Pyramids of Ancient Egypt: secrets, riddles, structure, architecture and internal structure of the pyramids of Ancient Egypt
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- The pyramids of Egypt are a unique architectural monument that has remained for centuries thanks to mysterious builders who managed to create structures so strong that no natural disasters and destructive wars could completely destroy these ancient Egyptian necropolises. The mystery of the pyramids has not yet been solved: it is impossible to speak with certainty about the method of their construction, or about who acted as the main labor force. Now in Egypt, there are about 118 pyramids, the largest of which were built during the reign of the 3rd and 4th dynasties of the pharaohs, that is, during the period of the so-called Old Kingdom. Pyramids are of two types: stepped and regular. The oldest structures are considered to be of the first type. For example, the pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, dating from 2650 BC. e.
The necropolis in Greek means "city of the dead" and is a cemetery, usually located on the outskirts of the city. Egyptian pyramids - one of the varieties of this kind of burials - served as monumental tombs for the pharaohs.
What do we know about the pyramids of Egypt?
For the first time, they learned about the pyramids thanks to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. Traveling around Egypt, he was struck by the famous pyramids of Giza and immediately ranked one of them, dedicated to Cheops, to the seven wonders of the world. Moreover, it was Herodotus who created the legend about how these structures were built. As soon as the pyramids became the object of research by scientists, and this happened only two hundred years ago, this legend immediately became a historical truth, the reliability of which was refuted not so long ago.
How the ancient pyramids were built
Until our time, not so much has survived as we would like. Numerous vandals who plundered the pyramids for the treasures hidden inside, and locals, breaking out stone blocks for the construction of palaces and mosques, destroyed part of the external and internal appearance. So, the Pink or Northern Pyramid from Dakhshur (26 km south of Cairo) got its name from the color of the stone turning pink in the rays of the setting Sun. However, she was not always like this. Previously, the structure was covered with white limestone, which was completely used for the construction of houses in Cairo.
For a long time it was believed that people who disturb the peace of the pharaohs were doomed by the ancient gods to death. This was confirmed by the legend of the curse of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, according to which everyone who participated in the opening of the grave had to die within several years. Indeed, by 1929 (the tomb was opened in 1922) 22 people, one way or another involved in the autopsy, had died. Whether the reason was the magic of Ancient Egypt or the poison put in the sarcophagus during burial - it remains to be wondered.
It is believed that the famous Great Sphinx, which lies not far from the pyramids of Giza, is the guardian of the rest of the buried pharaohs.
Architecture and internal structure of the pyramids
The pyramids were only part of the ritual and burial complex. Next to each of them were two temples, one next to each other and the other much lower, so that its foot was washed by the waters of the Nile. The pyramids and temples were connected by alleys. An analogue of a similar alley can be seen in Luxor. The famous Luxor and Karnak temples were united by the alley of the sphinxes that has partially survived to our time. The pyramids of Giza have practically not preserved their temples and alleys: only the lower temple of Khafre, the pharaoh of the IV dynasty, which for a long time was considered the temple of the Great Sphinx, remained.
The internal structure of the pyramids implied the obligatory presence of a chamber where the sarcophagus with the mummy was located, and the cut passages to this chamber. Sometimes religious texts were placed there. Thus, the interior of the pyramids in Saqqara, an Egyptian village 30 km from Cairo, contained the most ancient works of funeral literature that have come down to us.
It is believed that the famous Great Sphinx, which lies not far from the pyramids of Giza, is the guardian of the rest of the buried pharaohs. The ancient Egyptian name for this world's first monumental sculpture has not survived to our time. Only the Greek version of the designation remained in history. Medieval Arabs called the Sphinx "the father of horror".
Modern Egyptologists suggest that the construction of the pyramids was carried out in several stages. Moreover, sometimes the size of the tomb during the creation process increased several times in comparison with the original project. Pharaohs built their tomb for many years. Only land work and leveling the site for the future construction required at least ten. It took Pharaoh Cheops twenty years to build the largest pyramid to date. The workers who built the tombs were not slaves tortured to death at all. Moreover, archaeological excavations have shown that they were kept in fairly decent conditions, treated and fed normally. However, it is still not known exactly how the huge stone blocks got to the very top. It is only obvious that the construction technique has changed over time, and later structures were built differently than the first.
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Djoser's pyramid
Giza, Al Badrashin
It is definitely worth deciding on this trip, if only out of curiosity. After all, the pyramid of Djoser is recognized as the oldest surviving Egyptian pyramid. Yes, this is the first pyramid of Egypt, and it was built in honor of the ruler Djoser by the architect and close associate of the pharaoh Imhotep.
