inside the shaft of the great pyramid
The Pyramid of Khufu in Giza, the greatest and largest pyramid known to us, I had the chance to walk inside it in 1996. If you find the pyramids mysterious and impressive on the outside which everyone I know does, then the inside will leave you mystified! The pyramid of Khufu is constructed with shafts like this one in the photo above that are perfectly straight and on a large scale connecting in a strange maze that no one seemed to have figured out the purpose of despite many various efforts.
The wooden steps you see in the very old photo I took back then were added to allow tourists to walk up the shaft that leads to the king’s chamber.
It was a very strange feeling being in a such a wonder of the ancient past and thinking only how futuristic it felt.
(writing this post and the next few while away in NYC, so I will have very little to reply to comments, but hopefully will catch up soon :))
I remember vividly how it felt to be inside the pyramid — musty, humid, hot… almost suffocating really. And at the end, one discovers that the King’s Chamber is really not that impressive. It’s just a box, vandalized by the French archaeologist who discovered it. (And the tomb guard that encourages you to take a photo of the tomb in exchange for a little “baksheesh” really does not help haha.) But then your mind starts imagining and realizing all the history behind the tomb… and that’s when it really begins to be wonderful!
I lived in Egypt for two months. Your photos are fantastic — and having them in B&W makes me feel all the more nostalgic. I miss it terribly.
Glad to have found your blog.
Very striking and atmospheric picture, Mimo – I used to be a bit of an Egyptian archaeology buff, and so the photo attracts me in different ways. Adrian
Thank you Adrian, Egypt hold so much mystery and I love contemplating it too…
I had no idea this was what the inside of the pyramids looked like. Thanks for the education, Mimo.
Ronnie
My pleasure Ronnie!
Impressive, yet eerie. One question – Are the steps in this photo going up or down? I ask because I can visualize both. Safe travels.
You are so right, it is totally readable both ways. Can you guess?
My guess is up.
a remarkable photo, and gives me a real impresion of what the inside of the pyramids look like, very atmospheric!
Thank you very much for this comment!
Hi,
Great photo, and enjoy your trip to NYC. 🙂
Thank you so much Mags!
amazing!!!!
Thanks!