One of the greatest mysteries in human history is the engineering feat of the ancients that led to the creation of the great pyramids of Egypt. For thousands of years, historians, architects and scientists have tried to find an explanation for the appearance of these gigantic structures. To this day, the mystery has not been fully solved, and no one knows exactly how it was done. Unsurprisingly, many different explanations have emerged, and here are the 10 most viable theories for the construction of the Great Pyramids.
1. Ancient machines
Naturally, the first thought that comes to mind when thinking about building a building is the need to use cranes to lift and transport heavy pieces of metal or stone. The first pyramids were step pyramids with large flat surfaces on which heavy cranes could stand and operate. Of course, ancient cultures knew about levers and pulley systems, and they likely used something similar to create the first pyramids. However, the idea of cranes or so-called "cranes" is not particularly plausible in the case of the Great Pyramids of Egypt, since the surfaces were too small to accommodate lifting mechanisms of this scale.
2. The pyramids were originally hills
An interesting but bizarre explanation for the appearance of the pyramids is that they originally appeared as natural rock formations, and then stone blocks were laid out on the slopes of these hills from top to bottom. A similar idea was first proposed in 1884 in The Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette at a conference of scientists. Perhaps this is what Herodotus meant when he said that the pyramids were built “from top to bottom.”
3. Polishing and leveling by hand
One of the most complex and mysterious facts associated with the construction of the pyramids is the way in which the Egyptians were able to cut stones with such extreme precision that they could be laid with virtually no gaps between them. It is impossible to squeeze even a sheet of paper into the joint between two stones. Therefore, scientists are perplexed how the Egyptians achieved such precision in stone processing. Even today it is impossible to recreate this using diamond-coated cutters, let alone the most primitive hand tools. The next theory suggests that the Egyptians had no best tools than it is now. They just made much better use of what they had. For example, they allegedly leveled blocks of stone using two poles of the same height, connected by a narrow rope, under which they placed the stone. If the rope touched the surface somewhere, the area was marked with red ochre, and then the roughness was scraped off using a flint scraper.
4. Limestone concrete
Perhaps an even more plausible way of achieving perfectly smooth stone surfaces was that the stones were made by pouring liquid limestone concrete into molds. There seems to be some evidence to support this theory. Under a microscope, Egyptologist Jean-Philippe Lauer discovered air bubbles on the surface of the stones, indicating that air may have entered the liquid concrete. According to the findings of the American Ceramic Society, it appears that internal structure The stones were formed through a process that happened very quickly, like the hardening of concrete.
5. Zigzag ramps
This is the first of various sloping ramp theories. The theory of a straight ramp was not considered, since such a ramp would have to be larger than the pyramid itself and extend outward from it by 1.6 kilometers, given the estimated slope of 7 degrees. For the ramp to be meaningful, it would have to be built throughout the process of creating the pyramid. Although a zigzag ramp would require less material than for a straight ramp, this is almost as implausible, since it would have to be constantly adjusted as the pyramid got higher. Therefore, such theories were widely discredited.
6. Wet sand
Today, some proponents of the following theory believe that the stones for the pyramid were dragged over piles of sand, which were pre-wetted to make the stones easier to move. This theory explains the transport of stones from quarries hundreds of kilometers from the construction site, as well as how workers moved the stones upward using some kind of ramp. But would a wet ramp provide sufficient stability for stones weighing up to 20 tons that needed to be lifted to the top? Another question is how suitable wet sand can be as a support for the feet of the people who dragged it all. At best, this theory can only explain the transport of stones. As a method of lifting stones, it fails.
While trying to develop a plausible ramp theory, people eventually began to realize that a spiral ramp could be built at the same time as a pyramid. It will run along the outer part of the pyramid and rise continuously as it is built. Proponents of this outer spiral ramp theory include Mark Lehner, an archaeologist at Yale University. The main challenge when using a spiral ramp is maneuvering the rocks. It's hard enough to drag huge rocks up a hill, but having to constantly turn them to spiral up creates an even greater challenge. This is why the outer spiral ramp theory is implausible.
8. Water mine theory
How about building a long underground dam underwater from a local water source at a reasonable distance from the quarry, and then using water "shafts" to lift the rocks up. This theory suggests that a water dam was used to transport the stones, and that the stones were cut and ground in the water. After precise grinding of the stone, pieces of light material were attached to it, which provided buoyancy. Thus, the stone floated up, and its surface was protected from impacts with other stones.
There is some evidence that similar water shafts were used to build structures in other parts of the world (for example, canals are thought to have been used to build Angkor Wat in Cambodia). However, if such a canal was used to build the Great Pyramid of Giza, where did it go and why was it destroyed? Supposedly, it took 10 years to build and the length of the canal was supposed to be 10 kilometers, since this is the distance from the Nile River to the site of the pyramid at Giza. Also, even if this theory is correct, it still doesn't explain some of the other nuances in the pyramid.
