Ancient Egyptian Architecture - Essay Example

?Architecture Number> The Egyptian Pyramids present an awe-inspiring reminder of the extraordinary crafting of mankind that could not be learnt fully, even today. The Pyramids appeared for the first time on earth when economic stability dominated in Egypt and the Kings were seen as godly creatures to facilitate human kind. For such purposes Kings were highly respected and even after their death, a great deal of reverence was attached to them. The pyramid culture emerged in those times to mark the extraordinary powers of the Kings of then dynasties. Through this paper we will delve into the details of the background of the pyramid culture, its rise and fall and study Pharoah Khufu’s Great Pyramid that stands in Giza since it is one of the most magnificent pyramids on earth. The word ‘pyramid’ was adopted from the Greek word of ‘pyramis’ that stands for ‘wheat cake’ (Ancientegypt.co.uk). The word pyramis was used by the Greeks to refer to the ancient buildings in Egypt because they resembled the Egyptian wheat cakes with pointed tops. The later dynasties of the Old Kingdom were flourishing in terms of economy and stability and thus the Kings held a notable position in that era. They were seen as divine majesties and were thought to be gods’ servants on earth who facilitated the people. As a result heavy reverence was attached to the kings and all measures were taken to secure the king’s majesty even after his death. Since it was believed that a part of the king’s soul remained with the body to help him rule the dead ones, the body was turned into a mummy to preserve it and all possible equipments were buried along with him that were thought to facilitate the king. These equipments involved vessels, cutlery, furniture and even food items. Thus the pyramids built for these dead kings became the focus of the world’s attention and were included into the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Early History The history of pyramids dates back to the very early time of the Dynastic Era, when tombs with flat roofs were carved out of rocks for the kings, then known as ‘mastabas’. These mastabas were short rectangular constructions with two paired offering niches and exterior open air chapels marked by crude brick walls (Reisner, 1934). These structures marked the birth of pyramids. The procedure involved building a mastaba on top of another but smaller in size of the one below it. This resulted in a hierarchy of mastabas, ending up in a triangular like structure now known as pyramid. Contrary to mastabas, this structure was completely made out of stone and had a similar chamber for burial as in a mastaba. The first pyramid of this style was built at Saqqara and was known as the Step Pyramid (Thinkquest.org, 1992). It was built by the architect Imhotep to preserve the body of the King Djoser, who ruled Egypt during the third dynasty. The memorial was 62 feet tall, with six steppes terraces made out of stone and had a number of shrines and courtyards around it. Today, it is the oldest discovered architectural monument on earth and is now referred to as the Great Step Pyramid. The stepped pyramid style continued for several years until the first attempt at the smooth-sided pyramid was did at Dahshur by the Pharaoh Snefuru (Dunn and Winston, 1950). The pyramid was 300 feet high and was coated with limestone on the outside. Unfortunately, the sides of this pyramid turned too steep about halfway towards the top, resulting in an uneven structure. This resulted in a failed attempt at building a smooth-sided pyramid; however the change was a turning point. Archeologist wonder if the material was running low that caused the labors to complete the pyramid in this shape. A second attempt was made again by Pharaoh Snefuru to build a smooth-sided pyramid. This time the construction turned out more flat and even and, thus, ‘The Red Pyramid’ was born. The Red Pyramid is 345 feet high and has an angle of 43 degrees (Sacred-Destinations, 2005). It contains three chambers with entire modern interior. Fortunately it is open to public access, unlike many other pyramids in Egypt. The interior of the pyramid is as such that a high entrance at 200 feet opens a passage that ends up in a corridor followed by one of the chambers. A second chamber opens through another corridor at the south end corner of the first chamber. This chamber is pretty much the same as the first chamber. From this second chamber a modernly designed staircase leads down to the third and the final chamber which is believed to be the burial chamber. The pyramid was named so after the use of red limestone blocks in its construction. The Red Pyramid is the third-largest pyramid in Egypt. The Pyramids of Giza Among the many pyramids of the world, no pyramid is as celebrated as the Great Pyramids of Giza, lying on the west bank of the River Nile. The structure involved three big pyramids that were to function as tombs. They were built to home the bodies of Khufu - Snefuru’s successor – his son Khafre, and his grandson Menkaure. These pyramids stand close to one another and and are the most magnificent examples of the pyramid structures. The pyramid built for Khufu is the highest in all of the three and is known as the Great Pyramid of Egypt. It was his pyramid that also made its way into the seven wonders of the ancient world (Unmuseum.og, 2000). Khufu’s great pyramid is 450 feet high and 756 feet long. The pyramid consists of 2,300,000 blocks of stone and weighs as much as 2.5 tones per each block. This structure homes three burial chambers, one underground, the other above the ground and the third one exactly in the middle of the pyramid that was to hold King Khufu’s body. The other two burial chambers are believed to be built for the wife of Khufu. The Great Pyramid included several small pyramids, a mortuary and a valley temple and some boat pits. This 45,000 years old structure still stands today, though much of its part has been lost to rough environment conditions and many of its features to robbers, and remains one of the highest buildings on earth. Surprisingly, it is the very Khufu’s Great Pyramid that can be spotted from the moon too! 100,000 labors were put to work 3 months a year for twenty full years in order to complete the Great Pyramid. It is believed that these workers were farmers of the surrounding Egyptian areas who worked for the King’s pyramid when River Nile remain flooded for three months and they could not harvest anything. Sidelining Khufu’s pyramid are Khafre and Menkaure’s pyramids, both shorter in height than Khufu’s. Khafre’s pyramid is steeper than that of Khufu’s and at times appears taller since it is made on a slightly higher ground than that of its surrounding pyramids. At a height of 447 feet, Khafre’s