THE PYRAMIDS of the COLD • Chapter 16 How the ancient Egyptians glorified the operation of the biosand filter into the Elephantine Triad: Khnum, Satis and Anuket

In summary: In the previous Chapter we’ve seen that god of the Nile Hapi was the glorification of the rainwater that was stored inside the King’s chamber, and that between that storage tank and the biosand filter was set some kind of valve for the control of the water supply of the filter; a biosand filter being only limited in its performance by a very fine control of the water supply (there is no need to control the outlet).

 We'll see here, that the annual inundation god of the Nile Hapi wasn't the One releasing its own waters from his cave (the cave being the glorification of the King’s chamber), but that it took the combined goddesses Satis and Anuket to accomplish the release of these waters. If these two goddesses were part of the Elephantine Triad along with god Khnum, it is because they are about the controlling valve, and of course we’ll see that Khnum is about the filter itself.

We'll see that because of his true nature of the glorification of a biosand filter, Khnum was indeed associated with drinking water, even if as the biosand filter of the Great Pyramid it wasn’t designed to produce water for drinking, but water with high microbial stability, the kind of water needed for an efficient evaporative cooling process, even today.

Finally, we'll see that ancient Egyptians used in Satis and Anuket the exact same active and inactive aspects in their metaphorical representation of the water supplying valve of a biosand filter: when Satis is described as ‘running like an arrow’ and releasing Hapi's waters, Anuket is described as a ‘vagina’ and is showing water plumes other her head.

"Desert elephant (Loxodonta africana) spraying sand on herself while guarding her sleeping baby. She has covered the baby with a branch". Damaraland, Namibia. Photograph by Charles J. Sharp

Operating diagram of the Great Pyramid of Khufu for the production of cold by flash-evaporation. Since the evaporation process required high microbial stability, as it does today, the ancient Egyptians used a biosand filter in the pyramid. This biosand filter was operated in a very small room, now completely forgotten by most people interested in the Great Pyramid, because this room, whose filter was removed during the shutdown procedure by the Egyptians, became the electrical room for the entire building. Of course, what remains of the biosand filter is the granite box known as 'Khufu's sarcophagus'.

The temples of the ancient island of Philae, now rebuilt on the Island of Agilkia; the red arrow is pointing to the Hadrian's Gate where is located the relief showing Hapi in his cave. Image by Gérard Ducher: "In the 1960s, every building was dismantled, and transported to the nearby island of Agilkia, situated on higher ground some 500 m away": https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=503180

Hadrian's Gate photograph: http://www.temples-egypte.net/philae/porteHadrien.html

16.01  The Elephantine Triad deciphering starts with Hapi's representation in the Isis Temple of Philae

To understand the Elephantine Triad, we first need to get back to Hapi, the god of the annual inundation of the Nile, and we'll start with his representation in the northern wall of the Hadrian's Gate, just next to Philae's Isis temple, now on the island of Agilkia.

Relief on the wall of the Hadrain's gate: http://www.temples-egypte.net/philae/hadrien/paroiNord/registreMilieu.html

16.02  Hapi and his cave are at ground level, not underwater

Academic interpretations of the relief showing Hapi pouring water in a 'cave" or "cavern', at the small Isis temple at Philae, which is a unique and extraordinary artistic representation of this god, is that he is supposed to be underwater and somehow 'creating' the waters of the inundation of the Nile. But it just can't be right, because as seen on the above image of the scene, the cave and the entire structure of piled up blocks above it, are in the exact same level than all the other gods in human shape: Hapi is at ground level, he is not underground or underwater. Both Hapi and his cave are actaully at ground level.

"Hapi (Ancient Egyptian: ḥʿpy) was the god of the annual flooding of the Nile in ancient Egyptian religion."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hapi_(Nile_god)

16.03  Hapi's cave being "under the Sun" confirms the idea that it is not underwater, nor it is underground

This idea that Hapi's cave is not located underground or underwater, is reinforced by some ancient Egyptian texts which are saying that Hapi lives in a cave 'never seen by anyone' and that this cave is 'under the sun'; but if the cave is under the sun, it clearly means that the cave is not underground nor it is underwater. If it has to be pointed out the fact that the cave cannot be seen by anyone, it is actually suggesting that it normally shouldn't be that way: no none would have to say that an underwater cave wouldn't be seen by anybody, it is just what is expected from such a cave. If it is clearly specified that the cave cannot be seen by anybody, it is not a cave, but some kind of structure specifically designed so that nobody would ever have to see or to get in.

