Here are some replies to your requests for further information

Ian, you wrote ... "My problem with Herodotus is that he was writing, what is it, nearly 2,000 years after Khufu's pyramid was built. I have trouble with contractors remembering my on-site instructions from day to day".

Please note Egyptian priests could read and write and ancient documents do exist about medicine, the volcanic explosion on Thera and many stories such as Sinbad the Sailor. Many ancient writings have been translated extremely well such as The Westcar Papyrus for instance. Hieroglyphic (God's marks) writing came first, from 3200 BC. Later, Priests developed a short form of Hieroglyphic writing called Hieratic (Sacred writing). As writing became widespread business writing developed from Hieratic called Demotic (People's writing). Hieroglyphic - Hieratic - Demotic. Ancient Egyptian Priests recorded history with pen and papyrus. Our word for paper is derived from the word papyrus. Having to remember history over a span of 2,000 years was never a requirement here.

I was sent an email telling me this ancient method is unsafe due to only one hoist rope being used. What if the rope breaks! Correct, if one hoist rope was used. There is evidence to suggest three pulleys were fitted to one Pyramid block, thus three hoist ropes were used. The evidence is by way of stone rope sheaves made for three ropes. These have been termed Bearing Stones. At least one stone triple rope sheave has been excavated close to Giza. This is all in the book and I strongly suggest people read the book first before jumping to their own conclusions.

Herodotus of Halicarnassus, a Greek and historian, visited Giza to speak with priests about history. Priests recorded history as part of their duties because they could read and write. Egyptian writing emerged in 3200 BC. Reports about Giza Pyramid constructions were recorded in stone around 2500 BC on Khufu's Great Pyramid, but lost through vandalisation. When Herodotus inquired about Giza Pyramid constructions at Giza c.450 BC, Egyptian writing had been in use for 2,750 years. To be civilised in the historical context is to have the means for writing and before that is pre-history. Egypt was civilised from 3200 BC, so there is no need to doubt Egyptian abilities for record keeping. Herodotus wrote on papyrus in classical Greek what he was told and this record of ancient Pyramid construction method has survived throughout the subsequent mass destructions of ancient Egyptian recorded history. This ancient method of Pyramid construction is the only method known to be workable and able to deliver within the recorded timeframe. Khufu's Great Pyramid was constructed within 20 years. Those who think Herodotus and/or the priests got it wrong should now be reconsidering, but perhaps their own modern comedies are at stake. Ramps are NOT mentioned in ancient Egyptian records. Ramp theories for Giza Pyramid constructions are a MODERN COMEDY of ERRORS as you can now see and understand for yourself.

Now that you understand the basic working principles of the pinion-pulley, consider the following. Mechanical Advantage is equal to Load divided by Effort. An average Pyramid block weighs 2500kg and with a Mechanical Advantage of 2.8 an Effort the equivalent of 900 kg will operate the pulley. As the pinion-pulley rolls onto a Pyramid step the required Effort is reducing very quickly to zero. Think of a wheelbarrow which is difficult to lift and tip at first, but progressively gets easier. The pinion-pulley may be considered as continuous and rotating wheelbarrows on a rope which keep rolling over, making positive engagements with Pyramid steps and tipped. Make reference here to the 'wheelbarrow illustration' on the HOME page. A maximum of Effort (equivalent to 900 kg) per tip is required for about TWO seconds and then rapidly falls to zero as the pinion-pulley rolls completely onto a Pyramid step, all its weigh now transferred onto the step. Now you will understand the blocks were raised not by brute force but by an intermittent sequence of two second pulses of maximum Effort equivalent to 900 kg. Six men can provide this Effort easily. Yes, I am telling you that six men can raise a Pyramid block to any height, because height is not an issue here. If you do not understand this please ask your Science Physics teacher to explain.

Raising Granite Beams over the King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. The largest of these beams has dimensions of 1.3m x 1.8m and is 8m long. Its estimated weight is approximately 60 tonnes or 60,000kg. Not a problem. Three pinion-pulleys can be fitted to one Pyramid block, so twenty four pinion-pulleys can be fitted to the eight metre long granite block. The Effort of 6 men is required to raise a 2500kg Pyramid block so how many men are required to provide Effort to raise a 60,000kg block of similar cross-section to the shorter Pyramid blocks? The larger load is twenty four times heavier, thus the number of men required is 24 times 6, equals 144 men. (24 x 6 = 144). Of course the pinion-pulley lobes for this very heavy load would be made from solid sections of tree trunks to withstand the load. Forty shiploads of 'Cedar of Lebanon' timber was imported into Egypt by Pharaoh Sneferu, Khufu's father. Sneferu built the RED Pyramid at Dahshur using the pinion-pulley.