Before we take a look at the symbolic meaning of the First Ascending Passage we would like to note a few more interesting features with regards to the “girdles”, the “granite plug”, and the “large angular stone”. As the Edgar brothers pointed out save for the first three gridles the rest of the gridles were all set in contact one with another. Likewise although they are all set vertically in line with the pyramid as were the first three they nevertheless are not square across the passage, but as seen in the illustration above (noted in red) are inclined upward diagonally from the east wall to the west. Now in respects to those gridles which we believe encompassed the granite plug it is possible that they may have been the exception, for as noted in the diagram the last gridle line shown at the upper end of the granite plug appears to be nearly straight across the passage once again.

Now the précised number of gridles found at the extreme north end of the passage is not specifically designated, we would assume however judging from the size of the previous gridles, those found immediately to the south of the granite plug that there were at least three or four, the first of which may possibly have been a half or three quarter gridle. The reason we suggest this is because of the “large angular stone”, also referred to as the “concealing stone”. This stone like the majority of the other stones used in walls of the passage was made of the typical yellow Tura limestone, in this way it match the others and did not draw any undue attention to itself. The reason for the half griddle is two-fold, first it adds greater support for the angular stone and second if it were a full size gridle (as noted in the illustration below) there would be another joint line in the roof masonry, one for the angular block and one for the gridle, these two joint lines so close to each other might signify a “tell” as to something hidden.

NOTE: We have deliberately illustrated these gridle stones in gray so as to distinguish them from the passage and the other stones, in truth however they were constructed of the same yellow Tura limestone as the rest of the interior blocks. The only stones here of notable difference would be the three red or pink granite plug stones.

On closer examination of the “Trial Passages” it was observed that where the Ascending passage and the Descending passage met the passage contracted or tapered up at the bottom as though it were ready to accept plug blocks. Whether or not this was exactly how it was done in the pyramid itself is not specified in the Edgars examinations, but it is most likely how it was done.

The only reason we bring this up is because it has a direct effect on how we calculate the précised “Point of Intersection”, which is critical to many of the time measurements provided by the pyramid, however there possibly is a way in which this was accomplished without sacrificing the integrity of the measurements. The stone cutters simply tapered the bore of the gridle stone which served to lock the first of the three stones in place. In this way the passage maintained its précised dimensions as well as its degree of incline.

However it is very possible that this tapering was so minuscule that it had very little to no effect upon the point of intersection, but was nevertheless sufficient enough to lock the plug in place. The “Trial Passages” we believe were simply designed as a pattern or replica through which to work out the details.

Managing the granite plug stones would prove quite a chore as they’re estimated individual weight is at nearly 7 tons a piece. It is highly likely as illustrated that they would have positioned several temporary stones into place first, stones upon which to better facilitate sliding the great stones into place.

You will note we have also hinted at another possible way in which the plug could have been locked into place, instead of tapering the bore of the gridle stone, the first granite stone itself is tapered like a cork, and then inserted into the gridle stone, the larger end of the plug would then catch the sides of the bore as soon as both ends of the rear of the stone entered the bore of the gridle. The other two plug stones would possibly share the same dimensions (height and width) as the front of the first plug and therefore be much easier to slide into place.

Now as to our “angular” or “concealing stone” and how it may have come to be placed in its unique position. Remember the object of this stone was to conceal the entrance to the ascending passage. This stone would have been place while they were laying the sixth course of masonry, prior to the plugs. Now at first one might assume that it would have been much easier to simply set the concealing stone first, temporarily bracing it with something to hold it up into its position (possibly some short wood beams), which would then later be removed, but……. there is a purpose behind laying the partial gridle first. The gridle above, the stone below and the unique degree of angle of the ascending passage would in the end all work together to hold this particular cut or “angled” stone precisely in its place, this even without any cement.

Consider gravity; the force of gravity acting upon any object is that object’s weight or mass. If you held a baseball bat out before you horizontally and dropped it, which end would hit the ground first the handle or the batting end? Which end generally weights more? Now which end of our stone most likely carries the most weight? So if this block were dropped in what direction would it most likely fall? Of course it would fall straight down, but would it not likewise (if dropped from a sufficient height) begin to rotate with the heaviest end coming around and down first?

Because of gravity and the unique 26 degree angle of the Ascending passage the large angular stone becomes wedged at the top and locked at the bottom as gravity attempts to row it out (the gridle stone positioned above greatly aids in supporting this stone). However first we need to get our stone into position. In order to accomplish this it would first require positioning the stone into the passage by means of a temporary support stone (as we had illustrated in the diagram above), and then in order to get it to slide in without becoming locked into place to soon a small thin wedge of some sort would be inserted beneath the bottom edge to keep it perpendicular with the passage (this and most likely the assistance of men bracing it in some form or fashion from beneath). When the stone was positioned at a point just about flush with the descending passage this wedge along with any braces beneath would be removed and gravity would do its work causing the stone to row forward locking it into the correct position.

This would not necessarily require any cement, however some may have been applied to the upper joint as this joint would have naturally been a bit lager than the joint found at the bottom. In our illustration we have exaggerated the size of this joint merely so as to emphasize it. One could see then how the forced entry by Al Mamoun’s men might have caused this stone to give way, if in their work they had caused the stone below upon which the angular stone was locked to break off as evidently it had as is apparent from the diagram below taken from the Edgar brother’s notes (note the red areas). Once these pieces broke off especially the bottom piece the angular stone would have dropped down into the descending passage.

Let us consider how our unique passage angle of 26 degrees applies to our “angular stone”, and what would be the consequences if we were to utilize another degree of angle. Let us first consider if we were to use a slightly lower degree of angle what then might be the consequences.

At 21 degrees our angular stone would increase somewhat in size adding extra head weight to the stone, this in turn means a greater gravitational force pulling the stone downward. It is very much possible that instead of locking in like the original stone that the forces exerted upon the lower supporting stone in this example would prove too much and cause it to fracture. Of course this is only an assumption. However the true problem with this particular degree of angle is that it would destroy the time measurements and symbolisms of the Great Pyramid.

What about a higher degree of angle, how would this work out for us?

Although our angular stone is much smaller now, smaller even than the original stone, the problem now is twofold. At this particular angle there is little to no pressure on the ceiling to wedge the block into place, as we have reached the point where the force of gravity becomes stronger than the friction force, thus we have nothing locking our stone at the bottom either, and unless our stone were sufficiently cemented into place it would fall out. In fact even if it were cemented, although the cement might hold true over the centuries (as has been proven elsewhere), the stone itself and or those surrounding it might still be subject to fracturing over the 3000 year period in which it had remained. However once again the true problem with this angle is what it does to the “stone witness”, how it destroys its witness as can readily be seen by the diagram below.

In our next post we will take a look at the symbolism of the First Ascending passage.