...The construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza has long been debated. Most theories of the Great Pyramid’s construction include using ramps and pulley mechanisms in order to move such massive stones, but exactly how has remained a mystery. There is a theory on how the Egyptians attained the large workforce needed for the construction of the Great Pyramid. The Greek believed that slave labour was used, but modern discoveries made at nearby workers' camps associated with construction at Giza suggest it was built instead by tens of thousands of skilled workers (Collins, Harper 1988)... During the times the Nile flooded its surrounding fields, a large local workforce would arrive to help construction for their God-King’s temples (“Who,” 1997). There are differing theories as to how the placement and utilization of the ramps allowed the Egyptians to move blocks of stone weighing as much as 100,000 pounds.One of the theories for the construction of the Great Pyramid was the single ramp theory. This theory was quickly dismissed as the scale of the ramp required would have had to of been more than a mile long; equaling more work than the Great Pyramid itself. Another external ramp theory postulated that a ramp was built along the sides of the pyramid, spiraling along-side the edge of the Great Pyramid. While that would avoid the need for a mile long ramp, this theory also has a problem. That is frequent measures of the corners of the Great Pyramid would...
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...Stefani Delap Bruce Beard Hum:111 01/31/16 The Mysterious Construction of The Pyramids Of Giza The Mysterious Construction of The Pyramids Of Giza The Pyramids of Giza are a great tourist attraction and an even more perplexing ideology of architectural construction. How were these great monuments built? In regarding how the pyramids were constructed, there have been many theories proposed but none have adequate evidence. According to the French engineer Jean Pierre Houdin: The Giza pyramids were constructed in three major stages. In the first stage the first portion of the pyramid building process, Houdin, relies on the conservative Historian standby, “the straight ramp”, to explain the mechanism of how the stone blocks were moved and placed into the monument. The process in which Jean proposes, the straight ramp was slowly constructed up which the ancient laborers dragged over a million and a half blocks that went into the Pyramids reaching the third level of the King Chamber. In an extension to the rising levels the beginning infrastructure of an internal spiral was created twisting around just inside the outer edge of the core masonry. The second stage of construction, Houdin, tries to explain that the purpose for the unique design of the Grand Gallery was solely for aiding in the moving and raising the huge granite blocks that were placed above the King’s chamber. The third stage, is perceived...
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...built The Pyramids at Giza remain one of the most amazing architectural works in history and the Great Pyramid stands as one of the last surviving wonders of the ancient world. There are many theories revolving around the construction of Egypt’s pyramids: one of which is that the Hebrews slaves under the control of the pharaoh Khufu built the pyramids. Another theory suggests that human beings were not involved in the building of the pyramids but instead these structures were built by extra-terrestrial or alien forces. The first of the theories involves a famous Greek historian called Herodotus who traveled to Egypt around 430 B.C. Based upon his observation and findings, Herodotus came to the conclusion that the pyramids were built by demoralized Hebrew slaves working under the command of the immoral pharaoh named Khufu. Throughout the years and until today, this is the theory that is accepted by most people. However, researchers and archeologists have yet to provide hard evidence proving the theory. The theory suggests a vast number of slaves were available to build the pyramids under the labor conditions of that time. According to mainstream archeology, there is no proof whatsoever of slavery existing near Giza during the time when the pyramids were thought to, have been built. Even ancient arts or architecture of the Egyptians do not show any records of slavery ever being used to build the pyramids. Also, recently, villages were found near Giza and from the remains of...
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...The Mystery of the Construction of the Pyramids of Giza RUNNING HEAD: THE MYSTERY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS 2 AT GIZA There are many mysteries surrounding our history, especially those of ancient times. It is my belief that a mystery is something that simply can’t be explained and is based off of phenomenon. In regards to the Pyramids at Giza, is it really a mystery or have we as a modern society over looked some things? Have we given our ancestors due credit for their work or do we continue to believe that since they were not as technologically advanced that somehow they weren’t as smart as we are today? The only mystery here is why we can’t fathom certain things of ancient times to have been accomplished. No one as of yet can come up with a viable explanation as to how the Pyramids of Giza were built. How could a structure so big, so wide, be built by men who had yet to advance by our definition of skill? The Great Pyramid at Giza was built for Pharaoh Khufu who ruled during the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Such as was practice in the ancient times, Pharaoh Khufu was laid to rest in one of the greatest structures ever known to mankind,...
