Architectural Ceiling Types and Pressure-Relief Techniques in Chambers and Corridors of Ancient Egyptian Royal Pyramids

The research discusses the architectural styles of ceilings of corridors and chambers within the main pyramids of kings, excluding queen and Ka pyramids, from the beginning of the Third Dynasty to the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty. These ceilings have been classified into four architectural styles. The study examines the architectural methods used to carry, resist, and relieve pressure on the ceilings of those corridors and chambers within the royal pyramids. These methods had varied over twelve hundred years and had demonstrated the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptian architect in addressing the problem of pressure and weight on the ceiling. Some were designed in specific ways and made from strong materials to sometimes carry thousands of tons, while other ceilings were designed with different techniques and more solid materials to endure millions of tons. Despite all precautions, some architects occasionally failed, leading to cracks in the walls and ceilings of some pyramids. They did not give up and attempted to use other methods to solve these problems and made the ceiling capable of carrying and resisting pressure. They often employed more than one method in a single pyramid to ensure their effectiveness and achieve the desired goal.