THE TUNNELS FOUND IN FRONT OF THE LOWER TEMPLE OF KHAFRE
Before Khafre's lower temple once stood a modem limestone stage. It was built in 1960 for Om Kalthom, a famous Egyptian singer, for a grand celebration. Later Frank Sinatra, Pearl Bailey and even the Grateful Dead used the platform. Little did they know what was beneath them.
When the stage was removed this year as part of the conservation plan for the site, we found a limestone ramp in front of each entrance. The ramp is 40m long and slopes downwards to the East suggesting that a harbour may have existed here. Mud-brick walls abut each side of the ramp's end - perhaps the remains of a pylon. On the top of each ramp there are sockets for a door or a kiosk.
At the other end, near the temple, we found two tunnels, under each ramp. I believe that they once contained boats which the King as Horus symbolically used to control the two lands, Upper and Lower Egypt. The tunnels are similar to the boat pits of Unas. We also found evidence near the temple wall proving that the purification tent was set in front of the lower temple.