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...RUNNING HEAD: THE MYSTERY OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS 2 AT GIZA There are many mysteries surrounding our history, especially those of ancient times. It is my belief that a mystery is something that simply can’t be explained and is based off of phenomenon. In regards to the Pyramids at Giza, is it really a mystery or have we as a modern society over looked some things? Have we given our ancestors due credit for their work or do we continue to believe that since they were not as technologically advanced that somehow they weren’t as smart as we are today? The only mystery here is why we can’t fathom certain things of ancient times to have been accomplished. No one as of yet can come up with a viable explanation as to how the Pyramids of Giza were built. How could a structure so big, so wide, be built by men who had yet to advance by our definition of skill? The Great Pyramid at Giza was built for Pharaoh Khufu who ruled during the 4th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Such as was practice in the ancient times, Pharaoh Khufu was laid to rest in one of the greatest structures ever known to mankind, The Pyramid at Giza. Great labor was put in to this pyramid, which spanned over the course of about 23 years. There are several theories as to how the Great Pyramid at Giza was constructed, and until we know...
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...Klein The Great Pyramids at Giza, one of 110 pyramids built in Egypt; it is the only famous "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" (Krystek, 2011) that still stands. There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated. It is no mystery who built the Great Pyramids, the pharaoh Khufu, but how he accomplished this has been debated over and over. There are several theories to how they were constructed. They range from cranes, ramps, to today’s theory of space aliens, held by some. However, of the many theories offered, the most logical of them are the use of cranes or ramps. One earliest recorded theory put forward by Herodotus, the Greek historian, mentioned the use of "machines" used to raise the blocks, which has been taken to mean cranes. Supporters of this theory believe that cranes were used in the construction. “Egyptians farmers have long used wooden crane-like devices called a shadoufs to raise water from the Nile for irrigation” (Brier, 2007). It is believed that hundreds of these cranes at different levels on the pyramid were used to lift the blocks. The problem with this theory is that Egypt did not have forests to provide the large amount of timber need to accomplish the constructions and importing it would have been...
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...are, we can image that the constructions need a lot of efforts from the architects and workers, and they may use many advanced and modern facilities to bring them the best work. Besides, if we think about the past, without technology, there would be impossible for the ancient people build anything amazing like these. But that is not true, and you will be surprised when you see how mighty the pyramids are. Especially, the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the seven ancient wonders still remaining to our days and one of the most famous tourist attractions in the modern world. II. Body: 1) What is pyramid? + Pyramid is a structure whose shape is triangular and converges to a single point at the top. The base of a pyramid can be trilateral, quadrilateral, or any polygon shape, and the square pyramid is a common version. + Most of Pyramids represent for the tomb of Pharoahs, kings of acient Egypt, who believed that they could take their bodies and worldly possessions to the next world by burying inside the pyramid. Usually, they started construction on their pyramid many years before their death. 2) How to build a pyramid? + The estimate of the number of workers to build the pyramids range from a few thousand, twenty thousand. Especilly, It's believed to have taken 100,000 laborers about 20 years to build the the Great Pyramid of Giza, using an estimated 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tons went into the construction. (An article on website: cnn...
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...The construction of the pyramids does not appear to be a series of sporadic events. It appeared as though the Pharaohs, who built their pyramids in Giza, oversaw everything with regards to the design and locations of their pyramid sites. The Pharaohs whom were placed in the Giza pyramids were in my opinion the architect as well as the project manager for their pyramid’s construction. Each Pharaoh chose the site for their massive pyramids for specific purposes. King Khufu for instance instructed his slaves to build his pyramids sites on the west of the Nile which he and a few other Pharaohs believed was the home to the deceased because the sun set towards the west of the Nile. It has been founded that the location of each Pharaoh’s chamber/burial site within the pyramids are located in the center of the massive edifice. Additionally the interior of the pyramids were constructed intricately. For instance the passageways within the pyramids were designed to lead down to the Pharaohs chambers which were designed to be sealed behind heavy stones after their passing. It is reasonable to consider that the construction of the pyramids were not an easy feat. The size of the pyramids is generally what fuels rational debate about the construction of the Giza pyramid site. One of the largest pyramids of King Khufu’s burial sites resides on a foundation that covers 13 acres and a base that measures 756 feet. It has been estimated that the construction (at the least) was...
