Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid
FRONTISPIECE: The Stone Architecture of All Ages, in Time and in Height.

Digital edition · Fourth and much enlarged edition. London: Wm. Isbister, 1880

Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid

C. Piazzi Smyth, F.R.S.E., F.R.A.S.
Astronomer-Royal for Scotland

Smyth's account of the Great Pyramid of Giza, drawn from his own survey of 1865: the measures of its base, passages and chambers, and the theory he built on them. Reproduced in full with all 25 engraved plates, the calculations set as formulas, and each page linked to the original scan.

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Contents

Front matter

  1. Prefacevii
  2. The Three Keysxv

Part I. The Geography, and the Exterior, of the Great Pyramid

  1. IIntroductory Statement3
  2. IIGeometrical Proportions15
  3. IIIStandard of Length31
  4. IVThe Earth-Size and Sun-Distance49
  5. VGeographical Indications72

Part II. History and the Interior of the Great Pyramid

  1. VIAn Entry Made99
  2. VIIResearch Continued122
  3. VIIIThe One Contained Vessel143
  4. IXDensity and Temperature166
  5. XConfirmations189

Part III. National Weights and Measures, also those of the Great Pyramid

  1. XIBritish Metrology227
  2. XIIPyramid Capacity Measure254
  3. XIIIWeight Measure273
  4. XIVLinear and Surface Measure290
  5. XVHeat and Pressure, Angle and Time305

Part IV. More than Science at the Great Pyramid

  1. XVIThe Sacred Cubit331
  2. XVIITime Measures359
  3. XVIIIMosaic and Egyptian Wisdom389
  4. XIXMechanical Data414
  5. XXSabbatic and Messianic Time446

Part V. The Personal and the Future at the Great Pyramid

  1. XXIHierologists and Chronologists483
  2. XXIIThe Shepherd Kings513
  3. XXIIIScripture Testimony535
  4. XXIVPreparations for a Single Universal Metrology559
  5. XXVGeneral Summation593

Back matter

  1. IBiographical Notice of John Taylor637
  2. IIThe Royal Society, London; and its published Base-side length of the Great Pyramid653
  3. IIITime Indications of the Grand Gallery659
  4. Corrigenda in some former volumes665
  5. Index667

Plates

  1. Plate IFRONTISPIECE: The Stone Architecture of All Ages, in Time and in Height.
  2. Plate IIGeography of the Great Pyramid, both for Egypt and the World.
  3. Plate IIIChorography of the Great Pyramid and its Neighbours.
  4. Plate IVVertical Sections of all the Jeezeh Group of Pyramids.
  5. Plate VVertical Sections of all the Residual Pyramids of Egypt.
  6. Plate VIVertical Section of Great Pyramid and its Rock-fast Hill, *Looking West.*
  7. Plate VIIGround Plan of the Great Pyramid.
  8. Plate VIIICasing-stone Remnants of the Great and Second Pyramids.
  9. Plate IXChamber and Passage System of Great Pyramid.
  10. Plate XEntrance into Great Pyramid, Front Elevation, and Side Section.
  11. Plate XIQueen’s Chamber, so-called, in Great Pyramid.
  12. Plate XIILower End of Grand Gallery in the Great Pyramid.
  13. Plate XIIIEND-ON VIEWS OF LENGTH IN THE GRAND GALLERY; *Arabs ascending the Grand Gallery, southward; Arabs descending the Grand Gallery, northward.*
  14. Plate XIVUpper End of Grand Gallery and the Ante-chamber.
  15. Plate XVTHE ANTE-CHAMBER AND ITS WALLS, OPENED OUT; *Also the Boss on the Granite Leaf.*
  16. Plate XVIThe King's Chamber and its Accessories.
  17. Plate XVIIWALLS OF THE KING'S CHAMBER OPENED OUT. *The Coffer, Sunk portion of Walls, &c.*
  18. Plate XVIIIEGYPTOLOGICAL SIGNATURES OF EARLY EGYPTIAN KINGS; *Also Doctors Grant's and Waller's Orders of Polish of the Great Pyramid's Granite Surfaces.*
  19. Plate XIXTomb of King Cheops, Far Outside the Great Pyramid.
  20. Plate XXSize and Shape of Great Pyramid, Measured Without.
  21. Plate XXISize and Shape of Great Pyramid, from Testimony Within.
  22. Plate XXIIConstruction Hypothesis of Passage Angles and Chamber Emplacements in Great Pyramid.
  23. Plate XXIIIThe Antediluvian Starry Skies, as Seen on the Great Pyramid Principles of Observing.
  24. Plate XXIVThe Starry Skies as Seen at the Great Pyramid at its Date of Foundation, 2170 B.c.
  25. Plate XXVTHE STARRY SKIES OF THE PRESENT TIME, AS SEEN AT THE GREAT PYRAMID ON ITS PRINCIPLES OF OBSERVING; *viz. the old Dragon Pole-Star crossing the Meridian below the Pole, and thereby emphasizing the one Zodiacal constellation then on the Meridian above the Pole.*