Pistol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I revisited a paragraph published by Mark Lehner
> in "The Complete Pyramid: Solving the Ancient
> Mysteries" (Thames & Hudson, London 1997) ...it's
> found under the rubric; Tombs and Temples, p. 20,
> and provides his thoughts on what a an Egyptian
> pyramid is:
>
> (review of each sentence in the paragraph
> sequentially)
>
> "In fact, each pyramid [generally] ensured the
> rule of universal order, the turning of the days
> and seasons, and the flooding of the Nile".
>
> The use of the word "ensured" in my opinion should
> be changed to "confirmed" or perhaps "guaranteed"
> which are variants of the word. I'm not entirely
> sure of the source material to support this
> statement as he doesn't site any, and I'm left to
> believe it's his >opinion< since I'm unaware of
> any artifacts on record that state this concept
> from the pyramid age (Old Kingdom-Middle Kingdom).
>
> Lehner continues:
>
> "The mechanics of the pyramid as cosmic engine
> depended on the Egyptians concept of a person and
> the distinct phases of life and death, called
> Kheperu".
>
> The first part of this sentence states that the
> mechanics (functional aspects?) of a pyramid as a
> COSMIC ENGINE was dependent on the Egyptian
> concept of a person. I'm completely lost on this
> description by Lehner, in my opinion he's stating
> that the pyramid was a cosmic engine (???), my
> understanding of the Egyptian concept of a person
> is professed by Egyptologist John Allen: "One of
> the major components in the Egyptian concept of an
> individual was the shadow (shut; swt), along with
> the body, the ka (k3), and the ba (b3), and the
> name" ("The Ancient Gods Speak - A Guide to
> Egyptian Religion", p. 334-335, rubric; Shadow,
> (Oxford Univ. Press, NY 2002). Again Lehner's
> application of this concept to the mechanics of a
> pyramid appear to be his romantic opinion rather
> that fact, but that these mechanics also rely on
> "distinct" phases of life and death, called
> Kheperu" is not exactly clear...
>
> I have not looked hard for it but I can't find the
> Egyptian word for Kheperu, which describes the
> distinct phases of life and death associated with
> or during the pyramid age of Egyptian history, if
> anyone here has a link that would be greatly
> appreciated. I'm drawn to my own thoughts
> concerning Khepri in place of Kheperu in the
> concept of rising but here again I think Lehner is
> again employing creative license of his opinions
> without providing any sources to substantiate the
> claim that the Egyptian concept of a person and
> Kheperu describe or illustrate the mechanics of a
> pyramid.
>
> Lehner continues:
>
> "These transformations continued when the ka, the
> ba and the body, which had become separated at
> death, interacted in the final transformation -
> becoming an 'akh,' a glorified being of light,
> effective in the afterlife".
>
> Lehner only uses 3 components of the five that
> make a person to describe the transformation,
> which I guess is what he calls Kheperu, somehow
> mechanically (inside the cosmic engine [pyramid])
> culminated in another transformation (final) to
> become an 'akh', a glorified being of light that's
> effective in the afterlife. So far these three
> sentences equate the pyramid to have ensured
> universal order and that it mechanically created a
> glorified being of light to be effective in the
> afterlife?
>
> Lehner continues:
>
> "The pyramid was an instrument that enabled this
> alchemy to take place for the pharaoh, who had
> ruled as the god incarnate, and allowed that
> incarnation to pass from father to son; from
> Osiris to Horus..."
>
> Here Lehner states the concepts described in the
> previous three sentences where the alchemy that
> took place for the pharaoh, that his incarnation
> allowed and exhibited the incarnation which was
> passed down from father to son; from Osiris to
> Horus. again I'm at a loss for this statement or
> claim because I am unable to confirm or find
> anything on record that supports it, some would
> say the pyramid texts provide amble evidence in
> support of this but those verbal incantations are
> actually the ritual mechanisms not pyramidal
> mechanisms... and pyramid text only appear at the
> very end of the 5th dynasty... they do not exist
> prior to Unas, it's more likely PT's were an
> evolution of mortuary ritual that replaced older
> ritual practices.
>
> Finally Lehner ends with:
>
> "The pyramid is better understood as the meeting
> point of life and light with death and darkness".
>
> So everything he wrote above is collectively
> contained in a pallet cleanser here.... very
> poetic but entirely an opinion, no factual
> evidence to support the claim.
>
> Now I'm not attacking Lehner here, I'm pointing
> out the weakness of this claim of what a pyramid
> is, I find it entertaining but that's all, it's
> not something supported by other theorists, in
> fact taken on the whole is reminds me of an
> "ancient aliens" episode.
>
> Best,
>
> B.A.Hokom
>
> just for those who would like to read it in its
> entire composition:
>
> 'In fact, each pyramid [generally] ensured the
> rule of universal order, the turning of the days
> and seasons, and the flooding of the Nile. The
> mechanics of the pyramid as cosmic engine depended
> on the Egyptians concept of a person and the
> distinct phases of life and death, called Kheperu.
> These transformations continued when the Ka, the
> ba and the body, which had become separated at
> death, interacted in the final transformation -
> becoming an 'akh', a glorified being of light,
> effective in the afterlife. The pyramid was an
> instrument that enabled this alchemy to take place
> for the pharaoh, who had ruled as the god
> incarnate, and allowed that incarnation to pass
> from father to son; from Osiris to Horus... The
> pyramid is better understood as the meeting point
> of life and light with death and darkness".


So, what would you have written as the description of the Egyptian pyramids purpose?