Ancient Egypt was a wealthy and powerful land during the ancient times. This ancient civilization was the envy of the other neighboring civilizations, and the Pharaohs never failed to flaunt this lavishly. Thus the construction of the most magnificent man-made structures in history, the Egyptian Pyramids. There are many theories and speculations on how the Egyptians built the magnificent pyramids of Ancient History. These theories include aliens building the pyramids, the chemical theory and standard theory. In Erich von Daniken’s Chariots of the Gods, he argues that aliens or extraterrestrials influenced the building of the Egyptian pyramids due to the Egyptians sudden capability in such achievements without recognizable prehistory. Von Daniken states in his book that facts such as “the height of the pyramid of Cheops multiplied by a thousand million…corresponds approximately to the distance between the earth and the sun” is too accurate to be considered a mere coincidence exemplifying the Egyptians incredible intellectual capacity. However, this does not validate that the aliens built the pyramids. The Egyptians could have gone through extreme measure for these measurements to be wildly accurate. After all, the pyramids are tombstones for the dead, and to them, death is a sacred event. In addition, this theory is the least plausible considering that the existence of extraterrestrials have not been proven. Incidentally, Joseph Davidovitz speculates that instead of being cut and hauled, the workers could have simply cast on the spot. It is believed that chemicals such as natron, lime, and granite powder were mixed together and was poured into a wooden mould. After a few hours, this mixture would dry with the help of the heat... ... middle of paper ... ...ramid. A spiral ramp, admittedly, would be an easier method for the workers to pull and stack the blocks. This also would a more efficient method in building a step pyramid. Even with all of these theories, there is no credible method of the construction of the pyramids. However, the use of ramps and lifting devices seems to the most plausible method. The Egyptians could have used round wooden beams to pull the stone blocks and used the ramps to stack them. It is no question that the Egyptians were intelligent people and planned this impressive structure with extreme precision. Evidence provided by the researches support these theory sufficiently. Whether the pyramid was built by aliens, chemically, and through the standard method is a debatable case. It is through extensive research and time that we can, and if we ever will, unlock the mysteries of the past.
Constructed during Egypt's 4th Dynasty, The Pyramids of Giza are truly an astonishing work of architecture. These pyramids display several of the characteristics, that are now known, to be attributed to the Ancient Egyptian era. Years of research show that much of the ancient Egyptian's focus in their artistry, was that of a religious nature, regardless of medium. Artists of the time, focused their efforts on depicting the various Gods and Goddesses, immortality and the afterlife, and the glorification of the pharaohs. (MindEdge) One of the best examples of this are the pyramids. Each pyramid was built to be the final resting place of a pharaoh (Khufu, Khafre, or Menkaure) upon his death, and subsequent mummification. They were built on the
(McCoy, Terrence.) "The Surprisingly Simple Way Egyptians Moved Massive Pyramid Stones without Modern Technology." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 02 May 2014. Web. 08 May 2014.
I chose Egyptian civilization because it’s known as the birthplace of modern civilization. Another reason I chose Egyptian civilization is because its contributions to the world still seen, studied and absorbers. Egypt contribution has come along way and has mad an impact in on thousands of cultures worldwide. Some of Egypt’s contributions I will address are arts, literature and architecture. The Egyptians had little wood to build their buildings and monuments. The Egyptians lived in the desert where there was little vegetation, so they had to rely upon other kinds of building materials other than forest products. The Egyptians turned to the limestones and other materials that they could quarry in the desert. The Egyptians were fond of burying their Kings in extravagant tombs. The purpose of the Pyramids is disputed. Most scholars credit the building of the pyramids on Giza to the need for burial chambers for their Kings. Other scholars say that the Pyramids were built like fortresses. The Pyramids are located less than twenty miles from Cairo, Egypt. The pyramids were built to perpetuate the name of the Kings who were buried in them. The pyramids are also in different sizes. (Ancient Egyptian)
A pyramid is an Egyptian structure and are as old as 40,000 years old. A pyramids base can either be triangular or square this affects how many sides the pyramid has. These structures were usually made out of huge limestone blocks. The Egyptian pyramids were built using ramps which spiraled around the pyramid. The average limestone block weighed around 2.5 tons.( The great pyramids and more, 2013)
In fact this required a lot of education, especially in math for the engineering. It could be practice, palace, and temple. How the ancient Egyptians achieved to place the heavy stones high on top of the Pyramids is still a mystery. Huge blocks of rock were cut from places many miles away and taken by boat to Giza and delivered to certain locations where well-constructed pyramids were being built. The slaves used a series of log rolling on the ground to move the giant stones. The first pyramids were called "Step Pyramids" because they looked like giant
In the third dynasty the egyptians gained more power and wealth. They wanted a way to show off their great power and wealth, so they built pyramids, pyramids were huge pointed stone structures. Pyramids contained rooms full of treasure and secret passageways. The first pyramid was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, built for King Zoser around 2750 B.C. “The step pyramid was the only one of its kind, it was an amazing improvement from the mastaba.” ( pg 49)
Aliens built the Egyptian pyramids. Recent research supports the theory that the Pyramids were built long before humans inhabited the area now known as Egypt. It is also nearly impossible for the Egyptians to lift and move the limestone brick used to build these massive structures. Only a more advanced form of life could have constructed such an enormous undertaking, while using advanced mathematics and geography that were not yet known to ancient peoples. Archaeologists suggest that the large stones used in building the pyramids were transported by rolling them over logs or a wet, slippery, clay surface.
