Archaeology Where The Pyramids Are In Egypt

The Pyramids in Egypt
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The Pyramids in Egypt
Egypt has a long history and is largely mentioned in the bible. However, it is the Egyptian pyramids that still stand in today. Egypt has several pyramids, but the largest, the Great Pyramid, is located in Giza. Other pyramids in Egypt include the stone pyramids that were built by the Old Pharaoh Kingdom and the mud brick pyramids that were built by the Middle Kingdom Pharaohs. The pyramids are not built in the same way (Shaw, 2003). For example, Fakhry (1961) points out the differences between the pyramids that were built during the old kingdom and those of Giza. The author points out that whereas the pyramids of Giza are completely constructed from hewn or are stones that are cut and shaped from inside and outside, the pyramids of the Old Kingdom were shaped from the outside (Fakhry, 1961).
Additionally, the Giza pyramids were built with much bigger stones compared to the pyramids of the old kingdom. The Giza pyramids are also much taller compared to pyramids in other areas. Anyone who has ever gone to Egypt has heard a lot about the pyramids and perhaps what he or she knows about the most is that he or she are pointed and tall.
Others had speculated that they were built by the Israelites when they were in Egypt. What is clear is that the pyramids paint a picture that is worth traveling thousands of miles to see. Today, the pyramids stand out as the oldest stone structures in the world. Anyone who has ever traveled to see the pyramids has been mesmerized by their sights. Historically, they are believed to be tombs that were built by the pharaohs who saw themselves as gods and believed that they deserved the mammoth structures as their resting places (Fakhry, 1961). While some people have supported the argument that they were built as tombs for the pharaohs, others have argued that this is not the case. The truth is there are still more questions to answer about the pyramids. Many issues are still misunderstood, and they need to be brought to light. Therefore, in this paper, I am going to look at where the pyramids are located in Egypt, how they were built and the labor that was used when they were built and who was responsible, and why they were built. I also look at the unique features of the Great Pyramid, which still stands out as among the greatest wonders of the world. I will also look at the counter-arguments on the exact reasons why the pyramids were built.
Where the Pyramids are in Egypt
Archeological studies from Egypt hold that the Step Pyramid was the very first one to be constructed at Saqqara (Bárta, 2005). The Step Pyramid stands at about 60 meters high, a height that is equivalent to a 20 storey building. The Egyptian archeologists, often known as Egyptologists, record that the Step Pyramids were mainly built for the burial of Djoser. It was after the brainwave by Imhotep that additional layers were added to the pyramid to form the stepped pyramid (Bárta, 2005). Some archeologists have argued that the stepped pyramid was originally built as a true pyramid only to be disfigured by erosions.
Moreover, the step pyramids are walls that have temple together with stone structures within them. During the fourth dynasty of Sneferu, three pyramids that were associated with him were constructed. This refutes the common belief that pharaohs built pyramids so that they could use them as tombs (Bárta, 2005). What most people have asked is why Snefefru would build three while he needed just one to be buried in. However, Barsoum, Ganguly & Hug (2006) argue that Sneferu might have been dissatisfied with the earlier constructions and that they only got it right with the Red Pyramid. The first pyramid believed to have been built was the Medium pyramid towards the southern end of lake Faiyum (Bárta, 2005). The next pyramid believed to have been built during the reign of Sneferu was the Bent pyramid which is located at Dashur together with the Red Pyramid. Both of them are believed to be two thirds the height of the great pyramid. The Red Pyramid is 104 meters high while the bent pyramid is 101 meters (Bárta, 2005).
The construction of the pyramids is believed to have picked up immensely after the fourth dynasty. The skills acquired during this dynasty are believed to have influenced the construction of pyramids at Giza. The Giza pyramids are built on a leveled plateau. It is at the northern edge of the plateau that the great pyramid is built (Bárta, 2005). It is believed that Kufu built the great pyramid during the 4th dynasty.
The great pyramid is often touted as a wonder of the world. It was built using 2.3 million stone blocks each believed to weigh around two tones (Barsoum, Ganguly & Hug, 2006). The great pyramid also has granite blocks and an interior that is reported to weigh 60 to 70 tonnes. It also has a height of the pyramid is reported at 146 meters, which is equivalent to a fifty-storey building (Barsoum, Ganguly & Hug, 2006).
How the Pyramids were built
Considering that at the time the great pyramid was built, there were no winches or cranes, the question that most people ask is how the pyramids were built. One of the theories that have been advanced is the ramp theory. The theory holds that stones are normally dragged and pulled upwards on sledges on a ramp of close to 7º that got longer whenever the pyramids went higher so that they could maintain the same angle of inclination (de Young, 2008). Sledges like that have been found in several places in Egypt, but they do not automatically prove that the theory is right. The critics of the theory argue that the ramp would not exceed a mile. Therefore, it is inconceivable that they would go as high as 100 meters (Shaw, 2003). Additionally, they argue that no remains of such ramps have been found. This is unrealistic because if it was that big, there must be remains.
Rollers theory argues that the stones were rolled upwards and moved towards the base of the pyramid after which they were leveled, one after the other (Davidovits & Morris, 2009). The rollers would be crushed because of the weight of the stones, and they would regularly need to be replaced. An incredible amount of wood would be needed when the pyramids were being constructed if ever rollers were used. This theory is also doubted because at the time, palm trees were major sources of wood and they were used for consumption. There is a doubt that the Egyptians would sacrifice such a large amount of wood (Shaw, 2003).
One of the recent theories that have been fronted to explain how the pyramids were built is Massey’s theory. The theory suggested by Massey argued that water from River Nile would be forced upward in the causeway. The causeway would have to connect with the Nile River at a lower level compared with the water surface. Water would rush, and when it had nowhere to go, it would move up the causeway (Bárta, 2005). Floats that were made of goatskin were attached to the stones before being guided up the causeway. Gates were used much more like canal lock system. The water only goes one way towards the base of the pyramids.
When the Pyramids were built and by whom
Here, I am focusing on the Giza pyramids determine when they were built and by whom. Cheops (Pharaoh Khufu) was the first to build the first pyramids at Giza, the Great Pyramid (Nell & Ruggles, 2014). It was then his son, Khafre that built the middle pyramid which had a lower height than the great pyramid. The Great Sphinx is thought to belong to this pyramid too. The middle pyramid is thought to stand at 66 feet. Today, it is more covered in sand and most of its features are not visible.
Menkaure, Khafre’s son was responsible for building the smaller pyramid. What most people struggle to understand is the evidence that was used to know the identities of ...