The ancient Egyptian pyramids at all times attracted people with their gigantic size and unique appearance, but especially the secrets hidden in them.
Built as tombs for the rulers - the pharaohs of the ancient kingdoms, in the period from 2800 to 2250. BC, they are one of the most voluminous and technically perfect structures built by man at that time. Nowadays, the pyramids are the most demanded sightseeing objects in Egypt.
The pyramids are pyramidal stone structures that have survived to this day in almost their original form, despite the considerable age of these giants, the destructive force of nature and the vandalism of some local residents. The tomb of the ruler Cheops, built in Giza and included in the "Seven Wonders of the World", is considered the largest pyramid.
All questions regarding the technology of building the pyramids, their internal filling and decoration, the origin and skill of the builders haunt the scientists of the whole world all the time. Studying the interior of the pyramids, the preserved things of the rulers and their entourage, scientists all the time make amazing discoveries and findings that shed light on the life of ancient people, their way of thinking, religion and science.
An uncountable number of expeditions were organized to the region of Cairo and Giza, where the largest number of necropolises is located, but no definitive answers to all these questions have been received.
How could ancient people, without special equipment, extract huge blocks from rocks for construction, process them, deliver them to the construction site and raise them to the required height? Who were the ancient builders and where did they get the skills and experience in performing such works in such a tight and shortest time frame? Why or why are the faces of the pyramids strictly oriented to the cardinal points? Are buildings of this scale the work of human hands or were there some outside forces involved in this process? On the basis of what ideas and guesses during the construction was this particular polyhedron shape chosen? For what purposes and rituals were the interiors and some items of the pyramids intended?
Until now, scientists and engineers, treasure hunters and just adventure lovers pay close attention to this original and unique historical heritage of the ancient Egyptians. And it is not yet known how many secrets and discoveries are still hidden behind the thick walls of the pyramids.
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The pyramids built in Ancient Egypt are the greatest architectural monuments around the world. They are recognized as a component of the seven wonders of the world, the Pyramids of Cheops and Giza are recognized. They are magnificent structures built entirely of stone, yet in the form of pyramids. In the past, they were used as burial places for pharaohs.
“Pyramid” was translated from the original language and meant “polyhedron”. Some of the historians say that the prototype of the pyramids was wheat stacked in haystacks. Others say that in Egypt, funeral pies of a similar shape were baked and the name came precisely from the name of this funeral cake. For all the time, about 118 magnificent structures of various sizes were built.
- Many believe that the crypts of the pharaohs were located right inside the pyramids, but in fact they were left in a special place called the Valley of the Kings.
- One of the historical theories says that each of the majestic pyramids was built using the principle of a lever, which they opened, and then successfully used it in practice. At the same time, the Egyptians managed to build the Cheops pyramid in two decades, although, according to calculations, the construction time should have taken about a century and a half.
- All stones are located in such a way that even a human hair cannot pass between them. This fact amazes historians and architects, who cannot restore this accuracy even with the help of modern technology.
- Each side of the pyramids is located clearly in the direction of the cardinal points. Each face of the pyramid is curved exactly one meter, which allows the sun to focus on each face.
- The walls of the pyramid depict how the Egyptians built the pyramids, all points step by step.
- The height of the largest pyramid is 146.6 meters and the calculated weight is 6 million tons. And it covers an area of \u200b\u200babout 5 hectares of land.
The construction of the Egyptian pyramids is still a mystery, modern architects and scientists cannot understand how ancient people, without the use of advanced technologies, were able to build such masterpieces of architecture that could survive millennia and preserve their original appearance.
Report on the Pyramids of Ancient Egypt
In our world there are many secrets and mysteries associated with nature. One of these great mysteries is the pyramids. Namely, the pyramids of ancient Egypt.
About 100 pyramids have survived to this day. One of the pyramids is included in the wonders of the world - the pyramid of Cheops.
Tourists enjoy visiting these great structures. As we all know, the pyramids were built by the pharaohs, in order to bury various rulers there, along with their things and jewelry.
Pyramids were built from stone blocks, which people, in our time, drag off to build their houses. These blocks were made of pieces of rock. Even the blade could not get through between them, so they tried to make them perfect.
Inside, all the pyramids were similar, since they had the same goal. There was definitely a room where the sarcophagus stood, the entrance was high from the ground, the corridors leading to the burial could be very narrow and narrow.
There are many questions about why there was just such a shape, why the corners look to the cardinal points, how people could raise these blocks so high and, in general, how they were built, these pyramids. And most importantly, what kind of people built such huge heavy structures?