"Hapi lives in the distant south, in a cave never seen by anyone under the sun and pours the water of the Nile from her/his carafes."  http://egyiptom.freeweb.hu/english/gods_hapi.html

Unique representation of god of the Nile Hapi, pouring water inside his 'cave' and 'protected bu a great snake' on a wall relief in the Hadrian's Gate, next to the Isis temple that was on the island of Philae. [photograph of Hapi] by Manon Y. Schutz:  https://twitter.com/manonyschutz/status/1349673443969658880

Original draw of the King's chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza: "Great Pyramid Passages and Chambers, Volume 1 (1910 edition). By John and Morton Edgar. The Edgars were associates of Charles Taze Russell and wrote this treatise in defense of Russell's views on the prophetic symbolism of the Great Pyramid of Gizeh in Egypt." https://archive.org/details/GreatPyramidPassagesVol11910Edition/page/n63/mode/1up

16.04  Hapi's cave is the King's chamber because Hapi is the water of the King's chamber

We’ve already seen that one of the animals that have been used the most in the glorification process made by ancient Egyptians is the snake; these guys used the snake other and other again, as representations of ropes or water mostly, like with the great serpent Apep (Apophis), the glorification of the waters of the inclined well, pressurized by the fall of the impactor. Here, with Hapi, this is another great snake that accompanies Hapi; academic interpretations of the scene is that the snake is protecting Hapi; but this is not what is happening here: Hapi simply is the snake itself, they are both the glorification of the waters in the cave. Look closely, and you will see Hapy ‘pouring’ water directly onto the snake; this is the ancient Egyptian way of saying that the snake is made of water.

And if you look closely to the draw of the King’s chamber, you’ll note that the shape that is taking the snake is exactly the shape of the King’s chamber, including the little passage leading to the antechamber.

In short, Hapi and the snale really are the water in the King's chamber, and the shape the cave and the snake are taking are the shape of the King's chamber. This is what all this part of the relief is really all about; the water in the King's chamber that was a storage tank.

[photograph by Manon Y. Schutz] https://x.com/ManonYSchutz/status/1349673443969658880/photo/2

Relief of King Sobekhotep III (Dynast 13), at the Brooklyn Museum, showing the two goddesses Satis (on the left) and Anuket (on the right). "This relief depicts Sobekhotep III offering vessels to the goddesses Satis and Anukis (left and right, respectively). This was a common motif of temple decoration. The king, who theoretically conducts the cult’s rituals in every temple every day, offers to deities who in turn bless him and, through him, Egypt. Both goddesses extend to the king three “life” hieroglyphs (the ankh)."     https://d1lfxha3ugu3d4.cloudfront.net/images/opencollection/objects/size4/77.194_SL1.jpg

16.05  Goddess Satis is the One "pouring Hapi out of his cave": Satis is releasing the waters

What is fascinating with Hapi and the waters of the Nile thing, is that the only representation of the god we have 'in situation' is showing him in his 'cave', holding the two vases as representations of the two underwater rivers and the two spring holes, but that's it, there is nothing more: Hapi is simply represented in his cave and he stays in his cave. In other words, Hapi's realm is that cave: the King's chamber.

And if it wasn't for another deity, goddess Satis, Hapi's waters would have stayed inside the cave: Satis is the One who is "pouring" and releasing Hapi's waters. Of course what it means is of extreme importance, because it tells us that the water from the King’s chamber storage had to pass through ‘Satis’ in order to exit the chamber. We’re gonna see now, what Satis really is about, and what is also the other goddess of the Elephantine triad all about. But you’ve certainly already guessed that both Satis and Anuket are about some kind of valve.

