Two men are apparently convinced the cartouche identifying Khufu as the creator of the Great Pyramid at Giza is a fake, and hoped to do an analysis on the pigments to prove they were not as old as the pyramids themselves, according to IBT.com.
Dominique Goerlitz and Stefan Erdmann, were joined by a third German, a filmmaker who accompanied them to document their "discoveries," IBT.com reported.
The men claimed pharaoh Khufu simply put his name on the pyramids and took credit for them, IBT.com reported.
The men claim the pyramids had been built thousands of years earlier by people from the legendary city of Atlantis and even though admit to vandalizing the ancient ruins said it was purpose, according to IBT.com.
They accuse mainstream archaeologists of covering up and willfully ignoring evidence pointing to non-Egyptian origins of the pyramids, IBT.com reports.
The men reportedly took several items from the pyramids, including taking samples of the identifying inscription of the pharaoh Khufu, also known as Cheops, according to IBT.com.
Goerlitz and Erdmann are not archaeologists and are described as "hobbyists," IBT.com reported. The men allegedly smuggled the artifacts out of the country in violation of strict antiquities laws, according to news reports.
Gorlitz is a motivational speaker, while Erdmann is an author who writes about a broad range of conspiracy theories, including Hitler and the Freemasons, IBT.com reported. Some have hailed the men as heroes online, in what they have maintained is a brave, yet illegal act.
Beside the three german men, six Egyptians are also being held in connection with the case, including several guards and inspectors from the Egyptian Antiquities Ministry who allowed the men into the pyramid, according to IBT.com.
By chipping away segments of the ancient item, Gorlitz and Erdmann hoped to gain access to the pigment and identify how old the cartouche is, and if it really does depict the name of the pharaoh Khufu, IBT.com reported.