9. Extraterrestrial Intervention
The more time is spent trying to figure out how the pyramids were built by man, the more the answer seems to suggest something else. Although extraterrestrial intervention is generally dismissed by scientists, many Egyptologists and historians believe that the pyramids were built by aliens. Upon hearing this theory, many will immediately laugh at it. However, extraterrestrial intervention is no more "wild" theory than many others. Given everything that is known about the pyramids, it may be reasonable to conclude that ancient cultures could not have built these incredible structures themselves. Even taking into account everyone modern technologies people today are completely incapable of building pyramids like those in Egypt. It therefore seems inconceivable that an ancient primitive civilization had both the technology and ingenuity to construct the pyramids with such extreme precision.
Great Pyramid Giza faces almost exactly north, with a deviation of only 3/60 of a degree. It is even more accurately aligned than the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London, which points north at 9/60 of a degree. Another remarkable mathematical feature of the Great Pyramid is that the perimeter divided by the height is 2π (deviations are negligible). A whole range of other precise mathematical numbers associated with the pyramids, but most importantly, you need to take into account the speed with which they were built.
Taking into account 2.3 million stones weighing an average of 2.5 tons each, it is estimated that one stone had to be placed every two minutes. This includes all the time it takes to cut the stones perfectly, move them miles across the desert, climb the side of the pyramid, and then place them in place. It is very difficult to believe that primitive people did all this.
10. Jean-Pierre Houdin on the theory of the internal ramp
IN Lately one man tries, independently of everyone else, to unravel the mystery of how the pyramids were built. This is a French architect named Jean-Pierre Houdin. Since the 1990s, he devoted all his time to studying the Great Pyramid and was able to develop the most brilliant theory of pyramid construction ever created.According to Gooden's theory, the Great Pyramid was built using two separate spiral ramps. The first was an outer spiral ramp going up about 30 percent, and the second was an inner spiral ramp through which heavy stones were pulled all the way to the end. Gooden calculated that this inner slope had a slope of 7 degrees. This spiral ramp also included open sections at the corners for workers to turn the blocks (it is believed that cranes were also used here). In addition to the internal ramp, Gooden was also able to explain how the King's Chamber was built, as well as the most mysterious room in the Great Pyramid, the Great Gallery.
The massive granite blocks to the King's Chamber were pulled through the Great Gallery using a long system of pulleys. Thus, the Big Gallery exists for very practical purposes. Inside are signs that support this theory, such as wedge holes in the rocks. It is believed that they were used to support the pulley system. Using digital technology, a team of programmers was able to test this idea. They were able to confirm that Gooden's drawings of the pyramid were mathematically correct and that the internal ramp was plausible.
However, the most surprising thing is that they were able to find evidence of the actual existence of the ramp through a scan of the pyramid, which revealed a spiral-shaped image. These may well be the remains of an internal ramp. By far, this theory provides the most plausible explanation for how the pyramids were built.
The Egyptian pyramids are one of the most incredible legacies of bygone eras. Disputes still continue about how exactly they were created. Some point to the skill of the ancient inhabitants, while others seriously talk about the intervention of “aliens.”
What did the ancients leave behind?
The pyramids of Ancient Egypt need no introduction. And yet, let’s remember when they appeared and what exactly they represent. These magnificent objects did not appear overnight. First, the ancient Egyptians built so-called mastabas, which are also called “houses after life.” Externally, the mastaba resembles the lower part of the usual pyramid. Such buildings appeared in the Early Kingdom - the very first dynastic period of Ancient Egypt, which lasted from 3120 to 2649 BC. e. As you might have guessed, mastabas played the role of tombs for kings. Underground there was a chamber with a mummy, and the above-ground part was a kind of monument.
Pyramids are not Egyptian know-how. Similar objects were found in the territory of modern Mexico, Indonesia, China and many other regions and countries. Most often they served as temples or monuments. Such facilities are also being built in modern world: we can recall, for example, the famous glass pyramid of the French Louvre.
Tomb of King Jangsu. Ji'an, China (491)
Time passed, one era replaced another, and each of the kings wanted to perpetuate his reign with the most grandiose monument possible. This was done not only for beauty: the ancient Egyptians believed in life after death. And the pyramid, being essentially a giant tomb, “guarded” the peace of the deceased king. The apotheosis was the Pyramid of Cheops, which is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Built in honor of the second pharaoh of the 4th dynasty Ancient kingdom Egypt Cheops object had an initial height of 146 meters: to make it clear, the height of a typical residential building of 16 floors is some “measly” 50 meters. For more than three thousand years since the completion of construction, the pyramid remained the tallest building on Earth. Only a developed civilization could create such an object...
Conspiracy theories and reality
Paleocontact– this is the name given to the hypothesis according to which aliens visited us in ancient times. According to this guess, they left their knowledge to primitive people and helped them develop into more high level. Some even claim that “the aliens themselves built the pyramids.”
We know that the Cheops pyramid consists of numerous heavy blocks of granite and limestone. Simply put, one stone was placed on top of another. Paradox: the builders of the pyramid, which stood for thousands of years, used a simple and primitive method. Would aliens who managed to travel from one star to another use such technology? Probably not. They would use, for example, monolithic reinforced concrete, as they have been doing since the beginning of the 20th century. Well, or even more “advanced” methods.
