pyramids of egypt essay

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Who were the pyramids of Giza built for?

What do the pyramids of giza represent, what’s inside the pyramids of giza, how did the egyptians build the pyramids, can you go inside or climb the pyramids of giza.

Pyramids of Giza

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The pyramids of Giza were royal tombs built for three different pharaohs. The northernmost and oldest pyramid of the group was built for Khufu (Greek: Cheops), the second king of the 4th dynasty. Called the Great Pyramid, it is the largest of the three. The middle pyramid was built for Khafre (Greek: Chephren), the fourth of the eight kings of the 4th dynasty. The southernmost and last pyramid to be built was that of Menkaure (Greek: Mykerinus), the fifth king of the 4th dynasty. It is 218 feet (66 metres) high, significantly smaller than the pyramids of Khufu (481.4 feet [147 metres]) and Khafre (471 feet [143 metres]).

Historians continue to debate about the ancient Egyptians’ use of the pyramid form for the royal tombs at Giza and in funerary sites elsewhere. Several theories have been proposed about what the form represents: the pyramid may function as a stairway for the pharaoh’s ka to reach the heavens, it could refer to the ancient mound of creation , or it might symbolize sunrays spreading to the earth.

The pyramids of Giza are mostly solid masses of stone with very little to be found inside. Like many ancient Egyptian pyramids, those of Khafre and Menkaure have passageways at their base that lead to small subterranean burial chambers underneath each pyramid. Khufu’s pyramid also has underground tunnels, but the burial chamber is located in the centre of the structure, accessible via a climb up a tight interior passageway. Contrary to what one might expect, there are no hieroglyphic texts , treasures, or mummies in any of pyramids of Giza. Decoration inside pyramids began several centuries after those of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure were constructed. Moreover, any treasure would have been plundered in ancient and medieval times —a fate that likely affected the bodies of the kings, which have never been found.

The question of how the pyramids were built has not received a wholly satisfactory answer. The most plausible one is that the Egyptians employed a sloping and encircling embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and length as the pyramid rose; stone blocks were hauled up the ramp by means of sledges , rollers, and levers. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus , the Great Pyramid took 20 years to construct and demanded the labour of 100,000 men. This figure is believable given the assumption that these men, who were agricultural labourers, worked on the pyramids only (or primarily) while there was little work to be done in the fields—i.e., when the Nile River was in flood. By the late 20th century, however, archaeologists had found evidence that a more limited workforce may have occupied the site on a permanent rather than a seasonal basis. It was suggested that as few as 20,000 workers, with accompanying support personnel (bakers, physicians, priests, etc.), would have been adequate for the task.

The interiors of all three pyramids of Giza are open to visitors, but each requires the purchase of a separate ticket. Although tourists were once able to freely climb the pyramids, that is now illegal. Offenders face up to three years in prison as penalty. In 2016 a teenage tourist was banned from visiting Egypt for life after posting photos and videos on social media of his illicit climb.

Pyramids of Giza , three 4th- dynasty (c. 2575–c. 2465 bce ) pyramids erected on a rocky plateau on the west bank of the Nile River near Al-Jīzah (Giza) in northern Egypt . In ancient times they were included among the Seven Wonders of the World . The ancient ruins of the Memphis area, including the Pyramids of Giza, Ṣaqqārah , Dahshūr , Abū Ruwaysh , and Abū Ṣīr , were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

The designations of the pyramids—Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure—correspond to the kings for whom they were built. The northernmost and oldest pyramid of the group was built for Khufu (Greek: Cheops), the second king of the 4th dynasty . Called the Great Pyramid , it is the largest of the three, the length of each side at the base averaging 755.75 feet (230 metres) and its original height being 481.4 feet (147 metres). The middle pyramid was built for Khafre (Greek: Chephren), the fourth of the eight kings of the 4th dynasty; the structure measures 707.75 feet (216 metres) on each side and was originally 471 feet (143 metres) high. The southernmost and last pyramid to be built was that of Menkaure (Greek: Mykerinus), the fifth king of the 4th dynasty; each side measures 356.5 feet (109 metres), and the structure’s completed height was 218 feet (66 metres). All three pyramids were plundered both internally and externally in ancient and medieval times. Thus, the grave goods originally deposited in the burial chambers are missing, and the pyramids no longer reach their original heights because they have been almost entirely stripped of their outer casings of smooth white limestone; the Great Pyramid, for example, is now only 451.4 feet (138 metres) high. That of Khafre retains the outer limestone casing only at its topmost portion. Constructed near each pyramid was a mortuary temple , which was linked via a sloping causeway to a valley temple on the edge of the Nile floodplain. Also nearby were subsidiary pyramids used for the burials of other members of the royal family.

Khufu’s pyramid is perhaps the most colossal single building ever erected on the planet. Its sides rise at an angle of 51°52′ and are accurately oriented to the four cardinal points of the compass. The Great Pyramid’s core is made of yellowish limestone blocks, the outer casing (now almost completely gone) and the inner passages are of finer light-coloured limestone, and the interior burial chamber is built of huge blocks of granite. Approximately 2.3 million blocks of stone were cut, transported, and assembled to create the 5.75-million-ton structure, which is a masterpiece of technical skill and engineering ability. The internal walls as well as those few outer-casing stones that still remain in place show finer joints than any other masonry constructed in ancient Egypt .

The entrance to the Great Pyramid is on the north side, about 59 feet (18 metres) above ground level. A sloping corridor descends from it through the pyramid’s interior masonry, penetrates the rocky soil on which the structure rests, and ends in an unfinished underground chamber. From the descending corridor branches an ascending passageway that leads to a room known as the Queen’s Chamber and to a great slanting gallery that is 151 feet (46 metres) long. At the upper end of this gallery, a long and narrow passage gives access to the burial room proper, usually termed the King’s Chamber. This room is entirely lined and roofed with granite. From the chamber two narrow shafts run obliquely through the masonry to the exterior of the pyramid; it is not known whether they were designed for a religious purpose or were meant for ventilation. Above the King’s Chamber are five compartments separated by massive horizontal granite slabs; the likely purpose of these slabs was to shield the ceiling of the burial chamber by diverting the immense thrust exerted by the overlying masses of masonry.

The question of how the pyramids were built has not received a wholly satisfactory answer. The most plausible one is that the Egyptians employed a sloping and encircling embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and in length as the pyramid rose; stone blocks were hauled up the ramp by means of sledges, rollers, and levers. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus , the Great Pyramid took 20 years to construct and demanded the labour of 100,000 men. This figure is believable given the assumption that these men, who were agricultural labourers, worked on the pyramids only (or primarily) while there was little work to be done in the fields—i.e., when the Nile River was in flood. By the late 20th century, however, archaeologists found evidence that a more limited workforce may have occupied the site on a permanent rather than a seasonal basis. It was suggested that as few as 20,000 workers, with accompanying support personnel (bakers, physicians, priests, etc.), would have been adequate for the task.

To the south of the Great Pyramid near Khafre’s valley temple lies the Great Sphinx . Carved out of limestone, the Sphinx has the facial features of a man but the body of a recumbent lion; it is approximately 240 feet (73 metres) long and 66 feet (20 metres) high. ( See sphinx .)

In 1925 a pit tomb containing the transferred burial equipment of Khufu’s mother, Queen Hetepheres , was discovered near the upper end of the causeway of Khufu. At the bottom of a deep stone-filled shaft was found the queen’s empty sarcophagus, surrounded by furniture and articles of jewelry attesting to the high artistic ability and technical perfection of the 4th-dynasty craftsmen.

Surrounding the three pyramids are extensive fields of flat-topped funerary structures called mastabas ; arranged in a grid pattern, the mastabas were used for the burials of relatives or officials of the kings. Besides the core mastabas of the 4th dynasty, numerous mastabas from the 5th and 6th dynasties (c. 2465–c. 2150 bce ) have been found around and among the earlier structures.

In the late 1980s and ’90s, excavations in the environs of the pyramids revealed labourers’ districts that included bakeries, storage areas, workshops , and the small tombs of workers and artisans. Mud sealings seem to date the workshop areas to the late 4th dynasty. The tombs range from simple mud-brick domes to more-elaborate stone monuments. Statuettes were found within some of the structures; hieroglyphic inscriptions on tomb walls occasionally identify the deceased.

The Pyramids of Egypt

This essay will provide an overview of the pyramids of Egypt, focusing on their historical significance, construction methods, and cultural importance. It will explore the architectural ingenuity behind these ancient wonders, discussing theories on how they were built and their purpose. The piece will also delve into the role of the pyramids in Egyptian religion and society, including their function as tombs for pharaohs. Additionally, it will touch on recent archaeological discoveries and ongoing research related to the pyramids. Also at PapersOwl you can find more free essay examples related to Ancient Egypt.

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Did you know that pyramids were around in 25 B.C? There were drawings in side of the pyramids. There was a 30 -meters above the queen’s chamber. They used limestone bricks to build their pyramids. Some people thought that the pyramids were not build 4,000 years ago.

They are right because they were built in 12,500 years ago. The pyramids were built in the south. The dead rulers were buried in pyramids. Egypt is located in the north eastern in Africa. Avember 2008, sourcess of No cite either 118 or 138 as the number of identified Egyptian pyramids.

The Great Pyramid of Giza points very precisely to the north.

The pyramids of Egypt are all built to the west of the Nile River.The base of a pyramid was always a perfect square.A view of the pyramids at Giza from the plateau to the south of the complex. From left to right, the three largest are: the Pyramid of Menkaure, the Pyramid of Khafreand the Great Pyramid of Khufu.The first Egyptian pyramid is believed to be the Pyramid of Djoser, it was built in Saqqara around 4650 years ago (2640 BC).

