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Subjet: Giza
Date: Wed, 30 Oct 96 18:07:02 EST
From: JOHNGEE@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu
Organization: Yale University
To: scotty@nut-n-but.net
Mr. Heavener,
I think that the Egyptians built their pyramids with functional technology. You confuse this with sophisticated techgnology. To see the difference, consider whether your teacher cares as much about whether the report you submit was done on a typewriter, a word processor, type-set by hand, or carefully inked with a pen. Each of these technologies can produce roughly the same result, but some are more sophisticated than others. I do not think that the Egyptians needed to have sophisticated technology, just functional technology. I am more interested in the symbolism of the structure than how it was made.
Each pyramid at Giza (and elsewhere in Egypt) is only one part of a larger comples. This larger complex is what was important for the Egyptians and not just the pyramid. Since, according to Egyptian belief, the body did not have to be present for the complex to be a sacred spot for worship, whether or not the body was actually buried there (and I think it once was) misses the point. If you look through the records, you will find that the pyramids at Giza have been the source of fascination and exploration to people for at least 3500 years. I do not care to speculate about when the tomb was plundered. I am also not suprised that the Egyptians preserved most of their ritual texts on papyri that more often than not have suffered the ravages of water, ants and maurading barbarians (like the Hyskos, the Libyans and the Romans). Cheops name is on the complex and his family is buried in the mastabas that cluster around the pyramid.
You make a mistake if you isolate the pyramid from the rest of the comples. It is a bit like isolating the dome from the rest of the capitol--it may be the most visible object, but it is not where most of the action occured.
I don not know that this particularly helps you. If not you will have to try again.
John Gee