“Satis the Great, the Lady of Sunu (Syene), the Eye of Ra, the Lady of the Sky, Queen of all the Gods, Rayt (/Raet, the female counterpart of Ra), the Great One in Senmet (Abaton, the highly sacred island of Osiris, located close to Philae), She Who pours Hapy (the Nile God) out of His cave, to give the Life to the Two Lands”  https://www.facebook.com/AmentetNeferetEgyptianReligion/posts/sati-the-great-onethe-lady-of-sunu-syene-aswanthe-eye-of-rathe-lady-of-the-skyqu/3687454131283273/

16.06  Anuket was compared to a vagina and was known as "She Who embrace"

Anuket is another goddess in whom ancient Egyptians projected sexual metaphors about her true nature, i.e. the inactive part of the controlling valve of the King's chamber; probably the most accurate metaphor about Anuket is comparing her with a "vagina", but the reference to "embrace" or "suckling" are almost as good: that is a 'mouth' that is 'embracing'.

"Her name means “embrace” and may have originally referred the embrace of the waters of the inundation. She was also depicted suckling the pharaoh during the New Kingdom, and became a goddess of lust during later periods. In this form, she gained association with cowrie shells, which resemble the vagina. The Festival of Anuket was held when the inundation began. People threw coins, gold, jewelry, and precious gifts into the Nile to please the goddess." https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/anuket/

Illustration of the stabilizing spin that gives precision to an arrow. “There are at least 12 modes of movement associated with arrow flight (thanks to Martin Speakman, national coach for the diagram)”: https://www.meta-synthesis.com/archery/archery.html

16.07  Satis 'Who runs like an arrow' is because of the stabilizing spin that is given to the arrow: it is the depiction of how worked the valve supplying water to the biosand filter with a worm gear

Now, this Chapter is really getting interesting. We've seen that Hapi represents water which is imprisoned inside a structure which is the King's chamber of  the Great Pyramid, and that this is goddess Satis of the Elephantine Triad who is the one actually releasing these waters. We also know that not only Satis is said to be releasing the waters contained in Hapi's cave, but she is also described as "running like an arrow". I don't know about you, but when I hear this, I immediately think of the functioning of a valve, with its moving part which is controlling the flow of water getting out of a water tank.

If you've already seen previous Chapters about Isis and Nephthys, Wadjet and Nekhbet, or Osiris himself who was seen both as the "Great inert", "asleep" and "lethargic", and as the one who gave all his energy, force and power to Ra, you are already familiar with the fact that ancient Egyptians loved to emphasize both active and inactive ways of describing things.

Tap water draws showing the active part of the valve (the 'stem') and the inactive part of the valve (the 'seat'). "Compression valves, also known as multi-turn valves, are usually globe valves. They feature a stem with a rubber washer on the end, which is attached to the valve handle. When turned, the stem moves into the cavity of the valve, compressing the washer against the internal seat and forming a seal."  Source: https://www.plumbingsupply.com/compression-vs-quarter-turn-stops.html

16.08  Satis: "She who Shoots" and "She who Pours" [water]

In a valve, you do have both active and inactive parts; and this dual vision of the functioning of a valve, with the mobile part and the fixed part, has been glorified into the two goddesses of the Elephantine Triad, Satis and Anuket. If Satis is the active part 'She, who runs like an arrow' of the releasing valve of the waters of the King's chamber, her counterpart Anuket 'She, who looks like a vagina' is about the inactive part: the one through which is passing the flow of water.

"The exact pronunciation of Egyptian is often uncertain since vowels were not recorded until a very late period. In transcription, the goddess's name also appears as Setis, Sati, Setet, Satet, Satit, and Sathit. Derived from sṯ, meaning "eject", "shoot", "pour", or "throw", her name can be variously translated as "She who Shoots" or "She who Pours" depending on which of her roles is being emphasized." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satis_(goddess)

"Her name was originally written with the hieroglyph for a linen garment's shoulder knot (S29); this was later replaced by Anuket's animal hide pierced by an arrow (F29). She was also known by epithets, such as "Mistress of Elephantine" and "She Who Runs Like an Arrow", thought to refer to the flowing river current."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satis_(goddess)

[worm gear operated ball valve illustration] “Worm Gear operated ball valves are the suitable option for reducing the operation torque. Worm gear operators create a mechanical advantage in torque, which reduces the amount of work or number of turns required to cycle a ball valve.” Source: https://www.reliavalve.com/worm-gear-operated-ball-valve.html

16.09  The Anuket 'vagina' pierced by the Satis 'running arrow'

Once you have deciphered Satis and Anuket separately, it becomes easy to understand the way they were supposed to interact: Satis 'running like an arrow' was supposed to 'pierce' into the Anuket 'vagina'; and that is the perfect metaphoric representation of the functioning of a stem and seat system valve. What runs like an arrow is something that only move straight but is spinning at the same time, and its about how you open and close a tap water valve.