There is also an opinion that “alien ships”, and even the “aliens” themselves, are depicted on numerous hieroglyphs. To modern man such images will indeed seem strange. But what, for example, will our distant descendants think when (and if) they see the creations of abstract and surrealist artists? Will they see the same “monsters” and “aliens” in the pictures? But you need to understand that the culture of Ancient Egypt was very... specific. There were many different deities there, and to a person living in the 21st century, they will certainly seem strange and mysterious.
Simply put, researchers do not consider the version of the construction of the pyramids by some extraterrestrial civilization. However, this does not make the secrets any less.
Holes were made in the limestone massif - pits. Wooden wedges were driven into them, which were then filled with water. When the wedges swelled, pieces fell off the block, which were then processed and dragged to the pyramid.
It was experimentally determined that two-ton blocks can be moved upward using wooden runners sliding along the flooring (also made of wood). To transport such a unit, 12-20 people are required.
By combining various simple devices, ancient workers raised the blocks higher and higher. Here you need to take into account that the upper elements of the pyramid’s structure are smaller and lighter than the lower ones.
A cord plumb line is a device consisting of a thin thread and a weight, used for vertical adjustment of surfaces (walls, pillars, etc.)
Scientists argue
The exact technology of construction of the Egyptian pyramids is still unknown. Questions concern very straight cylindrical holes in stone, perfect masonry and much more.
Another difficulty lies in the fact that today only one written source has survived, telling about the construction of the pyramids. This is the second book of "History" written by the ancient Greek Herodotus: He visited Egypt around 450 BC. e. An ancient Greek explorer describes the creation of the pyramid: “Some were obliged to drag huge blocks of stones from quarries in the Arabian Mountains to the Nile (stones were transported across the river on ships), while others were ordered to drag them further to the so-called Libyan Mountains. One hundred thousand people performed this work continuously, changing every three months. It took ten years for the exhausted people to build the road along which these stone blocks were dragged - work, in my opinion, was almost as enormous as the construction of the pyramid itself. After all, the road was five stages long (about one kilometer), and ten orgies wide (20 meters), in the highest place eight orgies high (16 meters), built of hewn stones with figures carved on them... This is how the pyramid was built. First, it goes in the form of a staircase with ledges, which others call platforms, or steps. After the first stones were laid, the rest were raised using platforms made from short beams. This is how they lifted stones from the ground onto the first step of the stairs. There they placed the stone on another platform; from the first step they were dragged onto the second platform, with the help of which they were raised to the second step. There were as many rows of steps as there were lifting devices. Perhaps, however, there was only one lifting device, which, after lifting the stone, was easily transferred to the next step. After all, I was informed about both methods - that’s why I bring them ... "
Abydos hieroglyphs (temple of Osiris, city of Abydos). Drawings of a “helicopter,” “submarine,” and “glider” in an ancient cave excited the public in 1997, and proponents of paleocontact received “irrefutable” evidence of an advanced civilization visiting the Earth in ancient times. However, scientific analysis of the hieroglyphs showed that these are partially destroyed names and titles of the pharaoh who completed the construction of the temple.
As you can see, Herodotus’s “History” does not provide a complete understanding of how the pyramids were built. But we can draw some conclusions based on new data. One thing is certain: the builders first had to crack the limestone to create the block. Scientists believe that for this purpose, holes were made in the limestone massif - pits. Wooden wedges were driven into them, which were then filled with water. When the wedges swelled, pieces fell off the block, which were then processed and dragged to the pyramid.
A chemist from France offered his version Joseph Davidovich. After analyzing the ancient Egyptian slabs, he found that they contained 13 components that, in his opinion, were not found in the surrounding stone quarries. In other words, perhaps the Egyptians did not cut out pieces of limestone, but crushed it, after which they made a concrete mixture with various additives (which were found by Davidovich). This beautiful theory, however, was received with hostility by the scientific community, and new results refuted the “concrete” version.
How did the workers drag the huge boulders?
On one of the Egyptian frescoes from the XII dynasty you can see a drag sleigh. Scientists have calculated that if such a device is used and the road is first watered, then only 8 workers are needed to move a block weighing 2750 kg. Not so much by the standards of a powerful state. Here slaves are not needed, and the Egyptians themselves were happy to serve their fatherland. “The pyramids were built by young men who had excellent nutrition and access to good food. medical care, because they worked for the good of society,” says American archaeologist Richard Redding. In total, according to scientists, from 30 to 50 thousand people were employed in the construction of the Cheops pyramid. And the construction itself could last for several decades.
Of course, the blocks must not only be brought to the construction site, they must also be laid. Scientists made calculations and it turned out that the total weight of the stone blocks of the Cheops pyramid is almost 6.5 million tons! The work is truly incredibly difficult. But, obviously, the ancient Egyptians did not have any miraculous devices (revolutionary taps, etc.). In any case, we don't know about them. Most likely, special flooring, embankments and ropes were used to lift the blocks.
