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Lifting the Stone Blocks in the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) in Egypt - Can we prove it?
Pyramid Construction Theory by Daniel Gerardo (continued)
Lifting the Stone Blocks in the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) in
Egypt - Can we prove it?
The greatest virtue of this new way of visualising
this Question is that it is susceptible of proof. As a matter of fact,
in order to describe the method I am postulating I assumed that there
existed a vertical conduit connecting the south wall of the gallery with
the building platform, and that this conduit made it possible to transfer
the kinetic energy generated during the sliding movement of the counter-balance
to the building platform outside.
Let us now imagine that the construction of the pyramid - including the surfacing - has been completed. The next task to be performed is the obstruction of the vertical conduit.
If we assume that this conduit did exist and that it was obstructed by means of small blocks, evidence of this should necessarily be found in the upper lock of the building.
Figure 4. Drawing by E. W. Laner of platform on top of Pyramid of Cheops
Fig. 4 shows a drawing of the upper lock made by E.W.Laner a professional draftsman, in his work "Exhaustive Description of Egypt" (British Museum, add. MS. 34,083, f.24) -first published in C.W. Ceram´s book "In Search of the Past". Three small blocks of stone placed one next to the other can be seen on the east face of the building, near the centre of the platform (see arrow).
I shall point out two facts that can prove the existence of the aforementioned obstruction.
In the first place, the size of these three blocks differs from that of the rest of the stones in the platform.
Secondly, the stones which still remain from the previous course are placed along the edge of those small blocks and do not form the lock, as one would suppose they should. This detail, which will be analysed in due course, makes it possible to prove in one way or another the alternative theories I have formulated.
Figure 5: Early drawings of Pyramid of Chephren
The Chephren Pyramid was built right after Cheops's Pyramid and is slightly lower in height; it is logical to deduce that its inner layout should be similar to the one we have just analysed, as suggested by different archaeologists.
In short, the use of an inner counterweight during the construction may have helped lift the blocks of stone to unprecedented heights, thus supplementing the existing building methods. Furthermore, it makes it possible to explain both the use and the unique characteristics,of the Grand Gallery.
Copyright by Daniel Gerardo
All Rights Reserved
danielgerardo@hotmail.com
