My 1st Q. – ‘Were any Pyramids designed as a Passage to Eternity by connecting the Underworld with the Heavens through the Monument itself?’
AI – ‘Yes, many ancient Egyptian pyramids, such as Djoser’s Step Pyramid and the Great Pyramid of Giza, were conceived as symbolic “stairways to heaven” or “gateways to eternity” for the pharaoh’s soul to ascend to the heavens and join the gods in the afterlife. While not a literal physical connection, they served as a metaphorical bridge between the mortal world and the afterlife, allowing the pharaoh’s spirit to be reborn and journey to the realm of the sun god Ra.
Symbolic Gateway to the Afterlife
- Stairway to Heaven:
The pyramidal shape itself was seen as a physical embodiment of a stairway, helping the king’s soul ascend to the heavens.
- Portal to the Afterlife:
The pyramid served as a sacred portal or gateway for the pharaoh’s soul to unite with the sun god Ra in the afterlife, ensuring the pharaoh’s continued existence in the eternal voyage across the sky.
- Symbolic of Rebirth:
The pyramids were often built on the west bank of the Nile River, symbolizing the setting sun and the journey to the afterlife, reinforcing the idea of a cycle of death and rebirth.
Connecting the Worlds
- A Bridge for the Soul:
The Great Pyramid of Khufu was specifically described as a way to connect the mortal realm with the afterlife, acting as a bridge for the soul to journey.
- Symbolic Landscape Design:
The overall landscape design, with pyramids positioned to align with the setting sun on the summer solstice, further reinforced the connection between the monument and the sun’s daily journey, representing rebirth.
Evidence in Architecture and Texts
- Pyramid Texts:
Later Pyramid Texts from centuries after the pyramids were built were cited to support the theory of stellar connections within the structures, linking the pyramid’s function to the stars and the afterlife.
The internal shafts in the Great Pyramid of Giza were likely aligned with Orion’s Belt, a constellation important in Egyptian mythology, further emphasizing the connection between the pyramid’s structure and the stars in the afterlife.
My 2nd Q. – ‘In antiquity in Egypt Central and South America, India, Asia and China were any monuments designed as stairways to the afterlife?’
AI – ‘Yes, ancient
monuments in Egypt, such as pyramids, and in Mesopotamia and Iran, such as
ziggurats, were designed with symbolic stairway-like features to represent a
path to the heavens or the gods. While not a direct “stairway to the
afterlife,” the design and orientation of these monuments, along with
associated funerary texts, symbolize the deceased’s journey toward the
spiritual realm. Monuments in Central and South America and India, like
the Chand Baori in India,
also incorporated stepped designs that symbolized ascension and the path to
divine realms.
Egypt
The smooth-sided pyramids symbolized the sun’s rays, providing a conceptual pathway for the pharaoh’s soul to ascend to the heavens and join the gods. Their orientation towards the north star also reinforced this celestial connection.
The journey to the afterlife for the pharaoh was aided by funerary texts, such as the Book of the Dead, which provided guidance and necessary spells to navigate the spiritual world.
Mesopotamia (Ziggurats)
- Symbolic Stairways: Ziggurats, ancient Babylonian structures, are described as monumental stairways built to ascend towards the gods, symbolizing a connection between the earthly and divine realms.
India
- Chand Baori: This ancient Indian stepwell features intricate, stepped designs that served a similar symbolic purpose to the Mesopotamian and Egyptian monuments, representing a path to the gods and a connection to celestial bodies.
Central and South America
- While specific examples of “stairway to the afterlife” are not as prominent, the stepped, pyramidal architecture seen in the region, such as Mayan pyramids, served as symbolic structures for spiritual ascent and connection to the divine.’
My 3rd Q. – ‘In antiquity with what were monuments in Egypt Central and South America, India, Asia and China that were designed as stairways to the afterlife astronomically aligned?’
AI –‘ Monuments designed as stairways to the afterlife were often astronomically aligned with the sun, moon, and stars, particularly the pole star, to symbolize the ascent of the deceased to the heavens and their connection with the gods. This astronomical orientation was used in ancient Egypt for pyramids, while in China, pyramids were aligned with stars. In Central and South America, such as at Chaco Canyon, astronomical alignments with solar and lunar cycles were used for temples and sacred sites. In other regions like India and parts of Asia, though less emphasized in the provided sources, similar connections between monumental architecture, solar events, and celestial movements likely informed the design of these sacred structures.
Egypt
- Alignment with the Pole Star and Sun:
Egyptian pyramids were aligned with celestial north, referencing the pole star, and in the case of the Temple of Amun-Re at Karnak, with the midwinter sun’s rising.
- Symbolic Ascent:
The pyramids were seen as stairways to heaven, allowing the pharaoh’s soul to ascend to the gods. Their alignment with the sun, especially the setting sun in the west, symbolized the soul’s journey with the sun god.
Central & South America
- Solar and Lunar Cycles:
Structures at sites like Chaco Canyon were aligned with significant astronomical events, such as the rising of the sun at the solstices, to mark the celestial cycles.
