On the Pairs of Shafts in the Pyramid of Khufu as Means for the Ascent to the Akhet /
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The shafts in the pyramid of Khufu have been investigated by robots in several projects. Mason’s marks in red ink at the end of the southern shaft of the “Queen’s Chamber” can be read as the hieratic number 121 (cubits), which would indicate the shaft’s length. Precise measurements were planned for the pyramid superstructure and its architectural elements. This paper shows that the shafts represent paths of the solar circuit, which would have led the king’s immaterial components to the akhet. The model is highly coherent, and all of its features are discussed, as the shape of the inner step pyramid, the sharp turns of 45° in the northern shafts, and the two metal pins inserted into a blocking slab at the end of each lower shaft. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5913/jarce.56.2020.a008
Floating on Mercury in the Moonlight: “Birkat az-Zi?baq” in the Palace of Khum?rawa?h in al-Qa???i? /
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In the article the author analyzes references to a basin filled with mercury (“Birkat az-Zi?baq”) in the palace of the Tulunid Dynasty ruler Khum?rawa?h in al-Qa???i?. This basin, which has been mentioned in several medieval Arabic sources (al-Maqr?z?, Ibn Duqma?q, Ibn Iy?s, Ish??q?) had been built in order to heal Khum?rawa?h of insomnia. According to al-Maqr?z?, the basin has the dimensions of 50 x 50 cubits (ca. 25 x 25 m), however the depth of the basin has not been mentioned. The author critically analyzes the known references of the mercury basins in the palaces of Muslim rulers and advances several hypotheses explaining the construction of the basin in the palace of Khum?rawa?h.