By Iruni Kalupahana, JadeTimes News
The Evolution of Egyptian Pyramids
The fascination of Egypt with pyramids was brought about by the first royal tombs, which were called mastabas, designed as flat rectangular structures made of mudbrick or stone. In about 2780 BCE, King Djoser's architect, Imhotep, revolutionized the art of tomb design when he built at Saqqara what was to become Egypt's first monumental stone building, the Step Pyramid. Constructed from six stacked mastabas, this pyramid was the quantum leap in architectural design. It would be until its further development, under King Snefru from 2680 to 2560 BCE, that the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur became the first one with smooth sides. A nearby pyramid also by Snefru was the Red Pyramid, destined to be the earliest successful true pyramid, having a perfect triangular shape which would be taken over by all future pyramids.
The Great Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramids at Giza, which were built during the Fourth Dynasty, represent the apex of Egyptian pyramid building. The largest, constructed for Pharaoh Khufu , originally reached a height of 481 feet, with each side of its base covering well over 13 acres. It demonstrates sophisticated planning and implementation, as it is perfectly oriented to the cardinal points, with large blocks of limestone weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons each.
The second pyramid belonged to Khufu's son, Khafre, and is marked by the Great Sphinx, a massive limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh. The third pyramid, built by Menkaure, was smaller than the first two pyramids, but it had an elaborately carved temple complex with three subsidiary pyramids for queens.
Construction Techniques and Labor
The construction of pyramids called for advanced engineering skill and an extremely organized workforce. In building pyramids, the Egyptians employed copper chisels and saws, and abrasive powders such as sand for cutting out the stones. Blocks of granite to be used in the burial chambers were transported from Aswan in Upper Egypt, more than 500 miles away, down the Nile. They most likely moved the heavy stones, lubricated with water or clay, on sledges up huge ramps that may spiral around the pyramids. Archaeological evidence suggests that a core of skilled masons, architects, and laborers composed the workforce, augmented by crews of temporary workers. Contrary to previous conceptions of slave labor, these men were well fed and housed in nearby towns, further privileging this state sponsored project.
The Legacy and Mysteries of the Pyramids
The pyramids were the monumental resting places for the rulers of Egypt, as well as the focal points of religious and cultural life. Intended to protect on into eternity the body and treasure of the deceased Pharaoh from grave robbers, they themselves have fallen victim to the ravages of time and grave robbers. Today, they are a source of wonder and research. With state of the art technologies, such as thermal scanning and cosmic ray imaging used in the Scan Pyramids project, several hidden voids were brought into the light, including one big cavity inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. Such findings hint at complicated construction methods adopted by ancient Egyptians, which are not yet comprehensively interpreted. While how they actually built them might remain a mystery, the pyramids have managed to preserve the legacy of Ancient Egypt in style as it amazes people with its grandeur and mysterious elements yet to be unraveled.
The Enduring Enigma of Egypt
