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July 3, 2004 Pyramids are gigantic edifices with a square base and four triangular sides that meet at a single point at the top, directly over the center of the pyramid’s square base. Ancient peoples in several parts of the world built pyramids, but the Egyptians constructed the biggest and most famous pyramids. The ancient Egyptians built more than 90 royal pyramids, from about 2630 bc until about 1530 bc. The first pyramids were a series of stepped terraces that looked more like a wedding cake. However, with the passage of time, the architecture matured into the sloped pyramidal shape known to us today. The first pyramid, the Step Pyramid at Saqqarah, was constructed during the reign of King Djoser (2630 bc-2611 bc). The largest pyramid is the one built for King Khufu, at the site of modern Giza. Khufu’s pyramid, known as the Great Pyramid, is the only one (and the first) of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that still survives. The purpose of the pyramids is not clearly understood. Some scholars believe that the Egyptian pyramids served as tombs for kings and queens. Others believe they were places of worship and ongoing religious activities. After a ruler died, his or her body was carefully treated and wrapped to preserve it as a mummy. Egyptians, like many other ancient civilizations, believed in life after death. The ancient Egyptians used pyramids as the final resting places for their monarchs. Before entombing the deceased, the Egyptians mummified the body, performing certain rituals and wrapping the body in linen. In temples nearby, priests performed rituals to nourish the dead monarch’s spirit, which was believed to stay with the body after death. Egyptian artists carved hieroglyphs on the walls of the burial chamber, designed to safeguard the dead monarch’s passage into the afterlife. These hieroglyphic writings, which include hymns, magical spells, instructions on how to act in front of the gods, and other pieces of useful knowledge, are known as the Pyramid Texts. The ancient pyramids were constructed of large stone blocks. Over time, the size and quality of the pyramids decreased, probably because they were extremely costly. The newer pyramids were built mostly of mud brick. Irrespective of how the pyramids were built, all pyramids were aligned to the cardinal directions, meaning that their sides ran almost exactly due north-south and east-west. Most pyramids rose from desert plateaus on the west bank of the Nile River, behind which the sun set. It was believed that a dead monarch’s spirit left the body and traveled through the sky with the sun each day, and when the sun set in the west, the royal spirits would settle into their pyramid tombs to renew themselves. The Great Pyramid, the largest pyramid ever built, lies in the desert west of Giza. Located on the west bank of the Nile River on the outskirts of Cairo, the pyramids at Giza, rank as some of the best-known monuments in the world. The Great Pyramid was built during King Khufu’s reign (2551 bc-2528 bc). The ancient Egyptians constructed the pyramids to serve as royal tombs. Built without the use of cranes, pulleys, or lifting tackle, the massive structures stand as testaments to the engineering skills of their makers. Vandals and erosion have stripped away some of the Great Pyramid’s outer material, and some of its uppermost levels have been dismantled, but it still retains its sense of majesty. ------------ About the author: Mr. Soumya Maitra works as a software developer in an IT firm in Kolkata, India. He has published several popular science articles in various magazines, newspapers, and journals in India, such as Science Reporter, The Statesman, The Telegraph, Wisdom, Bioinformatics India Journal, etc. He can be reached at: soumyamaitra@msn.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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