Chorna 1

Pyramids

Viktoriya Chorna

12 grade English

Mr. Janosch

January /6/ 2016

 Chorna 2

Pyramids

The ancient pyramids are among the most astonishing structures in the world. The

pyramids are fascinating, however, they remain to be a mystery for many years. Many people

believe that the pyramids were built from 2700 to 2500 bc. In general looking at the Kerrily

Sapet evidence we can see the specific time when pyramids start build "More than 4,500 years

ago, ancient Egyptians first stacked rectangular blocks of stone to build a pyramid. Pyramids

were located in different parts of the world according to the evidence from Craig Freudenrich

Pyramids of various types, sizes and complexities were built in many parts of the ancient world

like Central America, Greece, China and Egypt (1 page). The pyramids in fact had a purpose to

the ancient Egyptians.A Built in ancient times by workers who didn't have the benefit of modern

tools and machinery. During these days they are the object of admiration through their size and

unique structures. While researchers arent certain about how The Pyramids of Egypt were built,

the egyptians used advanced knowledge to create them. For construct such monuments required

a mastery of art, architecture, astrology and social organization.

The issue that has been long debated is who exactly built the pyramids also how many

people and years take to build it. For many years, historians believed that slaves were the

laborers who built the pyramids. Personally I can not rule out this option, because I think that

they anyway use slaves for labor force. But according to the Kerrily Sapet we can see first

argument "But why would a pharaoh use slaves to build his eternal home?". In fact, Egyptian

slaves were captured from foreign countries. In that time bought and sold like property, they

were considered the least important people in Egyptian society. So we can know that there is a

possibility that they did not use slaves but citizens of the country built the pyramids specifically
 Chorna 3

for their pharaoh. "Historians have recently discovered that most pyramid laborers were free

citizens, proud to work for their pharaoh". In 1989 Lehner Hawass (University of Chicago's

Oriental Instituteand) "...brought a team of diggers to the foot of the plateau and turned them

loose on a garbage-strewn field. They soon uncovered the debris of a substantial bakery and,

close by, hundreds of skeletons, hastily interred, with none of the ornaments or other objects

denoting membership in the upper classes". (Evan Hadingham, p 1) This first convincing

evidence about the workers who composed the labor force of thousands, perhaps tens of

thousands. The skeletons indicating the interaction of higher class in the construction of the

pyramids. It was a convincing proof that the workers were not a slaves, and to play a greater role

in the construction. Some researchers find it hard to believe that the pyramids could have been

built in one pharaohs lifetime. From the "World Almanac and Book of Facts" we can discover

even by todays standards, the pyramids of ancient Egypt were an impressive feat of engineering,

due to their enormous size. Considering the fact that at that time they did not have equipment

that helped them build such monuments and all it should do the people. It is estimated to

contain 2.3 million blocks of stone, the stones themselves averaging 21/ 2 tons and some

weighing 30 tons. Its construction reputedly took 100,000 laborers 20 years. (The Seven

Wonders of the Ancient World, p 1) This colossal work that could take different amounts of time

and people to build it. for each pyramids was different amount of materials and people that

worked most was depending on the brainchild of pharaoh.

Most Ancient Egyptians planned for their death and the pharaoh was no exception. These

monuments from ancient Egyptian times are massive, and were made for pharaoh to be buried in

and remembered by. A pyramid began with a command from the pharaoh, who probably began

planning his tomb as soon as he became ruler. The pyramid is both a statement of pharaoh's vast
 Chorna 4

power. The Egypt pyramids were constructed for the pharaoh, as a tomb or eternal home.

Pharaoh were buried in tombs according to the Craig Freudenrich, The first tombs of the

Egyptian pharaohs were flat, box-shaped buildings called mastabas (Arabic for "bench"). The

tomb were important to pharaohs because they showed how great and powerful they were. They

were also important to citizens that build it because they thought it was an honor. We can say that

pyramids were built to protect the body of the deceased pharaoh.

In the construction of the pyramids one of the most important aspects for Egyptian was

astrology because their religion connection with nature, the Egyptians studied the stars.

According to the Evan Hadingham "...in this 3,500-year-old drawing, one can also see

cartoonlike images of the northern constellations: for example, the bull called Meskheti,

corresponding to our Big Dipper". They include these knowledge of astrology in hieroglyphics

on the walls. That's mean it was very important for them they believe in it. The northern stars

were of sanctity for them, because they think that it were the "imperishable" or "undying" stars.

Evan Hadingham said that "The pyramid builders believed that the Pharaoh's soul would rise

from the tomb and ascend to the northern stars to take its place among the other immortals."