Someone thinks about the work of slaves, someone about the military forces. Some attribute the help of Gods or aliens. In any case, many believe that the effort and time that was spent on their construction is not worth the fact that in their essence the pyramids are meaningless, or there is a meaning, but we do not understand it. And yet it is the only wonder of the world that has survived to our time.
Many people talk about the mysticism of these places. In many pyramids, all kinds of excavations took place, and after that these people died. A few years later, those people who opened the pyramid died, unfortunately, this is a fact. Many researchers say that those who were buried there are not there at all. Many of the mummies of the pharaohs were simply not found. If we talk about looters, then why then all the jewelry remained. This is a difficult riddle for our humanity.
Scientists argue that usually it should take at least 100 years to make a pyramid, but in some mysterious way the pyramid was built in about 25 years.
The most interesting thing is that usually burials were built long before the death of these same pharaohs. So it was accepted. Of course, until now, tombs are often plundered by so-called treasure lovers, so even then this was provided for by making various traps.
Not far from these pyramids is a statue of the sphinx, as if guarding the entrance to the pyramids. There used to be a legend that as soon as this sphinx is covered with sand, the one who dug it out and becomes a pharaoh. Of course, scientists did not find this confirmation.
This is a very interesting and mysterious topic that can be disclosed even after many years.
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What are the Egyptian pyramids?
Perhaps the most famous form of late prehistoric art, the pyramids of Ancient Egypt are the world's largest burial structures or tombs. Created from the tomb of the mastaba, they are one of the most enduring symbols of Egyptian art in general and Egyptian architecture in particular. The ancient Egyptians believed in an eternal afterlife and the purpose of the pyramids was to protect the body of the pharaoh and all the things he would need after death to facilitate his transition to the afterlife. Thus, each pyramid usually contained many Egyptian sculptures, murals, jewelry, and other forms of ancient art needed to sustain the deceased in their afterlife. To date, about 140 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt, most of which were built as tombs for the country's pharaohs and their spouses during the periods of the Old and Middle Kingdom (2650-1650). The oldest known Egyptian pyramids are located at Saqqara, near Memphis, south of the Nile Delta. The earliest of these is Djoser's pyramid (built around 2630 in Sakkara), which was designed during the third dynasty by the famous architect Imhotep (active around 2600-2610 BC). The highest was Great Pyramid of Giza (c. 2565), which Antipater of Sidon called one of the seven wonders of the world and is currently the only survivor of the "miracles". Exactly how many paid laborers were required to cut, transport, and erect the stone megaliths from which each pyramid was built is unknown, although estimates range from 30,000 to 300,000. However, the enormous resources required to create such colossal pieces of ancient architecture show how rich and well-organized Egyptian society was in the third millennium BC.
How did Egyptian architecture develop before the construction of the pyramids?
The architectural design of the pyramids was a reflection of both politics and religious customs. Until 3000 BC Ancient Egypt was actually two countries with two burial traditions. In Lower Egypt (in the north), the country was wet and level, and the dead were buried under their family home, which was usually built on a hill. In Upper Egypt (in the south), the dead were buried far from settlements, in dry sand at the edge of the desert. The mound was usually erected over the grave. As dwellings and burial places were closer, in the period from 3000 to 2700, nobles were usually buried in a simple tomb called a mastaba. It was a simple tomb, consisting of a rectangular structure with a flat roof made of mud bricks, with slightly sloping walls, inside which a deep burial chamber was dug into the ground, lined with stone or brick. After some time, the flat roof of the above ground building was replaced by a pyramidal structure. Finally, the idea came - conceived by Imhotep - to stack the mastabas one on top of the other, forming a series of "steps" that decreased in size towards the top, thus creating the familiar design of a stepped pyramid. Not all pyramid designs have been successful. The architects hired by King Snefru built three pyramids: the first one, pyramid in Meidum, collapsed in antiquity; second, curved pyramid, had a radically changed angle in the middle of its structure; only the third, red pyramid proved to be successful.
What is the history of the Egyptian pyramids?
The next phase of construction, which took place in the subsequent architecture era of the Egyptian New Kingdom (1550-1069), focused on the construction of temples. Egyptian pharaohs were no longer buried in pyramids, but in burial temples located in the Valley of the Kings on the western bank of the Nile opposite Thebes. A revival of pyramid building occurred in the subsequent period of late Egyptian architecture (c. 664-30 BC). During the Napata era in neighboring Sudan (c. 700-661 BC), a series of pyramids were built under the influence of Egyptian architects. Later, during the time of the Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe (c. 300 BC - 300 AD), more than two hundred pyramidal burial structures were built. For more information on the Hellenistic period (323-27 BC) see: Greek art. For information on building methods in ancient Rome, please see: Roman Architecture (c. 400 BC - 400 AD).
