(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.  The step form is the result of carrying upwards the mastaba form, at the same time that it was enlarged outwards.

(33) Not in all cases apparently, for the hieroglyphs on the passage of Pepi’s pyramid are not injured, as they would be if plugs had been withdrawn.

(34) Pepi’s roof is formed by a row of large beams which rested independently on the side walls as corbels or cantilevers (see Note 29).

(35) The mastaba angle is 75 deg., and the pyramid angle 50 deg. to 55 deg..

(36) Its present appearance is an accident of its demolition; it was originally, like the “step-pyramid” of Sakkarah, a cumulative mastaba, as is shown by the remains of the lower steps still in the mounds at its base, and by the mediaeval description of it.

INDEX

Aahhotep, 157, 323-30. 
Aahhotep II., 288-9. 
Aalu, fields of, 163-4, 167. 
Abacus, 52-4, 58, 61, 116. 
Abi, 273. 
Abu Roash, 113, 134. 
Abu Simbel
    (see TEMPLES, etc.). 
Abusir, 114, 131, 134, 138, 140. 
Abydos
    (see FORTRESSES, TEMPLES, TOMBS, etc.). 
Acacia, 203, 274. 
Adze, of iron, 283, 304. 
Affi
    (see TOMB). 
Agate, 247. 
Ahmes I., 267, 307, 317, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329. 
Ahmes II., 269 and note.
    (see AMASIS).