The mystery of the Great pyramid : traditions concerning it and its connection with the Egyptian Book of the dead : with numerous illustrations

TOMB OR OBSERVATORY ?

for the body of Khufu or of anyone else to have been buried in the Great Pyramid. “ If there be any intention,” truly observes Marsham Adams, “ which the architect has openly manifested, zt is to create such a series of obstacles that no human body could be buried therein” (House of the Hidden Places, p. 35—our italics).

Other constructional details clearly indicate that the Great Pyramid was not intended for a tomb. Thus the ventilating shafts to the King’s and Queen’s Chambers would obviously be of little use to mummies, and they are not found in the burial chambers of any of the other pyramids or tombs, while they would not be required during construction, since these chambers were built up progressively from the outside. As, also, they were sealed up when half the Pyramid’s masonry yet remained to be completed, it is clear these shafts were not provided for any contemporary use, but were provided for the future when the Pyramid should be the subject of study by another civilization. This is proved by the fact that the ventilating shafts to the Queen’s Chamber were not originally cut right through its walls, and therefore did not admit air until, on their accidental discovery in 1872, they were completed by cutting through the SSE five inches of stone. (See Note O 1.)

The existence of these ventilating shafts has been regarded by some as indicating that these chambers were actually intended to be used for purposes of initiation into the Mysteries, but access to them would be impossible except via the Descending Passage and up by the well shaft, a route not impossible, but unlikely, so long, of course, as the true entrance remained known. (See Diagram, at p. 91.)

Again, no theory of the Great Pyramid as a tomb can

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