What were the main characteristics of the pyramid?
The early pyramids were built differently from the later ones. For example, the monumental pyramids of the Old Kingdom were built from stone blocks, while the pyramids of the late Middle Kingdom were smaller and were generally made of mud bricks faced with limestone. Early structures usually had a core of local limestone covered with an outer layer of better quality limestone or sometimes granite. Granite was also traditionally used for royal halls inside the pyramid. For the construction of one pyramid, up to 2.5 million limestone blocks and up to 50 thousand granite blocks could be used. The average weight can be up to 2.5 tons per block, and some very large megaliths weigh up to 200 tons. The keystone at the top of the structure was usually basalt or granite and, if covered with gold, silver, or electrum (a mixture of both), can dazzle observers with its reflection of the sun. Based on excavations of a number of workers' cemeteries discovered in the early 1990s, archaeologists now believe that the pyramids were built by tens of thousands of wage laborers and artisans who were housed in huge camps nearby.
Deep inside each pyramid was the main chamber, which contained the mummified body of the dead pharaoh, placed in a precious sarcophagus. In addition, as noted, a huge number of artifacts were buried with him to support him in the afterlife, as well as monuments to the dead man himself: for example, inside Pyramids of Khafre there were over 52 life-size statues. In addition, fictitious passages were dug to prevent subsequent desecration of the tomb and theft of valuables.
All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, where the sun sets, in accordance with the official religious doctrine regarding the kingdom of the dead. (The pharaoh's soul presumably connected with the sun during his descent, before continuing his eternal journey with him.) Most of the pyramids were lined with polished white limestone (much of which has now been stolen) to give them a shiny reflective look from a distance. Curved pyramid in Dahshur, one of the few that still retains some of its original limestone cover. They were located relatively close to the Nile, which facilitated the delivery of stone from quarries near Heliopolis by river.
The pharaohs - along with their architects, engineers and construction supervisor - usually started building their own pyramid as soon as they ascended the throne. The two main factors that determined the location of the pyramid during the Old Kingdom included its orientation to the western horizon (where the sun went down) and its proximity to Memphis, the country's key city in the third millennium.
The most famous Egyptian pyramids
Pyramid of Djoser (about 2630) (Saqqara)
Built in the Sakkara necropolis, northwest of Memphis city, it is the centerpiece huge complex, bordered on all sides by a 33-foot wall of Tura light limestone. Marked as the first monumental structure of stone and the most famous "stepped" Egyptian pyramid, its original height was approximately 203 feet (62 meters). It was faced with polished white limestone.
Bent pyramid (c. 2600) (Dakhshur)
This peculiar structure, called the curved, blunt or diamond-shaped pyramid and formerly also known as the southern glowing pyramid, is located in the royal necropolis of Dakhshur, south of Cairo. Approximately 320 feet (98 meters) high, next to the second pyramid erected by the ruler of Snefru. A kind of flexible pyramid hybrid with stepped and smooth sides, the only one whose original polished limestone cladding remained intact.
Red Pyramid (c. 2600) (Dakhshur)
Named after a red-colored stone, 341 feet high, it is the largest of three important pyramids at the Dakhshur necropolis and the third largest after those at Khufu and Khafre at Giza. Experts also consider it the world's first "true" smooth pyramid. Ironically, it was not always red because - like almost all pyramids - it was originally faced with the white Tura limestone. It was the third pyramid built by Pharaoh Snefru and took 10 to 17 years to build.
Pyramid of Khufu / Cheops (about 2565) (Giza)
Built by Pharaoh Khufu, son of Pharaoh Snefru, the pyramid of Khufu (in Greek: Cheops) is known as the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is the oldest and largest of the three tombs in the Giza necropolis. Roughly 4,806 feet (146 meters) high, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly four millennia. According to eminent Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie, it was built from approximately 2,400,000 limestone blocks, each weighing 2.5 tons. It took about 20 years to build it. Most of the rough interior blocks were quarried locally, but the granite for the Pharaoh's chambers came from quarries at Aswan, about 500 miles from Giza. In addition to approximately 6 million tons of limestone, the Khufu pyramid used 8,000 tons of granite and about 500,000 tons of mortar.
