[Manual Of Egyptian Archaeology And Guide To The Study Of Antiquities In Egypt by Gaston Camille Charles Maspero]@TWC D-Link book
Manual Of Egyptian Archaeology And Guide To The Study Of Antiquities In Egypt

CHAPTER V
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and 133 deg.

with it.
(25) This gallery has obtained a great reputation for the fineness of its joints, perhaps because they are coarse enough to be easily seen; but some joints of the entrance passage, and the joints in the queen's chamber, are hardly visible with the closest inspection.
(26) The only signs of portcullises are those in the vestibule or antechamber.
(27) No traces of three of the portcullises remain, if they ever existed, and the other never could reach the floor or interrupt the passage, so its use is enigmatical.
(28) There is some evidence that the pyramid was opened in the early days, perhaps before the middle kingdom.
(29) Two rows of beams which rest on the side wall as corbels or cantilevers, only touching at the top, without necessarily any thrust.

Such at least is the case in the queen's chamber, and in the pyramid of Pepi, where such a roof is used.
(30) The end walls have sunk throughout a considerable amount, and the side walls have separated; thus all the beams of the upper chambers have been dragged, and every beam of the roof of the chamber is broken through.

This is probably the result of earthquakes.
(31) This only covered the lower sixteen courses; the larger part above it was of limestone.
(32) Similar finished faces may be seen as far in as near the middle of the mass.

This is not a true pyramid in form, but a cumulative mastaba, the faces of which are at the mastaba angle (75 deg.), and the successive enlargements of which are shown by numerous finished facings now within the masonry.


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