<HTML>Menkare's pyramid is placed just far enough back to have a clear view of north ..... maybe that's the only reason....
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Then why not arrange the middle pyramid "just far enough" back to provide such a view?
There seems something important about that 45 degree line. It seems more than a coincidence that it exists. It does not suggest that the pyramids were placed haphazarly! Furthermore, the 45 degree line is perfectly squared by the corners of the three pyramids. That too did not happen by someone moving a monument "just far enough back" to provide a good view.
Anyway, the original question was raised as to whether or not there was an "offset" to the arrangment. According to Petrie's figures, there certainly is.
The vertical 45 degree line establishes only that the pyramids are not offset along their SE-NW axis (paradoxically, this is exactly the axis where we are most likely to optically detect an offset!).
However, Petrie's figures establish that, at the same time, the pyramids are misaligned East to West. In fact, the gap between the eastern edge of the small pyramid and the western edge of the central pyramid is about 30%(!) less than that between the central pyramid and the one placed furthest North.
This is an interesting dichotomy. "Perfect" alignment in one axis and imperfect in another - combined with an implicit squaring of the horizontal.
Nope. I am now convinced.
There is no way on God's green earth that this resulted by chance! There was a pre-existing design. Of that I am certain.
ISHMAEL</HTML>