Scientific.

Otago Witness, Issue 1382, 25 May 1878, Page 21

Scientific.

c/. THE GREAT PYRAMID. By AirauK BevbelY, Dunedin. No. IV. ... . POSITION OP THE GREAT PYRAMID.

'Until exact measurements were made, the great pyramid was supposed to stand in' exactly 30° north latitude, and to face the cardinal points truly. It is very clear that .it was intended to be so placed, for no other angle, near 30°, has any relation to) its structure. The trisection of 30° is more exhaustively discussed, in the pyramid, than any other problem.. The sine/ of 30° is the tangent of the inclination of the entrance, and of the altitude instrument; and many other affinities might be mentioned.' In short/ that is the latitude which harmonises with the structure. of the pyramid, and we have ample' proof that the builders were able to place it, true in latitude and azimuth, wittiin narrow limits of error. According to Piazzi Smyth, the great pyramid is: now in lat. 29° 58' 51", or about 70 seconds south of the' true position ; and it bears about 4 minutes west of" due north. He also found, that the second pyramid bears 4 minutes west of north. Wow there is nothing in any of the pyramids, except the first, to indicate any particular latitude ; but it is evident f they were all intended to be true mr ( azimuth. We cannot attribute the error in azimuth to blundering ; it is against probability that the builders of the two chief pyramids should both blunder to the same extent, in the same direction. It would be interesting to know if the other pyramids have a similar deviation. Several attempts have been made to account for these errors, but none , appear entitled to consideration, except one ; that is, that the position of the earth's axis, with relation to the surface, has changed to some extent since the pyramids were built. A movement of the north pole towards Australia, equal to about four miles, would account for the displacement, both in latitude and azimuth. We know from other consideratio'nsj' that the position of the earth's axis is not permanent — it is doubtful if anything.be'permanentin thephysical world — but its' movements must be very slow, perhaps fluctuating ; and but for the pyramids, we might have remained for centuries in ignorance that they can become meaaureable in course of time. If this be the true explanation, which is very- probable, the pramid builders have, by their efforts in another direction, been the means'of revealing to us an important physical fact, of which they were ignorant. It is possible, but not likely, that they may have suspected a movement of the axis, and set the pyramid, to act as an index of its, amount to posterity, should itprov.e real. . This, however, is mere surmise, resting on no proof ; but the deviation of the ■ pyramid is a fact which appears unaccountable, except by assuming a corresponding movement of the poles.