The mystery of the Great pyramid : traditions concerning it and its connection with the Egyptian Book of the dead : with numerous illustrations

MYSTERY OF THE GREAT PYRAMID

summit as ‘‘ a square, from 25 feet to 30 feet a side, consisting of long square blocks of stone, with the upper surface coarse and uneven, as are the usual surfaces of stones in the courses of a building ”’ (our italics—compare the upper surfaces of the stones forming the ceiling of the King’s Chamber and of the construction chambers above it, which are all left rough. In the case of the summit, this would seem to indicate fairly clearly it was not intended to be built higher).

Dr. Richardson then continues: “ We perceived a thin cement between the different courses of stones, but there was 10 appearance of any cement having been placed upon the upper surface of the highest course. The conclusion ts that it had never been higher.’ (Cited from Bonwick—italics in original.)

Both historical and structural evidence thus seems strongly to favour the view that the Great Pyramid was never completed like other pyramids, and this view has recently been confirmed in a manner which, lacking any more definite evidence to the contrary which later may come to light, virtually makes it conclusive.

As a result of the survey undertaken during the winter of 1925-6 by the Egyptian Government,’ fragments of casing-stones were discovered in locations widely apart, but on the same line—MN in accompanying diagram—as the central base casing-stones, the existence of which was first discovered by Col. Vyse in 1837, sixteen more being laid bare on the north side in May, 1909.

Now one of the many features unique to the Great

1 The results of this survey by J. H. Cole, B.A., F.R.G.S., Inspector of the Computation Office, are contained in Survey of Egypt, Paper No. 39: The Determination of the Exact Size and Orientation of the Great Pyramid of Giza (Government Publications Office, Cairo).

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