INTRODUCTION
The Great Pyramid of Egypt, Khufu's Pyramid, The Horizon of Khufu, is considered the greatest achievement of an ancient culture, but one question is always left wanting for a consummate answer: What was the architect's plan based upon?
For all the possible reasons there can be for the existence of this grand wonder, our most comfortable function for it is as a tomb, built in the Fourth Dynasty of the ancient Egyptian civilization by Pharaoh Khufu in the middle of the third millennium BCE. We know of the many pyramids of Egypt, and the precursors and subsequent similarities indicating tombs, but the largest pyramid ever built seems to be more than the ultimate progression from a simple grave. We are certainly aware of the internal passages and chambers, and that the locations of the chambers are quite unique with only a few pyramids exhibiting above-ground chambers within their constructions, and of course there are the shafts that no other pyramid has, so again with the question: a tomb based upon what?
Theories abound as to the model for the pyramid’s style: could it be the ostentation of elaborate design by a magnificent architect of the time? Could the separate parts of it be aligned to certain stars and constellations, as well as possibly indicating the form of Earth itself and also possibly the form of our solar system? Are the specifics of its parts in reference to what would become the writings and imagery of The Book of The Dead, The Book of Caverns or The Book of The Heavenly Cow? Do geometric and mathematical formulas reside within the measurements and positions of passages and chambers? Our understanding either equates to the time period of the Pharaohs Sneferu and Khufu or, as suggested by investigations undertaken by many, from Herodotus in the fifth century BCE, to John Greaves in the seventeenth century CE, to Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval and even Zachariah Sitchin et al in the twentieth century, a period much earlier might be identified as the, if not construction of the pyramid, then quite possibly the planning it is based upon.
It was from several observations by various investigators and speculators into the pyramid that an idea formed: Could the pyramid comprise a simple map which observed the star-filled sky, with the form, passages, shafts and chambers indicating specific stars as well as alignments to other stars? It was not an outrageous idea as there have been observations made that speculate upon the shafts of the King and Queen chambers pointing towards certain stars at, if not one particular date at the time of the pyramid's construction, then probably several dates that had some kind of importance. The whole could be some kind of astrolabe or in the least, a calendrical device that observes particular moments through the year.
Having read dozens of books on the subject of the Great Pyramid, and partaking of the many websites that offer various theories and observations to do with not only its certain architecture but also mathematical and geometric qualities that some folk had identified within the pyramid, it became obvious that no-one had subjected the pyramid to such a possibility of it being a representation of the entire sky. Yes, some folks had defined the passages and shafts as aiming towards several stars and that they did so at particular dates, and there does seem to be a great deal of correlation between stars, dates and alignments, but maybe there was more to it. While I do not claim that the following analysis should be considered as the only reason for the pyramid's form, I have come to the conclusion that what the following identifies is certainly a strong argument for one layer of meaning that the Great Pyramid is modelled after.
We know pyramids exist in the Americas, China, quite possibly in Bosnia and even the Seychelles Islands, and while there are speculations that travellers of the period may be responsible for transmitting their knowledge between these far flung places, it is not certain that Egypt is the place for their initiation onto the world scene. While the doorstep of the third millennium before the current era, or 3,000 BCE, is considered the approximate time that the first pyramids were being constructed, it is difficult to state firmly that this is so. We do have a great deal of information that has been gathered through thousands of years that does offer a timeline for the remnants that we are left with in Egypt; and we can, from specific information and the styles this information exists in, define not just when but also who was responsible for the many pyramids remaining. What may prove a problem is that people through history have oft times reconstructed or reconfigured the buildings they are quite fond of, and while the end result may be what we are left with, they may not necessarily have started out in that form. With many of the pyramids, it is difficult to accept whether they are actually tombs for the Pharaohs that had them built, or if they are temples to one or another of the gods they worshipped, especially when such as Pharaoh Sneferu constructed four pyramids, with two of them being some 105 metres tall. There was only one Pharaoh Sneferu, so why four pyramids?
Then there is the possibility that each of the pyramids started off as a complete construction, and over time were enlarged by subsequent additions, giving rise to the concept of the accretion theory in a way that says construction was not performed by one Pharaoh but by a succession of Pharaohs. This may explain the works undertaken by Sneferu, in being responsible for repairs and enlargements rather than initial building-works.
The following investigation goes beyond the tomb theory as it reconstructs the pyramid as a three dimensional model firstly, and secondly incorporates very particular correlations to specific periods in time portrayed as astronomical overlays upon the pyramid, with the model and overlays used together to identify a basis for its construction. The intention of this analysis is not to negate the importance of many investigations done over millennia by various people from all walks of life, but to bolster those investigations towards yet another understanding of the pyramid. Far from being just a tomb, it will be shown that the Great Pyramid of Giza is a testament to a few exacting understandings:
As this analysis unfolds, and certain questions are answered to do with the features of the pyramid, it may be possible to identify the location of another chamber if one were in existence. But that is completely due to speculation, and concerns not just some mathematical and geometric observations, but also the placement of one particular part of the pyramid's unique features: the rendition of a form above the entrance.
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INDEX
The Great Pyramid of Egypt, Khufu's Pyramid, The Horizon of Khufu, is considered the greatest achievement of an ancient culture, but one question is always left wanting for a consummate answer: What was the architect's plan based upon?
