Pyramidology
Encyclopedia : P : PY : PYR : Pyramidology
Pyramidology is a term used to refer to various pseudoscientific speculations regarding pyramids, which are alternative and run counter to the theories and evidence of archaeology, history, astronomy, and other fields of rigorous scientific enquiry. Most of these speculations deal in particular with the Egyptian pyramids, especially the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. However, "pyramidologists" also concern themselves with the monumental structures of pre-Columbian America (such as such as Teotihuacan the Mesoamerican Maya civilization, and the Inca of the South American Andes), and the temples of Southeast Asia.
The claims of pyramidology are regarded as pseudoscience by the scientific community at large, who regard their hypotheses as sensationalist, inaccurate and wholly deficient in empirical analysis and application of the scientific method. Even so, several writers whose speculative works consist of or use material of this nature have found a receptive audience among some sectors of the general public, and the sales of their books can be substantial.
The main types of pyramidological accounts involve one or more aspects which are :
- pseudoarchaeological: Theories that deny that the pyramids were built to serve as tombs; alternative explanations about the construction of the pyramids (for example the use of anti-gravity technology); and hypotheses that they were built by someone other than the historical Ancient Egyptians (e.g. Atlanteans, extra-terrestrials).
- numerological: Theories that the measurements of the Great Pyramid are esoterically significant, and their geometric measurements contain some encoded message.
- Pyramid power: Claims that pyramids as a geometrical shape contain supernatural powers.
History
John Taylor was an early pyramidologist, who attributed the construction of the Great Pyramid to Noah. He in turn influenced Charles Piazzi Smyth, who made numerous calculations on the pyramid, and attributed it's construction to the Hebrews (Whom he assimilated to the Hyksos dynasty), under the guidance of Melchizedek.
These theories were then integrated in the works (and prophecies) of Charles Taze Russell, who founded the Bible Student movement (most visible today in the Jehovah's Witnesses, though Russell's successor, Joseph F. Rutherford, denounced pyramidology as unscriptural so that modern Jehovah's Witnesses have little knowledge of Pyramidology).
See also
External links
- [Kevin Jackson, A Short History of Pyramidology]
- [American Institute of Pyramidology]
- [Pyramidology - a case of Science, Pseudo-science and religion]
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.