- Sacred Observatories:
Some complexes functioned as observatories, recording movements of the sun, moon, and stars to predict and celebrate important dates, which was integral to their religious practices.
India and Asia
- General Celestial Significance:
While the sources don’t focus on specific structures, the general principle of astronomical alignment is evident across ancient cultures.
- Connection to the Divine:
The celestial alignment of monuments in places like India and Asia, as seen with the Sun Temple at Mesa Verde National Park in the US, likely reflected a similar belief in the connection between the earthly realm and the celestial order, with monuments serving as points of transition to the divine.
China
- Alignment with Stars:
Pyramids in China, including the tomb of Chi-i Huang Di, were built in alignment with the stars.
- Symbolic Connection to the Heavens:
These pyramids likely symbolized the home of the gods and the afterlife, connecting the ruler to a cosmic mandate from the heavens.’
My 4th Q. – ‘In antiquity were any monuments in Egypt, Central and South America, India, Asia and China, that were designed as stairways to the afterlife all also astronomically aligned with solstices and equinoxes?’
AI – ‘Yes, some monuments were designed with both stairway features and astronomical alignment, notably the Egyptian pyramids, which are seen as stairways for the pharaoh’s soul to the stars, and the temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, where the central towers align with the equinox sunrise. While not all “stairways” had astronomical alignment, the design and purpose of many ancient monumental structures often combined symbolic ascension with celestial observation.
Egypt
- Pyramids: The Egyptian pyramids, such as those at Giza, were not just tombs but also symbolic stairways for the pharaoh’s soul to ascend to the heavens and the stars. Their sides were meticulously aligned to the cardinal directions, and some features, like the Pyramid of Khufu, show alignments with the Polar star.
Central and South America
- Machu Picchu: While the “Stairs of Death” itself is a path to a summit, the Temple of the Sun at Machu Picchu was designed to receive the first rays of light from the rising sun on the winter solstice. This demonstrates an astronomical function for a structure with elevated elements.
Asia
- Angkor Wat (Cambodia): This vast temple complex was designed to align with astronomical events. During the equinoxes, the sunrise aligns precisely with the central, tallest tower of Angkor Wat, making it a clear example of a structure that is both monumental and astronomically aligned.
General Principles
- Intertwined Purpose: The ancient societies in these regions saw no separation between spiritual, earthly, and celestial realms. Thus, building structures that served as symbolic stairways to the afterlife often involved aligning them with natural cycles like the solstices and equinoxes to connect the earthly structure with the cosmic.
My 5th Q. – ‘How was the hidden Chamber of Pyramid Texts and Sacred Writing deep inside the Saqqara Pyramid discovered and excavated by French Archaeologists?’
AI – ‘The first discovery of what are now known as the Pyramid Texts, the oldest known corpus of ancient Egyptian religious texts, occurred in 1881 within the subterranean chambers of pyramids at Saqqara. This groundbreaking discovery was made by Gaston Maspero, a French Egyptologist and Director of the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo at the time. Here’s how the discovery and excavation unfolded:
- Initial Discoveries: Maspero began archaeological work in South Saqqara in 1880, focusing on tombs and pyramids with hieroglyphic inscriptions.
- Pyramid of Pepi I: During excavations, Maspero accessed the subterranean rooms of what was believed to be the pyramid of Pepi I of the Sixth Dynasty. Walls covered in hieroglyphic text were discovered there, according to Wikipedia.
- Initial Skepticism: Maspero informed Auguste Mariette, then the “director of the excavations” in Egypt, of the discovery. Mariette, based on the prevailing understanding that no pyramids contained such texts, initially dismissed the finding, believing the structure was a mastaba.
- Confirmation at Merenre I’s Pyramid: Maspero continued excavations at a second structure, about one kilometer southwest of the first, identified as the pyramid of Merenre I, Pepi I’s successor. The same hieroglyphic texts were found on the walls, confirming the initial discovery and the existence of inscriptions within pyramids.
- Further Discoveries and Publication: Maspero continued investigations at other sites in Saqqara throughout 1881, leading to the discovery of more texts in the pyramids of Unas, Teti, and Pepi II. The first corpora of these texts were published in 1894 in French, titled “Les inscriptions des pyramides de Saqqarah”.
- Continuing Excavations and Study: Between 1926 and 1932, Gustave Jéquier conducted systematic investigations of the pyramids of Pepi II and his wives (Neith, Iput II, and Wedjebetni), as well as Qakare Ibi’s pyramid, publishing a complete corpus of the texts found in these pyramids.
The Pyramid of Unas is noteworthy as it contains the oldest, smallest, and best-preserved collection of these religious writings from the Old Kingdom. The texts were carved onto the subterranean walls and sarcophagi. They served as protective invocations, or spells, to aid the king’s transition into the afterlife and ensure eternal survival. They are considered a unique and valuable source of information about ancient Egyptian beliefs, gods, and funerary practices.’
My 6th Q. – ‘What do the Pyramid Texts and Sacred Writing at Saqqara disclose about the purpose and functioning of pyramids that were designed as a stairway to heaven?’
