Great Pyramid vs Lahun Pyramid – Internal Structure

Perhaps the 'void' detected in the muon scan is in fact a fill made up of some different material such as asbestos waste fill from some nearby mine of the day. Is there a map of the Giza plateau underlying cave systems if any?

Quality analysis mate, quality 👍😎

"This pyramid was made after the manner of steps which some called "rows" and others "bases": and when they had first made it thus, they raised the remaining stones with machines made of short pieces of timber, raising them first from the ground to the first stage of the steps, and when the stone got up to this it was placed upon another machine standing on the first stage, and so from this it was drawn to the second upon another machine; for as many as were the courses of the steps, so many machines there were also, or perhaps they transferred one and the same machine, made so as easily to be carried, to each stage successively, in order that they might take up the stones; for let it be told in both ways, according as it is reported. However that may be the highest parts of it were finished first, and afterwards they proceeded to finish that which came next to them, and lastly they finished the parts of it near the ground and the lowest ranges. On the pyramid it is declared in Egyptian writing how much was spent on radishes and onions and leeks for the workmen, and if I rightly remember that which the interpreter said in reading to me this inscription, a sum of one thousand six hundred talents of silver was spent;"

Translation of Herodotus Book Two – Gutenberg Project

So while not everything Herodotus wrote is supported by the archeological record – a lot is. He as was the case back then reported history based upon oral/written accounts. In this matter his relating comports to what we see. Djoser built his Stepped Pyramid in multiple layers. The Egyptians built a large mastaba to then add layer upon layer upon layer to achieve its final steps.

So as Herodotus wrote for us it appears that Khufu similarly built a stepped pyramid initially to then fill in those steps to achieve its outer appearance. So the "niche" is likely an area where one of these devices to raise blocks once sat and consistent with time saving actions they simply covered it over rather than filling the area in neatly. They as noted encased the pyramid in white limestone working from the top down. As an aside. The 2017 muon scans showed a possible "void" above the entrance – which is further below – central to this niche. That might well be another platform area for raising blocks which also was covered over by the eventual entrance.

As to later mud brick pyramids. Quarrying stone takes time and costs money. Most Pharaohs did not actually rule for prolonged periods and Egypt was not always so prosperous. Building a mud brick cored pyramid saves time, cost, and weight. It allows for pyramids to be built in areas unsuited to heavier all stone ones as Nile mud was ubiquitous and thousands of bricks can be made daily. All that would be required is to import the casing blocks to the site as opposed to finding building sites with sufficient limestone nearby. This as Herodotus also wrote of previously to the passage above – and what we see at Giza – could be accomplished via transporting the stone via barges to ports they constructed near the site. Remember that major constructions were always co-located not far from the Nile to allow for river access.

Here is some ufarted crap https://youtu.be/iOaU3dumxzE

So the basic construction is buttress and fill. That makes a lot of sense when the idea is to keep a huge pile of rubble stable. Now I wonder if the known internal galleries follow the presumed alignment of those buttress structures.

WOW.

Those are footers , support for weight, awesome 👍 I'm a equipment operator for a commercial landscaping company. We build a lot of retaining walls , spot on mate!

Air defense post at the top of the great pyramid … II WW

Greetings Alan, just disovered this gem. Alan Green had a hand in it so it's right up your alley. Synchronistically i am blown away and have yet to finish watching it. Hope you all enjoy…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5Ng6V6WWog

I've always thought that the Egyptians started at the corners of Khufu's pyramid and work their way towards the center of each face and that's why you have that joint in the middle of each face of the pyramid. This method wasn't repeated for other pyramids.

Good thoughts and photos.