that two of the portcullises could be simply climbed over,
“Once such three portcullises were lowered, it would no longer be possible to
bypass the first two. Even climbing over them, there is too little working space to
break a section of granite nearly a meter and a half long (equal to the sum of the
three horizontal thicknesses)”
It’s not impossible that these were designed to be opened repeatedly
It’s lazy, but I work from the assumption that the consensus of university historians who have devoted their lives to studying all the data are likely correct. They would have documented wear on the stones from repeated sliding like they documented wear on the bottom of stones from original placement. If their was evidence the portcullis had been opened, it would be the mainstream theory.
It’s like how I assume scientists are right when they say vaccines don’t cause autism. Sure they might be wrong but it’s easier to let specialists specialize.
That said I still really enjoy wild theories about the pyramids!
Not sure I’d call that author mainstream. A couple chapters later he starts blathering about “the device” and talking about gaskets and hydraulic force and water flow. It’s badly formatted, there are no section breaks, he keeps referring to figures and diagrams and photos that aren’t there…This dude’s a crank.
My understanding is the mainstream theory is that the portcullises were resting on wood or stone supports that were set into slots in the floor during construction, fitting and the funeral service, and then when it was time to seal the pyramid the portcullises were hoist off of their supports with ropes suspended from logs across the ceiling, the supports lifted free and removed, and then the ropes eased to lower the portcullis. You wouldn’t want to let them slam shut, granite is very hard but very brittle.
If you can hoist the stone off of its supports to gently lower it, you can hoist it open again. Whether they ever did isn’t knowable.
Compare that to the design of the portcullises in the Bent pyramid, built by Khufu’s father Sneferu. They slide diagonally into place into deep recesses in the wall and floor rendering levering attacks entirely impossible. It’s practically impossible to open once closed, your only way in is to tunnel through. Which is what has happened to the one that was closed. The other was never closed and remains propped open with an ancient log to this day. I’m wondering if it closed by accident. Notably, Sneferu’s later Red pyramid has no portcullis system at all, and Khufu’s portcullises were made of granite but of a much less elegant design.
I wouldn’t either. It was the first link that had documentation about the physical layout of the portcullis refuting the claim that it could be climbed over.
your only way in is to tunnel through
Which is what was done in the Great Pyramid too!
My understanding is the mainstream theory is that the portcullises were resting on wood or stone supports that were set into slots in the floor during construction,
I was referring to the pictures of the roller cut outs that are only on one side. If the rollers were designed to relift the portcullis, they would have to have cut outs on both sides so the rollers wouldn’t fall down after use.
“Once such three portcullises were lowered, it would no longer be possible to bypass the first two. Even climbing over them, there is too little working space to break a section of granite nearly a meter and a half long (equal to the sum of the three horizontal thicknesses)”
https://www.greatpyramidexplanation.com/en/news-6/03-antechambers-portcullis.html
It’s lazy, but I work from the assumption that the consensus of university historians who have devoted their lives to studying all the data are likely correct. They would have documented wear on the stones from repeated sliding like they documented wear on the bottom of stones from original placement. If their was evidence the portcullis had been opened, it would be the mainstream theory.
It’s like how I assume scientists are right when they say vaccines don’t cause autism. Sure they might be wrong but it’s easier to let specialists specialize.
That said I still really enjoy wild theories about the pyramids!
Not sure I’d call that author mainstream. A couple chapters later he starts blathering about “the device” and talking about gaskets and hydraulic force and water flow. It’s badly formatted, there are no section breaks, he keeps referring to figures and diagrams and photos that aren’t there…This dude’s a crank.
My understanding is the mainstream theory is that the portcullises were resting on wood or stone supports that were set into slots in the floor during construction, fitting and the funeral service, and then when it was time to seal the pyramid the portcullises were hoist off of their supports with ropes suspended from logs across the ceiling, the supports lifted free and removed, and then the ropes eased to lower the portcullis. You wouldn’t want to let them slam shut, granite is very hard but very brittle.
If you can hoist the stone off of its supports to gently lower it, you can hoist it open again. Whether they ever did isn’t knowable.
Compare that to the design of the portcullises in the Bent pyramid, built by Khufu’s father Sneferu. They slide diagonally into place into deep recesses in the wall and floor rendering levering attacks entirely impossible. It’s practically impossible to open once closed, your only way in is to tunnel through. Which is what has happened to the one that was closed. The other was never closed and remains propped open with an ancient log to this day. I’m wondering if it closed by accident. Notably, Sneferu’s later Red pyramid has no portcullis system at all, and Khufu’s portcullises were made of granite but of a much less elegant design.
I wouldn’t either. It was the first link that had documentation about the physical layout of the portcullis refuting the claim that it could be climbed over.
Which is what was done in the Great Pyramid too!
This is a good overview of the portcullis:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL_kX0FJ1cw
Notice that the rope rollers were designed for one time use. Once used, they would roll out of position and become useless.
The imagery in that video shows blocks that don’t exist.
I was referring to the pictures of the roller cut outs that are only on one side. If the rollers were designed to relift the portcullis, they would have to have cut outs on both sides so the rollers wouldn’t fall down after use.