“The builders paid special attention to the corner stone’s. They had to support and absorb the enormous weight of the pyramid that pressed down and sideways. To achieve this, they have to interlock with the stones lying on top of them and below them. These stones were especially massive and reached far into the core masonry. Next a second course was laid on top. Each joint had to be overlapped not only by the stone on top but likewise by the one underneath as well. Subsequently the stones were added, one course after the other. Each time care was taken, that the corner stones were well interlocked with the core masonry and the outer casing stones were also well incorporated into the whole structure.” (“Building the Great Pyramid”)

Each course was meticulously leveled and double checked before the next course was laid. In this diagram however we have purposely left off some of the stones in order to illustrate the progression of the work, note closely how the blocks were designed to over-lap each other, with especially large (long) “header blocks” periodically added for extra strength and stability.

As we had previously pointed out there is a distinction made between the Pavement and the Platform even though both surface heights are the same. We are not however as particularly interested in the details of the Pavement as we are in the Platform, as the Platform has a more direct relationship to the Pyramid and the various time features incorporated in it.

The Platform extends about 16 ½ inches beyond the casing stones all around the Pyramid, whereas the pavement extends about 30 feet out, that is at least on the north face as far as we know, over on the east side of the Pyramid along with the White Tura Limestone’s used for the pavement you will likewise find the remains of the basalt pavement which once covered the courtyard of the Valley Temple.

Getting back to the Platform it will be noticed that the Platform is likewise marked by the particular angle in which the front outside edges were cut, particularly where it adjuncts up next to the pavement, this particular angle is roughly about 70 to 75 degrees I believe, that is in comparison with the casing stones which were cut at a 51 degree angle. The true purpose behind the use of this particular angle is not exactly known; nevertheless this angle can be readily discerned in the following two photos.

The importance of understanding where precisely certain measurements begin and end cannot be understated, some of which begin their calculations from outside the Pyramid up its face to the original door opening beginning from the Mean Socket Floor Level while still others are calculated from the Platform or Fundament Levels.

We will continue once again with our next post.