"Her name was originally written with the hieroglyph for a linen garment's shoulder knot (S29); this was later replaced by Anuket's animal hide pierced by an arrow (F29). She was also known by epithets, such as "Mistress of Elephantine" and "She Who Runs Like an Arrow", thought to refer to the flowing river current."  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satis_(goddess)

The two Goddesses Anuket-Anukis [at left] pouring water from two water-jars, and Satet-Satis [at right] on their sacred lotus-boat; detail from the ceiling of the Hypostyle Hall of the Temple of Hathor at Iunet:  https://www.facebook.com/AmentetNeferetEgyptianReligion/posts/sati-the-great-onethe-lady-of-sunu-syene-aswanthe-eye-of-rathe-lady-of-the-skyqu/3687454131283273/

16.10  Satis "Who runs like an arrow" + Anuket "Who looks like a vagina" = the release of Hapi's water

Draw of the goddess Anuket by Jeff Dahl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anuket#/media/File:Anuket.svg

Emblem of Anuket, discovered in the Satis temple at Elephantine, currently at the Louvre Museum "Emblème d'Anouket, -1295 / -1186(?) XIXe dynastie. Lieu de découverte: Cachette (Éléphantine, Temple de Satet)": https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010007003

Bes amulet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New-York: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/548299

16.11  Anuket's "plumes" are water plumes (just like Bes)

If active Satis can be compared to the moving stem of a modern valve, inactive Anuket "She who looks like a vagina" would be the cavity of the valve. In other words, when Satis moved, water could pass through Anuket; and this is why Anuket has plumes over the head just like Bes:

• when the wedging block Bes broke at the bottom of the inclined well, the anchoring of the Taweret block stopped, Taweret moved and all the waters of the well escaped through a drain hole that was set underneath Bes and Taweret

• when the arrow-like Satis moved, the water could pass through the Anuket body of the valve and get into the biosand filter, and Anuket has been represented with water plumes other the head, just like Bes.

"Sobekhotep III worshipping Satet (left) and Anuket (right). The central hole was made when the relief was used as a grinding stone, long after the original carving. Now on display at the Brooklyn Museum". Photograph by Keith Schengili-Roberts:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobekhotep_III

Water tap from:  https://www.wonkeedonkeetools.co.uk/tap-reseaters/what-is-a-tap-reseater

16.12  The central hole on the Brooklyn Museum relief was (most probably) for a water tap

Once you have understood the real meaning of the Elephantine triad, and the exceptional role played by water and its mandatory valve that comes with the biosand filter of the Great Pyramid, or in the everyday life water tap Egyptians used all the time at home, more beautiful decipherings can be made. Here, it is about the above relief of King Sobekhotep III; it is said that "the central hole was made when the relief was used as a grinding stone, long after the original carving". But apart from the hole itself, there is no other part damaged; would it be possible it was really used as a "grinding stone"?

Could this hole rather be explained by the true meaning of the scene, i.e. the distribution of water? Personally, I would think that this relief was actually the plaque in which was installed a water tap, with a water tank right behind it, or a simple water pipe. After all, if both Satis and Anuket are responsible for releasing Hapi's water, and Sobekhotep III is presenting water jars, the only missing part is the water tap so that Sobekhotep III can fill up his jars.

Draw of Khnum by Jeff Dahl: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khnum#/media/File:Khnum.svg

Ram fighting thanks to Brahim Djelloul Mustapha: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ram_fighting

16.13  The Elephantine Triad: Khnum + Satis + Anuket

We've seen that both Satis and Anuket were the deifications of the valve which controlled the release of the water that was in the King's chamber water storange tank; but these two deities aren't generally separated from another water god, Khnum, the main deity of the Elephantine Triad and one of the most important gods of all times in ancient Egypt. Khnum was so important that the full name of pharaoh Khufu, was actually Khnum-Khufu.