Clifford Wilson has the most acceptable theory compared to the other two individual’s arguments. In Clifford Wilson’s theory, he suggests that the pyramids were built with the “heave-ho” method. With the use of sleds made from wood that is easily imported from Phoenicia and rope, it is an acceptable theory on how the Great Pyramid was built. Wilson has also seen workers, using a single rope and pulley, move stones as the supervisor chants out instructions. One question that arises is how the builders were able to lift the stones into place. Wilson explains that during the construction of the pyramid, a ramp made of earth could be increased as the height of the pyramid increased. Once outer limestone blocks are fitted into place the earth could simply be removed. Clifford Wilson clearly verifies his theory with specific details, which displays that his theory is the most logical and suitable explanation of the construction of the Great Pyramid.
The culture of Ancient Egypt is identified and very well known for many aspects of their ways of life. Considering the time period, they were very technologically advanced. This can especially be seen through the great pyramids and hieroglyphs that elaborately decorate the walls of them. Pyramids were not small structures. In fact the largest one was over fifty stories high. In addition they were also built completely by manual labor. Labor consisted of moving limestone blocks that weighed on average 2.5 metric tons and could weigh up to 15 metric tons. In addition they had to form these blocks, move them, and sculpt them into the great structures known as the Pyramids. As you can imagine they took several decades of day in and day out work to complete these massive structures. The hieroglyphs were also an important part of not only the Ancient Egyptian culture but the pyramids especially. They provided pictorial descriptions for burial chambers, temples, jewelry, and important statues. Ways to decipher them were unknown until the discovery of what is known as the Rosetta Stone. It was a stone that showed the same text in three different languages. Then early in the 19th century a French scholar name Jean Francois Champollion was able to decipher it and later on aid in learning the language of the dead language of hieroglyphs. Hieroglyphs are still being deciphered to this day.
Like the Mesopotamians, the Egyptians also believed in god and goddesses and was one of the first to develop their unique writing system called hieroglyphics. Egyptian’s also were the first to construct triangular pyramids with magnificent tombs to bury their dead pharaohs and queens. These pyramids were very comparable to the ziggurats built by the Mesopotamians. The Egyptians unlocked more access when they started using papyrus to make paper in order to communicate. They also inven...
The construction of the Great Pyramid is still a mystery and marvel to this day, there are seven major feats that archeologists still don’t understand.
In conclusion, the heave-ho method is the strongest and most practical theory of pyramid construction, due to the weakness of other theories, significant physical evidence, and how possible it is to achieve. This method irrefutably shows how the hardworking and inventive Egyptians used abundant resources to create magnificent pyramids, by working in highly organized teams, and using tools and machines such as chisels, hammers, and ramps. The actual process of how the pyramids were built may never become known to us; however, the heave-ho method is the closest idea we have to the truth.
- [2] Redford, Donald B, Ph.D.; McCauley, M, "How were the Egyptian pyramids built?", Research The Pennsylvania State University, Retrieved 11 December 2012.
The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures with a square. base and four sloping triangular faces located in Egypt [1]. were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. As of 2008, 138 pyramids have been built. discovered in Egypt.
Although the precise age of the pyramids has long been debated, and there is little evidence to prove when the pyramids were built, some assume that they were built from about 2700 to 2500 BC. Another issue that has been long debated is who exactly built the pyramids. Some researchers find it hard to believe that the pyramids could have been built in one pharaoh’s lifetime. Herodotus is the earliest known historian of the Egyptian Pyramid Age. By his accounts, and estimated guess, more than 100,000 people worked on the pyramid; other researchers believe that it was more like 20,000 people who worked on the pyramid. Now they have to try and figure out where these 20,000 people lived. They would like to know where they lived because the researchers think that it will help them find out more about these people, where they are from, and their daily lives. Inscriptions were found on the outside of the pyramids that give an idea of what people worked on them, but the inscriptions were in no absolute detail. Skeletons that were found on the inside of the pyramid are believed to be the skeletons of workers who labored on the pyramids all year long.