The Pyramids Of Ancient Egypt

The majority of ancient Egyptian structures studied by architectural historians and planners alike, were erected to honor a pharaoh or as a grand tomb for their journey through to the afterlife. Whether the structure was in the form of a temple, tomb or statue, the ritual and spiritual influence is unquestionable. The location, scale, and materials used to construct these monuments are all defining factors of how the space is used and functions.

Joseph Davidovits discovered a simple chemical process that turned a putty mixture into stone and argues that this method was used in the construction of the Great Pyramid. Joseph Davidovits explains that the pyramid blocks were simply stone casted instead of being cut and hauled from the quarry. This is a very probable answer because all the needed materials are available. Davidovits indicates that the use of a ramp, as Clifford Wilson suggests, must have been larger than the pyramid in order to allow a slight angle for the workers to drag the blocks up. Another problem with the use of the ramp is that three are no murals at the time showing the ramps and sleds that were supposedly used to move the blocks. Davidovits demonstrates a unique method of the construction of the pyramids, but this is not as well as Wilson’s theory because there are problems with Davidovits’ theory.

The first kind of pyramid ever made in history was the step pyramid. The small pyramids around the great pyramids are step pyramids. Step pyramids are formed and steps, usually to lead the pharaohs climb up and be with the sun god. Pyramids were

Even though the technique used in building the pyramids is still debated, the most accepted theory was that there were built using ramps. This theory is largely aided by the accusation that the

There is much debate on how the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids in Giza were built. King Khufu’s pyramid, from the Old Kingdom, stands at 146 meters high, has a base of 230 meters, while using 2.4 million stone blocks; each block averaging between 2.5 to 15 tons (Van Der Mieroop). These extreme numbers force researchers to try and create hypotheses on how the Ancient Egyptians were able to construct such colossal monuments. Although we have an idea of where and how the Egyptians obtained the materials used for their creation, it is still unclear how they were able to take stone blocks that weighted several tons so high up, have such precision that not even a credit card could slip through the blocks, and was capable of pointing the pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids have been the subject of many outlandish claims and construction theories for centuries. The Great Pyramid for example has been associated with pyramid power, curses, Atlantis, Mexican pyramids, Stonehenge, Nazca, the Bermuda Triangle, Biblical prophecy, Martian faces, advanced civilizations, space aliens, cavity resonators, and even levitation. It is not surprising that some who have proposed such theories have been dubbed "pyramidiots". This paper will attempt to give a more logical solution to the methods ancient Egyptians may have had used, and the problems they may have had, using factual information, scientific evidence and a bit of common sense.

There are a variety of theories that try to explain how the Great Pyramids of Egypt were constructed. Theories as farfetched as aliens to theories a bit more reasonable such as intricate ramps and machines have been devised and in general they have been a great topic of curiosity throughout history. For example, questions such as why there were so many pyramids built in a particular period of time all within 30° longitude. Pyramids are not just exclusive to Egypt, they can also be found in Asia, South America, and Central America. Naturally, the question of how so many places in the world, separated by oceans and great distances, decided to construct such similar structures without ever interacting with each other, all around a pretty narrow

The son of Khufu, Khafre, built his pyramid around 2576 BC. The Pyramid of Khafre is smaller than his fathers, 446 feet tall; however, it was built on higher ground so therefore it looks larger. He also tried to outdo his father by creating The Great Sphinx that sits guard over the pyramids. He had two entrances into the pyramid which led to the burial chambers. There is an outer casing that still remains, which would have covered all three of The Pyramids of Giza; however, the rest of the limestone was stripped by robbers. The third and smallest, 215 feet high, of the three pyramids was built for Pharaoh Menkaure, the eldest of Khafre’s sons. There was a sarcophagus, a stone coffin, found within his tomb; however, the boat that was transporting

The Egyptians began building pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and queens. They were believed to be between human and god, so their body would need to be protected and recognizable by its spirit. Many of their tombs have been robbed. There are over 100 known pyramids in Egypt today. The pyramids of Giza are the three largest pyramids in Egypt. The biggest of the pyramids, the ‘Great Pyramid’ was built for the pharaoh Khufu and took 23 years

The step pyramid of Saqqora consists of superimposed mastaba tombs of decreasing size.The true pyramid is a natural development and improvement of the step pyramid. It was at Giza however, that the pyramid reached its basic form. The complex of the pyramid was generally planned as one unit after it reached its basic form.

