Hi Kanga,

You wrote: I still maintain that it was I who first suggested that KCS pointed at Al Nilam”

Over the years, I’ve posted on the HoM that the top opening of the south shaft in the sarcophagus chamber was facing an area of the sky where Alnilam, the centre star in ‘Orion’s belt’ crossed the meridian due south during Khufu’s reign:

From 11 years ago: “The top outlet of south shaft is facing an area of the southern sky ~45 degs above the horizon - Alnilam the centre star in the 3-star asterism in the centre of Orion was ~45 degs alt. c.2570 BC.”

[www.maatforum.com]

In 1954, Egyptologist Alexander Badawy proposed that the upper south shaft targeted Orion:

“In the North and South walls are the apertures, similar to those in the middle chamber, of channels square in section, cut out of one stone and roofed with a slab. They are sloping upwards to reach the North and South faces of the pyramid, at the same level and have accordingly different gradients: 31 degs for the northern and 45 degs for the southern. They are usually thought to be ventilation-channels, but would be better be considered as open ways for the king’s soul to reach the circumpolar stars to the North and the Orion constellation, to the South.”

Sighting to Alnilam, the centre star in the distinctive 3-star asterism in the centre of Orion, ensured the asterism was framed in the top square opening of the shaft as it crossed the meridian due south in Khufu’s reign. If, as Badawy proposes, the shaft allowed the ba of Khufu to travel up the shaft to reach Orion at its highest point in the sky due south, then as it approached the top opening, the centre star Alnilam was visible and as it came closer to the top, the 3-star asterism was framed within the square opening and finally as the ba exited the pyramid Orion was directly ahead.

Chris