DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17#0053
THE GREAT PYRAMID—MASTABAS—ALI GABRI.
ONE OF THE MASTAIÍAS NKAii THE GREAT PYRAMID.
be safely trusted to clear the ground for Dr. Petrie's completion of his greatest
and, at the same time, his
first Egyptian work. In his
volume, Dr. Pétrie works
out the mysteries of the
construction of the Great
Pyramid, and shows that the
number of labourers stated
by Herodotus (100,000 men,
working three months at a
time for 20 years} was pro-
bably correct, but he sug-
gests that they were employed thus at the time of high Nile, when no labour
could be done in the fields. Dr. Pétrie found the foundations of the barracks
where the skilled workmen were quartered during the work. These are still
uncovered, and can be seen behind the Second Pyramid, on the high ground.
There are three deep trenches on the east of the Great Pyramid which may
have been made to contain water. Beyond, and on the same side, are the
three smaller pyramids of the king's daughters. These were beautifully cased
with white stone, and many of the casing blocks are in their original position,
only hidden by the sand, if we know where to look for them. We can
dismount and crawl into passages under each pyramid, whence we emerge
into chambers whose walls are engraved and painted with the whole story of
the life and parentage of the princess who was interred in the deep shaft beneath
the tomb. The numerous small erections
of masonry called mastabas, with sloping
sides and flat tops, cover the tombs of
Khufu's kindred, and many of them bear his
name or cartouche. But all that Dr. Pétrie
discovered in this region can be learnt from
the best guide in the place, who was Petrie's
trusted servant and friend during his three
years of hard work. His name is AH Gabri.
His little son has been to Mecca and is
therefore a Hadji, and always follows his
father about, making himself useful.
Everyone who is young or active enough
should climb the Great Pyramid. The view
ali gabri and his boy, the hadji. from the top is magnificent. The several
ONE OF THE MASTAIÍAS NKAii THE GREAT PYRAMID.
be safely trusted to clear the ground for Dr. Petrie's completion of his greatest
and, at the same time, his
first Egyptian work. In his
volume, Dr. Pétrie works
out the mysteries of the
construction of the Great
Pyramid, and shows that the
number of labourers stated
by Herodotus (100,000 men,
working three months at a
time for 20 years} was pro-
bably correct, but he sug-
gests that they were employed thus at the time of high Nile, when no labour
could be done in the fields. Dr. Pétrie found the foundations of the barracks
where the skilled workmen were quartered during the work. These are still
uncovered, and can be seen behind the Second Pyramid, on the high ground.
There are three deep trenches on the east of the Great Pyramid which may
have been made to contain water. Beyond, and on the same side, are the
three smaller pyramids of the king's daughters. These were beautifully cased
with white stone, and many of the casing blocks are in their original position,
only hidden by the sand, if we know where to look for them. We can
dismount and crawl into passages under each pyramid, whence we emerge
into chambers whose walls are engraved and painted with the whole story of
the life and parentage of the princess who was interred in the deep shaft beneath
the tomb. The numerous small erections
of masonry called mastabas, with sloping
sides and flat tops, cover the tombs of
Khufu's kindred, and many of them bear his
name or cartouche. But all that Dr. Pétrie
discovered in this region can be learnt from
the best guide in the place, who was Petrie's
trusted servant and friend during his three
years of hard work. His name is AH Gabri.
His little son has been to Mecca and is
therefore a Hadji, and always follows his
father about, making himself useful.
Everyone who is young or active enough
should climb the Great Pyramid. The view
ali gabri and his boy, the hadji. from the top is magnificent. The several