Part 2 will deal with the small cemetery G2100 (for more background information on Khufu's cemete... more Part 2 will deal with the small cemetery G2100 (for more background information on Khufu's cemeteries, see part 1, which also deals with cemetery G1200). G2100 is a small cemetery consisting of eleven mastabas, which is one more than cemetery G1200. There is no large mastaba to which these mastabas coalesce around, such as we see in G4000, where the largest mastaba belongs to Khufu's vizier. There is a large mastaba G2000 which is located 50m to the west of G2100, whose owner is unknown, and this huge mastaba is by far the largest mastaba in the western field. Whilst this large mastaba may have no connection to cemetery G2100, I will include it in this guide, as it's possible that this mastaba was also built under Khufu.
In the above map of the western cemetery, 1 I have highlighted the mastabas' which Reisner believ... more In the above map of the western cemetery, 1 I have highlighted the mastabas' which Reisner believed were constructed under Khufu. The west side of Khufu's pyramid is visible on bottom of map; the cemeteries southern limits is contained within a large
Over the many years, I have been contacted for various data on the Great Pyramid, and too often I... more Over the many years, I have been contacted for various data on the Great Pyramid, and too often I have to reply that the data simply does not exist. By and large Egyptology show little interest on such structures and the problems that they bring; indeed, I would argue that Egyptology has yet to explore the pyramids. This viewpoint is based on the numerous guides and research, which I have undertaken on the pyramid complexes. This work, highlights to me, how poor our knowledge is on these complexes, and too often our only data is from explorers from the 19 th century. Modern Egyptology seems content with this old data, and appears to see no reason to explore these structures, through a modern lense. Possibly, especially in the case of the Great Pyramid, the intense interest which surrounds it from the outside world, along with the various theories to explain its existence, has made Egyptologist's somewhat wary to take up the subject matter. You will not find a multi-volume book on the Great Pyramid from Egyptology, which goes into great detail on the structure; for such detail one has to look to sources from pyramidology. Pyramidology would likely be described by Egyptologists as a pseudoscience; who would describe the proponents of such theories as pyramidiots. 1
The pyramid of Sekhemkhet is a relatively modern discovery, having been discovered in the 1950's.... more The pyramid of Sekhemkhet is a relatively modern discovery, having been discovered in the 1950's. It was largely lost to history as it was a building project that barely left the drawing board; presumably on the early death of the king who commissioned it. Both superstructure and substructure are unfinished, and what was achieved was soon buried in sand and lost. The sectional drawing 1 above gives an indication of what was achieved on the complex, along with what its intended outcome may have looked like; a step pyramid exceeding that of Djoser's step pyramid.
The above archive image from November 1906, shows the unexcavated remains of Menkaure's pyramid t... more The above archive image from November 1906, shows the unexcavated remains of Menkaure's pyramid temple. The landscape has changed dramatically since this picture was taken, and to help orientate the image, I have pointed out Khentkawes tomb. In the view above, we are looking east through the temples entrance, and one can just make out the causeway as it descends to the as yet unexcavated valley temple, which is still buried under the sand and roughly to the right of Khentkawes tomb. The scene above is much how the early explorers such as Petrie and Howard Vyse would find the Temple; largely buried in sand and debris, with the most visible components being the huge limestone core stones of the temples walls. Howard Vyse
According to Manetho's king list, Pepi II is given a reign length of some 94 years; however, the ... more According to Manetho's king list, Pepi II is given a reign length of some 94 years; however, the highest attested date for Pepi II, found so far, is for the 31 st count, which if biennial would give a reign of some 62 years. 2 RecTrav 1884, page 157 3 L'Architecture des pyramides a Textes II, A.Labrousse, page 2 4 The Egyptian Seked is the horizontal displacement of a right angled triangle whose height is 1 cubit. The cubit consisting of 7 palms of 4 digits. Therefore in the case of Pepi I pyramid, the angle conforms to a Seked of 5 palms, 1 digit, i.e. vertical height 28 digits, with half base of 21 digits: a ratio of 1.3333.... or just over 53 degrees.
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