AI – ‘The Pyramid Texts from Saqqara depict pyramids as vital stairways to the heavens, designed to facilitate the deceased king’s ascent by providing magical spells and instructions to guide the soul (the ka) and transform it into an akh (a blessed spirit) among the stars. The texts include ritualistic formulas to protect the king, ensure his spiritual reanimation, and guarantee his safe passage and divine acceptance, with the pyramid’s structure itself acting as a symbolic, monumental staircase to the afterlife.
Purpose of the Pyramid as a “Stairway to Heaven”
- Liberating the King’s Soul:
The primary purpose was to free the king’s soul (ka) from his body after death, preparing it for the afterlife.
- Spiritual Ascent:
The pyramid was a physical and symbolic pathway for the king to ascend to the heavens, to live among the imperishable stars and join the gods.
- Transformation into an Akh:
The texts were designed to help the pharaoh’s spirit transform into an akh, a state of blessed, immortal being.
Functioning of the Pyramid Texts
- Spells and Incantations:
The texts are a collection of spells and incantations that acted as magical instructions and prayers to protect the deceased and guide them.
- Guidance for the Ka
: The texts provided the ka (soul) with knowledge about the afterlife and the journey it would take.
- Invoking Divine Aid:
The texts included spells to call upon the gods for assistance, with instructions on how to approach and even threaten them if necessary.
- Ensuring Reanimation:
The spells were also meant to reanimate the king’s body and ensure he could function in the afterlife, often by providing him with divine parts.
Key Elements in the Texts
- Mythical Allusions and Gods:
The texts reference numerous gods and goddesses, incorporating their power and mythology into the king’s journey to the afterlife.
- Ritualistic and Individualized Texts:
There were ritualistic texts involving offerings and hymns, as well as more personalized texts guiding the spirit through its transition.
- Emphasis on the Stars:
The texts often associate the afterlife with the circumpolar stars, representing the eternal, unchanging nature of the afterlife.
In essence, the Pyramid Texts reveal that the pyramid was not just a tomb but a sacred monument and a cosmic vessel, with inscriptions serving as a divine instruction manual for the pharaoh to ascend to the celestial realm and become one with the divine.’
My 7th Q. – ‘Why are there no spells on any wall in the Giza Necropopolis?’
AI – ‘The Great Pyramids of Giza were built without wall inscriptions containing afterlife spells because they predate the practice of inscribing these spells, which were a later development of the Pyramid Texts, beginning with Pharaoh Unas‘s tomb in the Fifth Dynasty. The Giza pyramids, built earlier during the Fourth Dynasty, were designed to impress through their sheer size and symbolic alignment with the stars, rather than through hieroglyphic texts. The sacred inscriptions, such as the Pyramid Texts, appeared later in burial chambers to aid the deceased in their journey, while more accessible versions like the Book of the Dead emerged later to benefit a wider population. Why the spells were not on the walls of the Giza pyramids:
- Timing of Inscriptions:The first inscriptions of the spells that would guide a pharaoh to the afterlife, known as the Pyramid Texts, were found in the burial chambers of Pharaoh Unas’s pyramid at Saqqara. These texts date from the late Old Kingdom period and were not present in the earlier Giza pyramids built during the Fourth Dynasty.
- Evolution of Beliefs:The Giza pyramids were designed when the belief that the pyramids themselves were gateways to the afterlife was paramount. The later development of the Pyramid Texts was a response to the need for a written guide for the pharaoh’s journey, with later iterations like the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead broadening access to this guidance for other wealthy Egyptians.
- Symbolic and Practical Design:The Giza pyramids emphasized monumental scale and celestial alignment to convey a sense of awe and spiritual connection. Their imposing design may have been sufficient to symbolize the pharaoh’s divinity and connection to the afterlife without the need for detailed hieroglyphic inscriptions within the chambers.’
When I consider the design, engineering and project management challenges that were overcome by whoever did design and build the Pyramids at Giza, my instinct is that they probably placed more faith in science and mathematics than in superstition.
So there was no need for ‘afterlife’ spells.
The absence of spells and sacred symbols also makes me wonder whether these monuments were ever designed as tombs to guide the soul of a deceased Pharoah, on their journey from death to reincarnation as a God in the stars.
The three main pyramids at Giza form a triangle that is similar to Orion’s Belt. However, it is not an exact match. The angles are off, and they are oriented differently. The pyramids would need to be ‘flipped over’ to match the star pattern.
The existence of this similarity is factually indisputable.
The alignment with ‘Orion’ could have been a deliberate ‘symbolic’ choice, because ‘Orion’ was associated with ‘Osiris’, the ancient Egyptian god of the afterlife and rebirth.
Conventional theory is that the Pyramids at Giza were built at around 2,580 BC.
However, proponents of the ‘Orion Correlation Theory’ – that the three pyramids on the Giza plateau are a ground-level representation of the three stars in Orion’s Belt: Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, suggest that this specific pattern in the sky was most accurately mirrored around 10,500 BC.
While there is no doubt about the existence of a ‘similarity’, this date is disputed.