16.14  Khnum and the ramming metaphor is about earth ramming

I didn't know what to think of Khnum for a very long time, because of his ram head: for me, the ram metaphor was about the impactor ramming into the waters of the inclined well, but obviously, Khnum didn't fit the profile of any aspect of the impactor. Khnum is a water god, and water ramming into water didn't make any sense. But then, I remembered the mistake I've been doing about snakes: at the beginning of the study I thought they were only the glorification of the pressurized water like Apep or Atum, but I know now that ancient Egyptians used every single particular aspect of every animal they could to represent metaphorically every single aspect of their work.

In other words, one single animal can be used not only in one but in many ways: snakes can be about water or ropes (like Wadjet). The thing is that the ram metaphor used with Khnum, is kind of a hybrid one: it really is about ramming, but it is not about the water. The ram metaphor about Khnum is about ramming the earth, and it is because Khnum is the deification of the biosand filter of the Great Pyramid. A sand filter, or a biosand filter, is after all nothing less than a "earth filter", where earth, sand and gravels are carefully put into the filter "box".

From a distance both sand and biosand filters look the same, the only difference is that the biosand filter does have a thin layer of living microorganisms which are feeding with most of pathogens that may be present in the water to be filtered. This living layer makes a great difference in the operation of an evaporative cooling system because it reduces drastically the risk of contamination, and makes the entire process way safer than what would do a simple sand filter.

16.15  The rammed earth metaphor and the sand of a sand filter

We've seen that this is Satis who is supposed to let the waters of the Nile out of Hapi's cave, but the control of the flood doesn't stop with Satis; there is another "guardian of the flood", and that is Khnum: "The guardian of this flood was Khnemu, and it was he who kept the doors that held it in, and who drew back the bolts at the proper time."

Khnum was a water god because the biosand filter is producing drinking quality water: the ram metaphor is about rammed earth used by a potter into a mold. This is why Khnum was called the "Great Potter". The earth used by the Great Potter Khnum is actually about the sand of the filter, inside its mold.

"On being told that its waters, the source of all good things, came from a double cavern, which was compared to twin breasts, the king decided to visit the Nile god who watched over the river and emerged at the time of the flood. The gatekeeper of the flood was Khnum God, who guarded the doors that kept the water in and then, at the right moment, threw open the doors to let the floods loose on the land." https://www.egy-king.com/2021/08/egyptian-god-of-water-khnum.html

The Auroville Earth Institute (AVEI) is a non-profit organization specializing in the research, development, promotion and transfer of earth-based building technologies, among the most cost effective, low carbon, low embodied energy solutions for sustainable development. https://www.earth-auroville.com/sre_foundations_en.php

16.16  Rammed Earth requires 70% sand in the soil, and 30% of clay

"Rammed earth, building material made by compacting certain soils, used by many civilizations. The most durable of the earth-building forms, rammed earth may be used for making building blocks or for constructing whole walls in place, layer by layer. In making building blocks, the soil is rammed into a box-shaped mold. In building up whole walls, two wooden planks separated by a spacer bolt are used as a form, and the earth is rammed into this in layers; when the form is filled, it is removed and superimposed on the top of the wall and more earth is rammed in until the desired height is reached. Ironheaded rammers, roller-mounted forms, pneumatic rammers, and hydraulic, mass-production block presses have been used. The soil used must be high in sand and low in clay, 70 percent and 30 percent being the usual proportions. About 10 percent water is added in modern practice. Good compressive strength is characteristic of rammed earth."  https://www.britannica.com/technology/rammed-earth

Ancient Egyptian water god Khnum as Cnouphis-Nilus (Jupiter-Nilus, Dieu Nil), N372.2, at the Brooklyn Museum. Draw by Léon-Jean-Joseph Dubois: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khnum#/media/File:Cnouphis-Nilus_(Jupiter-Nilus,_Dieu_Nil),_N372.2.jpg

