Proctor, Richard A.: The Great Pyramid: observatory, tomb, and temple (New York, 1883)

.88 THE GREAT PYRAMID.

considering the nature of the observations involved.
According to Professor Piazzi Smyth, whose obser-
vational labours in relation to the Great Pyramid are
worthy of all praise, the centre of the base of this
pyramid lies about ι mile 568 yards south of the
thirtieth parallel of latitude. This is 944 yards
north of the position they would have deduced
from the pole-star method ; 1 mile 1,693 yards
south of the position they would have deduced
from the shadow method; and 1,256 yards south
of the mean position between the two last named.
The position of the base seems to prove beyond
all possibility of question that the shadow method
was not the method on which sole or chief reliance
was placed, though this method must have been
known to the builders of the pyramid. It does
not, however, prove that the star method was the
only method followed. A distance of 944 yards
is so small in a matter of this sort that we might
fairly enough assume that the position of the base
was determined by the pole-star method. If, how-
ever, we supposed the builders of the pyramid to
have been exceedingly skilful in applying the
methods available to them, we might not unreason-
ably conclude from the position of the pyramid's
base that they used both the shadow method and
the pole-star method, but that, recognising the