The Egyptian and Mayan Pyramids - Case Study Example

Pyramids: the great wonders of the world Since the dawn of mankind, humanity has been intrigued and fascinated by infrastructures. The advancements in archaeology, history and science have enabled modern civilizations to study the Egyptian and Mayan pyramids and unearth the rich treasures the pyramids behold (“Mystery of Maya.”). Pyramids, are immense structures that have are constructed with stone or bricks. The base of a pyramid can be similar to any polygon shape, which means it is vital that a pyramid has a foundation of a triangular surface (Macaulay 238). The pyramids clearly had a foundation that was built of squares (Macaulay 240). A pyramid must rest all its weight closer to a ground, with dense materials building the base, while the light materials create the top. It is vital that distribution of the weight is equal, which enabled civilizations to create these astounding structures (Macaulay 241). Pyramids have been built by many civilizations since ancient civilizations emphasized the idea of “afterlife,” pyramids became highly significant to both Egyptian and Mayan civilizations. Pyramids were built in Egyptian and Mayan civilizations in order to protect the body of the deceased, for religious purposes, and to signify a powerful status. One of the main reasons why both Egyptians and Mayans built huge pyramids was to protect the body for the deceased. The Ancient Egyptians had a firm belief that any person that died, later reincarnated to King Osiris (Tompkins 405). This non-ending cycle was a critical aspect to ancient Egyptian belief and was signified by the sunrise and the sunset (Ray). A pharaoh’s journey to afterlife was so vital that every preparation was made to assure that the person will have an easy passage to afterlife (Tompkins 417). Each dead pharaoh was mummified in order to preserve the body (Tompkins 418). A mummy was created using special chemicals as the body was wrapped tight and preserved so that the person inside would have protection for the soul (Ray). Moreover, the entire essential needs such furniture food, vessels, and even clay models of servants were buried with the pharaoh as if the materialistic needs were transferred into his new life (Casson). The dead king’s submissive servants were also ordered to continuously bring food even after the king’s death. Many archaeologists insist that the pyramids also signified the continuous cycle of evolution, and the power to perform miracles (Casson). Thus, pyramids were built in order to preserve the body of the deceased. Again, the concept of resurrection was heavily emphasized when building these monumental pyramids. The second reason why pyramids were built in both civilizations was due to the religious religions. Undoubtedly, ancient civilizations highly valued religions, as the belief in after life was heavily emphasized (Sabloff 206). The pyramids became a “gateway” for afterlife, and something that can make them closer to their deities. Religious rituals often occurred in these temples to honor and glorify the gods (Bauval 100). Again, the concept of divine power influenced both civilizations to build these fantastic structures. Lastly, both civilizations built these monumental structures because they signified the power of ancient civilizations of the past. Clearly, funds along with man power and other resources were needed to create these gigantic structures (Casson). The shape of Egyptian pyramids is to represent from which the Egyptians believed the Earth was created. The larger the pyramids, the more status of wealth, fame, and glory it personified for the king that ruled (Ray 7528). The religious significance cannot be ignored however, and the Great Pyramid is a testament to the advanced culture and wealth of both civilizations. Centuries before the reign of the dynastic kings, tombs looked more like open pits than the actual tombs. These open pits were lined with bricked, roofed with woods, and had numerous chambers (Fagan 96). Tombs were mounted via a superstructure as a mound of gravel was created with a layer of mud. After the second dynasty however, brick corbel roofs were invented as architecture advancement (Feder 253). The third dynasty displayed even better advancements as the “true-look” of a pyramid was displayed (Fagan 98). The steps were introduced at this point with smooth sides, and began an era where pyramids became the focal point for all kings (Ray 7526). The fourth dynasty literally signified the “pyramid age” as the apex was clearly distinguishable as the pyramids at Dashur and Giza undoubtedly are the prime examples (Reisner 254). The pyramids of Giza are the most popular and are the most visited in Egypt today. These pyramids are astonishing and are detailed. The dimensions of Giza are pretty impressive as it measures 2476 square feet (Fagan 100). No wonder the Great Pyramid of Giza was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as it is the only one to survive into modern times (Bauval 96). The Egyptians had to experiment through trial and error to build the most fascinating structures that still exist today. By the end of fifth dynasty, the quality of the pyramids diminished as cheap materials were used (Fagon 102). Yet, these pyramid tombs remained highly popular until the 13th dynasty. The 18th dynasty