Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza, located on the Giza plateau near Cairo, Egypt, are a remarkable complex of ancient monuments that include three large pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and several smaller pyramids, collectively known as the Queens Pyramids. Constructed as a funerary complex, these structures were built to honor the pharaohs, with the Great Pyramid of Giza being the most prominent. This iconic pyramid, recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, was completed around 2580 BCE and is made up of approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks. Contrary to popular belief, the pyramids were built by paid laborers who lived in nearby workers' villages, contributing to the economy during the Nile's flood season when agricultural work was not possible.
The construction techniques of the pyramids remain partly mysterious, with ongoing studies utilizing advanced technology like muography to uncover hidden chambers within the Great Pyramid. Each pyramid served as a monumental representation of the pharaoh's power and was accompanied by various structures, including temples and cemeteries for elites. Historically, the pyramids have become national symbols of Egypt, embodying the rich cultural heritage and architectural achievements of ancient civilization. Today, they continue to attract researchers and tourists alike, offering insights into the engineering prowess of the ancient Egyptians and their complex social structures.
Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are a complex of several ancient monuments located on the Giza plateau, a flat, rocky archaeological site near the city of Cairo, Egypt. The site consists of three large pyramids, the Great Sphinx, several smaller pyramids (which are sometimes called the Queens Pyramids), a workers' village, several cemeteries, and other buildings affiliated with the complex. The entire area served as a funeral complex meant to honor the pharaohs who collectively commissioned its construction. The centerpiece of this complex is the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was immortalized in antiquity as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and is the only surviving representative from that list.
The construction of the pyramids required a massive effort. The Great Pyramid, for instance, used a workforce of between 10,000 and 30,000 people who worked three months out of every year. Even with this enormous staff, the Great Pyramid took approximately twenty years to complete. Contrary to popular belief, these pyramids were not built by slaves, but rather by paid workers who were well fed in order to maintain their strength. They lived in large, temporary communities located on the grounds of the site. The construction of the pyramids provided a steady form of income for many Egyptians during the flood season of the Nile, an annual period that typically left them unable to work the land and virtually unemployed. As a result, the construction of the pyramids provided a boost to the ancient Egyptian economy, and their construction and the pharaohs who commissioned them were likely well regarded in ancient times. In the modern era, the pyramids at Giza and Egypt's other monuments have become national symbols of the modern state.
Brief History
The first Egyptian pyramid was built by third-dynasty pharaoh Djoser between 2667 and 2648 BCE. It was planned by the pharaoh's vizier, Imhotep, who designed it to be a series of successively smaller squares. Called a step pyramid, Djoser's monument provided a long-lasting testament to his legacy as ruler of Egypt. Several of Djoser's successors borrowed the designs of Imhotep to create their own step pyramids.
The fourth-dynasty king Sneferu, who ruled from approximately 2613 to 2589 BCE, transformed the shape of pyramids. He ultimately had three separate pyramids constructed on his behalf. The first, at Meidum, started as a step pyramid, but some of the limestone blocks began to collapse. The pyramid was abandoned midway through its construction. His second pyramid, which is called the Bent Pyramid in the modern era, was intended to be the first smooth-sided pyramid, but mistakes during construction forced its engineers to shift the angle of the walls, giving the pyramid a distinct bent shape. Sneferu's third pyramid, called the Red Pyramid due to the color of the limestone used in its construction, became the first smooth-sided pyramid in Egyptian history.
Sneferu's son, Khufu, expanded upon his father's monumental works. He selected the Giza plateau for his mortuary complex, which is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from the downtown area of contemporary Cairo. The result was the Great Pyramid of Giza. Built over a roughly twenty-year period beginning in approximately 2580 BCE, the resulting pyramid was the largest monument constructed by humankind for 3,000 years. In its finished form, it rose to a height of 479 feet (146 meters) at its peak, with a base diameter of 754 feet (230 meters). The full structure is estimated to have required 2.3 million blocks of stone, each weighing at least 2.5 tons, with some weighing as much as 16 tons. The outer stones consisted of a highly polished white limestone. However, in the almost 4,500 years since the Great Pyramid's completion, most of the outer layer was removed and used in the construction of nearby Cairo. In addition, the harsh desert environment of the Giza plateau has helped to wear the pyramid down to a height of 455 feet (138 meters).
Khufu's son, Khafre, built the second Giza pyramid. Situated on higher ground than his father's pyramid, it has the appearance of being taller, but at its maximum height, it only stood at 447.5 feet (136.4 meters) with a base of 706 feet (215.5 meters). It was completed in approximately 5270 BCE. It is thought Khafre was also responsible for the construction of the Great Sphinx, and that its head was intended to be a portrait of him. The third principal pyramid at Giza, which stands at 213 feet (65 meters) with a base of 335 feet (102.2 meters), was built for Menkaure—a son of Khafre—in approximately 2510 BCE. Nearby is the tomb of Queen Khentkaus, who is believed to be a daughter of Menkaure. Khentkaus is a relatively mysterious figure, but she may have served as a regent of Egypt.
Surrounding these monuments is a series of related structures, including funerary temples, causeways that were covered in antiquity, granaries, rock cut tombs, and cemeteries. Many of these comparatively simple cemeteries contained the remains of Egypt's elites, including court officials; the wives, sons, and daughters of royalty; and other important figures. Further located on the plateau are the archaeological remains of the workers' village.
Overview
Pyramids were above-ground funeral complexes. They were intended to house the spirits of deceased pharaohs and the funerary goods they needed in the afterlife. In addition, they likely served to highlight the strength of the pharaohs and ancient Egypt itself while the pharaohs were alive. Each of the pyramids contained inner burial chambers that connected to the outside through long entranceways.
Many aspects of the architectural design and construction of the Great Pyramid remained mysteries into the twenty-first century, and new discoveries continued to be made. Beginning in 2016, scientists using a type of technology called muography studied the construction of the Great Pyramid. Muons are particles that are created when cosmic rays reach Earth's upper atmosphere. These particles are absorbed by the dense areas of objects such as the pyramids' limestone; however, they pass through the empty spaces between stones. As a result, they are useful in locating large gaps within monuments. Scientists found two previously unidentified spaces buried within the Great Pyramid. The technology was comparatively new at that point, and given their depth within the pyramid, it was considered possible that these areas may simply be a mix of small and large stones. The two areas, found in the north and northeast edges of the pyramid, could also be indicative of secret chambers. Egyptologists studying the pyramid cautioned that more research was required before drawing any firm conclusions. In 2023, researchers participating in that same project announced their findings from further studies using muon radiography. They claimed that, according to this technology's modeling, the north face area measured 30 feet (9 meters) long and over 6 feet (2 meters) wide, and that this data, along with images caputred from an endoscope, confirmed the void's existence.
In 2024, scientists made a discovery that, they theorized, explained more about how the pyramids were constructed. While many had long believed that a waterway must have been involved in some way for transportation of materials, no evidence had been found to directly support this hypothesis until researchers uncovered a branch of the Nile River that must have existed near the construction site at that time but had long been buried.
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