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. It took approximately 20 years to build and has three burial chambers inside. When it was originally built (in approximately 2550 BC) it was almost 147 meters tall. Today, because of erosion, it is only about 139 meters tall.The largest is the Pyramid of Khufu, also called the Great Pyramid of Giza. The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens.Pyramids always remained a mystery to man. Even in 2018, we are discovering more about these ancient man made marvels. Much to surprise, with every discovery we are realizing that there is more to uncover than ever before!

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped masonry structures located in Egypt. As of November 2008, sources cite either 118 or 138 as the number of identified Egyptian pyramids. Most were built as tombs for the country’s pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. Over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt. The first Egyptian pyramid is believed to be the Pyramid of Djoser, it was built in Saqqara around 4650 years ago (2640 BC).

Most were built as tombs for the country’s pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. The earliest among these is the Pyramid of Djoser (constructed 2630 BC2611 BC) which was built during the third dynasty

The Greek historian Herodotus claimed in 500 B.C. that 100,000 people built the Pyramids, and yet modern Egyptologists believe the figure to be more like 20,000 to 30,000. Herodotus, when he came here, met guides who told stories and things like that.

Archaeologists believe Egypt’s large pyramids are the work of the Old Kingdom society that rose to prominence in the Nile Valley after 3000 B.C. Historical analysis tells us that the Egyptians built the Giza Pyramids in a span of 85 yearsbetween 2589 and 2504 BC.

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Egyptian Pyramids

By: History.com Editors

Updated: April 15, 2024 | Original: October 14, 2009

Built during a time when Egypt was one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in the world, the pyramids—especially the Great Pyramids of Giza—are some of the most magnificent man-made structures in history. Their massive scale reflects the unique role that the pharaoh, or king, played in ancient Egyptian society. Though pyramids were built from the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the close of the Ptolemaic period in the fourth century A.D., the peak of pyramid building began with the late third dynasty and continued until roughly the sixth (c. 2325 B.C.). More than 4,000 years later, the Egyptian pyramids still retain much of their majesty, providing a glimpse into the country’s rich and glorious past.

The Pharaoh in Egyptian Society

During the third and fourth dynasties of the Old Kingdom, Egypt enjoyed tremendous economic prosperity and stability. Kings held a unique position in Egyptian society. Somewhere in between human and divine, they were believed to have been chosen by the gods themselves to serve as their mediators on earth. Because of this, it was in everyone’s interest to keep the king’s majesty intact even after his death, when he was believed to become Osiris, god of the dead. The new pharaoh, in turn, became Horus, the falcon-god who served as protector of the sun god, Ra.

Did you know? The pyramid's smooth, angled sides symbolized the rays of the sun and were designed to help the king's soul ascend to heaven and join the gods, particularly the sun god Ra.

Ancient Egyptians believed that when the king died, part of his spirit (known as “ka”) remained with his body. To properly care for his spirit, the corpse was mummified, and everything the king would need in the afterlife was buried with him, including gold vessels, food, furniture and other offerings. The pyramids became the focus of a cult of the dead king that was supposed to continue well after his death. Their riches would provide not only for him, but also for the relatives, officials and priests who were buried near him.

The Early Pyramids

From the beginning of the Dynastic Era (2950 B.C.), royal tombs were carved into rock and covered with flat-roofed rectangular structures known as “mastabas,” which were precursors to the pyramids. The oldest known pyramid in Egypt was built around 2630 B.C. at Saqqara, for the third dynasty’s King Djoser. Known as the Step Pyramid, it began as a traditional mastaba but grew into something much more ambitious. As the story goes, the pyramid’s architect was Imhotep, a priest and healer who some 1,400 years later would be deified as the patron saint of scribes and physicians. Over the course of Djoser’s nearly 20-year reign, pyramid builders assembled six stepped layers of stone (as opposed to mud-brick, like most earlier tombs) that eventually reached a height of 204 feet (62 meters); it was the tallest building of its time. The Step Pyramid was surrounded by a complex of courtyards, temples and shrines where Djoser could enjoy his afterlife.

After Djoser, the stepped pyramid became the norm for royal burials, although none of those planned by his dynastic successors were completed (probably due to their relatively short reigns). The earliest tomb constructed as a “true” (smooth-sided, not stepped) pyramid was the Red Pyramid at Dahshur, one of three burial structures built for the first king of the fourth dynasty, Sneferu (2613-2589 B.C.) It was named for the color of the limestone blocks used to construct the pyramid’s core.

The Great Pyramids of Giza

No pyramids are more celebrated than the Great Pyramids of Giza, located on a plateau on the west bank of the Nile River, on the outskirts of modern-day Cairo. The oldest and largest of the three pyramids at Giza, known as the Great Pyramid , is the only surviving structure out of the famed Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . It was built for Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops, in Greek), Sneferu’s successor and the second of the eight kings of the fourth dynasty. Though Khufu reigned for 23 years (2589-2566 B.C.), relatively little is known of his reign beyond the grandeur of his pyramid. The sides of the pyramid’s base average 755.75 feet (230 meters), and its original height was 481.4 feet (147 meters), making it the largest pyramid in the world. Three small pyramids built for Khufu’s queens are lined up next to the Great Pyramid, and a tomb was found nearby containing the empty sarcophagus of his mother, Queen Hetepheres. Like other pyramids, Khufu’s is surrounded by rows of mastabas, where relatives or officials of the king were buried to accompany and support him in the afterlife.

The middle pyramid at Giza was built for Khufu’s son Pharaoh Khafre (2558-2532 B.C). The Pyramid of Khafre is the second tallest pyramid at Giza and contains Pharaoh Khafre’s tomb. A unique feature built inside Khafre’s pyramid complex was the Great Sphinx, a guardian statue carved in limestone with the head of a man and the body of a lion. It was the largest statue in the ancient world, measuring 240 feet long and 66 feet high. In the 18th dynasty (c. 1500 B.C.) the Great Sphinx would come to be worshiped itself, as the image of a local form of the god Horus. The southernmost pyramid at Giza was built for Khafre’s son Menkaure (2532-2503 B.C.). It is the shortest of the three pyramids (218 feet) and is a precursor of the smaller pyramids that would be constructed during the fifth and sixth dynasties.

Who Built The Pyramids?

Though some popular versions of history held that the pyramids were built by slaves or foreigners forced into labor, skeletons excavated from the area show that the workers were probably native Egyptian agricultural laborers who worked on the pyramids during the time of year when the Nile River flooded much of the land nearby. Approximately 2.3 million blocks of stone (averaging about 2.5 tons each) had to be cut, transported and assembled to build Khufu’s Great Pyramid. The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote that it took 20 years to build and required the labor of 100,000 men, but later archaeological evidence suggests that the workforce might actually have been around 20,000.

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The End of the Pyramid Era

Pyramids continued to be built throughout the fifth and sixth dynasties, but the general quality and scale of their construction declined over this period, along with the power and wealth of the kings themselves. In the later Old Kingdom pyramids, beginning with that of King Unas (2375-2345 B.C), pyramid builders began to inscribe written accounts of events in the king’s reign on the walls of the burial chamber and the rest of the pyramid’s interior. Known as pyramid texts, these are the earliest significant religious compositions known from ancient Egypt.

The last of the great pyramid builders was Pepy II (2278-2184 B.C.), the second king of the sixth dynasty, who came to power as a young boy and ruled for 94 years. By the time of his rule, Old Kingdom prosperity was dwindling, and the pharaoh had lost some of his quasi-divine status as the power of non-royal administrative officials grew. Pepy II’s pyramid, built at Saqqara and completed some 30 years into his reign, was much shorter (172 feet) than others of the Old Kingdom. With Pepy’s death, the kingdom and strong central government virtually collapsed, and Egypt entered a turbulent phase known as the First Intermediate Period. Later kings, of the 12th dynasty, would return to pyramid building during the so-called Middle Kingdom phase, but it was never on the same scale as the Great Pyramids.

The Pyramids Today

Tomb robbers and other vandals in both ancient and modern times removed most of the bodies and funeral goods from Egypt’s pyramids and plundered their exteriors as well. Stripped of most of their smooth white limestone coverings, the Great Pyramids no longer reach their original heights; Khufu’s, for example, measures only 451 feet high. Nonetheless, millions of people continue to visit the pyramids each year, drawn by their towering grandeur and the enduring allure of Egypt’s rich and glorious past.

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The Great Pyramids of Giza

The Great Pyramids at Giza, Egypt (photo: KennyOMG , CC BY-SA 4.0)

One of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world

The last remaining of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the great pyramids of Giza, are perhaps the most famous and discussed structures in history. These massive monuments were unsurpassed in height for thousands of years after their construction and continue to amaze and enthrall us with their overwhelming mass and seemingly impossible perfection. Their exacting orientation and mind-boggling construction has elicited many theories about their origins, including unsupported suggestions that they had extra-terrestrial impetus. However, by examining the several hundred years prior to their emergence on the Giza plateau, it becomes clear that these incredible structures were the result of many experiments, some more successful than others, and represent an apogee in line with the development of the royal mortuary complex.

Pyramid of Khafre (photo: MusikAnimal , CC BY-SA 3.0)

The causeway of the Khafre (Chephren) pyramid complex, taken from the entrance of the Khafre Valley Temple (photo: Hannah Pethen , CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Three pyramids, three rulers

The three primary pyramids on the Giza plateau were built over the span of three generations by the rulers Khufu , Khafre , and Menkaure .  Each pyramid was part of a royal mortuary complex that also included a temple at its base and a long stone causeway (some nearly 1 kilometer in length) leading east from the plateau to a valley temple on the edge of the floodplain.

