Pyramid closes down

By Nevine El-Aref

"The closure is meant to protect the pyramid's interior against the consequences of daily visits," said Zahi Hawass, director of the Giza Plateau. Hawass said the air exhaled by the large number of people who visit the pyramid annually had led to humidity and salt encrustation that had contributed to the monument's deteriorating state. He said each visitor exhales about 20 grammes of vapour. From the combined effect of the humidity and salt, cracks have appeared in the pyramid's inner walls. "There are about 300 cracks in the walls of the grand gallery," Hawass added.

Under the restoration programme, the cracks will be repaired, the salt and graffiti will be cleaned away and a damaged staircase, leading to the king's burial chamber, will be replaced by one made of wood. A state-of-the-art ventilation system has been installed by French technicians. According to Hawass, the system activates the circulation of air inside the pyramid through two air vents that were installed near the original air shafts located on the northern and southern sides of the king's burial chamber. The ventilation system will work non-stop for the next five years.

"In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that the two shafts were meant as a way out for the king's soul. The northern shaft was to transport the soul to the after-life via the stars; the southern shaft by way of solar boats," Hawass said.

"A study will also be made to determine the reasons for the accumulation of salt and the increase in humidity in the walls of the first and second parts of the grand gallery," Hawass said.

A new lighting system will be installed in the king's burial chamber and along the corridors and passages leading to it.

The lower chamber, 100 metres below the pyramid, and its passageway, will also undergo restoration. Once work is completed, this chamber and another, incorrectly known as the queen's chamber, will be opened to visitors for the first time. Also opening are three out of the five "chambers of revelation," used by pharaohs -- and today by foreign visitors -- for meditation. Despite the decision to shut down the pyramid, meditators will continue to be allowed inside at night.

The pyramid will be re-opened to the public in January, said Gaballah Ali Gaballah, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA). Restoration work will then focus on Khafre's Pyramid.

A rotation system has been introduced to conserve the Giza monuments, Gaballah said. Every year, one pyramid will be shut down for restoration while two others will remain open to visitors. "Any pyramid may be endangered if it remains open day and night," said Hawass, adding that the monument's beauty is more visible from the outside.

The last time Khufu's Pyramid was closed was in 1993 when it was cleaned.