"The sun setting between the two pyramids forms an ideal, giant replica of the hieroglyph Akhet," Magli said. Meaning "horizon," the hieroglyph Akhet held deep symbolic meaning for the ancient Egyptians. It was composed by the hieroglyph djew, meaning "primeval mountain," (a two peak mountain supporting the heaven) and the sun setting or rising in between. The symbol was linked to the afterlife, since the solar cycle was associated with life and rebirth. "The name of the great pyramid is Akhet Khufu, meaning 'the horizon of Khufu,'" Magli said. According to inscriptions found in tombs dated some two hundreds years later, the name of the great pyramid was a precise description of the hieroglyph at the site. And, as Magli points out, that hieroglyph "could occur only if the second pyramid existed as well." The theory is supported by topographical and astronomical references in the pyramid complex, according to Magli. A line, known as the "Giza diagonal," connects the southeast corners of the three pyramids and points to Heliopolis, an important religious center sacred to the sun god. As a consequence of the alignment, the second smaller pyramid becomes invisible from Heliopolis, its mass being covered by the larger pyramid. "Why would Khafre voluntarily choose the position of his pyramid in such a way that it becomes invisible from the city sacred to the sun god? It makes sense to think that this illusion was created by Khufu as a sign of respect for the city of the sun god. It is only approaching Heliopolis that the double-peaked horizon of the great king slowly and modestly reduces to a single pyramid," Magli said. Juan Antonio Belmonte, a scientist at the Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands and the author of a study on the orientation of ancient Egyptian temples, agrees with Magli. "I agree with 80 per cent of the study. Some points are weak, but most of the reasoning is fine. It is indeed my idea that both pyramids were imagined as a single common gigantic project," Belmonte told Discovery News. Related Links: Rossella Lorenzi's blog: Archaeorama |
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