For all the possible reasons there can be for the existence of this grand wonder, our most comfortable function for it is as a tomb, built in the Fourth Dynasty of the ancient Egyptian civilization by Pharaoh Khufu in the middle of the third millennium BCE. We know of the many pyramids of Egypt, and the precursors and subsequent similarities indicating tombs, but the largest pyramid ever built seems to be more than the ultimate progression from a simple grave. We are certainly aware of the internal passages and chambers, and that the locations of the chambers are quite unique with only a few pyramids exhibiting above-ground chambers within their constructions, and of course there are the shafts that no other pyramid has, so again with the question: a tomb based upon what?
Theories abound as to the model for the pyramid’s style: could it be the ostentation of elaborate design by a magnificent architect of the time? Could the separate parts of it be aligned to certain stars and constellations, as well as possibly indicating the form of Earth itself and also possibly the form of our solar system? Are the specifics of its parts in reference to what would become the writings and imagery of The Book of The Dead, The Book of Caverns or The Book of The Heavenly Cow? Do geometric and mathematical formulas reside within the measurements and positions of passages and chambers? Our understanding either equates to the time period of the Pharaohs Sneferu and Khufu or, as suggested by investigations undertaken by many, from Herodotus in the fifth century BCE, to John Greaves in the seventeenth century CE, to Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval and even Zachariah Sitchin et al in the twentieth century, a period much earlier might be identified as the, if not construction of the pyramid, then quite possibly the planning it is based upon.
It was from several observations by various investigators and speculators into the pyramid that an idea formed: Could the pyramid comprise a simple map which observed the star-filled sky, with the form, passages, shafts and chambers indicating specific stars as well as alignments to other stars? It was not an outrageous idea as there have been observations made that speculate upon the shafts of the King and Queen chambers pointing towards certain stars at, if not one particular date at the time of the pyramid's construction, then probably several dates that had some kind of importance. The whole could be some kind of astrolabe or in the least, a calendrical device that observes particular moments through the year.
Having read dozens of books on the subject of the Great Pyramid, and partaking of the many websites that offer various theories and observations to do with not only its certain architecture but also mathematical and geometric qualities that some folk had identified within the pyramid, it became obvious that no-one had subjected the pyramid to such a possibility of it being a representation of the entire sky. Yes, some folks had defined the passages and shafts as aiming towards several stars and that they did so at particular dates, and there does seem to be a great deal of correlation between stars, dates and alignments, but maybe there was more to it. While I do not claim that the following analysis should be considered as the only reason for the pyramid's form, I have come to the conclusion that what the following identifies is certainly a strong argument for one layer of meaning that the Great Pyramid is modelled after.
We know pyramids exist in the Americas, China, quite possibly in Bosnia and even the Seychelles Islands, and while there are speculations that travellers of the period may be responsible for transmitting their knowledge between these far flung places, it is not certain that Egypt is the place for their initiation onto the world scene. While the doorstep of the third millennium before the current era, or 3,000 BCE, is considered the approximate time that the first pyramids were being constructed, it is difficult to state firmly that this is so. We do have a great deal of information that has been gathered through thousands of years that does offer a timeline for the remnants that we are left with in Egypt; and we can, from specific information and the styles this information exists in, define not just when but also who was responsible for the many pyramids remaining. What may prove a problem is that people through history have oft times reconstructed or reconfigured the buildings they are quite fond of, and while the end result may be what we are left with, they may not necessarily have started out in that form. With many of the pyramids, it is difficult to accept whether they are actually tombs for the Pharaohs that had them built, or if they are temples to one or another of the gods they worshipped, especially when such as Pharaoh Sneferu constructed four pyramids, with two of them being some 105 metres tall. There was only one Pharaoh Sneferu, so why four pyramids?
Then there is the possibility that each of the pyramids started off as a complete construction, and over time were enlarged by subsequent additions, giving rise to the concept of the accretion theory in a way that says construction was not performed by one Pharaoh but by a succession of Pharaohs. This may explain the works undertaken by Sneferu, in being responsible for repairs and enlargements rather than initial building-works.
The following investigation goes beyond the tomb theory as it reconstructs the pyramid as a three dimensional model firstly, and secondly incorporates very particular correlations to specific periods in time portrayed as astronomical overlays upon the pyramid, with the model and overlays used together to identify a basis for its construction. The intention of this analysis is not to negate the importance of many investigations done over millennia by various people from all walks of life, but to bolster those investigations towards yet another understanding of the pyramid. Far from being just a tomb, it will be shown that the Great Pyramid of Giza is a testament to a few exacting understandings:
- two grand moments in astronomy that lay twelve thousand five hundred years apart, with the first heralding in a new climate upon the African landscape and the ancient mindset, and the second saying farewell to an ages old adherence to belief and lifestyle;
- the observances of the solstices and equinoxes;
- the size of the pyramid being reliant upon the above points, and also including other natural observations that incorporate simple laws of geometry.
As this analysis unfolds, and certain questions are answered to do with the features of the pyramid, it may be possible to identify the location of another chamber if one were in existence. But that is completely due to speculation, and concerns not just some mathematical and geometric observations, but also the placement of one particular part of the pyramid's unique features: the rendition of a form above the entrance.
NEXT SECTION
INDEX