Hello Anthony,
You wrote, “You start with the placement of the sarcophagus on the west side of the westernmost chamber in the structure. Everything else radiates out from that, conceptually and spiritually.
To which I replied, “Your reply does not answer the question, which was: Any thoughts on the sequence of this planning, i.e. what the architect started with and ended with? ‘
You respond, ‘Yes, it did answer the question... very specifically.’
I pointed out, ‘’You have the sarcophogus being placed "on the west side of the westernmost chamber in the structure."
But this does not, in the case of Khufu's pyramid, explain which chamber was designed first.”
You reply, ‘Yes, it does.’
Sorry Anthony, but it doesn’t.
Obviously, a chamber with a sarcophagus in it is likely to be a burial place.
However, by adding the proviso that the sacophagus would be placed “on the west side of the westernmost chamber in the structure” you created an ambiguity because in fact the Subterranean Chamber is the westernmost chamber in Khufu’s pyramid.
However, you argue, ‘Not originally. The western side of the SC does not appear to be part of the original design. That's why it is still in such condition today.’
Now, this leaves us with the eastern side of the SC as part of the original design.
So, in effect you are saying that you know how long (east-west) the Subterranean Chamber was initially intended to be.
For your hypothesis to stand up, the SC initially had to be less than 20 royal cubits long (the length of the King’s Chamber)
Would you care tell us what that initial measurement was?
BTW, any suggestions as to why the length was, as you appear to be saying, lengthened?
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I asked you, ‘Was it the Subterranean Chamber, the Queen's Chamber, or the King's Chamber [that was designed first]?
You reply, ‘I am at a loss to understand how this can be asked after my very clear statement above was written and then quoted by you.’
As I have just explained, because the Subterranean Chamber is ‘the westernmost chamber in the structure’ I found your answer to be ambiguous.
And here it comes to mind that perhaps you don’t consider the SC to be ‘in the structure’ even though it is clearly an integral part of the Pyramid.
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You write, ‘Clearly the burial chamber was the first chamber designed.’
Excellent, a direct unambiguous answer at last – and one I agree with, although for different reasons.
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I asked, ‘And what followed it?
The remaining two Chambers - but in what sequence?
The Descending Passage?
The Grand Gallery?
The Antechamber?
You reply, ‘Irrelevant. You are looking at this pyramid like it is some kind of radiating mathematical equation.’
It may well be irrelevant in terms of the overall purpose of this Pyramid but this shouldn’t stop you from saying what the design sequence was following the King’s Chamber.
Perhaps it is a case of your not knowing what the sequence was.
No shame in that, Anthony.
However, if you do know what the sequence was, why not share it with us?
I am looking at this Pyramid as a magnificent tomb/monument/cenotaph for or to Khufu.
Its interior design had to have begun with one thing and ended with another.
I am working on a hypothesis that attempts to show what these first and last things could have been.
You write, ‘That is not how the Egyptians looked at it. Ergo, what you see has nothing to do with what they did or why they did it.’
As you have not read my hypothesis, let alone studied it, you are in no position to sensibly make such a comment.
Suffice to say that my hypothesis is not only consistent with the prevailing orthodox views on Khufu’s pyramid in particular and other 4th Dyn. Pyramids in general, but also adds to it.
This is not just my opinion, BTW.
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I wrote, ‘As for the westernmost chamber, in Khufu's case that is the Subterranean Chamber. Any thoughts how they were going to get an adequate sized coffer in to this Chamber?’
You reply, “The burial chamber was built around the sarcohpagus. Had they been forced to use another chamber due to the early demise of the king, they would have used a different sarcophagus (obviously).
I can demonstrate (though not here and now) how the dimensions of Khufu’s coffer were derived by very simple arithmetical and geometrical means from the floor plan of the King’s Chamber and its position relative to the Pyramid’s North-South axis.
In other words the coffer was designed after the King’s Chamber.
But I do bear in mind, Anthony, that your take on this sarcophagus business is based on the hypothesis that the King’s Chamber was Khufu’s actual burial chamber, whereas I, on the other hand, have good reason to believe that it wasn’t.
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My understanding of your theory is that if Khufu had died before the Queen’s Chamber had been built, he would have been buried in the Subterranean Chamber.
I have pointed out that it is not possible to get an adequate size granite coffer into the Subterranean Chamber (the Subterranean Passage is only 35.5” high, and there is the awkward Descending Passage-Subterranean Passage junction to contend with) and suggested “Perhaps they planned to carve one out of the bedrock... “
You reply, ‘Limestone would not have been adequate for the job of holding the body of a king.’
I can believe that.
However, if they wouldn’t dare use such ‘poor’ quality material as limestone, and the Sub Chamber is all limestone, what, pray, were the builders planning to do in the event of Khufu snuffing it before the Queen’s Chamber was built?
I wonder if they had a “Flat Pack Self-Assembly Granite Coffer Kit” …
MJ