DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.572#0141
PART II. CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS. 1 13
to many countries; the conical chambers, in the
Nuraghe* of Sardinia, bear a resemblance to the
Treasury of Atreus, and to other similar structures,
at Mycense, as well as to the (pointed) interior of
the tomb near Sipylum ; which last is remarkable
for the stones being placed in alternate long and
short courses ;f and it is certainly interesting to
observe the analogy of funereal monuments among
early nations.}
In mentioning the pyramids of Egypt, I must
not omit noticing the manner in which those
monuments were constructed; which, was first
remarked by Mr. Wild. Every pyramid consisted,
at first, of several lofty solid square tiers, standing
one on the other, and decreasing in size ; so that
each projected considerably beyond the one above it.
The uppermost one having then been capped by a
triangular apex, the builders (as Herodotus says)
proceeded downwards, and filled up the space, be-
tween the (nearly) perpendicular wall of each upper
tier, and the projecting platform below it, with a
triangular piece of masonry (which made out the
slope of the face of the pyramid); and this they re-
peated, at each stage, till they reached the ground.
The expression " eimoieiv" of Herodotus is thus
explained; as well as the appearance of the suc-
cessive stages of several pyramids; as of the large
* There are the remains of two of them, in the Isle of Malta.
t I have found instances of this " long and short work" in Greek, and
Roman, monuments, and whole villages so built, in the Regency of
Tunis, of the time of Justinian, and Justin II.
X The pyramid is even in America; and the pyramidal, and conical
form are still more general. Vide supra, p. 4.
I
to many countries; the conical chambers, in the
Nuraghe* of Sardinia, bear a resemblance to the
Treasury of Atreus, and to other similar structures,
at Mycense, as well as to the (pointed) interior of
the tomb near Sipylum ; which last is remarkable
for the stones being placed in alternate long and
short courses ;f and it is certainly interesting to
observe the analogy of funereal monuments among
early nations.}
In mentioning the pyramids of Egypt, I must
not omit noticing the manner in which those
monuments were constructed; which, was first
remarked by Mr. Wild. Every pyramid consisted,
at first, of several lofty solid square tiers, standing
one on the other, and decreasing in size ; so that
each projected considerably beyond the one above it.
The uppermost one having then been capped by a
triangular apex, the builders (as Herodotus says)
proceeded downwards, and filled up the space, be-
tween the (nearly) perpendicular wall of each upper
tier, and the projecting platform below it, with a
triangular piece of masonry (which made out the
slope of the face of the pyramid); and this they re-
peated, at each stage, till they reached the ground.
The expression " eimoieiv" of Herodotus is thus
explained; as well as the appearance of the suc-
cessive stages of several pyramids; as of the large
* There are the remains of two of them, in the Isle of Malta.
t I have found instances of this " long and short work" in Greek, and
Roman, monuments, and whole villages so built, in the Regency of
Tunis, of the time of Justinian, and Justin II.
X The pyramid is even in America; and the pyramidal, and conical
form are still more general. Vide supra, p. 4.
I