The Mechanical Triumphs of the Ancient Egyptians

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K. Paul, Trench, Trübner, 1900 - Engineering - 123 pages
 

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Page 71 - The workman having found a portion of the rock sufficiently extensive, and situated near the edge of the part already quarried, lays bare the upper surface, and marks on it a line in the direction of the intended separation, along which a groove is cut with a chisel about a couple of inches in depth. Above this groove a narrow line of fire is then kindled, and maintained till the rock below is thoroughly heated, immediately on which a line of men and women, each provided with a pot...
Page 30 - Pyramid," says Mr. Fergusson, " without being struck with astonishment at the wonderful mechanical skill displayed in its construction. The immense blocks of granite brought from Syene — a distance of 500 miles — polished like glass, and so fitted that the joints can hardly be detected. Nothing can be more wonderful than the extraordinary amount of knowledge displayed in the construction of the discharging chambers > over the roof of the principal apartment, in the alignment of...
Page 37 - And they worked to the number of a hundred thousand men at a time, each party during three months. The time during which the people were thus harassed by toil, lasted ten years on the road which they constructed, along which they drew the stones, a work, in my opinion, not much less than the pyramid...
Page 31 - ... in the alignment of the sloping galleries, in the provision of ventilating shafts, and in all the wonderful contrivances of the structure. All these, too, are carried out with such precision that, notwithstanding the immense superincumbent weight, no settlement in any part can be detected to the extent of an appreciable fraction of an inch. Nothing more perfect, mechanically, has ever been erected since that time...
Page 46 - This pyramid was built thus ; in the form of steps, which some call crossae, others bomides. When they had first built it in this manner, they raised the remaining stones by machines made of short pieces of wood : having lifted them from the ground to the first range of steps, when the stone arrived there, it was put on another machine that stood ready on the first range; and from this it was drawn to the second range on another machine ; for the machines were equal in number to the ranges of steps;...
Page 31 - Syene — a distance of 500 miles — polished like glass, and so fitted that the joints can hardly be detected. Nothing can be more wonderful than the extraordinary amount of knowledge displayed in the construction of the discharging chambers over the roof of the principal apartment, in the alignment of the sloping galleries, in the provision of ventilating shafts, and in all the wonderful contrivances of the structure. All these, too, are carried out with such precision that, notwithstanding the...
Page 72 - ... is cut with chisels; or, if the stratum be but thin, holes of the same dimensions, at a foot and a half, or two feet distance, are cut along the line. In either case, all being now ready, a workman with a small chisel is placed at each hole or interval, and with small iron mallets the line of men keep beating on the chisels, but not with violence, from left to right, or from right to left; this operation, as they say, is sometimes continued for two or three days before the separation is effected....
Page 79 - A block of granite, of considerable size, is rudely fashioned into the shape of the end of a large pestle. The lower face of this is hollowed out into a cavity, and this is filled with a mass composed of pounded corundum-stone, mixed with melted bees-wax. This block is moved by means of two sticks, or pieces of bamboo, placed one on each side of its neck, and bound together by cords, twisted and tightened by sticks. The weight of the whole is such as two workmen can easily manage.
Page 8 - Powers, are certain simple instruments, commonly employed for raising greater weights, or overcoming greater resistances, than could be effected by the natural strength without them. These are usually accounted six in number, viz. the Lever, the Wheel and Axle, the Pulley, the Inclined Plane, the Wedge, and the Screw.
Page 110 - ... the small end gradually rising at each successive step, the wall behind increasing in height, and an inclined plane of solid earth gradually increasing its angle with the horizon until it equalled that at which solid earth could with safety be employed ; when the force required being proportionally diminished, timber alone was employed for its elevation.

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