Other (smaller) pyramids, and small tombs

In addition to these major structures, several smaller pyramids belonging to queens are arranged as satellites. A large cemetery of smaller tombs, known as mastabas (Arabic for ‘bench’ in reference to their shape—flat-roofed, rectangular, with sloping sides), fills the area to the east and west of the pyramid of Khufu . These were arranged in a grid-like pattern and constructed for prominent members of the court.  Being buried near the pharaoh was a great honor and helped ensure a prized place in the Afterlife.

Map of Giza pyramid complex (map by: MesserWoland , CC BY-SA 3.0)

A reference to the sun

The shape of the pyramid was a solar reference, perhaps intended as a solidified version of the rays of the sun. Texts talk about the sun’s rays as a ramp the pharaoh mounts to climb to the sky—the earliest pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara —were actually designed as a staircase. The pyramid was also clearly connected to the sacred ben-ben stone, an icon of the primeval mound that was considered the place of initial creation. The pyramid was viewed as a place of regeneration for the deceased ruler.

View up the side of Khufu’s pyramid showing scale of the core blocks (Photo: Dr. Amy Calvert)

Construction

Many questions remain about the construction of these massive monuments, and theories abound as to the actual methods used. The workforce needed to build these structures is also still much discussed. Discovery of a town for workers to the south of the plateau has offered some answers. It is likely that there was a permanent group of skilled craftsmen and builders who were supplemented by seasonal crews of approximately 2000 conscripted peasants. These crews were divided into gangs of 200 men, with each group further divided into teams of 20.  Experiments indicate that these groups of 20 men could haul the 2.5 ton blocks from quarry to pyramid in about 20 minutes, their path eased by a lubricated surface of wet silt. An estimated 340 stones could be moved daily from quarry to construction site, particularly when one considers that many of the blocks (such as those in the upper courses) were considerably smaller.

We are used to seeing the pyramids at Giza in alluring photographs, where they appear as massive and remote monuments rising up from an open, barren desert. Visitors might be surprised to find, then, that there is a golf course and resort only a few hundred feet from the Great Pyramid , and that the burgeoning suburbs of Giza (part of the greater metropolitan area of Cairo) have expanded right up to the foot of the Sphinx . This urban encroachment and the problems that come with it—such as pollution, waste, illegal activities, and auto traffic—are now the biggest threats to these invaluable examples of global cultural heritage.

Aerial view of the Giza pyramid complex and development nearby (photo: © Raimond Spekking , CC BY-SA 4.0)

The pyramids were inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, and since 1990, the organization has sponsored over a dozen missions to evaluate their status. It has supported the restoration of the Sphinx, as well as measures to curb the impact of tourism and manage the growth of the neighboring village. Still, threats to the site continue: air pollution from waste incineration contributes to the degradation of the stones , and the massive illegal quarrying of sand on the neighboring plateau has created holes large enough to be seen on Google Earth. Egypt’s 2011 uprisings and their chaotic political and economic aftermath also negatively impacted tourism, one of the country’s most important industries, and the number of visitors is only now beginning to rise once more .

UNESCO has continually monitored these issues, but its biggest task with regard to Giza has been to advocate for the rerouting of a highway that was originally slated to cut through the desert between the pyramids and the necropolis of Saqqara to the south. The government eventually agreed to build the highway north of the pyramids. However, as the Cairo metropolitan area (the largest in Africa, with a population of over 20 million) continues to expand, planners are now proposing a multilane tunnel to be constructed underneath the Giza Plateau. UNESCO and ICOMOS are calling for in-depth studies of the project’s potential impact, as well as an overall site management plan for the Giza pyramids that would include ways to halt the continued impact of illegal dumping and quarrying.

As massive as they are, the pyramids at Giza are not immutable. With the rapid growth of Cairo, they will need sufficient attention and protection if they are to remain intact as key touchstones of ancient history.

Backstory by Dr. Naraelle Hohensee

Bibliography

Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

UNESCO webpage for Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur

Digital Giza

Giza archives, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Building the Great Pyramid, BBC

Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids , Thames and Hudson, 2008.

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Great Pyramid of Giza

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The Great Pyramid of Giza is a defining symbol of Egypt and the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. It is located on the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo and was built over a twenty-year period during the reign of the king Khufu (2589-2566 BCE, also known as Cheops) of the 4th Dynasty.

Until the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris , France in 1889, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure made by human hands in the world; a record it held for over 3,000 years and one unlikely to be broken. Other scholars have pointed to the Lincoln Cathedral spire in England , built in 1300, as the structure which finally surpassed the Great Pyramid in height but, still, the Egyptian monument held the title for an impressive span of time.

The pyramid rises to a height of 479 feet (146 metres) with a base of 754 feet (230 metres) and is comprised of over two million blocks of stone. Some of these stones are of such immense size and weight (such as the granite slabs in the King's Chamber) that the logistics of raising and positioning them so precisely seems an impossibility by modern standards.

The pyramid was first excavated using modern techniques and scientific analysis in 1880 by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (l.1853-1942), the British archaeologist who set the standard for archaeological operations in Egypt generally and at Giza specifically. Writing on the pyramid in 1883, Flinders Petrie noted:

The Great Pyramid has lent its name as a sort of by-word for paradoxes; and, as moths to a candle, so are theorisers attracted to it. (1)

Although many theories persist as to the purpose of the pyramid, the most widely accepted understanding is that it was constructed as a tomb for the king. Exactly how it was built, however, still puzzles people in the modern day. The theory of ramps running around the outside of the structure to move the blocks into place is still debated by historians. So-called "fringe" or "New Age" theories abound, in an effort to explain the advanced technology required for the structure, citing extra-terrestrials and their imagined frequent visits to Egypt in antiquity.

These theories continue to be advanced in spite of the increasing body of evidence substantiating that the pyramid was built by the ancient Egyptians using technological means which, most likely, were so common to them that they felt no need to record them. Still, the intricacy of the interior passages, shafts, and chambers (The King's Chamber, Queen's Chamber, and Grand Gallery) as well as the nearby Osiris Shaft, coupled with the mystery of how the pyramid was built at all and its orientation to cardinal points, encourages the persistence of these fringe theories.

Another enduring theory regarding the monument's construction is that it was built on the backs of slaves. Contrary to the popular opinion that Egyptian monuments in general, and the Great Pyramid in particular, were built using Hebrew slave labor, the pyramids of Giza and all other temples and monuments in the country were constructed by Egyptians who were hired for their skills and compensated for their efforts. No evidence of any kind whatsoever - from any era of Egypt's history - supports the narrative events described in the biblical Book of Exodus.

Worker's housing at Giza was discovered and fully documented in 1979 by Egyptologists Lehner and Hawass but, even before this evidence came to light, ancient Egyptian documentation substantiated payment to Egyptian workers for state-sponsored monuments while offering no evidence of forced labor by a slave population of any particular ethnic group. Egyptians from all over the country worked on the monument, for a variety of reasons, to build an eternal home for their king which would last through eternity.

Pyramids & the Giza Plateau

Toward the end of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3150-c.2613 BCE) the vizier Imhotep ((c. 2667-2600 BCE) devised a means of creating an elaborate tomb, unlike any other, for his king Djoser . Prior to Djoser's reign (c. 2670 BCE) tombs were constructed of mud fashioned into modest mounds known as mastabas. Imhotep conceived of a then-radical plan of not only building a mastaba out of stone but of stacking these structures on top of one another in steps to create an enormous, lasting, monument. His vision led to the creation of Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, still standing in the present day, the oldest pyramid in the world.

Still, the Step Pyramid was not a "true pyramid" and, in the period of the Old Kingdom (c. 2613-2181 BCE) the king Sneferu (r.c. 2613-2589 BCE) sought to improve on Imhotep's plans and create an even more impressive monument. His first attempt, the Collapsed Pyramid at Meidum, failed because he departed too widely from Imhotep's design. Sneferu learned from his mistake, however, and went to work on another - the Bent Pyramid - which also failed because of miscalculations in the angle from base to summit. Undeterred, Sneferu took what he learned from that experience and built the Red Pyramid, the first true pyramid constructed in Egypt.

Building a pyramid required enormous resources and the maintenance of a wide array of all kinds of skilled and unskilled workers. The kings of the 4th Dynasty - often referred to as "the pyramid builders" - were able to command these resources because of the stability of the government and the wealth they were able to acquire through trade . A strong central government, and a surplus of wealth, were both vital to any efforts at pyramid building and these resources were passed from Sneferu, upon his death , to his son Khufu.

Khufu seems to have set to work on building his grand tomb shortly after coming to power. The rulers of the Old Kingdom governed from the city of Memphis and the nearby necropolis of Saqqara was already dominated by Djoser's pyramid complex while other sites such as Dashur had been used by Sneferu. An older necropolis, however, was also close by and this was Giza. Khufu's mother, Hetepheres I (l.c. 2566 BCE), was buried there and there were no other great monuments to compete for attention close by; so Khufu chose Giza as the site for his pyramid.

Construction of the Pyramid

The first step in constructing a pyramid, after deciding upon the best location, was organizing the crews and allocating resources and this was the job of the second-most powerful man in Egypt, the vizier. Khufu's vizier was Hemiunu, his nephew, credited with the design and building of the Great Pyramid. Hemiunu's father, Nefermaat (Khufu's brother) had been Sneferu's vizier in his pyramid-building projects and it is probable he learned a great deal about construction from these experiences.