Back in the 90s, archaeologist Mark Lehner and engineer Roger Hopkins experimentally determined that two-ton blocks could be moved upward using wooden runners sliding along the flooring (also made of wood). To transport such a unit, 12-20 people will be required. Combining various simple devices, the ancient workers raised the blocks higher and higher. Here you need to take into account that the upper elements of the pyramid’s structure are smaller and lighter than the lower ones: by the way, perhaps this is why the tombs were built in the form of pyramids.
What is the secret of such precise fitting of limestone blocks? And here, too, you can do without theories about aliens. Over the past millennia, the plates, under the weight of their own gravity, adjoined each other more and more tightly. And now the pyramids seem monolithic to us: as if some unknown high technologies were used to create them.
It turns out that the pyramids could have been built by ancient people and no “supernatural” devices were required for this. This, however, does not at all detract from the merits of the creators of the Egyptian pyramids. And perhaps they will captivate our imagination for many more millennia.
Could the ancient Egyptians have built their giant pyramids and palaces on their own? People who have only read about these structures in history books believe: yes. But many of those who have been to this country and wandered, for example, through the Giza Valley, doubt it. These structures are too impressive, even if tens of thousands of slaves are supposed to have worked on their construction.
Conan Doyle version
The theory that the pyramids are material traces of some more ancient technologically advanced civilization has not been put forward today. For example, in 1929, the “father of Sherlock Holmes” Arthur Conan Doyle published the fantasy novel “The Abyss of Marakot”, the heroes of which end up in a certain city - an island that sank to the bottom thousands of years ago Atlantic Ocean. When one of them examines the underwater buildings, he notices that: “The columns, platforms and stairs of this building surpassed anything I had ever seen on earth. Most of all, the building resembled the remains of the temple of Karnak in Luxor, in Egypt, and, amazingly, the decorations and half-erased inscriptions in small details resembled the same decorations and inscriptions of the great ruins near the Nile.”
According to Conan Doyle, who, by the way, visited Egypt before writing this novel, all local ancient structures were built by Atlanteans. And Doyle, according to his contemporaries, like his famous detective hero, had brilliant analytical skills.
The Sphinx is 5000 years older?
It is not clear on what Conan Doyle based his conclusions. But he now has many followers. For example, the head of the Laboratory alternative history() Andrey SKLYAROV, who has visited Egypt several times, claims that most of the local historical monuments were actually created by representatives of the ancient civilization:
You can call them Atlanteans, you can call them aliens, you can call them something else, but there are an incredible number of their traces in Egypt. It’s even strange that Egyptologists did not pay attention to this before. Although now I have the impression that the Egyptians themselves are guessing about something, but are carefully hiding the secret.
If possible, specific examples...
Please let's start with the Great Sphinx. Classical Egyptology claims that it was built during the time of Pharaoh Cheops or his son - approximately 2.5 thousand years BC - based only on the fact that in its “ artistic features"It can be attributed to that era. But a century and a half ago, the so-called “Inventory Stele” was found in Giza, which indicated that Cheops only ordered the damaged statue to be repaired. Repair, not build!
And in the early 90s, American geologist Robert Schoch proved that the grooves on the body of the Sphinx and on the wall of the trench around it are traces of erosion not by wind, but by rain: vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones. But there has been no serious rain in Egypt for at least 8 thousand years.
Immediately after Schoch’s publication, the Egyptian authorities began an urgent restoration of the Sphinx. Now the lower two-thirds of the monument are covered with new masonry, and the top of the sculpture has been cleaned - almost no traces of erosion remain. By the way, around the same time, the “Inventory Stele” was also hidden in the storerooms of the Cairo Museum - before that it was put on public display, but now another one was put in its place. In response to questions about this stele, the museum's caretakers only shrug their shoulders in bewilderment. But it has been repeatedly described in scientific and so-called alternative literature.
When the gods ruled...
According to Andrei Sklyarov, the ancient Egyptians themselves built something. But they built their buildings on the basis of ancient structures.
This is clearly visible on the pyramids - which are made by hand, and which with the help of high-precision tools, says Andrey. - Moreover, many ancient buildings resemble bunkers - semi-underground structures over which the pharaohs built their pyramids, trying to copy the ancients. And there were only 6 - 7 original pyramids built by pre-civilization: three in Giza, two in Dashshur and one in Medun. Perhaps there was another one in Abu Roash, but it is not clear whether it was a pyramid or a bunker. And other pyramids are ancient structures completed by the pharaohs, which were originally typical bunkers. Moreover, with such powerful ceilings that they cannot be called anything other than a refuge in the event of a nuclear war. True, it is not clear why and who could threaten them. But the war explains the disappearance of pre-civilization.
Why, besides the buildings, were there no other material traces left?
