Hi MJT,

MJT wrote:

>
> Hello Thanos5150,
>
> You wrote, ‘The floor is open to any to submit their ideas’
> So here goes . . .
>
> The Great Pyramid of Giza is built on an outcrop of rock.
> The height of the outcrop is unknown except in two areas inside
> the Pyramid.
> Inside the Descending Passage the start of the bedrock is
> approx. 64”/5.3’ above the base of the Pyramid.
> The Grotto (a for the most part natural feature) up/down the
> Well Shaft is roughly 170”/14’ above the base.
> How large an area this outcrop covers is entirely unknown, and
> arguably unknowable.
>
> The Grotto appears to be an integral part of the Well Shaft,
> and the Well Shaft was clearly incorporated deliberately in the
> design of the Pyramid.
> The purpose of the Well Shaft is not known.
> It has been suggested that at least part of the Well Shaft
> running down from the Grotto predates the Pyramid.
> If we assume that it does, then could it be that the location
> of Khufu’s pyramid on the Giza Plateau was determined by the
> Grotto and its original shaft?
> Would this then mean that Khufu’s pyramid (G1) was the first
> one to be built on the Giza Plateau?


Yes, the outcrop has always been very interesting. It has never made sense to me it was left as an outcrop then a pyramid put on top. It would have had to have been shaped to conform to the blocks, no? Given as you point out the Grotto and shaft may predate the pyramid, taking into further consideration what I said about G2's stepped platform base being older than pyramid construction, I am left to wonder if G1's "outcrop" was not originally shaped into a stepped platform as well.

> But where does this leave us with Khafre (G2) and Menkaure
> (G3).
> To put it simply (and perhaps a tad too much so) I think that
> Khafre simply wanted to outdo his father’s pyramid, but without
> using more materials; so he had his pyramid built on a higher
> level of the Plateau.

I'm not buying the whole ego thing to explain this. It's a completely fictional contrivance with nothing to back it up. If it was truly Khufu's want to be the greatest he would have picked the highest spot for himself from the get go. I don't think the 4D pharaohs built them anyways, but to concede this possibility it makes little sense on many levels. *Cough* Abu Roash.

> Which leaves us/me with Menkaure and his pyramid.
> If memory serves, the Egyptology view is that Menkaure opted
> for larger temples and a smaller pyramid – something to do with
> changes in religion and finance problems?

Yes, but again, pure conjecture based on little more than G3's exterior being left incomplete and the crappy haphazard temple slapped next to it. I think there are other explanations for this if one considers the possibility some of Giza predates the pyramid builders. Menkaure-6th Dynasty are the most prolifically attested builders at Giza outside the pyramids with little to nothing able to be definitively attributed to Khufu and Khafre. Obviously Menkaure wasn't that poor.

> Here I take a step into Robert Bauval’s territory.
> I suggest very, very tentatively, that Menkaure noticed that if
> he had his small pyramid located a bit to the left (or right,
> as the case made be) of Khafre’s pyramid, the layout of the
> three pyramids would copy the layout of Orion’s Belt, and was
> rather taken with it - so-much-so that he had his pyramid
> located accordingly.

That's an interesting thought. I would have to say that some of Scott's arguments regarding the placement of the satellite pyramids is compelling which if true would mean Menkaure would a have built G1's as well.

> p.s. many thanks for posting the excellent photos - they put
> flesh on the bones.

That is my hope.

Obviously you do not agree with my position outlined in the OP, but if you can step outside your comfort zone and evaluate my ideas I would appreciate it. Regardless of who built them or when I think these things warrant explanation and must be accounted for regardless.

Thanks