Papers On The Great Pyramid.

tenor structures of Cheop s Pyramid—the central tomb , tho roof of Avhich is relieved by a series of discharging arches , * from the enormous superincumbent mass toAvering to the pyramid's apex ; the ventdating shafts , extending at the best angle for their purpose to open upon the sides of the pyramid ; the precisely-estimated slope of both upAvarcl and downward passages , in reference to the enormous blocks of granite to be moved along them , hardly , if at all , inferior to the monolithic Sarcophagus itself , —all these impressed my architectural and engineering fellow-travellers with the conviction that a mind of high order in their sciences had planned ancl presided over the construction of the . pyramid . "

Of course , no one in the least acquainted with even the architectural features of the Great Pyramid , could doubt for one moment that the master mind who directed the work , had previously conceived ancl completed the plans of its structure before the masons began their Avork . Nay , Ave are able to go further than that . In the " Chambers of Construction " over the King ' s Chamber , ( five in number ) , there still exist—or did hi 1837 when Col . HoAvard Vyse published the results of his explorations—the quarry

, marks on the unfinished faces of the huge blocks . t These prove that the stones came ready prepared and numbered from the quarries of Syene , 700 miles up the Nile . The consecutive order of the numbers was apparent , and the stones were further marked for north , south , & c .

Trusting that I have shoAvn sufficient reasons for claiming attention on the part of all Masons to the investigations noAV being made in Avhat may be termed Great Pyramid Science , I shall noAV close this Paper Avith a few particulars as to dimensions , & c , Avhich will be found useful in subsequent papers . Hitherto , I have used rough dimensions only , as being less likely to " bore " readers , but the exact quantities will be required , and given hi this form they Avill be more easy for reference than if scattered through the

text . I have already stated IIOAV the discovery of the corner sockets and the casingstones led to the recovery of the external dimensions Avithin very narroAV limits , ancl I may UOAV add , in explanation of the nicety of the measures given beloAV , that they are the result of careful mathematical calculations , aided by the fact that the internal measures , which are easdy made , have a peculiar proportion to the external , as Avill shortly appear . The dimensions are given in terms of Pyramid inches , the Pyramid inch being the one-thousandth part greater than a British inch , ( which is the unit of our system ) , and is derived from the " boss " on the " granite leaf " of the Ante-Chamber , the face of Avhich is 5 such inches : —

EXTERIOR , WHEN PERFECT . Pyr . inches . Vertical height above pavement ... ... ... 5 , 813-01 Inclined height at centre of sides ... ... ... 7 , 39 T 55 „ „ corners ... ... ... . ... 8 , 687-87 Base side , as determined by sockets ... ... ... 9 , 131-05 Diagonal of base ditto ditto ... ... .. 12913-26

, Sum of the two diagonals ( nearly ) ... ... ... 25 , 827 * Angle of the sides by the casing-stones ... ... 51 ° 51 ' 14 ' 3 " Angle at the corners ... .... ... ... 41 ° 59 ' 18-7 " Area of base = 13-340 Pyr . acres , of Avhich 1 equal 0-9902 British acre .

PASSAGES—FLOOR LENGTH . Grand Gallery ... ... ... ... ... 188 P 4 First ascending passage , if reckoned on a floor line produced doAviiAvards to floor of entrance-passage ... ... 1542 Entrance passage , from commencement to such point of intersection by floor line of first ascending passage ... 986 Or , computed whole length of entrance-passage , to termination in subterranean chamber ... ... ... ... 4446