Why isn't there any left? For example, in the Giza Desert we came across something that resembled iron dust. They took samples and brought them to Moscow. It turned out that it was iron oxide with a high content of manganese. The percentage corresponds to high-alloy manganese steels, which are now used in tank tracks and as a material for stone crushing machines. In how many years could this extremely strong steel turn into dust in a desert where there had been no decent rain for 8 thousand years?
But what kind of mysterious civilization left us these artifacts?
There are different versions. Some people adhere to the theory that they were Atlanteans, others talk about colonists from other worlds. It is difficult to say when they came to Earth, but the period of the heyday of their power can be determined. At the beginning of the 3rd century BC. e. Egyptian historian Manetho published his History of Egypt. It has not been completely preserved to this day, but fragments are mentioned in the works of other historians of the first millennium AD. Manetho compiled a chronological list of the rulers of the country. Classical Egyptology recognizes only the "dynastic part", which deals with famous human pharaohs. But Manetho also talks about the first kingdom, when Egypt was supposedly ruled by gods. It existed approximately 10 - 12 thousand years ago, long before the first known pharaohs.
They worked with granite like styrofoam
Now Egyptologists spend time arguing about how the workers moved these multi-ton stone blocks from which they built pyramids and temples, they are building versions, conducting experiments, says Andrei Sklyarov. - We took a different path: if there are millions of tons of stones, then we need to understand how they were processed. We analyzed many parameters. For example, if they were sawed out, then we look at the width and depth of the cut, and the thickness of the cutting edge. Sometimes the results are surprising.
Slabs of black basalt located around the perimeter of the temple, standing near the Great Pyramid (they used to be the floor of an ancient Egyptian temple). The trace of a circular saw is visible, which is known to operate on a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric drive, but the Egyptians had neither the first, nor the second, nor the third.
It is also noticeable that during sawing there is grinding. If, as they believe, the builders worked with hand-held copper saws, then there would be scratches, but similar grinding is left by modern diamond-coated saws, and they must move very quickly.
Fragment of the obelisk at Karnak. It lies 10 meters from the hiking trail. There are strange holes on it with a diameter of 1 cm and a depth of about 10 cm. They were obviously made to attach some kind of decorative plates: gold or copper. But some of them go deep into the granite not perpendicularly, but at an angle of 10 - 20 degrees: this is impossible to do manually. It turns out that they were drilled into granite, just as we turn holes with a drill in soft wood. What kind of drill did the ancient Egyptians have that could go into granite like it would into butter?
This is an obelisk lying near the famous scarab beetle on the shore of the sacred lake at Karnak. A decorative strip 3 mm wide and 1 cm deep is visible. It is believed that this was scratched with a nail. Jewelers, perhaps, could repeat, carefully cutting, with modern tools.
An artifact from southern Saqqara, where tourists are not allowed. A very revealing block of black basalt. The far part of it has been sawed off: the mark of a circular saw is visible. And they tried to process the other part manually. The difference is immediately visible.
A gate in the still closed part of the Karnak Temple. At the very top, a hole was made in the granite, believed to be about the size of a good barrel for a gate post. In our world, machines capable of cutting such holes appeared only 10 - 15 years ago.
Aswan quarries. Pits going several meters deep. The diameter is slightly larger than the width of the human body. How to dig holes like this? Unless you stand with your head down. There are many such pits. According to Egyptologists, they are designed to watch how cracks appear in the main massif. And this is a completely pointless exercise, because the direction of the cracks can be determined from the surface. And why was it necessary to align the walls so carefully? It looks like they were working here with a milling cutter. There is a hypothesis that the builders simply took granite samples. But with such a tool that made it possible not to spend a lot of time on these tests. This proto-civilization demonstrates to us that it worked with granite as with foam plastic.
Listen to the full audio interview with Andrey Sklyarov
Every year, dozens of new theories appear about who built the Egyptian pyramids, but the main versions have long been strengthened among historians and scientists.
For centuries, people have been trying to unravel the greatest mystery of history and determine who built the Egyptian pyramids. There are dozens of different versions, each of which may seem crazy to some, but very reliable to others.
Today, 35 pyramid complexes can be found in Egypt. The basis is made up of the three largest pyramids of the Giza desert, the history of which goes back centuries. The rest of the pyramids are small, since they were built much later in the form of tombs for the pharaohs, but even they carry great historical significance.
Official version of Egyptologists
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote a lot about the pyramids. It is his explanation of the appearance of the pyramids in Egypt that is considered the most reliable and official. Pharaoh Cheops ordered his slaves to build the tallest pyramid in history. In order to begin work, people first had to build a road from the rocks to the construction site. It was planned to move large rocky blocks along this road, which were the main element of construction. The road was laid for ten whole years, and the construction of the pyramid was completed after another twenty.
Workers changed every three months. One hundred thousand workers created the 147 m high pyramid and did not even suspect that one day it would become a wonder of the world. Presumably, the Egyptians lifted the blocks using homemade crane-like installations. Hand power and bull power were also used.