"Ram Pokherai drinks clean water from his family's biosand filter. Clean water helps children stay healthy, which means they are less likely to need time away from school, so their education improves. Providing clean water has important knock-on effects." Courtesy of Editorial, Humanitarian & Travel Photographer Gavin Gough: https://www.gavingough.com/clean-water-in-rural-nepal  Images from this assignment are being used to raise awareness of the important work that Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology, CAWST is doing, providing the resources and education required for reliable clean water supplies in rural areas. https://www.cawst.org/

16.17  Khnum is indeed associated with potable potent water

Not only it is known that Khnum ensured that the "right amount of silt" was released in the waters of the Nile during the inundation [1], which can be interpreted as the right amount of sand and its proper layout inside the filter, but it turns out that Khnum is indeed associated with drinking water [2]. Of course, the only way that the waters of the inundation of the Nile could be associated with drinking water, is that you somehow purify that water. It means that Khnum is really about water filtration.

[1]: "The Egyptians believed that he was the guardian of the source of the Nile who was originally a Nile god, but who became a helper of Hapi. His role changed from river god to the one who made sure that the right amount of silt was released into the water during the inundation. In working with the silt, the very soil that the ancient Egyptian potters used, he became the great potter who not only molded men and women, but who molded the gods themselves and the world." http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/khnum.htm

[2]: There is an excerpt that is talking about the fact that Khnum is not associated with any kind of water, but with potable water. Source: Ember Elektra  http://chthonickore.blogspot.com/2020/07/hes-magic-man.html

"His [Khnum] name in hieroglyphics also points to his early role as a water god. In hieroglyphics "Khnum" is written with a "water jug" pictogram representing the phonogram ẖnm (khnum). As a primeval god, this water jug is a symbol of greater importance than it may first appear. Remember the heavens themselves were described and imagined as water/s and the gods were shown traveling these "waters" in barques. The Milky Way was sometimes described as the "Nile in the sky." So the dramas that played out in the sky with the sun and stars were reflective and analogous of happenings below on earth. Just as the importance of the fertile fresh waters of the Nile were known to the Egyptians to be essential for abundance and life, so too, the gift of water from heaven was understood as it pertained to the spiritual life and provided life and health to the body.

Not all water/drink is equal, however. Water can be stagnant or fresh. The best water is that which is the cause of health, fertility, rejuvenation, and life. This water of life or living water is a gift. Khnum represented the powers of these potent regenerative waters of life supplied to the world in the form of this vessel or pot.

Potent is from Latin potentem (nominative potens) "powerful," present participle of *potere "be powerful, able, capable." Khnum was most definitely then a Potere (powerful) Potter and pater ("father" in Latin) of the gods and humans. The ultimate PIE root of potent is said to be *poti- "powerful; lord". These potent waters are most potable as well. Potable is not immediately and obviously connected to this concept of "potent" itself. It comes from a word meaning "to drink". Potable is from Old French potable (14c.), and directly from Late Latin potabillis "drinkable," from Latin potare "to drink" (from PIE root *po(i)- "to drink").

We see a noun form of the word potare "to drink" used here in the Vulgate, caro enim mea vere est cibus et sanguis meus vere est potus [for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.] John 6:56. It's not crazy to think that these concepts are somehow related, however, namely the symbol of the potent potter, i.e., a pot (of sorts), and what is in the pot, i.e., drink (potus); potent, pot, potable. Khnum is a Poti (Powerful Lord) of the powerful/potent potus (drink). 

The etymology of the word "pot" is said to be of uncertain origin, however. Nevertheless the concept of pot (a thing which holds liquid/drink) and drink (potare/potus) in this case are easily related in their association with this god (Khnum). The fact that the Divine Potter is intimately connected to both a vessel (pot) and water (and remember the hieroglyph for water [three wavy lines] also can have the meaning "to drink") lead to the consideration that the word "pot" and certain words for drink might ultimately be connected to the notion of things related to this powerful/potent god."  http://chthonickore.blogspot.com/2020/07/hes-magic-man.html

16.18  The distinction between "potable" and "drinking" water

It is also interesting to note that if "potent" is about "potable" water, it doesn't imply that this water is meant to be "drinking" water: it is just saying that you can drink it; and that its purity is so good that you can drink it, even if it is not supposed to be drunk at all. And that is the perfect description of the quality of the water produced by the biosand filter of the Great Pyramid.

