The other is 44 feet 4 inches to the southward of the centre of the western front, and at a perpendicular height of 97 feet
8 inches above the base. It was discovered by Mr. Perring, in October 1839, but it has not been opened. The first part
of the northern passage, in length 41 feet 2 inches, at present descends at an angle of 28° 38' on account of a settlement
(shewn at A, Plate XVI. Fig. 4); but the original inclination was that of the remainder of the passage (26° 10'). Immediately
at the entrance, the removal of the floor has increased the height of it to 5 feet 10 inches, but it is afterwards only 3 feet
5j inches; the width is the same, and the total length is 256 feet 11 inches.
The Pyramid was entered in 1660, by Mr. Melton, an English traveller; and in 1680 by M. Le Brun, when a small
apartment was discovered. It was also examined by Mr. Davison, in 1763, by whom the passage was found to be blocked up;
when Mr. Perring commenced his operations, it was only accessible to the length of 140 feet, and it had evidently been
closed up intentionally, because stones detached from the upper part would have rolled over the mouth of the entrance; and
because Mr. Perring removed out of it large blocks, and stones of ten or twelve pounds weight, like those which are to be found
in the adjacent desert. The removal of these obstructions was commenced on September 20th; but it could only be continued
PYRAMIDS OF DASHOOR.
retaining more of its original form than the others, it is called by the Arabs, " Haram Mesinee," the Pointed or Sharp Pyramid.
It is also called " Haram el Wataweet," from the number of bats within it; and sometimes " Haram e Silsili," on account of a
chain said to have been suspended from the entrance of the passage between the second and third chambers.
The centre of the entrance is 12 feet 6 inches to the eastward of the centre of the northern front, and the bottom of it
is 94 feet perpendicularly higher than the base of the building. The passage is 3 feet 5\ inches wide, 3 feet 11 \ inches in
height, and has an inclination of 27° 56'. Its original length was 205 feet 6 inches, of which 4 feet 6 inches have been
destroyed by the removal of the external casing. The lower part, and a horizontal passage, 24 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet
5\ inches wide, and 4 feet 5\ inches high, leading from the bottom of it to the first chamber, were much encumbered with
rubbish.
The first chamber is 27 feet 5\ inches in length, north and south, and 11 feet 11 inches east and west. The floor is on
a level with the base of the Pyramid. The four lower courses of the walls, to the height of 11 feet 8J inches, are perpendicular,
but each of the eleven courses above them sets over nearly 6 inches, so that the ceiling is only 1 foot 2 inches in width.
The two lower projecting courses are 3 feet in thickness; the others rather more than 2 feet 6 inches; and the height of
the chamber is about 40 feet 4J inches.
A passage, 10 feet 4 inches long, 3 feet 5\ inches wide, and 4 feet 5\ inches in height, leads from the south-western
corner of this chamber to another apartment, exactly similar, excepting that it is about 2 inches shorter from north to south.
The pavement of this second chamber has been removed, and the room is full of rubbish. At the end of it, and at the
height of 25 feet 3\ inches from the original floor, a passage, 3 feet 5\ inches in width, runs southward for 23 feet 11 inches,
to a third chamber, the floor of which had been taken up to the depth of 14 feet. The floor of the above-mentioned passage
(which was originally 3 feet 5\ inches high) had also been taken up, in order, probably, to facilitate the removal of the large
blocks from the inner chamber.
The third chamber is 27 feet 3\ inches long from east to west, and IS feet 7\ inches wide from north to south. The
sides are perpendicular for 12 feet 1 inch, after which fourteen courses project inwards, as in the other apartment; and the
total height from the original floor to the ceiling, is 48 feet 1 inch.
Base
Height
Original.
719 ft. 5 in.
342 ft. 7 in.
Angle of External Casing
43°
Present.
700 ft. 0 in.
326 ft. 6 in.
36' 11"
Plate XIV. Fig. 1, is a vertical section of the Pyramid, through the entrance-passage and the first chamber, looking west.
a a a, on the sides of the Pyramid, are parts of the casing.
Fig. 2, a sectional plan, upon a level with the third chamber, and with the horizontal passage leading to it from the second
chamber.
Fig. 3. A vertical section, as at Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4. A transverse section of the second chamber, looking south. It shews the entrance of the passage (b) leading to the
third chamber.
