Was the Giza Pyramid of Khafre Planned to be Much BIGGER?

The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest pyramid in Egypt, situated in the centre of the Giza Plateau and standing some 136.4 metres or 448 feet tall. Today it is somewhat dilapidated – we’re of course not seeing its final form, and on completion, it is thought to have been around 7 metres or 23 feet taller.

This means that in the 4th dynasty, 4 and a half thousand years ago, the Khafre Pyramid would have been just 3 metres shorter than the Great Pyramid… but was this really the plan? Wouldn’t Khafre try and top the building achievement of his father and build an even bigger pyramid? Well, funnily enough, there is a hypothesis out there, that the Pyramid of Khafre, as we know it today, was not how it was originally planned.

Italian scholars Maragioglio and Rinaldi suggested that Khafre’s architect planned a pyramid that was not just wider, but also nearly 20 metres taller than his father’s Great Pyramid, which really is quite substantial.

In this video, as well as presenting their hypothesis, I also have my own adaptation, one that may explain the evidence even better - that all the Giza pyramids had a very specific construction process. Watch now to learn more.

All images are taken from the below sources, Google Images or Google Earth for educational purposes only. Please subscribe to Ancient Architects, Like the video and please leave a comment below. Thank you.

Contents:
0:00 Introduction
0:27 The Pyramid of Khafre
1:26 The Larger Pyramid Hypothesis
2:54 Evidence for a Larger Planned Pyramid
9:34 A 3-Stage Construction Project
15:29 Why the 3rd Phase Was Not Completed
17:30 How the Giza Pyramids Were Planned
19:20 Concluding Remarks

Sources:

#ancientarchitects #ancientegypt #greatpyramid

[AncientArchitects]

Hello everybody. Yesterday I finally finished my cellar/basement restoration and it's now a workspace/home gym. I need to do some cosmetics and sort a few bits out, but the majority is complete! So tomorrow it's back to work on some new videos and also trying to set the cellar up so I can do a live stream soon! Thanks for your patience!

[davidinmossy]

My man still using Hypothosis and theory correctly. Been a pleasure watching your channel grow. Booked a holiday to Egypt for the end of the year with the GF I cant wait!!!! Booked every extra I could as well n taking a heli to the pyramids as the travel time from the resort is pretty long 6 plus hours.

[SteveHarvey]

I love the rational, reasoned way you present information. You have no issue being honest when the evidence is not 100% there so it never seems like you are forcing ideas to fit like some channels in the same space- merely sharing information for us to make up our minds with. Much appreciated

[dropnoelfield]

The always interesting Ancient Architects strikes again. Thanks Mat.

[jaquaanwhite]

You know what’s funny ? The GP has the Grand Gallery and a marble sarcophagus, KP has no chambers in the core so there was no sarcophagus to put up there. So maybe the theory about the Grand Gallery being some sort of pulley has some validity to it.

[TheLkoler]

This makes sense because I understand the later tombs in the Valley of the Kings were continuously extended while the pharoahs were alive and only stopped at his death.
Such large projects as the pyramid must have had contingency plans because the length of the life of a monarch is so uncertain.

[RalphEllis]

I would say no.
Because if you measure the Second Pyramid in 6.75 cubit Khafre rods.
The limestone portions measure 30 x 40 x 50 rods.
And this was a 3 - 4 - 5 pythagorean pyramid.
So that was the original size, the maths are clear.

The 6.75 rod is derived from 1/4 of the chamber length.
Because if you fold the 27 cubit chamber into four.
The diagonal is the same length as the chamber width.
The 6.75 cubit length is the Khafre rod.

Ralph

[guyrixon]

I like your 3-phase contingency theory for Khafre's pyramid. However, if it has the same rib-and-infill structure as Kufu's pyramid --- and it probably does, because it didn't disintegrate after the casing stones were robbed --- then extending it on one side and keeping it stable would be quite hard. I can imagine the architects wringing their hands in regret and the King deciding "stuff it, we'll stay at phase 2".

[johnbeeck]

Almost 600K Subs! Love the show - let us know if you're going back to Egypt!

[PetesGuide]

Which King’s Chamber will you be decorating your basement as?

[Spedley_]

Very interesting. I note that in the Great Pyramid the Queen's chamber air shafts do not reach the exterior which also implies the pyramid was enlarged. That would mean the pyramid was enlarged on all sides, arguably a lot more work than just enlarging on two sides.
If I were making a "King's Chamber" in Khafre's pyramid it would have to be done during construction and I'd put it under the expected apex of the full pyramid, i.e. it would be shifted to the side.
(Just did a quick drawing on your image and I'd put the "King's Chamber" at a 45 degree angle and 180 cubits from the current chamber. That would line up perfectly with the slope of the underground passage and the top of the enlarged pyramid)

[jaredsanford]

fantastic hypothesis. I wish more interested parties would consider the utilitarian and human aspects of the culture that drove these massive social engineering projects.

[marcusHabs]

Any new news regarding Big Void in Khufu`s pyramid?

[arliemoses]

The phased approach makes perfect sense to me.

[monkeywrench]

Fascinating... another brilliant bit, mate!

[louyunglam]

I am studying pyramids since my first visit there in 1970 and I completely agree with your theory of different phases in the construction, the theory of this third phase for the pyramid of Khephren is very very interesting

[petesmite]

Somehow, I've seen part 1 already 🤔 but was it here or else? The new hypothesis is new, of course 😅

[Mepper.]

I've wondered for a while whether the air shafts which stop before reaching the pyramid's surface were a sign of it being constructed in multiple stages. Would that fit into your hypothesis?

[TheAlastairBrown]

You can probably follow the queen's chamber shafts and where they stop to guess the size of the pyramid if that chamber was used if he died early. Are they 100% certain there's no extra shafts further up that might explain the Big Void?

[One-eyedgiantbuildingwall]

The pyramids have plenty signs of diverse and adaptive plans.
These are not one project, but a work in progress with many stages.
No architect would design that amount of dead-ends and changes of plans.