11/11/11 pyramidology
From
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/11/egypt-pyramid-11-11-11_n_1087823.h
tml?ref=homepage>:
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Egypt Pyramid Closes Ahead Of 11/11/11
By BEN HUBBARD 11/11/11 08:21 AM ET AP
CAIRO -- Egypt's antiquities authority closed the largest of the Giza
pyramids Friday following rumors that groups would try to hold
spiritual ceremonies on the site at 11:11 A.M. on Nov. 11, 2011.
The authority's head Mustafa Amin said in a statement Friday that the
pyramid of Khufu, also known as Cheops, would be closed to visitors
until Saturday morning for "necessary maintenance."
The closure follows a string of unconfirmed reports in local media
that unidentified groups would try to hold "Jewish" or "Masonic" rites
on the site to take advantage of mysterious powers coming from the
pyramid on the rare date.
Amin called all reports of planned ceremonies at the site "completely
lacking in truth."
The complex's director, Ali al-Asfar, said Friday that an Egyptian
company requested permission last month to hold an event called "hug
the pyramid," in which 120 people would join hands around the ancient
burial structure.
The authority declined the request a week ago, al-Asfar said, but that
did not stop concerned Egyptians from starting internet campaigns to
prevent the event from taking place.
"It has been a big cause now on Facebook and Twitter for many people
to write about," al-Asfar said.
The closure was unrelated to the rumors, he said, adding that the
pyramid needed maintenance after the large number of visitors during
the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday last week.
The rest of the complex, which includes two other large pyramids,
numerous tombs and the Sphinx, remained open Friday, though security
appeared to be heavier than usual.
Dozens of police officers and soldiers were posted throughout the
complex. Some patrolled on camel-back. One soldier stood next to his
machine gun near a souvenir shop selling miniature pyramids.
Speaking by phone from the pyramids after 11:11 had passed, al-Asfar
said he'd seen nothing out of the ordinary.
"Everything is normal," he said. "The only thing different is the
closure of the Khufu pyramid."
Khufu is credited with building the Giza complex's largest pyramid,
now one of Egypt's main tourist attractions. Khufu founded the 4th
Dynasty around 2680 B.C. and ruled Egypt for 23 years.
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