The Egyptian Pyramids are the oldest and only surviving
member of the ancient wonders. Of the 10 pyramids at Giza, the first three
are held in the highest regard. The first, and largest, was erected for the
Pharaoh Khufu. Known as the Great Pyramid, it rises about 450 feet (having
lost about 30 feet off the top over the years) and covers 13 acres. It's believed
to have taken 100,000 laborers about 20 years to build the mammoth Khufu pyramid,
using an estimated 2.3 million blocks. By one theory, crews dragged or pushed
limestone blocks up mud-slicked ramps to construct the royal tombs. Many scholars
think the pyramid shape was an important religious statement for the Egyptians,
perhaps symbolizing the slanting rays of the sun. Some speculate the sloping
sides were intended to help the soul of the king climb to the sky and join
the gods. On this page we hope that we can make you understand all about the
prymids of ancient egypt.
The Giza Plateau Situated west of the Nile, bordering the
Sahara Desert, the Giza plateau rises up in its glory to present its full
authority. It is here that an ancient King coordinated a mammoth undertaking
exploiting the full value of the looming plateau. Eternal life would surely
be granted with the precision and meticulous execution of King Khufu's perfect
pyramid. Other pyramids had been built before, but none would ever achieve
the genius, grace and competence of this Great Pyramid. Still standing today,
it stands a silent witness to the events that immediately followed the kings
decision to build his pyramid on this site. Strangely, Khufu decided to build
his pyramid just to one side of the highest ground on the plateau. Perhaps
this section would require less work to lay the foundation, over 9 acres,
of the pyramid. We can begin to surmise how the pyramid was built by the abundant
evidence at the site. A project of this magnitude would require people, housing,
food and tools. Traces of all of this have been found, and a small village
has been excavated that would be sufficient to house the appropriate number
of people necessary to build the largest pyramid. The graffiti of the original
work gangs are scrawled across the upper most chambers, chambers that were
never meant to be entered, which may have only been included to relieve the
tremendous weight upon the main chamber. Following the lead of Khufu, two
of his successors also built their pyramids on the plateau. His son, Khafre,
exploited the higher ground, and was able to achieve the illusion of his pyramid
as being the tallest. In actuality, his pyramid was shorter than Khufu's.
Khafre is assumed to have been responsible for carving the Great Sphinx which
is aligned to his pyramid. The smallest pyramid, that of Menkaure, was the
final attempt to pyramid the plateau. Menkaure's pyramid also suffered the
fate of other pyramids and tombs throughout Egyptian history, the king died
before his tomb was finished. Click on the picture to learn more.
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