Most pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile. Because Egyptians believed that the

spirits went to the west bank, to the "heavenly realm". According the Kerrily Sapet "The

pharaoh's high priest chose the site for the pyramid. By studying the stars and making careful

calculations, the priest could be sure the four corners of the pyramid would face exactly north,

south, east, and west." Also the pharaoh's minister, or official, worked with architects to design

the pyramid. Together they planned the location of the king's secret underground burial chamber

and other important parts of the pyramid. As we know from many ancient texts, the Egyptians

visualized the pyramid as a kind of active sacred machine, working together with all the forces of
 Chorna 5

nature to transform the soul of the Pharaoh. Pyramid included the ancient hieroglyphs that

displays not only their culture but their religion and story which was associated with stars and

celestial phenomena.

The main material for building pyramids was stone they cut in the form of massive stone

blocks (white limestone blocks from the quarries). But Craig Freudenrich said that pyramids

were built not only from limestone but also from "granite, basalt, gypsum (mortar), and baked

mud bricks". also provide the evidence that "Iron tools were not available, so workers used

copper and stone-cutting tools to carve out the blocks in the quarries."(p.5) In some version they

used levers to move the stone blocks away from the quarry. One with plausible theory for me that

stones were very heavy so them loaded onto riverboats and transported down the river close to

the pyramid. Kerrily Sapet said that "At quarries far upriver, stonecutters cut limestone to make a

bright white outer covering for the pyramid. The stones were loaded onto riverboats and

transported downriver to the pyramid site." It confirms that the blocks committing through the

water helps them a lot in the construction.

We don't have evidence that survive to tell us about the methods of construction used to

build the pyramids, but archaeological give us valuable clues. There are many versions about the

construction of the pyramids but one often discussed is the ramp that connects the quarry and the

pyramid. The ramp is necessary to reach the top layer of the pyramid, and its inclination must be

soft enough to make stone-hauling practical. But Evan Hadingham provide the evidence "A

quick calculation shows that a ramp of this size would have required at least three times as much

building material as the pyramid itself". ( p. 1) In this case, ramp would not have been useful.

But from other hand Mariam Ayad have a strong argument about it "Dr. Zahi Hawass, the

Egyptian archaeologist in charge of the Giza plateau, recently found the remains of a ramp made
 Chorna 6

of rubble (limestone chips) and tafla (chalky clay) at the southeast corner of the Great Pyramid".

(p.1) Evan Hadingham said that consider another method staircase can be as an option "...the

staircase method, pyramid solutions are rarely straightforward." But could even highly skilled

people have kept on inching the blocks up the steps once the "staircase" reached heights? But

that's a moot point how the builders have maneuvered blocks on big height. We can not ignore

this version but also we don't have i strong evidence about it.

The pyramids were built not only from limestone, but also from granite, basalt, gypsum

(mortar), and baked mud bricks. "Limestone blocks were quarried at Giza and possibly other

sites. Granite likely came from upriver at Aswan. Alabaster came from Luxor and basalt from the

Fayoum depression." (Craig Freudenrich, p.5) Pyramid wonder to people because it is a mystery

hidden in the building and the giant size, and to this day is an impressive display of history.

According to the Craig Freudenrich The ancient Egyptians used "cubits" (the length from the tip

of your middle finger to your elbow) and "hands" (the width of your hand with the thumb on the

side) for measurements.

In the deserts of Egypt lie the colossal remains of an ancient civilization. These enormous

works of human endeavor are the only member of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World that

time has passed down to us. These impressive structures were built not impress the thousands of

years of civilization. But pyramids in fact had a purpose to the ancient Egyptians. While they

seem very simple, as they are simply four-sided pyramids with square bases, they had a meaning

and purpose for those that had them built. Even by todays standards, the pyramids of ancient

Egypt were an impressive feat of engineering, due to their enormous size. Considering the fact

that at that time they did not have equipment that helped them build such monuments and all it

should do the people. For construct such monuments required a mastery of art, architecture and
 Chorna 7

social organization. These shows us the most important factors in Egyptian culture. Many of

these pyramids stand today and wonder people because it is mystery, the giant size and very

heavy construction materials, to this day it is impressive display of history.

Ayad, Mariam. "BUILDING A PYRAMID." Calliope, Sept. 2001, p. 14. General OneFile,

Accessed Nov. 2016.

Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D. "How Pyramids Work" 30 August 2007. HowStuffWorks.com.

Accessed Nov. 2016.

 Chorna 8

Hadingham, Evan. "Pyramid schemes: efforts persist to explain how Egypt's pyramids were

built, and why." The Atlantic, Nov. 1992. Accessed Nov. 2016.

Sapet, Kerrily. "Steps and stones: who built the pyramids?" Appleseeds, Oct. 2006. Accessed

Nov. 2016.

"The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World." The World Almanac and Book of Facts, World

Almanac Books, 2000. Accessed Nov 2016.