A TECHNOLOGICAL CONTINUUM

INTRODUCTION

For the past 5000 years, the system put at use in the erection of the great Egyptian Pyramids ^[2]Note [2] - They are dated from the 4th dynasty, under the Ancient Empire. The three great ones are located on the plateau of Giza, near Cairo, the greatest and the most famous “marvel of the world” being Pharaoh Cheops' one (147 metres height). remains a mystery. None of the various theories put forward until this day are fully satisfying from a builder's point of view. And modern technology and technique are about as ineffective.
From Antiquity on, two interpretative models are opposing each other: "mechanical" theories, starting with Herodotus ^[3]Note [3] - Herodotus, Greek historian (5th century BC) - “the Inquiry”- Book II - articles 125 and 126, Gallimard Editions (1964). against "ramp" theories following Didore of Sicily ^[4]Note [4] - Diodore of Sicily, Greek historian (1st century BC) - “Birth of Gods and Men” - Book I- article LXIII - Les belles lettres Editions - La roue à livres Collection (1991) - Translation: M.Casevitz page 77 and 78.

• “Mechanical” theories ^[5]Note [5] - The “mechanical” theories: trestle of M.Strub-Roessler, lift of L.Croon or the oscillating elevator of G.Legrain. have been limited to the research of the mechanical device which would allow the lifting of a block the height of one stratum, without considering the “building system” as a whole, they are inapplicable when considering the placing of the monoliths of granite which top Cheops' room located at 45 to 65 meter high above the ground inside the pyramid.

M. Strub-Roessler's trestle	L. Croon's hoist

• “ramp” theories ^[6]Note [6] - The “ramp” theories: frontal ramp of J-P. Lauer, helicoidal ramp of G. Goyon, lateral ramp of R. Stadelmann or slot-in ramp of D. Arnold, eminent contemporary Egyptologists. suggest the lifting up, by sliding on a ramp or “levee” of the monoliths and the rest of the necessary materials. This subsidiary construction work, which will need to be destroyed afterward, will require more effort than the erection of the pyramid itself.

Frontal ramp	Helicoidal ramp	Engaged ramp

• a third group called “mixed” theories ^[7]Note [7] - The “mixed” theories: represented by J. KÉRISEL and J-P. ADAM. suggest the building of a ramp going up to the King's room then the use of a lever.

Frontal ramp simulation in situ

None of those theories are offering satisfying evidences to the architect/engineer/practitioner because, before being an archeological and egyptological object, pyramids are, essentially, a built edifice, a civil and architectural piece of engineering. the logic of which remains the same: economy of effort and means, technological development and structuring of tasks.

• on one hand, the architect/engineer/practitioner cannot admit the “ramp « or “mixed” solutions, them being too radically opposed to the Art of building. He will refuse the remote origin of materials, the principle of any subsidiary work and the spread of tasks that suppose these theories ;
• on the other hand, if the use of a lever is generally admitted, the “mechanical” theories remain at an embryonic level.

Lever arm on tripod suggested by J.P. Adam, if the principle and the scale seem accurate, the counter-weight could be "living" workers used as dead weight!