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...The Pyramids at Giza Construction Julian Grant Humanities 111 Professor Emerick April 29, 2014 This is another unbelievable story, as there are many mysteries as it certainly is fascinating. The two particular theories as the “transport theory” which is presented by engineer and inventor, Andrzej Bochnacki, a Polish engineer as his book proposes very inventive technology for moving the pyramid blocks from the pits to the construction place. He presents the method from which the stones moved to making the entire pyramid. He said that they must have made the paper boats which were placed on the top of the blocks and knotted up with ropes (Bochnacki, 1994). These movable boats were in wait to raise the water of Nile and so they can be easily dragged to a chosen destination. The easiest way was to drag them to the west region of Nile where water flooded the fields. The second theory is the Limestone concrete theory by Materials scientist, Joseph Davidovits, that holds the spotlight of many historians and scientists, he is an International renown French Scientist, born in 1935, working in France, Europe, USA, Australia and China. Most Egyptologists reject the idea, put forth in the mid-1980s by French chemist Joseph Davidovits, that the pyramids contain concrete. Barsoum’s team took a fresh look at 15 samples using scanning- and transmission-electron microscopes. The samples contain ratios...
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...Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for HU2100 Introduction to Humanities By Henry W. Sutton; Student ID #1302128312 Colorado Springs, Colorado July 2013 Abstract I chose the Sphinx of Giza due to that I have seen it with my own eyes, but it has always been a mystery how it was originated ancient Egyptian history. The Sphinx of Giza was carved from the living rock and faces directly east. It has become a symbol of mystery and is now believed to have been one of the first structures at Giza. The Sphinx of Giza has watched the rising sun for thousands of years. its position on the Giza plateau has earned it a special place in our hearts and minds, as its origin and meaning have become lost to us. The head-dress, beard and cobra on the forehead are traditionally associated with royalty. It was suggested that the image of a half lion, half woman aspect symbolized the junctions of the constellations Leo and Virgo which occurred at a summer solstice in the fourth millennium B.C.E. The Great Sphinx The Great Sphinx of Giza, commonly referred to as the Sphinx, is a limestone statue of a reclining or couchant sphinx (a mythical creature with a lion's body and a human head) that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nile in Giza, Egypt. It is the largest monolith statue in the world, standing 73.5 meters (241 feet) long, 19.3 meters (63 feet) wide, and 20.22 m (66.34 feet) high. It is the oldest known monumental full-round sculpture, and is...
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...Two Theories behind the Construction of the Pyramids of Giza Introduction The Egyptian empire which has been identified to have developed over the last three millennia BCE (Sayre, 2012), is known for several contributions to modern society to include: a formal irrigation system, a form of writing called hieroglyphics, their art and their architecture. The most significant of architectural structures are the Great Pyramids. The basis of the pyramid was the mastaba or mortuary compartment that was customary during the First Dynasty (Ruiz, 2001). Although the Egyptians were architectural geniuses when it came to the Great Pyramids, they did not put the same time and durability into the very homes they lived in. Although pyramids and temples from ancient Egypt still impress us thousands of years after they were built, all that remains of the homes where people were born, grew to adulthood and died are occasional low mounds of mud outlines. Temples and tombs endure because Egyptians made a sharp distinction between their religious architecture, constructed of permanent stone for eternity, and all other buildings, even palaces and fortresses, which were built of less durable adobe (Brier & Hobbs, 2008). Because a significant portion of the pyramids continue to stand today, the mystery behind how the Great Pyramids were actually constructed continues to be a significant topic of discussion for modern society aerologists, architects, engineers, and historians. Since documentation...