This information is considered official, but even it cannot be completely genuine, since Herodotus lived long after the civilization of the Egyptians was completed, and he received his knowledge from the ancient priests. One way or another, the pyramids were built by people, the question is how exactly they did it. Scientists are still giving new versions of what happened and are looking for answers to the questions: how did people, who did not have any equipment at hand, break off huge blocks from the rocks and do it as smoothly as possible? What was used to lift these blocks to the highest levels of the pyramid? These and other questions still remain unanswered.
Other theories
People who believe in gods and spiritual power are convinced that the pyramids are the work of saints who were revered in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed in spirits and constantly said prayers and mantras, creating a kind of psychic energy. It was this energy that created the force that was capable of moving mountains. This can be compared with today's psychics, who believe that they are able to move objects with the power of thought and have the gift of telekinesis. But even if we assume for a second that such an option is possible, the granite blocks from which the pyramids are built weigh so much that you need to have enormous strength to create such large-scale structures from them.
Another theory is put forward by scientists who refuse to believe that the ancient Egyptians were able to build structures of such a scale without the use of any technology. Theory about highly developed civilization is not accepted by the world community as official, but it is the only one that has even the slightest scientific explanation. The pyramids were built with such incredible precision that it was necessary to have devices or means that even in our time are not so easy to create. The slabs were huge, and at that time there were no materials for processing them, since the hardest metal discovered at that time was bronze - it could split a granite slab with it, and even give it a perfectly smooth appearance impossible. This is where the theory comes from that in those days the Egyptians had highly developed technology, which helped them create today's wonder of the world.
The most incredible versions
Thousands of scientists, psychics and historians from different countries For years they have been trying to solve the mysteries of the pyramids. In the process, many versions arise that seem ridiculous and absurd. People, having been inside the pyramids and convinced that these structures are superior to many modern buildings at times, they cease to understand what is happening. Most often they refer to some otherworldly forces, they say that the Egyptian wonder of the world is the work of extraterrestrial civilizations and aliens. People are looking for answers to their questions, not even realizing how ridiculous some versions look.
One of these versions is surprisingly popular. Esotericists around the world are confident that the pyramids were built long before the emergence of Egyptian civilization by Atlanteans - half people, half gods. According to the theory, the Atlanteans were so powerful that they were able to call on the power of the gods and take their natural energy to create large-scale structures - pyramids. After the demigods felt the power that had fallen into their hands, they began to abuse the energy given to them and use it for their own purposes. The gods became angry and sank Atlantis under water along with the Atlanteans. The only thing that remained untouched were the pyramids. They outlived their creators, and the Egyptians did not build them, but only reconstructed them.
The mystery of the pyramids is incredibly interesting. You can think and reflect on it endlessly; it is not for nothing that scientists spend their entire lives studying this topic and trying to get closer to the solution. None of the above theories is completely realistic - there will always be questions about each of them, but each of them also gives us incredible food for thought.
What are they, Egyptian pyramids?
Perhaps the best known form of late prehistoric art, the pyramids of ancient Egypt are the world's largest funerary structures or tombs. Created from a mastaba tomb, they are one of the most enduring symbols of Egyptian art in general and Egyptian architecture in particular. The ancient Egyptians believed in an eternal afterlife and the purpose of the pyramids was to protect the pharaoh's body and all the things he would need after death to ease his transition to the afterlife. Thus, each pyramid typically contained a variety of Egyptian sculptures, paintings, jewelry, and other forms of ancient art necessary to support the deceased in his afterlife. To date, approximately 140 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt, most of which were built as tombs for the country's pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods (2650-1650). The oldest known Egyptian pyramids are at Saqqara, near Memphis, south of the Nile Delta. The earliest of them is Pyramid of Djoser(built around 2630 at Saqqara), which was designed during the Third Dynasty by the famous architect Imhotep (active c. 2600-2610 BC). The highest was Great Pyramid of Giza(c. 2565), which Antipater of Sidon called one of the seven wonders of the world and is currently the only survivor of the "wonders". Exactly how many paid workers were required to cut, transport and erect the stone megaliths from which each pyramid was built is unknown, although estimates range from 30,000 to 300,000. However, the enormous resources required to create such colossal works of ancient architecture show how rich and well organized the Egyptian society in the third millennium BC.
How did Egyptian architecture develop before the pyramids were built?
The architectural design of the pyramids was a reflection of both politics and religious customs. Before 3000 BC Ancient Egypt were actually two countries with two burial traditions. In Lower Egypt (in the north), the country was wet and flat, and the dead were buried under their family home, which was usually built on high ground. In Upper Egypt (in the south), the dead were buried far from settlements, in dry sand on the edge of the desert. The mound was usually erected over the grave. As housing and burial sites became closer, between 3000 and 2700 it was common for nobles to be buried in a simple tomb called a mastaba. It was a simple tomb consisting of a rectangular, flat-roofed structure made of clay bricks with slightly sloping walls, within which a deep burial chamber lined with stone or brick was dug into the ground. After some time, the flat roof of the above-ground building was replaced by a pyramidal structure. Finally, the idea came - conceived by Imhotep - to stack the mastabas one on top of the other, forming a series of "steps" that decreased in size towards the top, thereby creating the familiar design step pyramid. Not all pyramid projects were successful. The architects hired by King Snefru built three pyramids: the first one, pyramid at Meidum, collapsed in antiquity; second, curved pyramid, had a radically changed angle in the middle of its design; only the third red pyramid turned out to be successful.
