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This is what the pyramids used to look like. They were covered with polished white limestone and had a peak made of pure gold. (lemmy.today)
submitted 3 months ago by to c/interestingasfuck@lemmy.world
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[–] -1 points 3 months ago (12 children)

The idea of the pyramids as a industrial fertilizer factory is inteteresting, i could understand the "priests" and "rituals" and the pyramid themselves being so sacred and cherrished if it literally ensured strong harvests by supplimenting fertilizer.

The hypothesus is not strong or validated - but its the most compelling one ive heard so far

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  • [–] 13 points 3 months ago (11 children)

    its the most compelling one ive heard so far

    You mean if you ignore all the hieroglyphs that explain everything in great detail?

    The red Pyramid, maybe. But the Great Pyramid is gigantic with a relatively tiny tomb (compared to rest of pyramid) that contained a burial chamber that was blocked off with one way giant blocks that sealed off the chamber permanently.

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  • [–] 3 points 3 months ago (5 children)

    Commenting again just for fun, I find the pyramids fascinating and hope this is just entertaining to read:

    Yeah the pyramid is a massive thing compared to its interior volume, but it's the second largest interior of any pyramid, after Djoser's miles of tunnels.

    There are actually two systems of "one way giant blocks" to seal the Great pyramid: Three large blocks of granite that still plug the original opening of the ascending passage to this day; the pyramid is accessed through the so-called robber's tunnel excavated through the masonry long after construction. The second was a system of three vertically closing granite portcullis stones that would have been set in grooves in the walls just outside of the King's Chamber. It's not impossible that these were designed to be opened repeatedly, a few fragments of them exist into the present day, and there are rope holes present in them, so it's possible they were rigged to allow gangs of men in the grand gallery to hoist them open. Problem is, the shape of the antechamber is such that two of the portcullises could be simply climbed over, and then the joint between the wall and the third portcullis could be attacked. So even though they were granite, they were defeated in antiquity.

    The King's chamber is entirely paved with red granite, so it's possible Khufu trusted this new, extremely durable material a bit too much.

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  • [–] 2 points 3 months ago (4 children)

    that two of the portcullises could be simply climbed over,

    "Once such three portcullises were lowered, it would no longer be possible to bypass the first two. Even climbing over them, there is too little working space to break a section of granite nearly a meter and a half long (equal to the sum of the three horizontal thicknesses)"

    https://www.greatpyramidexplanation.com/en/news-6/03-antechambers-portcullis.html

    It's not impossible that these were designed to be opened repeatedly

    It's lazy, but I work from the assumption that the consensus of university historians who have devoted their lives to studying all the data are likely correct. They would have documented wear on the stones from repeated sliding like they documented wear on the bottom of stones from original placement. If their was evidence the portcullis had been opened, it would be the mainstream theory.

    It's like how I assume scientists are right when they say vaccines don't cause autism. Sure they might be wrong but it's easier to let specialists specialize.

    That said I still really enjoy wild theories about the pyramids!

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (3 children)

    Not sure I'd call that author mainstream. A couple chapters later he starts blathering about "the device" and talking about gaskets and hydraulic force and water flow. It's badly formatted, there are no section breaks, he keeps referring to figures and diagrams and photos that aren't there...This dude's a crank.

    My understanding is the mainstream theory is that the portcullises were resting on wood or stone supports that were set into slots in the floor during construction, fitting and the funeral service, and then when it was time to seal the pyramid the portcullises were hoist off of their supports with ropes suspended from logs across the ceiling, the supports lifted free and removed, and then the ropes eased to lower the portcullis. You wouldn't want to let them slam shut, granite is very hard but very brittle.

    If you can hoist the stone off of its supports to gently lower it, you can hoist it open again. Whether they ever did isn't knowable.

    Compare that to the design of the portcullises in the Bent pyramid, built by Khufu's father Sneferu. They slide diagonally into place into deep recesses in the wall and floor rendering levering attacks entirely impossible. It's practically impossible to open once closed, your only way in is to tunnel through. Which is what has happened to the one that was closed. The other was never closed and remains propped open with an ancient log to this day. I'm wondering if it closed by accident. Notably, Sneferu's later Red pyramid has no portcullis system at all, and Khufu's portcullises were made of granite but of a much less elegant design.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (2 children)

    Not sure I’d call that author mainstream.

    I wouldn't either. It was the first link that had documentation about the physical layout of the portcullis refuting the claim that it could be climbed over.

    your only way in is to tunnel through

    Which is what was done in the Great Pyramid too!

    My understanding is the mainstream theory is that the portcullises were resting on wood or stone supports that were set into slots in the floor during construction,

    This is a good overview of the portcullis:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL_kX0FJ1cw

    Notice that the rope rollers were designed for one time use. Once used, they would roll out of position and become useless.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago (1 child)

    The imagery in that video shows blocks that don't exist.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago

    I was referring to the pictures of the roller cut outs that are only on one side. If the rollers were designed to relift the portcullis, they would have to have cut outs on both sides so the rollers wouldn't fall down after use.

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  • [–] 1 point 3 months ago* (3 children)

    Sorry, I agree with the first guy. Pyramids clearly made poop.

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