Because of their immense size, building pyramids posed special problems of both organization and engineering. Constructing the Great Pyramid of the pharaoh Khufu, for example, required that more than two million blocks weighing from two to more than sixty tons be formed into a structure covering two football fields and rising in a perfect pyramidal shape 480 feet into the sky. Its construction involved vast numbers of workers which, in turn, presented complex logistical problems concerning food, shelter, and organization. Millions of heavy stone blocks needed not only to be quarried and raised to great heights but also set together with precision in order to create the desired shape. (217)

It is precisely the skill and technology required to "create the desired shape" which presents the problem to anyone trying to understand how the Great Pyramid was built. Modern-day theories continue to fall back on the concept of ramps which were raised around the foundation of the pyramid and grew higher as the structure grew taller. The ramp theory, still debated, maintains that, once the foundation was firm, these ramps could have easily been raised around the structure as it was built and provided the means for hauling and positioning tons of stones in precise order.

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Aside from the problems of a lack of wood in Egypt to make an abundance of such ramps, the angles workers would have had to move the stones up, and the impossibility of moving heavy stone bricks and granite slabs into position without a crane (which the Egyptians did not have), the most serious problem comes down to the total impracticability of the ramp theory. Brier and Hobbs explain:

The problem is one of physics. The steeper the angle of an incline, the more effort necessary to move an object up that incline. So, in order for a relatively small number of men, say ten or so, to drag a two-ton load up a ramp, its angle could not be more than about eight percent. Geometry tells us that to reach a height of 480 feet, an inclined plane rising at eight percent would have to start almost one mile from its finish. It has been calculated that building a mile-long ramp that rose as high as the Great Pyramid would require as much material as that needed for the pyramid itself - workers would have had to build the equivilent of two pyramids in the twenty-year time frame. (221)

A variation on the ramp theory was proposed by the French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin who claims ramps were used inside of the pyramid. Houdin believes that ramps may have been used externally in the initial stages of construction but, as the pyramid grew taller, work was done internally. The quarried stones were brought in through the entrance and moved up the ramps to their position. This, Houdin claims, would account for the shafts one finds inside the pyramid. This theory, however, does not account for the weight of the stones or the number of workers on the ramp required to move them up an angle inside the pyramid and into position.

The ramp theory in either of these forms fails to explain how the pyramid was built while a much more satisfactory possibility rests right below the monument: the high water table of the Giza plateau. Engineer Robert Carson, in his work The Great Pyramid: The Inside Story , suggests that the pyramid was built using water power. Carson also suggests the use of ramps but in a much more cogent fashion: the interior ramps were supplemented by hydraulic power from below and hoists from above.

Although the Egyptians had no knowledge of a crane as one would understand that mechanism in the present day, they did have the shaduf, a long pole with a bucket and rope at one end and counter-weight at the other, typically used for drawing water from a well. Hydraulic power from below, coupled with hoists from above could have moved the stones throughout the interior of the pyramid and this would also account for the shafts and spaces one finds in the monument which other theories have failed to fully account for.

It is abundantly clear that the water table at Giza is still quite high in the present day and was higher in the past. Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, writing on his excavation of the Osiris Shaft near the Great Pyramid in 1999, notes how "the excavation proved to be very challenging mainly due to the dangerous nature of the work caused by the high water table" (381). In the same article, Hawass notes how, in 1945, guides at Giza were regularly swimming in the waters of this underground shaft and that "the rising water table in the shaft prevented scholars from studying it further" (379).

Further, earlier attempts to excavate the Osiris Shaft - by Selim Hassan in the 1930's - and observations (though no excavation) of the shaft by Abdel Moneim Abu Bakr in the 1940's - also make note of this same high water table. Geological surveys have determined that the Giza plateau and surrounding region was much more fertile in the time of the Old Kingdom than it is today and that the water table would have been higher.

Considering this, Carson's theory of water power used in building the pyramid makes the most sense. Carson claims the monument "could only be constructed by means of hydraulic power; that a hydraulic transportation system was set up inside the Great Pyramid" (5). Harnessing the power of the high water table, the ancient builders could have constructed the pyramid much more reasonably than by some form of exterior ramping system.

Once the interior was completed, the whole of the pyramid was covered in white limestone which would have shone brilliantly and been visible from every direction for miles around the site. As impressive as the Great Pyramid is today, one must recognize that it is a monument in ruin as the limestone long ago fell away and was utilized as building material for the city of Cairo (just as the nearby city of ancient Memphis was).

When it was completed, the Great Pyramid must have appeared as the most striking creation the Egyptians had ever seen. Even today, in its greatly weathered state, the Great Pyramid inspires awe. The sheer size and scope of the project is literally amazing. Historian Marc van de Mieroop writes:

The size boggles the mind: it was 146 meters high (479 feet) by 230 meters at the base (754 feet). We estimate that it contained 2,300,000 blocks of stone with an average weight of 2 and 3/4 tons some weighing up to 16 tons. Khufu ruled 23 years according to the Turin Royal Canon, which would mean that throughout his reign annually 100,000 blocks - daily about 285 blocks or one every two minutes of daylight - had to be quarried, transported, dressed, and put in place...The construction was almost faultless in design. The sides were oriented exactly toward the cardinal points and were at precise 90-degree angles. (58)

The workers who accomplished this were skilled and unskilled laborers hired by the state for the project. These workers either volunteered their efforts to pay off a debt, for community service, or were compensated for their time. Although slavery was an institution practiced in ancient Egypt, no slaves, Hebrew or otherwise, were used in creating the monument. Brier and Hobbs explain the logistics of the operation:

Were it not for the two months every year when the Nile 's water covered Egypt's farmland, idling virtually the entire workforce, none of this construction would have been possible. During such times, a pharaoh offered food for work and the promise of a favored treatment in the afterworld where he would rule just as he did in this world. For two months annually, workmen gathered by the tens of thousands from all over the country to transport the blocks a permanent crew had quarried during the rest of the year. Overseers organized the men into teams to transport the stones on sleds, devices better suited than wheeled vehicles to moving weighty objects over shifting sand. A causeway, lubricated by water, smoothed the uphill pull. No mortar was used to hold the blocks in place, only a fit so exact that these towering structures have survived for 4,000 years. (17-18)

The yearly inundation of the Nile River was essential for the livelihood of the Egyptians in that it deposited rich soil from the riverbed all across the farmlands of the shore; it also, however, made farming those lands an impossibility during the time of the flood. During these periods, the government provided work for the farmers through labor on their great monuments. These were the people who did the actual, physical, work in moving the stones, raising the obelisks, building the temples, creating the pyramids which continue to fascinate and inspire people in the present day.

It is a disservice to their efforts and their memory, not to mention the grand culture of the Egyptians, to continue to insist that these structures were created by poorly treated slaves who were forced into their condition because of ethnicity. The biblical Book of Exodus is a cultural myth purposefully created to distinguish one group of people living in the land of Canaan from others and should not be regarded as history.

The Great Pyramid as Tomb

All of this effort went to creating a grand tomb for the king who, as mediator between the gods and the people, was thought to be deserving of the finest of tombs. Theories regarding the original purpose of the Great Pyramid range from the fanciful to the absurd, and may be investigated elsewhere, but the culture which produced the monument would have regarded it as a tomb, an eternal home for the king.

Tombs which have been excavated throughout Egypt, from the most modest to the rich example of Tutankhamun 's - along with other physical evidence - make clear the ancient Egyptian belief in a life after death and the concern for the soul's welfare in this new world. Grave goods were always placed in the tomb of the deceased as well as, in wealthier tombs, inscriptions and paintings on the walls (known as the Pyramid Texts , in some cases). The Great Pyramid is simply the grandest form of one of these tombs.

Arguments against the Great Pyramid as a tomb cite the fact that no mummies or grave goods have ever been found inside. This argument willfully ignores the plentiful evidence of grave robbing from ancient times to the present. Egyptologists from the 19th century onwards have recognized that the Great Pyramid was looted in antiquity and, most likely, during the time of the New Kingdom (c. 1570-1069 BCE) when the Giza necropolis was replaced by the area now known as The Valley of the Kings near Thebes .

This is not to suggest that Giza was forgotten, there is ample evidence of New Kingdom pharaohs such as Ramesses the Great (r. 1279-1213 BCE) taking great interest in the site. Rameses II had a small temple built at Giza in front of the Sphinx as a token of honor and it was Rameses II's fourth son, Khaemweset , who devoted himself to preserving the site. Khaemweset never ruled Egypt but was a crown prince whose efforts to restore the monuments of the past are well documented. He is, in fact, considered the world's "first Egyptologist" for his work in restoration, preservation, and recording of ancient monuments and especially for his work at Giza.

Further, work conducted on the Osiris Shaft - and other areas around the site - have shown activity during the 26th Dynasty of the Third Intermediate Period (c. 1069-525 BCE) and into the Late Period (c. 525-332 BCE). Giza was, therefore, an active site throughout Egypt's history but was not always given the kind of attention it received during the Old Kingdom.

Herodotus , writing in the 5th century BCE, reported that the Great Pyramid had been looted and visitor's to the site in the modern day enter through the so-called Robbers Tunnel created c. 820 by Caliph al-Ma'mun seeking to recover whatever treasures the pyramid held inside. Tomb robbers before and after the caliph had also visited the pyramid prior to the excavations of the 19th century. Whatever treasures the pyramid may have held in the time of Khufu could have been removed at any time from the Old Kingdom onward.