What is the history of the Egyptian pyramids?
The next phase of construction, which occurred in the subsequent era of Egyptian New Kingdom architecture (1550-1069), focused on the construction of temples. Egyptian pharaohs were no longer buried in pyramids, but in mortuary temples located in the Valley of the Kings on the west bank of the Nile opposite Thebes. A revival of pyramid building occurred in the subsequent period of Late Egyptian architecture (c.664-30 BC). During the Napatan era in neighboring Sudan (c. 700-661 BC), a number of pyramids were built under the influence of Egyptian architects. Later, during the Sudanese Kingdom of Meroe (c. 300 BC – 300 AD), more than two hundred pyramidal funerary structures were built. Read more about Hellenistic period(323-27 BC) see: Greek art. For information on construction methods in ancient Rome, please see: Roman Architecture (c. 400 BC – 400 AD).
What were the main characteristics of the pyramid?
Early pyramids were built differently from later ones. For example, the monumental pyramids of the Old Kingdom were built from stone blocks, while the pyramids of the late Middle Kingdom were smaller and typically made of clay bricks faced with limestone. Early structures usually had a core of local limestone covered with an outer layer of better quality limestone or sometimes granite. Granite was also traditionally used for the royal halls inside the pyramid. Up to 2.5 million limestone blocks and up to 50 thousand granite blocks could be used to build one pyramid. Average weight can be up to 2.5 tons per block, with some very large megaliths weighing up to 200 tons. The capstone at the top of the structure was usually made of basalt or granite and, if covered with gold, silver or electrum (a mixture of both), can blind observers with its reflection of the sun. Based on excavations of a number of workers' cemeteries discovered in the early 1990s, archaeologists now believe that the pyramids were built by tens of thousands of indentured laborers and artisans who were housed in huge camps nearby.
Deep inside each pyramid was the main chamber, which contained the mummified body of the dead pharaoh, placed in a precious sarcophagus. In addition, as noted, a huge number of artifacts were buried with him to support him in the afterlife, as well as monuments to the dead man himself: for example, inside Pyramids of Khafre there were over 52 life-size statues. In addition, dummy passages were dug to prevent subsequent desecration of the tomb and theft of valuables.
All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, where the sun sets, in accordance with official religious doctrine concerning the kingdom of the dead. (The pharaoh's soul supposedly united with the sun during its descent before continuing its eternal journey with it). Most of the pyramids were faced with polished white limestone ( most of which has now been stolen) to give them a shiny, reflective appearance from a distance. Bent Pyramid in Dahshur, one of the few that still retains part of its original limestone covering. They were located relatively close to the Nile, which made it easier to transport stone from the quarries near Heliopolis along the river.
Pharaohs—along with their architects, engineers, and construction supervisor—usually began building their own pyramid as soon as they ascended the throne. The two main factors that determined the pyramid's location during the Old Kingdom included its orientation to the western horizon (where the sun set) and its proximity to Memphis, the country's key city in the third millennium.
The most famous Egyptian pyramids
Pyramid of Djoser (c. 2630) (Saqqara)
Built in the necropolis of Saqqara, northwest of the city of Memphis, it is the centerpiece of a huge complex bordered on all sides by the 33-foot wall of light Tura limestone. Noted as the first monumental structure made of stone and the most famous "step" Egyptian pyramid, its original height was approximately 203 feet (62 meters). It was faced with polished white limestone.
Bent Pyramid (c. 2600) (Dahshur)
This distinctive structure, called the curved, blunted or diamond-shaped pyramid and formerly also known as the southern shining pyramid, is located in the royal necropolis of Dahshur, south of Cairo. Approximately 320 feet (98 meters) high, next to the second pyramid erected by ruler Snefru. A sort of hybrid of flexible pyramids with stepped and smooth sides, the only one whose original facing of polished limestone remained intact.
Red Pyramid (c.2600) (Dahshur)
Named after the red-colored stone, at 341 feet tall, it is the largest of the three important pyramids at the Dahshur necropolis and the third largest after those at Khufu and Khafre at Giza. Experts also consider it the world's first "true" smooth pyramid. Ironically, it was not always red because - like almost all pyramids - it was originally lined with white Tura limestone. This was the third pyramid built by Pharaoh Snefru and took between 10 and 17 years to complete.
Pyramid of Khufu/Cheops (c. 2565) (Giza)
Built by Pharaoh Khufu, son of Pharaoh Snefru, the Pyramid of Khufu (Greek: Cheops) is known as the Great Pyramid of Giza. This is the oldest and largest of the three tombs in the Giza necropolis. Approximately 4,806 feet (146 meters) tall, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly four millennia. According to the eminent Egyptologist Sir Flinders Petrie, it was built from approximately 2,400,000 limestone blocks, weighing 2.5 tons each. Its construction took about 20 years. Most of the rough interior blocks were quarried locally, but the granite for the pharaoh's chambers came from quarries in Aswan, about 500 miles from Giza. In addition to approximately 6 million tons of limestone, 8,000 tons of granite and approximately 500,000 tons of mortar were used for Khufu's pyramid.
