The Egyptian Pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are among the most famous tourist sites in the world. The magnificent pyramid of King Cheops is one of the seven wonders of the world. Tourists to Egypt and people worldwide often ask many questions about these ancient structures. I’ll answer some of them here.
What are the pyramids?
The first of the Egyptian pyramids was the Step Mastaba of King Djoser. The pyramid’s shape originated by accident. A builder changed his king’s tomb design when he had the chance.
Before it became a pyramid, the structure was a regular Mastaba. This was the primary shape for a royal tomb. A Mastaba was a large, one-story rectangular building made of mud bricks. It contained many chambers for the deceased’s belongings, and the burial chamber was usually in the middle.
What is the purpose of the Egyptian pyramids?
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs. They believed in an afterlife and filled these massive structures with everything a ruler would need in the next world.
King Djoser’s architect, Imhotep, began building the king’s royal tomb. Imhotep chose Saqqara for this northern royal tomb. He designed it as a mastaba but used limestone instead of mud bricks. This was the real start of the pyramid.
Imhotep: The Architect of the Egyptian Pyramids
Imhotep was a brilliant man. The pharaoh gave him many titles, including medic, poet, high priest, and royal scribe. He also worked as the royal architect, overseeing the royal palace.
He is the reason Egypt has pyramids. Imhotep chose limestone instead of mud for the first of the Egyptian pyramids for two reasons. He wanted the king’s tomb to be more beautiful and stronger so it would last a long time.
Using limestone let him build a much taller tomb. The tomb began as a limestone mastaba. Then, Imhotep tested the stone’s strength by adding more layers, making it taller. Since this was the first time they used stone in this way, he was cautious and made the upper sections smaller than the lower ones.
The Step Pyramid in Saqqara
Imhotep didn’t plan to build an Egyptian pyramid. He simply wanted a beautiful tomb for his king. The tomb eventually became a step pyramid. The mastaba became smaller as it rose, forming a pyramid of six mastabas stacked on top of each other. Each one was ten meters high.
The priests saw the tomb’s steps and believed the king could walk to heaven. This inspired some rulers, such as those who built the Maidoum Pyramid, to construct similar tombs. This was the true origin of the pyramids; all future kings wanted their tombs to be shaped like a pyramid to ensure eternal life.
The Great Pyramid: A Construction Mystery
The Great Pyramid is 146 meters tall. A major mystery is how ancient Egyptians lifted the heavy stones to such a great height. An incomplete pyramid was discovered with the remains of a ramp made of mud and stone. This ramp spiraled around the pyramid to lift the massive limestone blocks. The ramp for the Great Pyramid likely took ten years to build, while the pyramid itself took 23 years.
Two hundred men and six strong cattle dragged each stone block into place. They put large wooden cylinders under the stone. They also poured a lot of water on the ground to make it easier to move. The pyramid was built with three million pieces of local limestone. Each block weighs about 30 tons, but the stones get smaller higher up. The smallest stones weigh around 2 tons.
The entire pyramid is limestone, except for the king’s burial chamber. That room is made completely of gray granite. The pyramid sits on a 12-acre site. Each side of its base measures 230 meters long. The slope angle is 52.51 degrees. Over time, it has lost some of its height due to the weather. The pyramid was once smooth and flat, but the outer layer of stones has fallen off.
Who Built the Egyptian Pyramids?
The Greek historian Herodotus claimed 100,000 men built the Great Pyramid. Their settlement was found in the desert on the pyramid’s west side. Some history books incorrectly state that slaves built the pyramids. This is not true. A slave is a person owned by another human, treated as a product to be sold or bought. The pyramid builders were what we can call “god’s slaves.” They were paid workers and skilled laborers.