The Giza Plateau

Following Khufu's death, his son Khafre (r. 2558-2532 BCE) took the throne and began building his own pyramid next to his father's. The king Menkaure (r. 2532-2503 BCE) came after Khafre and followed the same paradigm of building his eternal home at Giza. Khafre and Menkaure added their own temple complexes and monuments, such as the Great Sphinx of Giza under Khafre's reign, but these were on a smaller scale than that of Khufu's work.

It is no accident or mystery as to why the Great Pyramid is the largest and the other two are progressively smaller: as the period of the Old Kingdom continued, with the government's emphasis on grand building projects, resources became more and more scarce. Menkaure's successor, Shepseskaf (r. 2503-2498 BCE) had the resources to complete Menkaure's pyramid complex but could afford no such luxury for himself; he was buried in a modest mastaba tomb at Saqqara.

Still, Giza continued be regarded as an important site and funds were allocated as long as they were available for its upkeep. Giza was a thriving community for centuries with temples, shops, a market place, housing, and a sturdy economy . Individuals in the present day speculating on the lonely, deserted, mystical outpost of Giza ignore the evidence of what the complex would have been like for most of Egypt's long history.

The present day understanding of the plateau as some isolated outpost of monuments encourages theories which do not align with how Giza actually was when those monuments were constructed. Theories suggesting mysterious tunnels beneath the plateau have been debunked - yet still persist - including speculations concerning the Osiris Shaft.

This complex of underground chambers was most likely dug, as Hawass contends, in honor of the god Osiris and may or may not have been where the king Khufu was originally laid to rest. Herodotus mentions the Osiris Shaft (though not by that name, which was only given to it recently by Hawass) in writing of Khufu's burial chamber which was said to be surrounded by water.

Excavations of the shaft and the chambers have recovered artifacts dating from the Old Kingdom through the Third Intermediate Period but no tunnels branching out beneath the plateau. Osiris, as lord of the dead, would certainly have been honored at Giza and underground chambers recognizing him as ruler in the afterlife were not uncommon throughout Egypt's history.

Although the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the other smaller pyramids, temples, monuments, and tombs there, continued to be respected throughout Egypt's history, the site fell into decline after the Roman occupation and then annexation of the country in 30 BCE. The Romans concentrated their energies on the city of Alexandria and the abundant crops the country offered, making Egypt into Rome 's "bread basket", as the phrase goes.

The site was more or less neglected until Napoleon 's Egyptian Campaign of 1798-1801 during which he brought along his team of scholars and scientists to document ancient Egyptian culture and monuments. Napoleon's work in Egypt attracted others to the country who then inspired still others to visit, make their own observations, and conduct their own excavations.

Throughout the 19th century, ancient Egypt became increasingly the object of interest for people around the world. Professional and amateur archaeologists descended upon the country seeking to exploit or explore the ancient culture for their own ends or in the interests of science and knowledge. The Great Pyramid was first fully excavated professionally by the British archaeologist Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie whose work on the monument lay the foundation for any others who followed up to the present day.

Flinders Petrie was obviously interested in exploring every nuance of the Great Pyramid but not at the expense of the monument itself. His excavations were performed with great care in an effort to preserve the historical authenticity of the work he was examining. Although this may seem a common sense approach in the modern day, many European explorers before Flinders Petrie, archaeologists professional and amateur, brushed aside any concerns of preservation in pursuing their goal of unearthing ancient treasure troves and bringing antiquities back to their patrons. Flinders Petrie established the protocol regarding ancient monuments in Egypt which is still adhered to in the present day. His vision inspired those who came after him and it is largely due to his efforts that people today can still admire and appreciate the monument known as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

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Bibliography

• Bard, K. A. An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt. Wiley-Blackwell, 2015.
• Brier, B & Hobbs, H. Ancient Egypt: Everyday Life in the Land of the Nile. Sterling Publishing, 2013.
• Shaw, I. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford, 2016.
• The Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt: Essays in Honor of David B. O'Connor by Zawi Hawass , accessed 19 Dec 2016.
• The Great Pyramid: The Inside Story by Robert Carson , accessed 19 Dec 2016.
• The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh by W. M. Flinders Petrie, 1883 , accessed 19 Dec 2016.
• Van De Mieroop, M. A History of Ancient Egypt. Wiley-Blackwell, 2010.
• Verner,. The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove Press, 2002.

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An Overview of The Great Pyramids of Giza

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AP®︎/College Art History

Course: ap®︎/college art history   >   unit 4, ancient egypt, an introduction.

• Ancient Egyptian art
• Palette of King Narmer
• Seated Scribe
• The Great Pyramids of Giza
• Pyramid of Khufu
• Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx
• Pyramid of Menkaure
• King Menkaure (Mycerinus) and queen
• Temple of Amun-Re and the Hypostyle Hall, Karnak
• Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut and Large Kneeling Statue, New Kingdom, Egypt
• Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis (UNESCO/TBS)
• Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Three Daughters
• Tutankhamun’s tomb (innermost coffin and death mask)
• Last Judgement of Hunefer, from his tomb
• Hunefer, Book of the Dead

Consistency and stability

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Essay on Great Pyramid Of Giza

Students are often asked to write an essay on Great Pyramid Of Giza in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

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100 Words Essay on Great Pyramid Of Giza

Introduction.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is an ancient wonder in Egypt. It is the largest of three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex. It’s also the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Construction

The pyramid is made of huge limestone blocks. Some blocks weigh as much as 80 tonnes. The pyramid was covered with a layer of polished white limestone which made it shine in the sun.

Inside the Pyramid

Inside, there are three known chambers. The lowest chamber was cut into the bedrock. The Queen’s and King’s chambers are higher up in the pyramid. The King’s chamber has a flat roof and the Queen’s chamber has a pointed roof.

Significance

250 words essay on great pyramid of giza, the great pyramid of giza.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is an ancient structure in Egypt. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is also the oldest of these wonders and the only one still standing.

Who Built It?

The pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu. He was a ruler of Egypt about 4500 years ago. This pyramid was built as his tomb.

The Construction

The pyramid is made of large stone blocks. Each block weighs about 2.5 tons. It’s amazing to think about how people moved these huge blocks without modern machinery. Experts think that it took about 20 years to build.

Size and Shape

The pyramid is very big. It was the tallest building in the world for over 3800 years. It is almost as tall as a 50-story building. The base of the pyramid is almost square, each side being about 230 meters long.

Inside the pyramid, there are many rooms and passages. The most important room is the King’s Chamber. This is where Khufu’s body was placed.

In conclusion, the Great Pyramid of Giza is a marvel of ancient architecture. Its size, design, and history make it one of the most fascinating structures in the world.

500 Words Essay on Great Pyramid Of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is a wonder of the ancient world. It is the oldest and the only one still standing among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. This pyramid is in Egypt, near the city of Cairo. It was built as a tomb for the Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled Egypt about 4,500 years ago.

Construction of the Pyramid

Size and structure, mystery of the pyramid.

There are many mysteries about the Great Pyramid. One mystery is how the workers were able to build such a big structure without modern tools. Another mystery is how the pyramid was designed. The sides of the pyramid are very precisely aligned with the points of the compass. The north side faces exactly north, the south side faces exactly south, and so on. This precision is amazing, especially considering that the workers did not have compasses or other modern tools.

Importance of the Pyramid

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Pyramids of Egypt: Monuments to Eternity

Few structures in human history have evoked as much wonder as the Egyptian pyramids. Rising majestically against the backdrop of Egypt’s golden sands, they stand not merely as architectural marvels but as a testament to the aspirations and achievements of a civilization that flourished millennia ago.

Table of content

Historical Backdrop

Ancient Egypt, cradled by the sinuous Nile, was a civilization of unparalleled grandeur and complexity. Its story is not just one of pharaohs and deities but also of intertwining human ambition with the timeless rhythm of the river’s ebb and flow. This was a land where life itself was orchestrated by the Nile’s inundations, breathing life into the otherwise arid expanses and nurturing a society poised for greatness.

As dynasties rose and fell, the architectural endeavors of the Egyptians evolved. Initial burial practices involved simple mastabas, rectangular structures made of mud bricks. However, a monumental shift occurred with the dawn of the Old Kingdom, around 2686–2181 BCE. Pharaohs, now seen as incarnate gods, harbored aspirations that transcended the confines of mortality. They envisioned their final resting places as tombs and cosmic vessels, launching them into the boundless expanse of the afterlife.

It was Pharaoh Djoser who took the seminal step in pyramid evolution. With the genius of his architect, Imhotep, they conceived the Step Pyramid at Saqqara – a structure that laid the groundwork for the true pyramids that would soon punctuate Egypt’s skyline. As subsequent pharaohs, driven by a blend of piety, pride, and politics, sought to outdo their predecessors, the stage was set for constructing the iconic Giza pyramids.

In this era of architectural revolution, the pyramid became more than a structure – it was a statement, a testament to the pharaoh’s divine stature and the nation’s prowess. This was an age of audacious endeavors, where the desert’s silence was punctuated by the chisel’s rhythm, where man, in his quest for eternity, etched his dreams upon the canvas of the earth.

Architectural Marvel

Beyond the sheer grandiosity of the pyramids lies a tapestry of engineering feats and architectural brilliance. These structures are not mere mounds of stone but rather a symphony of precision, innovation, and artistry – a testament to the acumen of ancient Egyptian builders.

Firstly, consider the material. The bulk of a pyramid’s mass was limestone, quarried often from locales at some distance from the construction site. Transporting these behemoth blocks, some weighing as much as 80 tons, was an endeavor. Ancient records and architectural remains hint at a sophisticated network of canals and purpose-built boats designed to ferry these blocks to the construction sites.

