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The Khufu Project is a collection of articles and sites that directly
relate to the pyramid and other structures built by the Pharaoh Khufu in
Dynasty IV.
Portcullis Stones: A Very Preliminary
Analysis
by Anthony Sakovich
Abstract:
A cursory
examination of a fragment of a surviving portcullis stone found outside
Khufu's pyramid, and the walls of the Antechamber, suggest a functional
link between the artifacts.
Explaining the Shafts in Khufu’s Pyramid at Giza
by Anthony Sakovich
Excerpt:
"There have
been several explanations offered for the small enigmatic shafts that lead
upward from the two highest chambers of Khufu’s pyramid at Giza.
Some have speculated that they were designed to allow airflow
through the structure so the workers would not asphyxiate.
Others have suggested that the shafts actually point very accurately
at various stars or areas of the nighttime sky, in an attempt to guide the
spirit, or Ka, of the king to his ultimate destination among the
Imperishable Ones. None of
these theories, however, have sufficiently substantive evidence, either
cultural or physical, to suggest that they should conclusively be
considered as a reliable theory for explaining the unique shafts in this
unique pyramid.
In fact, to
understand the shafts, we must first try to distance ourselves from much of
what we know about the later cults and beliefs that governed the cosmology
of Egypt after the Giza pyramids were built.
We must focus on the worldview and gods that we know did exist
during the time of Khufu. Only
then can we begin to catch a glimpse into the mindsets of the megalithic
pyramid engineers of Dynasty 4, thus allowing us to understand the
differences between those particular pyramids as contrasted with the
pyramids that precede and followed."
Shafting
the Stars or
Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width
by John Wall
Excerpt:
Tedder
provides extensive background about the modern study of the shafts which,
although not without interest, is largely irrelevant. There are no extant
Egyptian texts that make any reference to them, an absence that, within
reason, permits many possible explanations of their original purpose.
Compiling
information is straightforward enough, even if sometimes time consuming;
analysis and the formulation of conclusions is, however, more difficult.
Tedder’s diligence in the former is outweighed by flaws in the latter.
His critique contains a large number of references from various periods in
Egyptian history, and also from studies in modern Egyptology. But his
attempts to analyse and determine the relative importance and/or
significance of this material are erratic; never mind the quality, feel the
width. He also perpetrates a number of logical fallacies, which I have
identified, as well as making frequent use of argument from authority.
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The
Nature of a Good Pyramid Shafts Theory
Excerpt:
In my presentations
to groups on the subject of the small shafts inside Khufu's pyramid at
Giza, one thing that seems to get universal approval is my set of
methodological benchmarks I created for my own theories
on the subject. I felt it was necessary to set out a
series of guidelines and boundaries within which I had to stay in order to
maintain the integrity of my own theoretical work.
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Looting
Khufu's Pyamid: A Probable Timeline of Events
Abstract
The entry into Khufu's pyramid has left many
questions unanswered. This brief exposition is designed to elucidate the
most probable series of events that account for the Arabic records, the
physical evidence, and the burial practices we do understand from the Old
Kingdom, and put them together in the most logical sequence of events that
include and explain all of the factors listed above.
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Analysis
of the Relieving Chambers in Khufu's Pyramid
Abstract:
The so-called
"Relieving Chambers" over the King's burial chamber in the
pyramid of Khufu have generated much discussion, and in many ways, have
been seriously misunderstood over the years. The following diagrams and
notes are provided to convey a clear understanding of the simple dynamics
of the relieving chambers, how "relieving chamber" is actually a
misnomer, and show how the support structure actually relates to the
pyramid interior surrounding it.
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Analysis
of the New Shaft Plug Found in Khufu's Pyramid
Excerpt:
Based on these
observations, it would appear that the stone has actually given us a wealth
of information on the construction techniques employed in building the
pyramid of Khufu at Giza. We may also be able to use some of this
information to give us more insight into the function of the shafts, as
more data becomes available, and as the data we already have can be
organized into a more orderly, useful fashion.
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