The Pyramids of Egypt

The pyramids of Egypt fascinated travelers and conquerors in ancient times and continue to inspire wonder in the tourists, mathematicians, and archaeologists who visit, explore, measure and describe them. The pyramids of Giza, the only one of Seven Wonders of Ancient World which has survived to this day, never fails to amaze and fascinate travels fortune enough to see them with their own eyes. More than 4,000 years later, the Egyptian pyramids still retain much of their majesty, providing a glimpse into the country's rich and glorious past. Step pyramids predate true pyramids and reflect a different religious and theological concept.

The large numbers of bas-reliefs which illustrate aspects of daily life in the Old Kingdom never depict a pyramid's construction, which was probably considered such a unique event that it could not be reproduced. There is no document which illustrates the techniques used.

A study of the mathematical papyrus, known as the Rhind Papyrus, and among other things, made it clear that the ancient Egyptians were familiar with and made practical use of Pythagoras' theorem, although they had never theorized or enunciated it.

The only account of the methods and techniques used to construct the pyramids is that provided by Herodotus (Histories, II, 124-35), who makes a number of fanciful and unreliable statements. Nevertheless, he does include some accurate information which should be taken into consideration. According to Herodotus, 100,000 persons worked for twenty years to build the pyramid of Khufu, with ten additiional years initially required to prepare the land, the port structures (the wharves, piers, etc.), the ramp and the underground chambers.

Tombs of early Egyptian kings were bench-shaped mounds called mastabas. Around 2780 B.C., King Djoser's architect, Imhotep, built the first pyramid by placing six mastabas, each smaller than the one beneath, in a stack to form a pyramid rising in steps. This Step Pyramid stands on the west bank of the Nile River at Sakkara near Memphis. Like later pyramid, it contains various rooms and passages, including the burial chamber of the king.

The largest and most famous of all the pyramids, the Great Pyramid at Giza, was built by Snefru's son, Khufu, also known as Cheops, the later Greek form of his name. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres and its sides rose at an angle of 51 degrees 52 minutes and were over 755 feet long. It originally stood over 481 feet high; today it is 450 feet high. Scientists estimate that its stone blocks average over two tons apiece, with the largest weighing as much as fifteen tons each. Two other major pyramids were built at Giza, for Khufu's son, King Khafre (Chephren), and a successor of Khafre, Menkaure (Mycerinus). Also located at Giza is the famous Sphinx, a massive statue of a lion with a human head, carved during the time of Khafre.

Pyramids did not stand alone but were part of a group of buildings which included temples, chapels, other tombs, and massive walls. Remnants of funerary boats have also been excavated; the best preserved is at Giza. On the walls of Fifth and Sixth Dynasty pyramids are inscriptions known as the Pyramid Texts, an important source of information about Egyptian religion. The scarcity of ancient records, however, makes it difficult to be sure of the uses of all the buildings in the pyramid complex or the exact burial procedures. It is thought that the king's body was brought by boat up the Nile to the pyramid site and probably mummified in the Valley Temple before being placed in the pyramid for burial.

The Egyptians believed that if the pharaoh's body could be mummified after death the pharaoh would live forever. The tomb were designed to protect the buried Pharaoh's body and his belongings. The pyramid has three burial chambers. The first is underground, carved into bedrock. The second, aboveground chamber was called the queen's chamber by early explorers. We now know it was never intended to house one of Khufu's wives but perhaps a sacred statue of the king himself. The third is the king's chamber, which held a red granite sarcophagus placed almost exactly at the center of the pyramid.