Pyramid

The term Pyramid refers to a three-dimensional mathematical shape. A pyramid has a rectangular base, and four triangular sides, each with identical slopes, forming an apex. A pyramid may prematurely terminate the apex, allowing a platform to exist at the top of the pyramid. Pyramids have been built in various cultures through time. The people of Egypt, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Central America, and Pacific Islanders have built pyramids for religious and cultural purposes.

Brief History

The early Egyptians are the most closely identified with the building of pyramids. The first Egyptian pyramids underwent construction around 2700 BCE and continued until circa 2000 BCE. These pyramids typically served as tombs for the pharaohs, the kings of Egypt. The pyramids of Egypt were first rediscovered in 1799 by Napoleon’s army and were excavated in 1842. In 1922, the most famous pyramid and tomb, that of King Tutankhamen, was opened and explored. By the early twenty-first century CE, more than 130 pyramids had been discovered in Egypt. The continual interest in the excavation and discovery of the pyramids has kept the interest in Egyptology in the forefront of archeological discussion.

The Mesopotamians, also known as Sumerians, were the second builders of pyramids. Construction on these pyramids began circa 2300 BCE and continued until the sixth century BCE. The Sumerians built stepped pyramids, meaning that the sides were not smooth slopes but had flat platforms, or steps, from the ground up. The Sumerian pyramids, known as ziggurats. were built for religious purposes. Ziggurats were temples used by Sumerians, Babylonians, Elamites, Akkadians, and Assyrians for religious ceremonies. Often, cities were built around the ziggurats.

The Nubian pyramids were built by the people of Sudan starting circa 1200 BCE and continuing into the third century CE. In much the same manner as the Egyptian pyramids, the Sudanese built pyramids as tombs for their kings and queens. The Sudanese pyramids were much smaller than the pyramids of Egypt, measuring approximately one hundred to three hundred feet tall. Approximately 250 pyramids have been found in Sudan.

The Nsude Pyramids are found in northern Nigeria. The purpose of these pyramids was to provide homes for the gods of Nigeria. The Nsude Pyramids are the smallest pyramids constructed in the ancient world, measuring sixty feet in circumference and no more than forty feet in height.

The Pyramids of Argolis in Greece are shrouded in mystery. There is considerable debate as to the dates of construction, as well as to their purpose. What is known is that the pyramids are in the plain of Argolid, Greece. Three of the pyramids remained standing into the twenty-first century. Excavation of the pyramids began in 1937. During the excavation, ceramics dating from 2800 BCE were found, as were articles of clothing from 2000 BCE.

The Indians cultures of the Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas built pyramids in Central America. The Central American Indians built pyramids for the longest span of time, starting in the third century BCE and continuing until the sixteenth century. These pyramids were built of stone and earth and were the largest in the world. The pyramids were built for religious and secular purposes: The religious purpose of the pyramids was for human sacrifice and as temples for the Gods. The secular purpose of the pyramids was as a gathering point for the tribes and a central location for sporting events.

Topic Today

Grave robbing, which entails the theft of artifacts or personal effects from a tomb, crypt, or pyramid, is a crime against history and archeology. Over the centuries, grave robbers took a majority of the historical artifacts out of the Egyptian pyramids, leading to gaps in knowledge regard the history of the ancient era. Many of the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs were looted within one hundred years of burial. Grave robbery is not a problem that is exclusive to the pyramids of Egypt; relics from the Central American pyramids have also been stolen, most notably and most often from the temples at the peaks of the pyramids, and there is doubt as to the dates of occupation of the Greek Pyramids in the plains of Argolis because of such destruction. Museums often have a difficult time determining the validity of historical relics when grave robbing has occurred because the connection to the historical site is destroyed and the authenticity of the item can no longer be verified.

In the twenty-first century, architects still use the structure and mystery of pyramids in construction. In modern cities throughout the world, there are buildings that utilize this form, including the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada; the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee; the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California; the Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea; the Louvre Museum in Paris, France; the Palace of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana, Kazakhstan; the Stockport Bank Pyramid in Stockport, England; and the Phorum Complex in Moscow, Russia. The Slovak Radio Building in Bratislava, Slovakia, and the Hanoi Museum in Vietnam are built in the form of inverted pyramids.

Bibliography

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Buzon, Michele R. Tombos During the Napatan Period (~750–660 BC): Exploring the Consequences of Sociopolitical Transition in Ancient Nubia. International Journal of Paleopathology 7 (2014): 1–7. Print.

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