More Regarding Pyramid Builders' Tombs

Originally published January 13, 2010 | Zahi Hawass' Blog | by Dr. Hawass | Not to be outdone by the mass of media disseminating the recent news about new tombs of the Giza Pyramid builders, the finding of which prove that Jewish slaves did not build the pyramids (this is nothing new to the Egyptology world, but it definitely shows that Ancient Egypt - more specifically pyramid building - still intrigues the world, even if "most people" believe aliens helped the Egyptians execute this feat that we moderns have not yet executed), Dr. Hawass' speaks of his press conference on Monday about this subject, which spans much details.

Exact Date Pinned to Great Pyramid's Construction?

Originally published September 21, 2009 | National Geographic News | by Andrew Bossone

Sothis, the Dog Star, turns out to be the variable that solves the problem of the exact dating of the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza for one Egyptian team. Like any good debate, this article examines both sides: the Egyptians present their evidence and others counteract.

I like to stray from saying "a culture always did something this way" when describing a peoples' endeavors because people are quite unpredictable (even Ancient Egyptians, who seemed to be very purposeful when it came to all aspects of the humanities!). Although scholars like to pin things down (or try to), sometimes one has to be satisfied with words like "probably," "about," "perhaps" and the like.

Egyptian Researchers Claim to Have Exact Date for Great Pyramid

Originally published August 4, 2009 | RIA Novosti

Has the Great Pyramid given up another secret?

A group of Egyptian researchers claims to have hit on an exact date for the construction of Khufu's pyramid, the largest of the three Great Pyramids at Giza.

The team, led by Dr. Abdel-Halim Nureddin, says work on the pyramid was started on 23 August, 2470 BC. The local governor told reporters that the date will now be celebrated as National Giza Day.

Click the above link to read the full story at RIA Novosti.

Obama and the Secrets of the Pyramids

Published Week of 23 - 29 July 2009 | Al-Ahram Weekly Online | by Dr. Zahi Hawass

Zahi Hawass gives a detailed description of his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and having led him on a tour of the Giza Necropolis:

I have met many famous people at the Pyramids, but I can say that one visit stands out in my mind as one that I really enjoyed -- that of US President Barack Obama.

When he arrived in at the Pyramids, Obama was casually dressed. He was very nice to me from the moment that we first met, and it was truly a pleasant surprise when Rahm Emmanuel, his chief of staff, mentioned to the president my profile that was recently published in The New York Times.

Follow the above link to read the full article. My favorite part is when the President remarks the uncanny resemblance of his own face to the hieroglyphic sign for "upon" (a face head on with protruding ears).

The King and I: An Audience with Tutankhamun

Originally published June 28, 2009 | The Independent | by Sankha Guha

One person's account of Egypt par dahabiyya: from standing in wonderment inside the Great Pyramid to gazing in awe into the blinkless eyes of Tutankhamun's funeral mask, from the seemingly inadequacey of the Egyptian Museum to the vastness of the cities and monuments of the dead, into Tutankhamun's tomb and through Edfu and Philae, and out of the suks of Aswan only to be wooed by the setting sun.

The article ends with Nile cruise, Egypt flight, and dahabiyya departure information, should you endeavor to experience the same.

Update: Return to the Great Pyramid

Accessed June 15, 2009 | Archaeology Magazine Online | by Bob Brier

Archaeology Magazine features Bob Brier's update on Houdin's internal ramp theory, where he and Houdin focus their attentions on an L-shaped room that could have been created deliberately for the construction of the Great Pyramid.

This article features nice pictures with descriptors and a link to Archaeology's previous update and a web site dedicated to the theory from Dessault Systemes.