Pyramid of Djedefre (about 2555) (Abu Rawash)
Now in ruins, mostly (believed to be) because it was dismantled by Roman builders who wanted to use the stone for their own building projects elsewhere in Egypt, this pyramid at Abu Ravash was built by Jedefre, the son of Pharaoh Khufu. It is the northernmost pyramid of Egypt and is believed to have been similar in size to the Menkaur pyramid at Giza, although some evidence suggests it may have been the tallest of all. Originally known as the "Starry Sky of Djedefre", according to Egyptologists, its outer layer of polished granite and limestone made it one of the most beautiful pyramids.
Pyramid of Khafre (about 2545) (Giza)
Rising 448 feet, this pyramid, also called the Shefren pyramid, is the second largest structure in the Giza necropolis, and because it sits on a slightly raised stone base, it looks as if it is taller than the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Also made of Tura limestone blocks, the largest of which weighed an estimated 400 tons, its outer hull was dismantled during the Egyptian New Kingdom era by Ramses II to provide stone for the construction of the Heliopolis temple. To the east of the pyramid is a conventional burial temple with an adjustable entrance hall, a columned courtyard, five rooms for a pharaoh statue, five storage chambers, and an inner sanctuary.
Menkaur pyramid (about 2520) (Giza)
It is the third and last of the famous pyramids at Giza, located southwest of Cairo. The smallest of the three, it originally stood at approximately 215 feet (65.5 meters), and like the others, it is made of limestone and granite. It served as the tomb of Pharaoh Menkaur, who, according to ancient historians such as Herodotus, was a kind and enlightened ruler. Inside the pyramid, archaeologists have discovered a large number of stone sculptures depicting the pharaoh in the traditional style of Egyptian naturalism, as well as a magnificent basalt sarcophagus that may have contained the remains of Menkaur. Unfortunately, the ship carrying him to England sank off the island of Malta.
Construction: how were the pyramids built?
Egyptologists remain unresolved about the exact construction method used to create the pyramids. In particular, experts disagree on the method by which the stones were transported and stacked (rollers, different types of ramps or leverage systems), as well as the type of labor used (slaves or paid workers, and if they were paid, they were given a salary or tax credit). Whatever the precise construction method, the results were extraordinary. For example, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built to extremely precise dimensions - a sheet of paper barely fits between the stones - and aligned to within a fraction of an inch across the entire 13-acre base. The latest construction techniques and laser alignment techniques could hardly be better. One of the reasons why the Egyptian pyramids are such an amazing example of megalithic art, and why they are among the greatest works in art history.
The 10-year-old obsession of the French architect made it possible to reveal a new, most realistic (true) theory of the construction of the Cheops pyramid. In the 2013 film, he shows how the outer ramp was arranged, along which the blocks were climbed, and proves its existence in place. This is one of the best pyramid building movies on Youtube.
How do I move heavy stone blocks?
One of the main difficulties faced by the early pyramid builders was how to move huge amounts of heavy stone blocks. It looks like this problem was solved using methods that included the following items. For starters, the stone blocks were oiled to facilitate movement. In addition, based on the excavation of artifacts from certain temples, it appears that the builders used a cradle-like machine to help roll the stones. This technique has been validated in tests conducted by Obayashi Corporation using 2.5 ton concrete blocks, which has proven that 18 people can pull a block up an inclined plane at a 1/4 (height to length) ratio at a speed of approximately 60 feet in minute. However, this method does not work for heavier blocks in the 15-80 ton weight range. Greek architecture borrows heavily from Egyptian building technology.
What equipment was used to build the pyramids?
In 1997, experts joined forces to conduct an experiment to build a pyramid for a television program. In three weeks, they erected a pyramid 20 feet high and 30 feet wide using 186 stones, each of which weighed about 2.2 tons. The project required 44 people using iron hammers, chisels and levers. Note: Experiments with brass tools have shown that they are a viable alternative to iron tools, but would require an additional 20 people to maintain their sharpness. In addition to the "iron" tools, a forklift truck was used, but no other modern equipment was allowed. Levers were used to flip and roll stones weighing up to 1 ton, while large stones were towed by a team of 12 to 20 people using wooden sleds.
How many workers were used to build the Egyptian pyramids?
Consultants Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, in collaboration with Egyptologists, estimate that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built with an average workforce of approximately 14,500 - sometimes reaching a peak workforce of 40,000 - in about ten years without using iron tools, pulleys or wheels. They calculated that such a workforce could maintain a work rate of 180 blocks per hour with a 10-hour workday: calculations based on data taken from modern construction projects done in the third world, without modern equipment.
