Anthony Wrote:
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> Ronald Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Anthony Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > I said this on Dec 9, 2006:
> > >
> > > "The pyramid of Khufu, by my research,
> was
> > built
> > > with a series of contingency plans for
> the
> > > potential early demise of the king. "
> >
> >
> >
> > Hi Anthony,
> >
> >
> > Maybe a funny question. In the context of
> your
> > above comment, if Khufu had died early, would
> his
> > pyramid have been smaller (lower) ?
> >
>
>
> Excellent question, and one that is clearly
> answered by the evidence from Dynasty IV. There
> are two unfinished pyramids at Zariat El Aryan --
> both flat top, and both attributed to kings with
> short reigns.

> Khufu's pyramid would have been a giant square
> mastaba, and his sarcophagus would have been in
> the Subterranean Chamber if he had died in the
> first 6 years of work. He probably would have
> been in the 2nd Chamber (QC) if he had lasted
> another five or so. These are estimates, but they
> give you the idea of the evolving nature of the
> pyramid as a set of contingency plans for the
> early demise of Khufu.


Anthony,


Thus, imo, does your comment indicates that the AE tombs only were tombs, nothing more ? After all, even if Khufu died within the first six years of construction, his people could have built a pyramid (a smaller one) over the subterraneun chamber as well. I simply mean, had a giant pyramid more symbolic value than a mastaba ? Therefore, was the symbolic meaning of an AE tomb more intens the longer the pharaoh lived ?


Ronald.