Granite shrines "boxes" in the Temple of Khnum, Elephantine island (Aswan, Egypt): http://www.sacredsitesjourneys.com/Egypt-PhotoGallery-3.htm

16.19  The Elephantine granite "shrines"

Now that we have deciphered the Elephantine triad, and in particular the extraordinary role of Khnum, as the glorification of a biosand filter, something like 4,500 years ago, it is something else we can understand: the famous granite boxes, called 'shrines' by egyptologists. Because they simply aren't shrines at all; or let's say that their true meaning has nothing to do with 'shrines': they are the 'molds' of the biosand filters used by ancient Egyptians. Or maybe they only are the glorification of such filters.

Maybe the arrow-like pointy end of the boxes is referring to the active Satis "running like an arrow" reference.

[illustration] Concrete biosand filter, Kumbo, Cameroon: https://www.akvopedia.org/wiki/Concrete_Biosand_Filter

There is a very interesting video, with people inside one of the granite boxes that is about 2 meters deep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhWiUad1gOQ

Elephant spraying water, Sanctuary for Rescued Elephants in Pattaya, Thailand: pattayaelephantsanctuary.org/gallery/

16.20  Do you see the elephant's trunk?

I don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned the fact that ancient Egyptians were very, very facetious each time they could, and there is another example here with the trunk of the elephant. Of course, I have no idea how exactly was designed the outlet of the Egyptian biosand filter, did they use stone, wood or metal I don’t know; but what we do know is that today every single biosand filter, at least the ones find in family homes, have a plastic tube that goes from the very bottom of the filter to its top, before getting back down to the storage water tank of clean water.

I just hope that everybody is seeing the metaphor of the elephant’s trunk!

“BioSand filtration uses a combination of biological and mechanical processes to dramatically reduce the leading causes of disease and death in the developing world including diarrhea, skin and urinary tract infections”. TripleQuest: https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:HydrAid%C2%AE_BioSand_Water_Filter.jpg

Elephant spraying water at the Sanctuary for Rescued Elephants in Pattaya, Thailand: https://www.pattayaelephantsanctuary.org/gallery/

Desert elephant (Loxodonta africana) spraying sand on herself while guarding her sleeping baby. She has covered the baby with a branch. Damaraland, Namibia. Photograph by Charles J. Sharp:  https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89l%C3%A9phant_du_d%C3%A9sert#/media/Fichier:Desert_elephant_(Loxodonta_africana)_spraying_sand.jpg

16.21  Not only the outlet tube of a biosand filter looks like just the trunk of an elephant, but the elephant itself is directly associated with both earth and water

Many hypothesis are trying to explain why the elephant has been associated with the Khnum, Satis and Anuket Triad by naming Elephantine Island just like it is, but when you know that this Triad is all about a sand filter, that is purifying water, simply using earth, the elephant metaphor becomes perfect because an elephant spraying water or earth on himself is without any doubt the first image that comes to mind about an elephant. So, which one of the metaphors about the elephant was considered at the time of the ancient Egyptians as the most important of all, between the outlet of the filter that resembles to the elephant's trunk and the earth and water 'appetite' of the elephant, I'll point without any hesitation to the elephant's trunk; but this is just my opinion.

[image of Young Ramesses]: https://fr.pinterest.com/pin/169659110935222981/

16.22  The false beard finally resolved?

It is only today, April 21, 2025 that I may have finally understood one of the most iconic symbol of ancient Egypt: the false beard, and it came from the above image of a biosand filter in Kumbo, Cameroon. Consider the filter as a human being, and you will see the beard.

Does it makes sense that the pharaoh’s false beard is only the glorification of what is giving clean and potable water for drinking or experimenting in chemistry and physics? Of course, the answer is YES. This really is something ancient Egyptians could have done. The message is clear to the people: “I, pharaoh master of the magic science, I can provide Your drinking water”!

[Source image]: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/65/fe/f0/65fef06826d4663ed468653119a370b9.jpg

Preface

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Table of contents

Operating diagrams of the Great Pyramid

Timelines

Index