8-07-2016, 15:07 |
Egyptian pyramids
Egyptian pyramids are the most unique structure of the era Of the ancient world... The land of ancient Egypt has always been a place of unique scientific discoveries archaeologists. Most of the finds naturally gave us pyramids - ancient tombs of the pharaohs. They were created in order to provide immortality to the spirit of the pharaoh. Pharaoh Djoser, the first king of the 3rd dynasty, became the first sovereign to build a pyramid. It consists of six steps, about 60 meters high. The authorship is attributed to Imhotep, a scientist, physician and architect. Djoser was very pleased with the structure built, so he was allowed to engrave the name of the architect on his statue - this is a truly unheard of honor for that time. Excavations on the pyramid of Djoser have opened to the eyes of scientists many tombs of the king's family members and his entourage.
Egyptian pyramids pyramid of Cheops
The largest pyramid is the pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu or Cheops. Its age is about five thousand years, the height was 147 meters earlier, and now, due to the collapse of 137 meters, the side length is 233 meters. Until the end of the XIX century. the pyramid of Cheops was considered the tallest architectural structure in the world. It was found that it was built from 2,300,000 known boulders, they were polished and weighed about two tons. The most interesting thing is that the gap between the blocks is extremely insignificant; it is even problematic to stick a knife blade there. This is striking ... Many people still argue how the Egyptians managed to move them. It is also important to understand how laborious this work was, because those artisans who were engaged in grinding also used stone tools. On the right bank of the Nile there were kamelomni, it was there that stones were mined for the construction of pyramids. In the rock, the boundaries of the stone were marked, along these cutoffs the workers hollowed a furrow. Then a dry tree was placed there, it was watered with water, it expanded and the stone broke off the mountain. The stones were polished on the spot. The workers had to work in any weather. Then the blocks were transported on boats to the other side of the Nile, on wooden skids they were transported to the place where the pyramid was built. They were built for many years, many workers died. According to the ancient scientist Herodotus, the pyramid of Cheops was built for about twenty years, every three months the workers changed, and about 100,000 people worked them. Two-ton boulders were lifted only with the help of human strength.
Egyptian pyramids - the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. The largest of them - the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Mikerin in El-Giza in ancient times were considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The construction of the pyramid, in which the Greeks and Romans already saw a monument to the unprecedented pride of kings and cruelty that condemned the entire Egyptian people to senseless construction, was the most important cult act and was supposed to express, as you can see, the mystical identity of the country and its ruler.
The people worked on the construction of pyramids in the part of the year free from agricultural work. There are preserved texts that testify to the attention and care that the kings themselves (albeit of later times) devoted to the construction of their tomb and its builders. It is also known about the special cult honors that were given to the pyramid itself.
Description of the most famous pyramids (briefly)
The Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), the Great Pyramid, is the face of the Egyptian pyramids and the largest structure of antiquity, giving rise to many secrets and legends around itself. It took two whole decades to build the pyramid. Dynasty IV construction time 2600 BC e. Located in Giza. The original height is 146.60 m., Today it is 138.75 m. The size of the base is 230 m. It was the largest structure in the world for over 4,000 years.
The pyramid has not one, but three burial halls. One is below ground level and two are above the baseline. Intertwining passageways lead to the burial chambers. It is possible to walk along them to the chamber of the pharaoh, to the chamber of his wife and to the lower hall. The pharaoh's chamber is a pink granite chamber, measuring 10 x 5 m. A granite sarcophagus without a lid is installed in it. Not a single report of the researchers mentioned the found mummies, therefore it is not known whether Cheops was buried here. It should be noted that the mummy of Cheops was not found in other tombs either.
After the Great Wall of China, it is she who is the largest structure that has ever been erected in the entire history of mankind.
The second most important is the pyramid of Chephren, the son of Cheops. It was found during archaeological excavations in 1860. The tomb of this ancient Egyptian king is "guarded" by the famous Sphinx, which looks like a lion lying on the sand, whose face may have been given the features of Khafre himself. Near the pyramid of Khafre, there is a separate pyramid for his wife, a temple, a port and a fence wall.
The estimated time of the construction of the pyramid is the middle of the XXVI century BC. e. It was built on a 10-meter plateau, so it seems higher than the Cheops pyramid, but this is not entirely true. The original height is 143.9 m, today it is 136.4 m. The dimensions of the base are 210.5 m. The pyramid was decorated with a pink granite pyramidion, which is now lost. We have no record of whether the granite was adorned with limestone, gypsum, or gold.