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...to the fact that interpreters can not fathom how a certain piece of art could have been created by humans. One such piece of art, or more aptly a piece of architecture, that has been subject to this, “Who done it?” question are the Great Pyramids of Giza, located in Egypt. Established during the fourth dynasty of the Egyptian empire, which spanned from 2575-2450 BCE, the construction of these architectural...
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...The Mystery of the Great Pyramid Kimone Campbell Professor Jenna Thrasher-Sneathen Humanities 111 May 1, 2013 There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza were constructed. Mystery and Magic surrounding them, filling scholars and the public with wonder that presents the following question: How did our ancestors, more than 4500 years ago, build these magnificent structures, and how did they organize the workforce that was necessary for their construction. There are so many theories regarding the construction of the Giza pyramid it is hard to believe one from the ET visitation, to the levitating the blocks with some sort of sound system to the ramps they used and last but not least the slavery or some kind of labor force. Let us explore two of the most talked about theories that I have come across on my research which is the case of the Aliens and the laborers or what could be equivalent for us today some kind of military force. In the case of the Aliens. According to research done by several Egyptologist the pyramid was accurately aligned with points of a compass that only aliens could have achieved that many years ago. The angles of the slopes were precise that only aliens could be thought of to do this since they were not equipped with the mathematically advanced equipment to be so accurate. Also because the blocks were so heavy it would only make sense that the aliens did because man was not equipped with the knowledge or technology to...
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...The Mysterious Tomb of Queen Hetepheres Since the discovery and excavation of the tomb of Hetepheres on the Giza Plateau in February of 1925, people have been trying to restore its historic scenario as it was built and arguing about whether it is the true and original tomb of the queen, as many aspects of the tomb are unclear and confusing. The missing superstructure, the reverse arrangement order of furniture, the obviously hasty state of the chamber, the empty sarcophagus, and full ceremonies in the shaft are reasons why Egyptologists debate about how to interpret the tomb. Two well-known Egyptologists, George Andrew Reisner, the director of the excavation, and Mark Lehner, proposed two opposing reconstructions to explain them. While Reisner believed that the shaft, registered as G 7000 X, is a reburial tomb of the robbed one near the pyramid of Hetepheres’ husband Snefru, Lehner suggested that G 7000 X is her original tomb and her body was moved to G I a, one the three queen’s pyramids to the east of the pyramid of her Khufu, due to change of the plan for his cemetery. Looking through the pictures of the tomb and two Egyptologists’ scientific publication, Lehner’s theory seems more convincing since it has more convincing arguments that are more in accordance with ancient Egyptian funerary traditions. No superstructure was found on the surface above G 7000 X and “there was nothing to indicate the burial place of the king’s mother” (Reisner 1927, 34). If it were not Reisner’s...
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...Mystery of the Pyramids Week 4, Assignment 1 Hum111 Professor Nancy Barlar 3 November 2013 Mystery of the Pyramids There have been many theories regarding how the pyramids at Giza and how they were constructed. Most experts agree that they were constructed as burial monuments for pharaohs, but “how” these ancient people constructed monuments of such great size without modern machinery is a mystery which is still being debated. In the next few paragraphs I will be taking you into a look into the mystery that surrounds this highly debated subject. The Aztecs, Mayans, and ancient Egyptians were three very different civilizations with a span of almost the other side of the world away from each other, but with very large similarities to the way that they built the pyramids. However, out of these three ancient cultures, the Egyptians stand out as the people recognized for the classic pyramid design. Massive monuments with a square base and four smooth-sided triangular sides, raising to a point. The Aztecs and Mayans built their pyramids with tiered steps and a flat top. The Egyptians probably chose the distinctive form of the design for their pharaohs’ tombs because of their solar religion, for the ever associated sun god Ra, which is considered the father of all pharaohs and was said to have created himself from a pyramid=shaped mound of earth before creating all other gods. The pyramid’s shape and standing (location) is thought to have symbolized the sun’s rays...
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