CHAP. XT. EGYPTIAN MEASURES. 25 



mention the plethrum in giving the length of some 

 buildings, as the pyramids; but tliis was properly 

 a Cjreck square measure, double the Greek aroura, 

 and containing, according to some, 10,000 square 

 feet, or, as others suppose, 1 'MAu When used as a 

 measure of length, it was generally estimated at 

 100 feet; though, if Herodotus*s measurement of 

 the great pyramid be correct, it could not complete 

 100 of our feet, as he gives the length of each face 

 8 plethra. But little reliance can be placed on his 

 measurements *, since in this he exceeds the true 

 length ; and to the face of the third pyramid he 

 only allows 3 plethra, which, calculating the ple- 

 thrum at 100 feet, is more than half a plethrum 

 short of the real length, — each face, according to 

 the measurement of Colonel Howard Vyset, being 

 354 feet. 



In former times, the difficulty of measuring 

 the exterior dimensions of the pyramid w^as much 

 less than at present ; and owing to tlie mound of 

 broken stone, earth, and sand, which has accumu- 

 lated about the centre of each face, it is so difficult 

 to ascertain their exact extent, that no tw^o persons 

 agree in their measurements ; and all attempts to 

 calculate the value of ancient measures from this 

 monument are hopeless ; as well from the inaccuracy 

 and disagreement of Greek and Roman writers 



* We may forgive Herodotus and other writers for an error in tlie 

 height of the pyramid. He makes it equal to the length of the face ; 

 Strabo says the side is a little less than the height (xvii. p. 555.). 



■f The iin[)ortance of the discoveries made by Col. Howard Vyse, at 

 the Pyramids, can only be appreciated on referring to the valuablework 

 he has [uiblishcd. 