The third great pyramid is the Pyramid of Mikerin (also known as the "Pyramid of Menkaure"). She is the smallest of them, and was built later than others. Time of construction of the 4th dynasty (approximately 2540-2520 BC) The original height is 65.55 m, today it is 62 m.The dimensions of the base are 102.2 × 104.6 m.According to eyewitnesses, the pyramid Menkaure was the most beautiful of all the pyramids. Sculpture during the reign of Menkaur was characterized by highest quality artistic performance. In addition, the pyramid of Mikerin marked the end of the era of the great pyramids. All subsequent structures were small in size.
One of the largest in Egypt is the step pyramid of Djoser. Time of construction of the III Dynasty (about 2650 BC). It is located in the village of Sakkara, and was built for Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep himself. The original height is 62.5 m, nowadays - 62 m. The size of the pyramid is 125 m × 115 m. This is the first pyramid in Egypt, in addition to all it is very well preserved.
Initially, Imhotep was going to create an ordinary stone mastaba (rectangular tomb). Only in the course of construction did it turn into the first step pyramid. The meaning of the steps was, as it is believed, symbolic - the deceased pharaoh had to climb to heaven along them.
The burial complex included chapels, courtyards, and storage facilities. The base of the six-step pyramid itself is not square, but rectangular. Inside the structure there are 12 burial chambers, where Djoser himself and his family members could probably have been buried. The pharaoh's mummy was not found during excavations. The entire territory of the complex of 15 hectares was surrounded by a 10-meter stone wall. Now part of the wall and other buildings have been restored.
The most unusual pyramid in Medum. Time of construction III Dynasty (about 2680 BC) Located 100 km south of the capital of Egypt, was built for Pharaoh Huni, the last ruler of the III dynasty, but it was completed by his son Sneferu. It originally had eight steps, but today only the last three are visible. The original height is 93.5 m, today it is 65 m.The base is 144 m.
Its unusual forms were first reported by Al-Maqrizi in the 15th century. The pyramid had a stepped shape. In his essays, Al-Maqrizi described a pyramid consisting of 5 steps, and also that it had serious damage from erosion and from the removal of masonry by local residents.
Pink Pyramid or Northern Pyramid. Dynasty IV construction time (from about 2640 to 2620 BC) The original height is 109.5 m, today it is 104 m.The base is 220 m.The northern pyramid of Pharaoh Sneferu in Dakhshur, at the time its construction in the XXVI century BC. e. was the tallest structure in the world. Now it is the third highest pyramid in Egypt, after Khufu and Khafre in Giza.
It is unusual in that it has a pink hue thanks to a special stone that was used in the construction. Researchers believe that this pyramid was also built by the above-mentioned Pharaoh Sneferu. The Pink Pyramid was not always pink. Previously, its walls were covered with white limestone. However, in our time, white limestone is almost completely absent, since even in the Middle Ages, a significant part of it was removed for the construction of houses in Cairo, as a result of which pinkish limestone was exposed.
Not far from Rozova is the Broken ("cut" or "diamond-shaped") pyramid. Dynasty IV (XXVI century BC) Initial height - 104.7 m, nowadays - 101.1 m. The base is 189.4 m. It got its name because of its irregular shape. It was built in three stages, at each of which different angles of inclination were given to it. It differs from other Egyptian pyramids in that the pyramid has an entrance not only on the north side, which was the standard, but also a second entrance, which is open higher on the west side.
Explaining the non-standard shape of the pyramid, the German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt (1863-1938) put forward his "increment theory". According to her, the king died suddenly and the angle of inclination of the sides of the pyramid was sharply changed from 54 ° 31 min. up to 43 ° 21 min., for the fastest completion of work.
What is known about the Egyptian pyramids
Building pyramids
The slabs weighing at least 2.5 tons, from which the pyramids were built, were cut out of stone in a nearby quarry and transported to the construction site by dragging them using ramps, blocks and levers. There is an opinion, recognized by the scientific community as marginal, that concrete was used during the construction of the pyramid, that is, the slabs were made directly at the construction site. At the tops of the pyramids, traces of wooden forms have been preserved to this day, erased at the base by numerous sandstorms. So that as a result of the compression-expansion process, the walls of the pyramids did not crack, individual blocks were separated by thin layers of mortar. The slope of the outer walls is exactly 45 °. The surface was covered with blocks of polished white limestone. After the fall, the local residents stretched out the limestone for their needs.
What is encrypted in the pyramids
What is the secret of the Egyptian pyramids? Why, for almost 5 millennia, they do not cease to excite the imagination of everyone who saw them? What assumptions were not put forward on this occasion: they were built by aliens, they encrypted the astronomical, magical knowledge of the ancient priests, they contain a prediction of the future. Digital magic was great to such an extent popular that by measuring it across the board and adding up the results, amateurs could predict anything.