Fig. 5. Sectional plan of chamber, on a level with the passage (£).
Fig. 6. Plan of the entrance-passage, and of the first and second chambers.
Fig. 7. Vertical section of the second and third chambers, along the passage (h).
Fig. 8. View of the northern face, taken near the north-eastern angle, with the Southern Stone Pyramid in the
back-ground.
THE SOUTHERN STONE PYRAMID.
PLATES XV. AND XVI.
It is built in two inclinations, so that the lower part has the form of a truncated, and the upper that of a perfect
Pyramid; which mode of construction, according to Sir J. G. Wilkinson, was probably occasioned by a desire to complete the
building more quickly than it was at first intended: and it may be added, that this conjecture was in some degree confirmed
by Mr. Perring's researches, by which it appeared, that the upper part had been carried up with less care than the lower,
and was also composed of smaller stones; but, whatever may have been the cause, the effect is unpleasant, particularly when
compared with the fine proportions of the Northern Pyramid.
The beds of the casing-stones are not horizontal, but incline downwards towards the interior of the edifice, in order,
probably, to obtain greater solidity, and likewise to save the materials, as less of the external faces of the stones thus laid,
would require to be planed away to complete the exterior of the building. This incline, however, is not uniform, nor at
right angles to the exterior, but it seems to be regulated by the shapes of the blocks; in the upper part it is generally
at an angle of 3° 30', and in the lower part it varies from 6° 30' to 9°. The casing-stones of the lower part are very
large, some of the courses being 4 feet 8 inches in height; but they are often divided into two layers, and the joints
at the sides, instead of being vertical, are cut to fit the adjoining stones. The courses in the upper part are seldom more
than 2 feet in height. Although a good deal of the casing remains, the building towards the top is much injured by
the weather, and most probably has never been completed. The masonry in the lower part has also been destroyed, principally,
it is said, by the late Deftardar Mahommed Bey, to get materials for his palace near Cairo. Upon the exterior were several
holes, in every respect like those observed in the casing of the Northern Brick Pyramid, and they had been concealed in the
Base
same manner.
The body of the Pyramid is built with stone from the immediate vicinity, and much of it seems to have been quarried
near the northern and eastern faces; but the casing-blocks, and those immediately behind them, together with the linings of
the passages and chambers, consist of stone from the Mokattam, which has induced a belief that the whole edifice is composed
of that material.
The building has been surrounded by a stone wall; and a causeway, composed of blocks from the Mokattam, has led from
the north-eastern angle of the enclosure to a small valley extending to the plain below. (See Map, Plate XIII.)
Perpendicular Height of Lower Part
Upper Part
Total Height at present .
Feet. Inches.
616 8
147 4
172 2
319 6
The original perpendicular height, if the casing had been completed, would have been 335 feet 9 inches.
Angle of the Casing of the Lower Portion
54° 14' 46"
Upper Portion . . .42° 59' 26"
The Platform at Top is about 40 feet square.
There are two inclined entrance-passages. The one, which is open, is in the centre of the northern front, twelve courses
above the present level of the ground, and 34 feet 10 inches perpendicularly higher than the base: it is difficult of access.
The other is 44 feet 4 inches to the southward of the centre of the western front, and at a perpendicular height of 97 feet
8 inches above the base. It was discovered by Mr. Perring, in October 1839, but it has not been opened. The first part
of the northern passage, in length 41 feet 2 inches, at present descends at an angle of 28° 38' on account of a settlement
(shewn at A, Plate XVI. Fig. 4); but the original inclination was that of the remainder of the passage (26° 10'). Immediately
at the entrance, the removal of the floor has increased the height of it to 5 feet 10 inches, but it is afterwards only 3 feet
5j inches; the width is the same, and the total length is 256 feet 11 inches.
The Pyramid was entered in 1660, by Mr. Melton, an English traveller; and in 1680 by M. Le Brun, when a small
apartment was discovered. It was also examined by Mr. Davison, in 1763, by whom the passage was found to be blocked up;
when Mr. Perring commenced his operations, it was only accessible to the length of 140 feet, and it had evidently been
closed up intentionally, because stones detached from the upper part would have rolled over the mouth of the entrance; and
because Mr. Perring removed out of it large blocks, and stones of ten or twelve pounds weight, like those which are to be found
in the adjacent desert. The removal of these obstructions was commenced on September 20th; but it could only be continued