I don't doubt their grasp of astronomy. What I doubt is how long it took for this cult to evolve until we reached the point at the end of the 5th Dynasty where the pyramid texts were carved on the walls of Unas' (last ruler of the 5th Dynasty) pyramid.
The passageways of the Giza Pyramids have less decoration than a modern subway (Tube, for the Brits) tunnel. Clearly, something happened between the 4th and 5th dynasties.
For the record, Unas' pyramid is at Saqqara:
![[Image: unas_djoser_97-3929-25.jpg]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ancient-egypt.org%2F_v3d%2Ftopography%2Fsaqqara%2Funas%2Funas_djoser_97-3929-25.jpg)
and does not seem to have stood up to the ravages of time as well as the Giza group. Note that between the pyramids of Unas and Userkaf (founder of the 5th Dynasty) is the third dynasty step pyramid of Djoser.
A close up of the pyramid of Userkaf looks like a rubble pile.
![[Image: pyramid_97-3933-28.jpg]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=www.ancient-egypt.org%2F_v3d%2Ftopography%2Fsaqqara%2Fuserkaf%2Fpyramid_97-3933-28.jpg)
The 4th Dynasty king, Menkaure, who is traditionally given credit for building the smaller 3'd pyramid died c 2505 BC.
That pyramid remains an architectural marvel
![[Image: 5225465087_fd33739e33_b.jpg]](https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5167/5225465087_fd33739e33_b.jpg)
Whereas Userkaf ( who died a mere 15 years or so after Menkaure ) has a pyramid which today looks like a pile of shit. Could the techniques of pyramid construction have atrophied so quickly? It seems unlikely.
One last point on this. Between Menkaure and Userkaf were two minor rulers who eschewed pyramids and built mastabas for themselves. How would they have known that they were destined to be "minor" rulers? The whole point of being pharaoh is that everyone kisses your ass. No one is going to say "you don't have long to live...don't build anything grandiose!"
T'is a mystery and the bland assurances of Egyptologists are not very reassuring when you look at the rocks.
The passageways of the Giza Pyramids have less decoration than a modern subway (Tube, for the Brits) tunnel. Clearly, something happened between the 4th and 5th dynasties.
For the record, Unas' pyramid is at Saqqara:
and does not seem to have stood up to the ravages of time as well as the Giza group. Note that between the pyramids of Unas and Userkaf (founder of the 5th Dynasty) is the third dynasty step pyramid of Djoser.
A close up of the pyramid of Userkaf looks like a rubble pile.
The 4th Dynasty king, Menkaure, who is traditionally given credit for building the smaller 3'd pyramid died c 2505 BC.
That pyramid remains an architectural marvel
Whereas Userkaf ( who died a mere 15 years or so after Menkaure ) has a pyramid which today looks like a pile of shit. Could the techniques of pyramid construction have atrophied so quickly? It seems unlikely.
One last point on this. Between Menkaure and Userkaf were two minor rulers who eschewed pyramids and built mastabas for themselves. How would they have known that they were destined to be "minor" rulers? The whole point of being pharaoh is that everyone kisses your ass. No one is going to say "you don't have long to live...don't build anything grandiose!"
T'is a mystery and the bland assurances of Egyptologists are not very reassuring when you look at the rocks.