Why were the pyramids built?
Even the debate about whether the pyramids are actually the tombs of the pharaohs does not stop today. Some of the researchers believe that these are temples where the sun god Amon-Ra was ordained as servants of the cult, while others believe that the pyramid is a huge scientific laboratory of the ancients. Someone claims that the pyramids are huge natural generators of earthly energy, in which the pharaohs were “charged” with this energy for a long time, even rejuvenated and prepared for government activities. And then they were buried near the pyramids, in small rooms, perhaps near the funeral temples.
The pyramids delighted many of the greats of this world:, Cleopatra,. The latter, in order to inspire his grenadiers during the Egyptian campaign, first exclaimed: "The pyramids are looking at you," and then instantly calculated in his mind that out of two and a half million boulders of the Cheops pyramid, one could build a wall around France three meters high.
Interesting facts about the Egyptian pyramids
All Egyptian pyramids were erected on the western bank of the Nile River, which is the place of sunset and was associated with the kingdom of the dead in Egyptian mythology.
The sides of the pyramids are bent by one meter, so that they could accumulate solar energy. Thanks to this, the pyramids could reach thousands of degrees and emit an incomprehensible rumble from such an intensity.
Despite the intense heat that reigns around the pyramids, the temperature in them in reality remains relatively constant and keeps around 20 ° C.
The Egyptian pyramids also have this feature. The stone blocks are located so that there are no gaps between them, even the thinnest blade cannot get through.
The Great Pyramid is made up of 2.3 million blocks that are perfectly aligned and fit together. The blocks weigh from 2 to 30 tons, and some of them even reach over 50 tons.
Although many people associate pyramids with hieroglyphs, no inscriptions or hieroglyphs have been found in the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Estimates of the number of workers involved in the construction of the pyramids vary greatly, however, it is quite possible that at least 100 thousand people built them.
Three large pyramids on the Giza plateau copy the "Orion Belt" from the constellation Orion on Earth. The pyramid of Cheops and the similarly sized pyramid of Khafre take the places of the two brightest stars in the Orion belt, Al-Nitak and Al-Nilam, and the smaller Menkaur pyramid is offset from the axis of the two neighboring ones, just like the third and smallest star of the belt, Mintaka.
Buildings similar to the Egyptian pyramids can also be found in Sudan, where the tradition was later adopted.
Each side of the pyramid is located in the direction of one side of the world.
It was calculated that large necropolises with that level of technology should have been built in at least a century. How, for example, was the Cheops pyramid built in just 20 years?
In the XII century, an attempt was made to destroy the pyramids of Giza. Al-Azis, the Kurdish ruler and second sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty, tried to demolish them, but he was forced to retreat, as the task was too large-scale. And yet, he was able to damage the Pyramid of Mikerin, where, due to his attempts, a vertical gaping hole remained in its northern slope.
The pyramids are one of the many evidences in favor of the existence in those ancient times of a certain developed civilization. Meanwhile, that era fits into the time frame of the existence of the legendary Atlantis, although no one dares to assert that the civilization that built the early pyramids was in fact the civilization of the Atlanteans.
Information for tourists
The Giza Great Pyramids Complex is open from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, except during the winter months (open until 4:30 pm) and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when access closes at 3:00 pm.
Some of the travelers believe that if the pyramids are in the open air and are not a museum in the literal sense of the word, then here you can behave freely, climb these structures. It should be remembered: it is strictly forbidden to do so - in the interests of your own safety!
Before entering the pyramids, you need to objectively assess your psychological state and physical health. For those who are afraid of closed spaces (claustrophobia), it is better to skip this part of the tour. Due to the fact that the inside of the tombs is usually dry, hot and a little dusty, asthmatics, hypertensive patients and those suffering from other diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system are not recommended to enter here.
How much does an excursion to the zone of the Egyptian pyramids cost a tourist? The cost has several components. The entrance ticket will cost you 60 Egyptian pounds, which is approximately equal to 8 euros. Would you like to visit the Cheops pyramid? For this you will have to pay 100 pounds or 13 euros. Inspection from the inside of the Khafre pyramid is largely cheaper - 20 pounds or 2.60 euros.
You will have to pay separately for visiting the Museum of the Solar Boat, which is located south of the Cheops pyramid (40 pounds or 5 euros). Taking photographs in the pyramid zone is allowed, but for the right to take photographs you will have to pay 1 euro. Visits to other pyramids on the territory of Giza - for example, the mother and wife of Pharaoh Khafre - are not paid.
