DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15#0101
THE PROBLEM OF THE PYRAMIDS. 91
position of the thirtieth parallel of latitude, and
also the precise position of the parallel, where,
owing to refraction, the pole-star would appear to
be thirty degrees above the horizon, and delibe-
rately set the base of the pyramid between these
limits (not exactly or nearly exactly half way, but
somewhere between them), cannot be entertained
for a moment by any one not prepared to regard
the whole history of the construction of the pyra-
mid as supernatural. My argument, let me note
in passing, is not intended for persons who take
this particular view of the pyramid, a view on
which reasoning could not very well be brought to
bear.
If the star method had been used to determine
the position of the parallel of 30o north latitude,
we may be certain it would be used also to orient
the building. Probably, indeed, the very structures
(temporary, of course) by which the final observa-
tions for the latitude had been made, would remain
available also for the orientation. These structures
would consist of uprights so placed that the line
of sight along their extremities (or along a tube
perhaps borne aloft by them in a slanting posi-
tion) pointed to the pole-star when immediately
below or immediately above the pole. Altogether
the more convenient direction of the two would
position of the thirtieth parallel of latitude, and
also the precise position of the parallel, where,
owing to refraction, the pole-star would appear to
be thirty degrees above the horizon, and delibe-
rately set the base of the pyramid between these
limits (not exactly or nearly exactly half way, but
somewhere between them), cannot be entertained
for a moment by any one not prepared to regard
the whole history of the construction of the pyra-
mid as supernatural. My argument, let me note
in passing, is not intended for persons who take
this particular view of the pyramid, a view on
which reasoning could not very well be brought to
bear.
If the star method had been used to determine
the position of the parallel of 30o north latitude,
we may be certain it would be used also to orient
the building. Probably, indeed, the very structures
(temporary, of course) by which the final observa-
tions for the latitude had been made, would remain
available also for the orientation. These structures
would consist of uprights so placed that the line
of sight along their extremities (or along a tube
perhaps borne aloft by them in a slanting posi-
tion) pointed to the pole-star when immediately
below or immediately above the pole. Altogether
the more convenient direction of the two would