showed the revival of underground tombs without any superstructure, something that was unique in Egyptian pyramids. It is clear that the pyramids evolved overtime to fit the perfect structure that inspires the modern civilizations. If an individual was to look at the outline of a pyramid, it would consist of several aspects. First of all, an Egyptian pyramid will have an old tomb chamber on the base. Secondly, two entrances are created (Bauval 95). One is the original entrance, while the other is a present entrance created by historians (Bauval 96). The middle base of the pyramid consists of the Queen’s chamber. On top of the middle base, the King’s chamber is found. In addition, air shafts are present in both sides of the upper level of the pyramid for air flow. Although both Egyptians and Mayans were great architects of pyramids, both differ somewhat in design. The Mayan pyramids were generally built of earth and then faced with stone, and they are typically of stepped form and topped by a platform-like structure (Gendop 7526). Most of the Mayan pyramids were temples for worship, unlike the Egyptian pyramids that were designed as burying chambers (Payne 65).When two symmetrical sides met at a binding point, it created a peak commonly known as an apex. In addition, the Egyptians never used color in their structures. Moreover, Egyptians pyramids held statues of The Egyptians tombs also held the status of God, Ka, as a spiritual entity to serve as a companion for the mummy (Casson 103). The Egyptian pyramids were well-built from good material stones in a horizontal fashion as the triangular sides connected to meet the center of the peak (Gendop 7526). The pyramids were built by taking huge blocks of granite powered by workers down to the workshops (Reisner 248). These workshops would measure these blocks according to a particular size, and then modify the block according to the body of the pyramid (Reisner 250). At the top of the construction, workers lay limestone from the base to the top. Inside an Egyptian tomb, a collection of gigantic stone structures had three narrow hallways that would often branch to other chambers. (Reisner 251). The middle chamber was used for burial services. The ceilings of these chambers are formed when huge slabs of stone were stacked on top of each other. These stone beams are extremely heavy and can weigh more than 30 tons (Gendop 7526). The passages that lead to burial chambers were often carved out of the rock directly from the outer edge. One of the first pyramids that was built by Egyptians was at Saqqara in order to honor the King. It is also referred to a step pyramid because of its steps design. The pyramid is very smooth and was built from Dynasty IV, as workers would often have to chisel the block of granite they desired (Gendop 7526). Next, the stonemasons used unique rods to ensure that a stone block was altered in a correct manner (“Pyramids”). Next, the blocks remained in the quarry until the flood season arrived. In addition, tension was utilized to haul heavy granite blocks (Gendop 7526). Once that was executed, the blocks would be unloaded near the pyramid as ropes and levers were used to move the huge blocks into an adequate position (“Pyramids”). As all the granite was correctly fitted in a place, workers would rub the blocks with stones to create a sparkle that would illuminate as it was hit by a sunray(“Pyramids”). Often, the overseers used different angles to ensure that the slope was correct. In essence, the pyramid itself had three fundamental elements. The inside element had a tight core that was used for stabliziation. The second primary element that was the core of the pyramids were the packing tablets, that were formed to protect the core from any damage. Lastly, the outer tablets played a vital role as they were laid against the compact rubble. Surprisingly, all three parts were constructed concurrently, a feat only few workers could achieve. After the structure itself was formed, workers dedicated time to place hieroglyphics around the pyramids. Moreover, columns that were rich in color and brightness would also be placed. The Mayan civilization was one of the most advanced civilizations that literally took the art of building infrastructures into another intriuging level (“Mystery of Maya.”). The Mayans insisted on burying their rules on the top of the pyramid, unlike the Egyptians, who actually built temples near the pyramids for the ceremonial services (Baudez 43). The stairs led from the ground to the top of the pyramid, which reflected the idea of being closer to God. Interestingly enough, the Mayan Pyramids are older than the Egyptian pyramids as their history can be traced almost 3000 years back (Baudez 47). The Mayan pyramids differed from Egyptians as the Mayan temples contained couple of rooms, but were so narrow unlike the Egyptian pyramids that were only utilized for ceremonial occasions (Baudez 49). Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, the Mayan pyramids do not have any sloping sides but are rather built like large steps. Most of the Mayan pyramids were built around pile of rubble, which means no passageway to walk upon(Baudez 51). Unlike the symmetrical pyramids of Egypt, the Mayan structures were extremely steep that the top of the pyramid was hidden from the ground level. Clearly, the Mayan temples were smaller than the Egyptian temples. A perfect example of a typical Mayan temple is the temple pyramid of Kukulcan in the Mayan city of Chichen Itza (Payne 84). It exhibits a traditional temple as it is four staircases of 91 steps, one in each side. The fascinating thing about this pyramid is the fact that when the days and nights have equal hours, the main stairway casts a show of what seems to be a serpent. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow aligns with the serpent’s head. Another Mayan temple that was unearthed by historians was hidden deep below the Caracol Stucture(“Mesoamerican architecture”). It is a typical Mayan temple that is coated in white, and heavily ornamented with a red line around the center(“Mystery of Maya.”). Moreover, it has a huge red section on the other end. In this particular red section, an inscription has been embedded which can be traced as far as 634 AD (Payne 96). Most Mayan pyramids can be categorized in two types: one that enabled a person to climb while some other temples could not be climbed upon (Smith 95). These steps were as usual very steep, and often deceived an individual with doors that would lead to nowhere (Smith 96). Unlike the Egyptian pyramids, Mayan temples had two staircases, on either side, which would have a platform that would be connected to a stair cases (“Mesoamerican architecture”). Archaeologists seemed to be intrigued at the fact that temples were built so high, and suggest the reason behind is the fact that the Mayans wanted people to clearly see it. The pyramids of Mesoamerica were not pyramids but resembled more like tombs and clearly serve as a different function than Egyptian structures. The Mayan tombs were not created to resist the natural disasters of time (Sabloff 207). Instead, these temples rose in tiers, in which a small temple emerged (Gilbert 116). The central core was composed of gigantic, uneven stones that were grouped and then piles. An outside layer of modified stone served as a retaining wall. The Mayan temples were basically built of stone and masonry on the tops of mounded earth, and were adorned with colorful carvings, which still exist today (Gilbert 124).The most distinguished feature between Egyptian and Mayan pyramids was the fact that Mayan pyramids contain a corbel vault or arch (“Mesoamerican architecture”). Many historians belief that the lack of keystone in the arch was intentional, and suggested that other material was used in order to form nine layers( Gilbert 128). These nine layers reflected the nine layers of the popular belief of the underworld. The corbelled arch was not as strong and was less efficient (Sabloff 208). This created a key problem, as the structure was not properly being supported due to the heavy weight. The arches found in the Mayan temples lead to tiny halls and unstable ceiling support. Clearly, the Egyptians possessed the adequate knowledge of the corbelled arch, something the Mayans lacked. Undoubtedly, it was also the key flaw why the Mesoamerican temples of Mexico have suffered. The most clear distinguished feature between the pyramids of Mesoamerican and Egyptian pyramids were the physical appearance (“Mesoamerican architecture”). The Mayan temples were truncated, as the exterior decorations clearly displayed a different type of decoration. These decorations were focused on sculptures that glorified gods in the Mesoamerican religion (“Mesoamerican architecture”). However unlike the Egyptian pyramids, these sculptures are not found in every Mayan temple. If the Egyptians and Mesoamericans were influenced from the same source, it would seem logical that their design and decoration would be somewhat similar (Gilbert 240). The Egyptian pyramids, however, don’t possess the exterior decorations and are not covered in stucco. Furthermore, the Egyptian pyramids lack any kind of temple-like structure at their peak. Without a doubt, the lack of stucco and the different structures are key dimensions that differentiate the Egyptians and the Mayan structures. Clearly, pyramids are intriguing structures that have fascinated past, present, and modern civilizations. Both the Mayans and the Egyptian civilizations were able to go against impossible feats to create these wonders. It was evident that pyramids were built in Egyptian and Mayan civilizations in order to protect the body of the deceased, for religious purposes, and to signify a powerful status. These monumental figures will continue to inspire many generations of humanity to come. Works Cited Baudez, Claude and Picasso, Sydney. The Lost Cities of the Maya.      Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, New York, 1998. 43-51. Bauval, Robert and Gilbert, Adrian. The Orion Mystery. Three Rivers Press, New York, 1994. 95-100. Casson, Lionel. Ancient Egypt Canada: Time Inc. 1965. “Cities of the ancient Maya”. Mystery of Maya. CMCC. May 1999. http://www.civilization.ca/membrs/civiliz/maya/mmc01eng.html E. B. Smith, Egyptian Architecture as Cultural Expression (New York, 1938), 95-96. Fagan, Brian M. Archaeology, Sixth Edition. Longman, New York, 1997. Feder, Kenneth L. Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries: Science and Pseudoscience      in Archaeology, Third Edition. Mayfield Publishing Company, London, 1998. G. A. 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