Pyramid of Djedefre (c.2555) (Abu Rawash)
Now in ruins, largely (it is believed) because it was dismantled by Roman builders who wanted to use the stone for their own building projects elsewhere in Egypt, this pyramid at Abu Rawash was built by Djedefre, son of Pharaoh Khufu. It is the northernmost pyramid of Egypt and is believed to have been similar in size to the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza, although some evidence suggests that it may have been the tallest of all the pyramids. Originally known as the "Starry Sky of Djedefre", according to Egyptologists, its outer layer of polished granite and limestone made it one of the most beautiful pyramids.
Pyramid of Khafre (c. 2545) (Giza)
Rising to 448 feet, this pyramid, also called Shefren's Pyramid, is the second largest structure in the Giza necropolis, and because it sits on a slightly raised stone base, it appears as if it is taller than the Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Also made from blocks of Tura limestone, the largest of which weighed an estimated 400 tons, its outer shell was dismantled during Egyptian New Kingdom architecture by Ramesses II to provide stone for the construction of the temple at Heliopolis. To the east of the pyramid is a conventional mortuary temple with a controlled entrance hall, a pillared courtyard, five rooms for the pharaoh's statue, five storage chambers and an inner sanctuary.
Pyramid of Menkaure (c. 2520) (Giza)
This is the third and last of the famous pyramids of Giza, located southwest of Cairo. The smallest of the three, its original height was approximately 215 feet (65.5 meters) and, like the others, it is made of limestone and granite. It served as the tomb of Pharaoh Menkaure, who, according to ancient historians such as Herodotus, was a kind and enlightened ruler. Inside the pyramid, archaeologists discovered a large number of stone sculptures depicting the pharaoh in the traditional style of Egyptian naturalism, as well as a magnificent basalt sarcophagus that may have contained the remains of Menkaure. Unfortunately, the ship carrying him to England sank off the island of Malta.
Construction: how were the pyramids built?
Egyptologists remain undecided as to the exact construction method used to create the pyramids. In particular, experts disagree on the method by which the stones were transported and laid (rollers, different types of ramps, or a lever system), as well as the type of labor used (slaves or paid workers, and if they were paid, they were given a salary or tax credit). Whatever the exact method of construction, the results were extraordinary. For example, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built with extremely precise dimensions—a piece of paper barely fits between the stones—and aligned to within a fraction of an inch across its entire 13-acre base. The latest construction methods and laser leveling techniques can hardly be better. One of the reasons why the Egyptian pyramids are such an amazing example of megalithic art, and why they are among the greatest works in art history.
The 10-year obsession of the French architect made it possible to identify a new, most realistic (truthful) theory for the construction of the Cheops pyramid. In the 2013 film, he shows how the external ramp was built, along which the blocks were raised, and proves its existence on the site. This is one of the best pyramid building movies on Youtube.
How to move heavy stone blocks?
One of the main difficulties that the early pyramid builders faced was how to move the huge quantities of heavy stone blocks. It appears that this issue was resolved using methods that included the following elements. To begin with, the stone blocks were oiled to facilitate movement. Additionally, based on excavated artifacts from certain temples, it appears that the builders used a cradle-like machine to help roll the stones. This technique was validated in tests conducted by the Obayashi Corporation using 2.5 ton concrete blocks, which proved that 18 people could pull a block up a 1/4 (height to length) incline at a speed of approximately 60 feet. minute. However, this method does not work for heavier blocks in the 15-80 ton weight range. Greek architecture borrowed heavily from Egyptian building techniques.
What equipment was used to build the pyramids?
In 1997, experts joined forces to conduct a pyramid-building experiment for a television program. In three weeks, they built a pyramid 20 feet high and 30 feet wide, using 186 stones, each weighing approximately 2.2 tons. The project required the use of 44 people using iron hammers, chisels and levers. Note: Experiments done with copper tools showed that they were a viable alternative to iron tools, but would require about 20 extra people to keep them sharp. In addition to the hardware tools, a forklift was used, but no other modern equipment was permitted. Levers were used to turn and roll stones weighing up to 1 ton, while large stones were hauled using wooden sleds by a crew of 12 to 20 men.
How many workers were used to build the Egyptian pyramids?
Consultants Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall, in collaboration with Egyptologists, estimate that the Great Pyramid of Giza was built using an average workforce of approximately 14,500 people - sometimes reaching a peak workforce of 40,000 - in about ten years without using iron tools, pulleys or wheels. They calculated that such a workforce could support working standard at 180 blocks per hour based on a 10-hour workday: calculations based on data taken from modern construction projects carried out in the third world, without modern equipment.
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