All we know about the Djed is that it was a sacred symbol that expressed endurance and stability, and was associated with Osiris as his 'backbone'. By the way, the Egyptians associated the backbone with courage, virility, and even male fertility since it was believed sperm was produced there (interestingly just like Islamic belief).
I've read the paper, and while it does make a compelling theory the problem is where exactly is the evidence that the Egyptians used hydraulic actuators in the form of djed pillars??
I know a lot of scholars especially in the field of archaeo-technology and engineering have shown that ancient peoples were indeed more advanced than many people think, but there are some who try to make the claim that they possessed sophisticated technology of which we have no evidence of.
In regards to construction of the pyramids, the problem is that the exact techniques used are unknown to us an all we can do is speculate. I do think that it is possible some sort of hydro-power was used in the moving of the blocks but I just question how sophisticated that power was.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
The force comes from the potential energy of the water in the Nile during the -8m flood, and also from the water that is delivered, for example, by a water ram to a height of 43 m from the water level in the Nile to the base of the pyramid. Study the drawings.
Posted by BrandonP (Member # 3735) on :
We'll have to keep digging to find evidence of hydraulic actuators in ancient Egypt. So far, the claim presented in the paper seems speculative rather than back by hard evidence. Physical remains of such a device by the Nile would be nice to come by.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
Sarcophagi from Saqqara were discovered only in the 19th century. Also, I believe that finding the elements of this actuator, especially the cylinder of a large segment - see the drawing - would then be a proof.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
First, I designed this actuator - I found an actuator with two cylinders on the Internet. To make it from granite, it would have to have a different construction - multi-segment. After drawing, I noticed that it is similar to pillar Djed.
Posted by the lioness, (Member # 17353) on :
A scene from the Hall of Osiris at Abydos which shows the raising of djed pillars, symbols of stability.
based on painting at Seti I tomb, watercolor illustration by Giovanni Battista Belzoni b. 1778
probably symbolizing Osiris here
Posted by Djehuti (Member # 6698) on :
^ Djed personified.
By the way does anyone know the hieroglyphic expression of the feminine form djedet which means "speech" or "wording"?
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
^ Hartum, do you have any physical evidence of such a device being used at all?
Posted by Ebony Allen (Member # 12771) on :
Many pictures of this symbol on google images kind of remind me of the pagoda temples of Asia.
Posted by Djehuti (Member # 6698) on :
^ The djed as an edifice more a pillar than a building.
I agree that IF it represents vertebrae it does so in a very stylistic way. There was even a whole ritual called 'Raising of the Djed'.
raising and adoration of the djed
Hatum's theory sounds interesting but the problem again is that we have no physical evidence of such devices.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
I designed this multi-segment granite actuator while I was researching how the pyramid of Cheops was built. I needed an actuator that was small in size and had great lifting power and that could be made of granite. This is how this actuator was created. It turned out that it is similar to the Djed symbol. This actuator obviously works. I have found no evidence that such an object or its components exist. I thought that such an actuator might not necessarily be buried but built into the wall so that it would be visible in a different position than that depicted in the Djed symbol when viewed from the side.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
quote:Originally posted by Ebony Allen: Many pictures of this symbol on google images kind of remind me of the pagoda temples of Asia.
Thank you, you are right. I just looked at these images
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
quote:Originally posted by Djehuti: ^ Hartum, do you have any physical evidence of such a device being used at all?
I designed this multi-segment granite actuator while I was researching how the pyramid of Cheops was built. I needed an actuator that was small in size and had great lifting power and that could be made of granite. This is how this actuator was created. It turned out that it is similar to the Djed symbol. This actuator obviously works. I have found no evidence that such an object or its components exist. I thought that such an actuator might not necessarily be buried but built into the wall so that it would be visible in a different position than that depicted in the Djed symbol when viewed from the side.
Posted by hartum (Member # 23696) on :
quote:Originally posted by Djehuti: ^ Hartum, do you have any physical evidence of such a device being used at all?
I designed this multi-segment granite actuator while I was researching how the pyramid of Cheops was built. I needed an actuator that was small in size and had great lifting power and that could be made of granite. This is how this actuator was created. It turned out that it is similar to the Djed symbol. This actuator obviously works. I have found no evidence that such an object or its components exist. I thought that such an actuator might not necessarily be buried but built into the wall so that it would be visible in a different position than that depicted in the Djed symbol when viewed from the side.