The pyramid’s very foundation demanded extraordinary precision. Ensuring a level base on the uneven desert terrain required advanced tools and techniques, many of which remain subjects of study and admiration today. The alignment of these structures is yet another marvel. For instance, the Great Pyramid of Giza is aligned with a margin of error of just 0.05 degrees to the cardinal points of the compass.

Then, the interior is a maze of chambers, corridors, and hidden recesses designed with purpose and symbolism. The Grand Gallery of the Great Pyramid, a sloping hall with a corbelled roof, is an engineering marvel, displaying a masterful understanding of weight distribution and architectural aesthetics.

What truly accentuates the pyramid’s architectural splendor is its casing. Initially, these monumental structures were adorned with smooth, white Tura limestone, causing them to gleam under the Egyptian sun. Imagine the sight: these radiant, shimmering structures, visible from miles away, proclaiming the glory of the pharaohs and the divine favor of the gods.

In essence, the pyramids, in their architectural sophistication, narrate a tale not just of power and piety but of a civilization’s indefatigable spirit to chase perfection, to defy the constraints of their era, and to craft edifices that would echo their prowess through the corridors of time.

Symbolism and Significance

One finds a confluence of artistry and ideology in the shadow of the pyramids. These colossal structures are more than a testament to ancient Egypt’s architectural prowess; they are emblematic of a society deeply entrenched in ritual, reverence, and cosmological beliefs.

The ancient Egyptians’ profound understanding of the afterlife was at the heart of pyramid construction. In their belief system, death was not an end but a transcendental journey – a passage from the terrestrial realm to the cosmic beyond. The pyramid epitomized this ascension, with its pointed apex reaching the heavens. Its sloping sides, reminiscent of the sun’s rays, symbolized the pharaoh’s spiritual ascent to join the sun deity, Ra, in his daily voyage across the sky.

The pyramid’s geometric shape held further significance. The square base, anchored to the earth, represented the four cardinal directions, encapsulating the pharaoh’s dominion over the terrestrial world. Meanwhile, the singular apex symbolized the primordial mound, the first piece of land to emerge from the chaotic waters in ancient Egyptian creation myths. Thus, the pyramid was not merely a tomb but a representation of the world’s creation and the pharaoh’s pivotal role in maintaining cosmic order.

Delving within the pyramids, one is greeted by a kaleidoscope of art and inscriptions. The walls, alive with intricate hieroglyphics and vivid frescoes, chronicle the pharaoh’s earthly endeavors and divine lineage. More crucially, these inscriptions – often excerpts from the “Pyramid Texts” – provided spells, rituals, and incantations to safeguard the pharaoh’s voyage through the underworld, ensuring safe passage and thwarting malevolent entities.

Furthermore, the pyramids, particularly those at Giza, showcase a sophisticated understanding of astronomy. Their alignments with celestial bodies, like the constellation of Orion and the stellar North Pole, suggest a civilization deeply attuned to the cosmos’s rhythms. This celestial alignment, far from coincidental, reinforces the notion of the pharaoh’s divine descent and his inevitable reunion with the stars.

In sum, the symbolism imbued within the pyramids offers a window into the soul of ancient Egypt – a civilization where the temporal and cosmic realms intertwined, where every stone and glyph echoed a profound reverence for the mysteries of existence and the eternal voyage of the soul.

The Pyramid Builders

To truly fathom the grandeur of the pyramids, one must delve into the lives of those who breathed life into these edifices – the myriad workers, artisans, and visionaries responsible for these monumental undertakings.

Contrary to antiquated misconceptions of slaves toiling under the whip, contemporary archaeological discoveries paint a different, more nuanced picture. The workforce behind the pyramids comprised a rotating cadre of well-nourished, skilled laborers organized into communities and hierarchically structured teams. These teams, often named evocatively – like “Friends of Khufu” or “Drunkards of Menkaure” – took immense pride in their craft, leaving inscriptions hinting at camaraderie and collective ambition.

The pyramid builders’ settlements, unearthed near construction sites, are revelations. They depict planned habitats with bakeries, breweries, and modest dwellings – indicative of a self-sustaining community where workers, though engaged in arduous labor, were treated with dignity and care. Skeletal remains unearthed from these sites bear marks of medical treatments, suggesting the presence of physicians tending to the workers’ ailments.

Beyond the manual laborers, a pyramid’s construction necessitated a constellation of other professionals. Quarrymen, adept with copper tools, extracted the massive blocks with precision. Engineers and architects, the unsung geniuses behind the designs, ensured the pyramids’ alignment, stability, and aesthetic appeal. Artisans with a discerning eye and deft hands sculpted statues, carved reliefs, and painted frescoes. Scribes, the learned men of their time, chronicled the construction process, maintained inventory, and recorded daily activities.

Additionally, the logistical orchestration behind sourcing and transporting materials was nothing short of Herculean. A labyrinthine network of canals facilitated the movement of massive limestone blocks on wooden sleds and boats. Overseers entrusted with the weighty responsibility of ensuring timelines and quality were pivotal in coordinating this symphony of activities.

In essence, beyond their stone façades, the pyramids are a testament to a collaborative human endeavor. They are monuments not just to pharaohs but to the countless unsung heroes who, brick by brick, dream by dream, converged to craft edifices that would defy time itself. They remind us that behind every monumental achievement lies countless individuals’ sweat, ambition, and ingenuity, bound together by a shared vision and an indomitable spirit.

Legacy and Influence

The pyramids, standing sentinel upon the Giza plateau, are not just relics of a bygone era; they are living legacies echoing the resonance of ancient Egypt throughout the ages. Like the outstretched arms of the Nile, their influence meanders through time, shaping civilizations, inspiring artistry, and evoking wonder in countless souls.

Firstly, the architectural innovations birthed in the construction of the pyramids had profound reverberations. The methods pioneered – leveraging tools, transporting massive stones, and precision alignment techniques – were foundational for subsequent monumental structures across the ancient world. The Greeks, with their iconic temples, and the Romans, with their grandiose edifices, drew insights, directly or indirectly, from these Egyptian marvels.

The pyramids’ metaphysical allure also catalyzed spiritual reflections. They became emblematic of humanity’s eternal quest to transcend the mortal realm and grapple with the vast unknowns of the cosmos. Their ethereal silhouette against the desert horizon has inspired myriad philosophical treatises and poetic musings, kindling meditations on life, death, and the divine.

In the realm of art, the pyramids have been muses for generations. From the meticulous paintings of David Roberts to the cinematic spectacles of Hollywood, their portrayal has been both a canvas for historical reconstruction and a backdrop for fictional tales of adventure and mystery. Modern architectural designs have also mirrored their iconicity, as seen in the Louvre Pyramid in Paris and the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas.

Moreover, in the annals of exploration, the pyramids have spurred endeavors marked by scholarly rigor and audacious imagination. They have beckoned historians, archaeologists, and even amateur enthusiasts, each drawn by the promise of unearthing secrets in their chambers. The persistent myths – of hidden chambers, celestial alignments, and arcane rituals – only amplify their enigma, ensuring their narratives are continually revisited and reimagined.

Beyond the tangible and the intellectual, the pyramids have an indelible cultural imprint. They are emblematic of Egypt’s rich heritage, drawing millions of travelers annually, each questing for a rendezvous with history. These interactions – of awe-struck gazes, whispered legends and shared stories – create a tapestry of intercultural exchanges, fostering a global appreciation for humanity’s shared heritage.

The pyramids are not static monuments; they pulse with life. They are bridges connecting epochs, civilizations, and souls. Their legacy is a testament to the indomitable spirit of human ingenuity and our ceaseless yearning to craft narratives that stand resilient against the sands of time, much like the pyramids themselves.

As we stand on the precipice of time, gazing upon the pyramids’ enduring majesty, we are compelled to reflect on the structures themselves and the tapestry of civilization they represent. While rooted in the sands of Egypt, these ancient edifices transcend geographical boundaries, beckoning humanity with a siren’s call that reverberates through the millennia.

In their stoic splendor, the pyramids encapsulate a confluence of human endeavors – ambition, artistry, spirituality, and resilience. They are, in essence, chronicles in stone, capturing the pulse of a civilization that, while distant in time, feels intimately connected to our existential quests. Their construction narrates tales of collaborative spirit, where individuals, driven by a shared vision, toiled under the sun to craft monuments that defy impermanence.

Their profound symbolism, intertwined with Egypt’s cosmological beliefs, serves as a poignant reminder of humanity’s ceaseless yearnings – to understand our place in the cosmos, to grapple with the enigmas of life and death, and to leave imprints that echo our existence. Every stone, every glyph, and every chamber resonates with stories, myths, and rituals, offering tantalizing glimpses into the psyche of a people deeply attuned to the mysteries of the universe.

Furthermore, the pyramids’ legacy and influence, seamlessly woven into the fabric of global culture, underscores the interconnectedness of human civilizations. Their architectural marvels inspired edifices across continents; their tales fueled artistic expressions and scholarly pursuits, bridging epochs and ideologies. They are luminous beacons illuminating human history’s rich tapestry and shared cultural inheritance.

In drawing this exploration to a close, the pyramids challenge us with a profound reflection. They beckon us to recognize the impermanence of life but also to appreciate the indelible imprints we can leave behind. They are a testament to the idea that while civilizations may wane and epochs may fade, the human spirit, in its relentless pursuit of excellence and meaning, can craft legacies that endure, casting shadows that linger long after the sun has set.