According to archaeologist, “pyramids were originated from rectangular mastaba tombs over 5,000 years ago in Egypt” (). Major improvements occurred during pharaoh Djoser period where rectangular tomb was developed into a six-layered step pyramid with underground tunnels and chambers. Later during the reign of the pharaoh Snefru, three more pyramids were built with improved methods. However, research points out that, “architects did ran into problems during Snefru (from 2575 B.C.) period where one pyramid was bent due to incorrect angle and calculations” (). Later, evidence shows the architects corrected the flaw by building a second pyramid located at Dahshur.

The pyramids were a representation of the designing and engineering skills that the Egyptian’s had. These massive resting places were very complex, but that is because they were designed to hold the bodies of the pharaohs who had ruled the land. The Egyptians believe that the pyramids would preserve the bodies, which was a necessary factor in the continuity of the soul. Without these pyramids, the pharaohs would not have been sustained,

There have been many mysteries surrounding the pyramids in Egypt. Even though most experts point that the pyramids were constructed as burial sites for the pharaohs, it is still a mystery on how such pyramids of great size without any modern form of technology (Edwards, 1993). One of the theories that explain this mystery is the theory of levers. According to Herodotus, the pyramid was made of stairs and stones would be lifted from one level to the other using levers. It was therefore much easier to handle the stones as long as there were levers (Hodges, P., &Keable, 1993). The other theory was developed by Hardy and Killick in 1987 and it states that a caduceus coils in levitating the blocks of stone while building the pyramids (Hardy&Killick,

The ancient egyptians would have needed many tools as well as an extremely intelligent and advanced person to design the pyramids. However these pieces of technology were not available to them at the time, Von Daniken shows this to re reader when he states, “Of course the scholars say that wooden rollers were needed”. However He also states that it is highly unlikely that the ancient Egyptians imported wood as they would have need either an immense fleet on water (which they did not possess), or horses and carts. Yet the horse and cart was not introduced until about 960 years after the Great Pyramid was built. Another material that the egyptians were said to have used when cutting the large limestone blocks was copper. However Joseph Davidovits shines light on this situation when he states, “copper is a soft metal unsuitable for cutting hard stone, particularly on the scale required for the great pyramid”. Even if the ancient egyptians used these tools to create the giant stone blocks, the architecture of the pyramid is far too advanced for the ancient peoples. As Von Daniken states, “the unparalleled “classical” dimensions of the pyramid occurred to the master builder by chance”. The Ancient Egyptians also managed to carefully and accurately level the rocky ground on which the immense structure stands in such a way that it has not become deformed or destroyed in thousands of years. The only way that the ancient Egyptians could have done this is with help from

Intended to hold his mummified body, Pharaoh Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara began as a traditional, flat-roofed mastaba. But by the end of his 19-year reign, in 2611 B.C.E, it had risen to six stepped layers and stood 62 meters high. It was the largest building of its time. Extensive use of stone, wood, reeds, or other softer materials made the tomb more durable than its mud-brick forebears. Such pioneering techniques led many ancient historians to credit the chief architect, Imhotep, with inventing stone architecture. The Step Pyramid complex was enclosed by a 10 meters wall and included courtyards, temples, and chapels covering nearly 40 acres (16 hectares) the size of a large town in the third millennium B.C. As in earlier mastaba tombs, the Step Pyramid's burial chambers are underground, hidden in a maze of tunnels, probably to discourage grave robbers. The tomb was nevertheless plundered, and all that remains of Djoser, the third king of Egypt's 3rd dynasty, is his mummified left foot. It consists of internal passageways and chambers. It is known that this pyramid has the most