DB: "1) Do you believe that the pyramids were sketched, drawn, etched in the sand or actually built as a scale model before construction?"


A project of this size needs a huge amount of preplanning that would include drawings and models



DB: "2) Do you believe seked 5.5/7 was used in the construction."


sqd 5 1/2 was the the most likely height to half base ratio that defined the basic form of the pyramid.



DB: "3) Do you think there was a reason why the "shafts" were built on the angles they are on. If yes what are those reasons. If no were they random ? If no were they built using a seked ? If yes which one?"


The primary angles of the shafts were certainly not randomly determined.

The overall layout of the upper shafts connected to the sarcophagus chamber, was integrated into the basic geometry of the pyramid itself - the angle of incline of the south shaft is based on sqd 7 (the diagonal of the square base of the pyramid), and the north shaft, sqd 11 (the diagonal of the 280 x 440 cubit rectangle that defines the vertical cross section through the pyramid) - see link below for diagram.


These two seqeds provided the basic framework for the overall layout of the shafts, but the designers were not only able to integrate the geometry of the shafts into the basic geometry of the pyramid, but also integrated the all important sky into the design - the top of the south shaft was facing an area of the sky due south where the distinctive 3-star asterism in the centre of Orion (sAH, 'father of the gods') reached its highest point in the sky during the era of Khufu's reign c.2570, and the top of the north shaft was facing an area of the sky where the Old Kingdom Pole / North Star, Thuban (a northern 'Imperishable Star' around which all other Imperishable Stars appeared to circle) reached its highest point in the sky due north, also c.2570. (around midwinter, when the sun reached its southernmost rising, Thuban appeared at its highest point in the sky due north, just before dawn)


Seqeds 7 and 11 provided the basic design for the layout of the shafts but it hardly seems likely that the two angles of incline defined by sqd 7 and 11 would exactly match the altitudes due south and north of the the 3-star asterism in the southern sky and the North Star in the northern sky, c.2570.

The 3-star asterism due south had a altitude of 45 degs (sqd 7) c.2570, but Thuban due north had an altitude of ~31.20 degs that does not match the 32.47 degs angle of sqd 11. The designers would have had to slightly adjust the angle of incline of the top section of the north shaft for the top of the shaft to be facing Thuban at its highest point due north c.2570. The survey evidence suggests that they actually made the adjustment - the final 11m (36ft) top section of the northern shaft has an angle of incline of ~31.20 degs, which means the top end did in fact align with Thuban c.2570, even though the overall layout was based on sqd 11 (32.47 degs).



DB: "4) Do you think there is any significance to the placement of the "King's Chamber" and "The Queen's Chamber" in regards to height and placement withn the pyramid."


Most likely - see here: [www.hallofmaat.com]



DB: "5) Do you think there is any significance in their sizes?"


perhaps

see here for a link to pics that illustrate some of the points raised: [okadct.googlepages.com]

an earlier 'discussion' on the shaft layout and star alignment: [www.hallofmaat.com]

CT




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/26/2008 06:40AM by Chris Tedder.