Thus, as the golden hues of the Egyptian sun caress the pyramids, casting ethereal silhouettes against the canvas of time, we are left with an invigorating sense of purpose and an appreciation for the boundless potential of human endeavor. In the echoes of the past, we find reflections for the future – a future where we, too, can aspire to etch our narratives in the annals of time.

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• Mesopotamia

The Pyramids of Egypt

Updated 24 November 2023

Subject Mesopotamia ,  Middle East

Downloads 43

Category History ,  World

Topic Pyramids ,  Egypt

The pyramids of Egypt are considered among the Seven Wonders of the World and it’s irrefutable that they pose a challenge to contemporary human beings in an attempt to decipher their secrets. These commemorative tombs are the remnants of the period's governed through Egypt's the Old Kingdom. Having been built over 4500 years ago (Edwards and Stephen), the pyramids seem to have withstood a lifetime. Learning how the Pyramids of Giza were built is no simple quest since there were no cameras to document the construction at the time they were built. But, scientists have pieced together clues on how the towering monuments were constructed. A series of new discoveries over the past decades have enabled researchers to paint a clear picture of how the pyramids of Giza were built. Additionally, today’s scientists have learned about the people who took part in the construction and the political powers which necessitated the activities. In this essay, I will dive deep in the how and why the three pyramids of Giza were constructed.

Archeological digs of the awesome site depict a highly organized community of builders with abundant resources supported by a central authority. The initial phase of the construction was to identify the suitable site (Smith). The western side of the Nile was preferred as it was the sunset direction, and the dead were also perceived to get into the underworld through that side. The pyramids were also to be located on a raised ground, away from the exposure of floods during Nile’s overflow.

Moreover, the building ground was not to be away from the bank; the river was the link through which the fine quality limestone blocks used in outer casing were to be obtained from Tura, on the further side of the Nile (Bard). The site chosen would be placed on a section of the desert plateau to provide rigid rock bottom susceptible to holding the massive weight of the pyramid without the conventional threat of breaking. It was also expected to be eyesight away from the capital for the King to survey the construction whenever possible.

Site Preparation

With the floor plan of The Valley of Kings tombs in existence, the construction of the pyramid was a no random act as the measurements were exact to a greater degree. The workers were to first make the foundation rigid through the removal of loose sand from the rock. This was followed by making rock-bottom wholly flat. This was carried out by building mud walls around the base and cutting channels in an array over the surface. The mud walls would be filled with water which was drained afterwards, consequently leaving projecting rocks to be cut into required shapes and filling the depressions to obtain an adequately levelled surface.

Both sides of the pyramid had to face one of the pivotal points. The builders set up the True North initially and obtained the rest of the directions from that. It was established through having a sighting of particular star on the Northern sky; they would view the rising and setting of the star and mark the appearance and disappearance on the unnatural horizon. This was probably attained by the assistance of the right-angled drawing instruments. Follow up activity was making a perfect square out of the leveled rock bottom. All the four corners had to be of equal length and accurate right angles.

Raising the Blocks

Often at times, the rocky projections were used as the pyramid core to make work easier. The inner sections and pass ways would be built separately and real pyramids built around them. The major pyramid constructors appeared to have declined on the proposed burial site. The pyramid located at the center would be built of limestone extracted from the desert plateau. After completion of the major structure, the pyramid was finished through covering it with well-shaped and dressed Tura limestone. Granite was also used at times in lower cases.

The exact method of raising pyramids is not clear as pulleys were later inventions of the Romans. Nevertheless, Herodotus; Greek Historian, tells of the use of levers in raising blocks from one level to another (Hodges and Keable). Some speculations have also rented the Historic atmosphere that teams of workers would use ramps in hauling the blocks. The defectiveness of this theory is that the ramps would have attained the height of the pyramids hence extending into the desert. Apparently, there is no trace of such a structure and another idea is leveraging on the thought that the ramp was disassembled after completion of the structure. These deliberations are still underway on the construction methods.

Aside from the creative methods in which the pyramids of Egypt were constructed, various political and cultural reasons necessitated the building of the pyramids. The pyramids were built for religious purposes. Egyptians are considered to be among the civil societies which believed in hereafter. They perceived that second self (Ka) was dwelling within every individual. After the expiry of physical body, the Ka enjoyed eternity. The ones who were lucky enough to pass the “Osiris” test needed to find comfort in life after death. It is however a no-brainer that the Great Pyramids were magnificent tombs of the Great Pharaohs.

Moreover, the Egyptian Tycoons preferred taking their valuable possessions with them to afterlife for the Ka to enjoy a greater deal of them. The chambers of Great Tombs were filled with gold, silver and bronze artifacts. The inner chambers were graced with artwork and fine linens. Some Tombs were even furnished with restrooms significantly for the Pharaohs.

Every meaningful Pyramid is but a section of the grand complex housing a palace, temples, solar boat pits, and other significant features (David and David). The construction workers hailed from the close temporary city. During floods, the farmers would also be incorporated in the building. The builders were highly skilled and well-bred Egyptians. It is probable that the Egyptian communities solicited people, brought food and other essentials collectively in the somewhat national project aimed at portraying the mass of means “wealth” and the jurisdiction of the ancient Pharaohs.

In sum, while various conspiracy theories surround the construction of the pyramids of Egypt, the belief by scientists and archaeologists that the builders used sledges to pull huge stone blocks and a pulley system to haul them up the pyramid's slopes seems more down to earth. The builders also relied on water to lubricate the stone blocks lugged along the sand, before being winched into place. As for the why the pyramids were constructed, religious reasons and the need for place to store valuable possession for use in the afterlife are some of the most logical explanations.

Works Cited

Smith, Craig B. How the great pyramid was built. Smithsonian Institution, 2018.

Bard, Kathryn A. An introduction to the archaeology of ancient Egypt. John Wiley " Sons, 2015.

Hodges, Peter, and Julian Keable. How the pyramids were built. Aris " Phillips, 1989.

David, A. Rosalie, and Rosalie David. The pyramid builders of ancient Egypt: a modern investigation of pharaoh's workforce. Routledge, 2002.

Edwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen. The pyramids of Egypt. Vol. 168. In the Hands of a Child, 1947.

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History: Pyramids of Egypt Research Paper

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Introduction

Construction dates.

Bibliography

The Pyramids of Egypt are world known for its large structures that man has ever built and constitute one of the most potent and enduring symbols of Ancient Egyptian civilization. Its also one of the 7 wonders of the world and visited on a daily basis by millions of people.

Most of these pyramids were built during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods of the Egyptian dynasty which is somewhere around the 3-6 th dynasties in Egypt. During Egypt’s Old Kingdom, the pharaohs established a stable central government in the fertile Nile Valley. All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile river which was the site of the setting sun.

Its important to study the history of Egypt till the time the pyramid was built to understand its historical values. Ancient Egyptian history is broken into several different periods according to the dynasty of the ruling pharaoh as quoted; the following is the list according to conventional Egyptian chronology. Perhaps the greatest testaments to their power were the pyramids and other tombs built to shelter them in the afterlife.

The Predynastic Period of Egypt (prior to 3100 BC) is traditionally the period between the Early Neolithic and the beginning of the Pharaonic monarchy beginning with King Narmer. Most archaeological sites in Egypt have been excavated only in Upper Egypt, because the silt of the Nile River was more heavily deposited at the delta region, and most delta sites from the predynastic period have since been buried totally.

Although Lower Egypt seems to have had a significantly different culture, its nature is still unknown. However, the dates of the predynastic period were first defined before widespread archaeological excavation of Egypt had taken place, and recent finds which show the course of predynastic development to have been very gradual have caused scholars to argue about when exactly the predynastic period ended.

The period from 9,000 to 6,000 BC has left very little in the way of archaeological evidence, however, around 6,000 BC Neolithic settlements have been found all over Egypt. The culture of hunters, fishers, and gathering peoples using stone tools replaced them.

The Tasian culture was the next to begin in Upper Egypt. The Badarian Culture, named for the Badari site near Der Tasa, followed the Tasian culture, however similarities between the two have lead very many to not differentiate between them at all. Badarian flint tools continued to develop into sharper and more shapely blades, and the first faience and more was developed. Continued desiccation forced the early ancestors of the Egyptians to settle around the Nile more permanently and forced them to adapt a more sedentary lifestyle.

Although archaeological sites reveal very little about this time, an examination of the many Egyptian words for city can provide a hypothetical list of reasons for why the Egyptians settled. In Upper Egypt, the words for city indicate that they functioned for trade and protection of livestock, for protection from the flood on high ground, or, as sacred sites for deities.

The Amratian culture is named after the site of El-Amra, about 120 km south of Badari. El-Amra was the first site where this culture group was found without being mingled with the later Gerzean culture group, however, this period is better attested at the Naqada site, thus it also is referred to as the Naqada I culture. Trade between Upper and Lower Egypt is attested at this time, as new excavated objects attest. New innovations such as mud-brick buildings for which the Gerzean period is well known also to begin during this time, attesting to cultural continuity, however, they did not reach nearly the widespread use that they were known for in later times.

The Gerzean culture, named after the site of Gerzeh, was the next stage in Egyptian cultural development, and it was during this time that the foundation for Dynastic Egypt was laid. Gerzean culture is largely an unbroken development out of Amratian Culture, starting in the delta and moving south through upper Egypt, however, failing to dislodge Amratian Culture in Nubia. Gerzean culture coincided with a significant drop in rainfall, and farming produced the vast majority of food, although paintings from this time indicate that hunting was not entirely forgone. With increased food supplies, Egyptians adopted a greatly more sedentary lifestyle, and larger settlements grew to cities with about 5,000 residents.

