How the Pyramids were built
The Great Pyramids of Giza, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World, stand today as a testament to ancient ingenuity and perseverance. Yet, they are neither the only pyramids nor the first of their kind. There were earlier attempts, often less grand, before the Pyramids of Giza captured the world's imagination.In ancient Egypt, kings were seen as divine intermediaries, chosen by the gods to rule on Earth. Upon death, they were expected to ascend to godhood themselves. To ensure their kings were well-equipped for the afterlife, the Egyptians built grand pyramid complexes that included not just the pyramids, but also palaces and temples. These complexes were filled with all the necessities a king might need in the afterlife, from furniture and food to gold and vessels.The first pyramid was constructed 80 years before the first Pyramid of Giza. In total, around a hundred pyramids were built, though many were never completed because construction took so long and not all Pharaohs lived long enough to see their monuments finished.The largest of the Pyramids of Giza is as tall as a modern 40-story building. This raises the question: how did the ancient Egyptians manage to build such massive structures over 5,000 years ago, without the aid of modern machinery? Let's explore this remarkable feat.Pharaoh Khufu ascended to the throne around 2575 BCE and his architects began the construction of what would become the oldest and largest of the Giza pyramids. They needed over 2 million limestone blocks, each weighing about 2.5 tons—the equivalent of a rhinoceros. To complete the pyramid within 20 years, a block had to be placed every 4 minutes, non-stop, year-round.Contrary to popular belief, these workers were not enslaved people. Around 25,000 workers from across Egypt joined the project, working 10-hour days and living in a temporary city near the construction site. This community was highly organized, well-fed, and housed in better conditions than the average Egyptian of that era.The pyramids were designed to align with the cardinal points, symbolizing the rays of the sun. Without modern compasses, the ancient Egyptians used two constellations to achieve this precise alignment. The construction site on the west bank of the Nile was symbolic as well, with the west representing the setting of the sun and the end of life.The second Pyramid of Giza, built for Khufu's son Pharaoh Khafre, is slightly smaller but notable for the Great Sphinx. This statue, with the body of a lion and the head of a human (believed to be Khafre), was a guardian of sacred sites. Though now noseless, it originally had a nose and was painted in vibrant colors.To build these monumental structures, the Egyptians quarried stone from two main sources. Local fossilized yellow limestone was used for the interior, while higher quality limestone for the exterior was transported from 8 miles away on massive sleds. Surprisingly, it wasn't too difficult to pull these sleds as the sand, when mixed with the right amount of water, provided a slick surface.Cutting and shaping the limestone blocks was a critical step, as any inaccuracies could lead to structural failure. The blocks were then moved into place using a sophisticated ramp system. Archaeologists believe that ramps were built around the pyramids, growing in height as the construction progressed, enabling workers to haul the stones up.The exterior limestone was polished to a gleam, and the pyramid was capped with a gold and silver capstone that shimmered in the sunlight. Despite its grand appearance, the pyramid's interior is mostly solid stone with three main chambers. These chambers were prepared at different stages of construction to ensure a resting place for the Pharaoh, regardless of when he might pass.The interior also features several passageways and tunnels, many of which remain unexplored. Although the chambers lack hieroglyphs, nearby tombs provide rich depictions of ancient Egyptian culture and daily life.The pyramids have inspired awe and curiosity for millennia. Today, scientists use advanced technologies like X-rays to scan the pyramids in hopes of uncovering more secrets. Despite centuries of study, much about these ancient wonders remains a mystery, highlighting the incredible achievements of the ancient Egyptians.The pyramids of Egypt not only stand as a marvel of ancient engineering but also as a profound mystery that continues to captivate and inspire curiosity about our past.
