DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15#0178
THE PROBLEM OF THE PYRAMIDS. 165
and the upper surfaces of the ramps. The
moon's monthly path and its changes could have
been dealt with in the same effective way. The
geocentric paths, and thence the true paths, of
the planets could be determined very accurately
by combining the use of tubes or ring-carrying
rods with the direction-lines determined from the
gallery's sides, floor, &c. The place of every
visible star along the Zodiac (astrologically the
most important part of the stellar heavens) could
be most accurately determined. Had the pyramid
been left in that incomplete, but astronomically
most perfect, form, the edifice might have re-
mained for thousands of years the most im-
portant astronomical structure in the world. Nay,
to this very day it would have retained its
pre-eminence, provided, of course, that its advan-
tages over other buildings had been duly supple-
mented by modern instrumental and optical im-
provements.
Unfortunately, the Great Pyramid was erected
solely for selfish purposes. It was to be the tomb
of Cheops, and whatever qualities it had for astro-
nomical observation were to be devoted to his
service only. The incalculable aid to the progress
of astronomy which might have been obtained from
this magnificent structure entered in no sort into
and the upper surfaces of the ramps. The
moon's monthly path and its changes could have
been dealt with in the same effective way. The
geocentric paths, and thence the true paths, of
the planets could be determined very accurately
by combining the use of tubes or ring-carrying
rods with the direction-lines determined from the
gallery's sides, floor, &c. The place of every
visible star along the Zodiac (astrologically the
most important part of the stellar heavens) could
be most accurately determined. Had the pyramid
been left in that incomplete, but astronomically
most perfect, form, the edifice might have re-
mained for thousands of years the most im-
portant astronomical structure in the world. Nay,
to this very day it would have retained its
pre-eminence, provided, of course, that its advan-
tages over other buildings had been duly supple-
mented by modern instrumental and optical im-
provements.
Unfortunately, the Great Pyramid was erected
solely for selfish purposes. It was to be the tomb
of Cheops, and whatever qualities it had for astro-
nomical observation were to be devoted to his
service only. The incalculable aid to the progress
of astronomy which might have been obtained from
this magnificent structure entered in no sort into