Angles of Slope Based on
Sekeds
The angles of slope generated by the different
sekeds can be shown as follows:
Seked |
Degree
Angle |
4.00 |
60.25° |
4.25 |
58.74° |
4.50 |
57.26° |
4.75 |
55.84° |
5.00 |
54.46° |
5.25 |
53.13° |
5.50 |
51.84° |
5.75 |
50.60° |
6.00 |
49.40° |
6.25 |
48.24° |
6.50 |
47.12° |
6.75 |
46.04° |
7.00 |
45.00° |
7.25 |
43.99° |
7.50 |
43.02° |
It has been assumed that only whole ratios
would have been used in these calculations with the smallest
unit being a digit. Practical building considerations would preclude
the use of fractions of a digit although the answer to problem
56 RMP is given as a fraction.
From these tables it can be shown that
the following sekeds were used more than once:
5.5:
Maidum, Khufu, Nysuerre and Menkaure(b).
5.25:
Khafre, Userkaf, Neferikare, Teti and Pepi II.
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- The collapsed Pyramid
of Maidum. Its angle of slope is the same as the Great Pyramid.
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-
- The pyramids of Abusir
- now in a bad state of repair, belonging to Sahure, Neferikare and Nysuerre
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-
- The Bent Pyramid
showing the change in angle of slope. Built by king Seneferu
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The pyramid of Sahure is probably based on a seked of 5.75 although its
state of ruin makes accurate assessment difficult. The angle of slope of the
lower portion of the Bent pyramid is likely based on a seked of 5. However
the upper portion does not easily fit either a seked of 7.25 or 7.5. The
same can also be applied to the Northern Stone pyramid and possibly also to
the pyramid of Menkaure. This raises questions on whether the seked was the
basis of the calculation in all cases. Before looking in more detail at this
anomaly something needs to be said about the relevance of the known sekeds
in the construction of the pyramids.
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