It was in this time that Egyptian city dwellers stopped building out of reeds, and used the mud-brick, which was developed in the Amratian Period, en masse to build their cities.

Egyptian stone tools, while still in use, moved from bifacial construction to ripple-flaked construction, copper was used to make all kinds of tools as well, and also for the first time, copper weaponry turns up. Silver, gold, lapis, and faience were used ornamentally, and the grinding palettes used for eye-paint since the Badarian period began to be adorned with relief carvings. Tombs also begin to be constructed in classic Egyptian style, being modeled to resemble normal houses, and sometimes composed of multiple rooms.

The Protodynastic Period of Egypt (generally dated 3200 BC – 3000 BC) refers to the period of time at the very end of the Predynastic Period. The Protodynastic Period is characterised as being the time when ancient Egypt was undergoing the process of political unification, leading to a unified state during the Early Dynastic Period. Furthermore, it is during this time when the Egyptian language was first being recorded in hieroglyphs. State formation began during this era and perhaps even earlier.

Various small city-states arose along the Nile. Not much is known of Lower Egypt’s political makeup but they may have shared in Naqada’s Set cult while Thinis and Nekhen were part of the Horus cult. Thinis then conquered Lower Egypt. Nekhen’s relationship with Thinis is uncertain but these two states may have merged peacefully with the Thinite royal family ruling all of Egypt. The Thinite kings are buried at Abydos in the Umm el-Qa’ab cemetery.

Most Egyptologists consider Narmer to be the last king of this period (although some place him in the First Dynasty), as well as the so-called “Scorpion King(s)”, whose name may refer to, or be derived from, the goddess, Serket, a special early protector of other deities and the rulers.

The Archaic or Early Dynastic Period of Egypt immediately follows the unification of Lower and Upper Egypt c. 3150 BC With the First Dynasty, the capital moved from Abydos to Memphis where an Egyptian god-king ruled a now unified polity that extended from the Nile Delta to the first cataract at Aswan. With the early dynasties, and for much of Egypt’s history thereafter, the country came to be known as the Two Lands. The rulers established a national administration and appointed royal governors. The buildings of the central government were typically open-air temples constructed of wood or sandstone.

According to Manetho, the first king was Menes. It has also so been interpreted that King Menes and the whole traditional story of an Egypt unified under a single conquering ruler, who led his armies and conquered lower Egypt to establish the first dynasty in the lower Egyptian city of Memphis, is just mythology as are the twin kingdoms story.

The Old Kingdom is the name commonly given to that period in the 3rd millennium BC when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilization in complexity and achievement – this was the first of three so-called “Kingdom” periods, which mark the high points of civilization The royal capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom was located at Memphis, The Old Kingdom is perhaps best known, however, for the large number of pyramids, which were constructed at this time as pharaonic burial places. For this reason, the Old Kingdom is frequently referred to as “the Age of the Pyramids.”

Ancient Egyptians believed that when the pharaoh died, he became Osiris, king of the dead. The new pharaoh became Horus, god of the heavens and protector of the sun god. This cycle was symbolized by the rising and setting of the sun. Some part of a dead pharaoh’s spirit, called his ka, was believed to remain with his body. And it was thought that if the corpse did not have proper care, the former pharaoh would not be able to carry out his new duties as king of the dead. If this happened, the cycle would be broken and disaster would befall Egypt.

The Old Kingdom and its royal power reached their zenith under the Fourth Dynasty, which began with Sneferu (2575–2551 BC). Using a greater mass of stones than any other pharaoh, he built three pyramids: a now collapsed pyramid in Meidum, the famous Bent Pyramid in Dahshur (another failure), and the small Red Pyramid, also in Dahshur. Sneferu was succeeded by his son, Khufu (2589 – 2566 BC) who built the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Later Egyptian literature describes him as a cruel tyrant, who imposed forced labor on his subjects to complete his pyramid. After Khufu’s death his sons Djedefra (2528–2520 BC) and Khafra (2520–2494 BC) may have quarreled. To prevent such a catastrophe, each dead pharaoh was mummified, which preserved his body. Everything the king would need in his afterlife was provided in his grave—vessels made of clay, stone, and gold, furniture, food, even doll-like representations of servants, known as ushabti.

The latter built the second pyramid and (in traditional thinking) the Sphinx in Giza. Recent reexamination of evidence has suggested that the Sphinx may have been built by Djedefra as a monument to Khufu. The later kings of the Fourth Dynasty were king Menkaura (2494–2472 BC), who built the smallest pyramid in Giza, Shepseskaf (2472–2467 BC) and Djedefptah (2486–2484 BC).

This period is characterized by the country’s fracturing kingship. Even in Ramesses’ day, the Twentieth dynasty was losing its grip on power in the city of Thebes, whose priests were becoming increasingly powerful. After his death, his successor Smendes I ruled from the city of Tanis, and the High Priests of Amun at Thebes ruling the south of the country. In fact, this division was less significant than it seems, since both priests and pharaohs came from the same family.

The pyramid shape of later tombs could have come from these mounds. More likely, Egyptian pyramids were modeled on a sacred, pointed stone called the benben. The benben symbolized the rays of the sun; ancient texts claimed that pharaohs reached the heavens via sunbeams. Contrary to some popular depictions, the pyramid builders were not slaves or foreigners. Excavated skeletons show that they were Egyptians who lived in villages developed and overseen by the pharaoh’s supervisors.

The builders’ villages boasted bakers, butchers, brewers, granaries, houses, cemeteries, and probably even some sorts of health-care facilities—there is evidence of laborers surviving crushed or amputated limbs. Bakeries excavated near the Great Pyramids could have produced thousands of loaves of bread every week. Some of the builders were permanent employees of the pharaoh. Others were conscripted for a limited time from local villages.

Some may have been women; Although no depictions of women builders have been found, some female skeletons show wear that suggests they labored with heavy stone for long periods of time. Graffiti indicates that at least some of these workers took pride in their work, calling their teams “Friends of Khufu,” “Drunkards of Menkaure,” and so on—names indicating allegiances to pharaohs. An estimated 20,000 to 30,000 workers built the Pyramids at Giza over 80 years. Much of the work probably happened while the River Nile was flooded.

Huge limestone blocks could be floated from quarries right to the base of the Pyramids. The stones would likely then be polished by hand and pushed up ramps to their intended positions. It took more than manual labor, though. Architects achieved an accurate pyramid shape by running ropes from the outer corners up to the planned summit, to make sure the stones were positioned correctly. And priests-astronomers helped choose the pyramids’ sites and orientations, so that they would be on the appropriate axis in relation to sacred constellations.

From stone pusher to priest, every worker would likely have recognized his or her role in continuing the life-and-death cycle of the pharaohs, and thereby in perpetuating the glory of Egypt The historiography of this period is disputed for a variety of reasons.

Firstly there is a dispute about the utility of a very artificial term that covers an extremely long and complicated period of Egyptian history. The Third Intermediate period includes long periods of stability as well as chronic instability and civil conflict: its very name rather clouds this fact. Secondly there are significant problems of chronology stemming from several areas: first, there are the difficulties in dating common to all of Egyptian chronology but these are compounded due to synchronsyms with Biblical Archaeology that also contain heavily disputed dates.

Finally, some Egyptologists and biblical scholars, such as Kenneth Kitchen, or David Rohl have novel or controversial theories about the family relationships of the dynasties comprising the period. Before the pyramids, tombs were carved into bedrock and topped by flat-roofed structures called mastabas. Mounds of dirt, in turn, sometimes topped the structures.

The following table lays out the chronology of the construction of most of the major pyramids mentioned here. Each pyramid is identified through the pharaoh who ordered it built, their approximate reign and its location.

Archaeological evidence indicates that a developed Egyptian society and culture

National Geographic Society (2008) “Introduction to Pyramids”. Web.

“The Pyramids of Egypt”. Web.

“Mystery of the Egyptian Pyramids”. Web.

Dodson, A. “The Great Pyramid: Gateway to Eternity” . Web.

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1. IvyPanda . "History: Pyramids of Egypt." September 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pyramids-of-egypt-history/.

IvyPanda . "History: Pyramids of Egypt." September 3, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/pyramids-of-egypt-history/.

After a ruler died, his or her body was carefully treated and wrapped to preserve it as a mummy. According to ancient Egyptian belief, the pyramid, where the mummy was placed, provided a place for the monarch to pass into the afterlife. In temples nearby, priests performed rituals to nourish the dead monarch’s spirit, which was believed to stay with the body after death. In the Old Kingdom (a period of Egyptian history from about 2575 BC to about 2134 BC), Egyptian artists carved hieroglyphs on the walls of the burial chamber, designed to safeguard the dead monarch’s passage into the afterlife.

All pyramids were aligned to the cardinal directions, meaning that their sides ran almost exactly due north-south and east-west. Most pyramids rose from desert plateaus on the west bank of the Nile River, behind which the sun set. The Egyptians believed that a dead monarch’s spirit left the body and traveled through the sky with the sun each day. When the sun set in the west, the royal spirits settled into their pyramid tombs to renew themselves. The internal layout of pyramids changed over time, but the entrance was typically in the center of the north face.

From here a passage ran downward, sometimes leveling out, to the king’s burial chamber, which ideally was located directly underneath the pyramid’s center point. Sometimes, in addition to the burial chamber, there were storage chambers within the pyramid. These chambers held objects used in burial rituals as well as items for the deceased to use in the afterlife. Some of these items were valuable, and in later years people robbed many of the pyramids and stole the objects. A pyramid never stood alone in the desert.

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