Scientific American Reviews: The Secret of the Great Pyramid

The Secret of the Great Pyramid: How One Man’s Obsession Led to the
Solution of Ancient Egypt’s Greatest Mystery
by Bob Brier and Jean-Pierre Houdin. Smithsonian Books, 2008

http://www.google.com.pr/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Do7tGgu97GJ4&ei=-4ZnSbmkH4ia8gT91K28Bw&usg=AFQjCNFco98t2IQxOs1c3KtJ9x_DmOuBFA&sig2=3N5Vbu3bJQAUk_S87WtiuA


Egyptologist Bob Brier tells the story of Jean-Pierre Houdin, a French architect who spent several years sitting in front of his computer for 10 hours a day puzzling out a solution for the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Using three-dimensional architectural software, Houdin constructed 3-D models of the interior of the pyramid. The images rotating on his screen provided evidence of a mile-long ramp corkscrewing up the inside of the pyramid that had remained undetected for 4,500 years. His theory solves many mysteries about the huge structure and has won supporters. But proof awaits permission from the Egyptian authorities to look for the ramp, most likely using thermal photography.

Jean-Pierre Houdin said the 4,500-year-old pyramid, just outside Cairo, was built using an inner ramp to lift the massive stones into place.

Other theories contend that the three million stones - each 2.5 tons - were pushed into place using external ramps.

Mr Houdin studied the problem for eight years and used a computer model to illustrate how he thought it was done.

"This is better than the other theories, because it is the only theory that works," said Mr Houdin as he unveiled his theory with a 3D computer simulation.

He believes workers used an outer ramp to build the first 43 metres (47 yards) then constructed an inner ramp to carry stones to the apex of the 137m pyramid.

The pyramid was built to house the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops.

The Grand Gallery inside the pyramid, another source of mystery for Egyptologists, housed a giant counter-weight used to hoist five 60 ton granite beams into position above the King's Chamber.


"This goes against both main existing theories," Egyptologist Bob Brier told Reuters news agency after Mr Houdin explained his hypothesis.

"I've been teaching them myself for 20 years but deep down I know they're wrong."

Mr Houdin said that an outer ramp all the way to the top of the pyramid would have blocked sight lines and left little room to work, while a long, frontal ramp would have used up too much stone.

Further confusing matters, there is little evidence left of external ramps at the site of the Great Pyramid.

Mr Houdin said the pyramid could have been built by 4,000 people using his technique instead of 100,000, as postulated by other theorists.

The architect is now assembling a team to verify his theory on site using radars and other non-invasive means.