pyramid stands the second tallest pyramid in Egypt. The entrances of the pyramid are cut into the northern-side of the pyramid; one on ground, the other at a height of some 38 feet. The lower entrance leads to a chamber that could not be ascertained so far that what it was used for. The other passage leads directly to the burial chamber where a sarcophagus – the coffin – can be located, though there are no concrete evidences that Khafre was actually buried there. The outer look of the pyramid is just as perfect as the Great Pyramid except for the slight twist at the top which occurred because the four corner angles were not aligned accurately to meet at the top (Puffin. Creighton.edu, 2001). The major attraction of Khafre’s pyramid is the unique figure carved inside his pyramid’s complex – The Sphinx. The Sphinx is a distinctive figure with the head of a man and the body of a lion. It was the largest statue of its times, measuring as tall as 240 feet! The face of this structure is believed to be that of Khafre and was built as a reminder to Egyptians for the extraordinary powers the pharaohs held. Many years later, the same Sphinx would become a figure of worship as god Horus. Next to Khufre’s Pyramid is his son’s Menkaure’s pyramid. It is much smaller in size than the other two Great Pyramids but turns out to be a more elaborate one. Originally measuring 240 feets high, the pyramid now stands at 204 feet tall. Unlike the other two pyramids which were made out of limestone, Menkaure’s pyramid was carved in granite – both inside the chamber and partly on the outside. Unfortunately Menkaure died unexpectedly and his pyramid could not be completed in his lifetime. Later his son and heir, Shepseskaf completed the structure in a hurry using mud brick. The interior of the pyramid had a burial chamber cut in the bedrock below the pyramid (EternalEgypt.org, 2002). It could be accessed through a corridor that opened at the northern face of the pyramid but was shut by blocking stones. Another passage below the first one, led to another chamber that was used as a storeroom. Surprisingly, the ship that was transporting Menkaure’s coffin to a museum in England sank into the sea and was never recovered. Menkaure’s small sized pyramid set a different standard for the pyramids that followed in the later dynasties. These pyramids were now built on smaller scales. Decline of the Pyramid Culture The following dynasties of the Old Kingdom lost much of their economic prosperity and stability, as a result of which the pyramid culture saw a steady decline. The Kings had lesser money to spend on such luxuries and thus the pyramids declined in terms of their number, size and quality. As time crept by, pyramids became obsolete soon thereafter. Pepi II who came to power as a six year old boy and ruled the Old Kingdom for 94 years brought a blow to this culture. During his reign Egypt went through the worst of times, tax collection reduced and revenues dwindled and the powers of the King waned out. His pyramid was built as Saqqara that rose to a height of 172 feet. His complex consisted of a pyramid and a mortuary temple made out of clay and limestone. The valley temple of Pepi II differs than those of his ancestors (dunn and winston, 1881). It is an avid structure with angular terraces on both sides. Ramps and entrances were discovered on the two of its sides, opposite to what was the valley temple with an open hall and supported by some eight pillars. Pieces of art work were also found inside Pepi II’s pyramid that showed him being received by the Gods – a sign of victory against the enemies of Egypt. Other art work revealed a carving of a hippopotamus being hunted and another one showing the same, lying on a sledge. His pyramid was also different in the sense that the causeway of his pyramid had north-south oriented rooms on the either side of it. It is believed that these rooms were symbolic for some important religious centers. Unusual with previous pyramids, Pepi II’s pyramid also had written scriptures on the wall that is known as pyramid texts. These pyramid texts were religious spells that were later studied in depth. With Pepi II’s death the Old Kingdom almost collapsed and the central government was shook at its roots. Egypt lost much of its prosperity and well being and shut a glorious chapter in the history of the world. Beyond this time Egypt could never regain its previous status. Though many Kings did try giving the pyramid culture a rise and returned towards making pyramids but none was on as large scale as were the ones in the previous dynasties. These strange and avid structures perplex the humanity even today. Khufu’s Great Pyramid The fact cannot be denied that the Great Pyramid of Khufu is the one pyramid whose magnificence is above all others and which has been studied more than any other pyramid of the world. It is his pyramid that has been included into the seven wonders of the ancient world and is one of the few structures that can be spotted from the moon as well. We will study his pyramid in more detail and compare its characteristics with the other pyramids that followed for several other dynasties. Entrance: The entrance of Khufu’s Great Pyramid was masked behind marble casings that covered the entire pyramid. Under this stone covering was another limestone block, huge in size, to shut access to the pyramid once it was sealed after the burial of Khufu inside it. Another entrance was cut by robbers to reach the burial chamber and steal precious materials. The Descending Passage and the Subterranean Chamber: As the entrance is crossed, a dark passage with modern-designed stairs welcomes visitors. This staircase is known as the Descending Passage, stretching out to some 60 meters in length. At the end of this staircase is a chamber – known as the Subterranean Chamber – that is carved out of solid stone and lies below the plateau of Giza. This chamber is in very rough state and could not be ascertained what it was built for, though most believe it to be symbolic for the underworld. Par this chamber is another passage – too thin for a person to get into – that ends abruptly. The Ascending Passage and the Grand Gallery: As one climbs down the descending passage, another passage halfway leads upward. This passage is known as the Ascending Passage and is only a meter wide. The Ascending Passage leads to the center of the pyramid that homes the Grand Gallery, the Queen’s chamber and the King’s Tomb. This passage was initially blocked by three huge slabs of granite after the burial of King Khufu but was later cut through to allow access to visitors. Immediately followed by the passage is the Grand Gallery which has been marvelously constructed with the use of red granite. To the left of the Grand Gallery is the entrance for the Queen’s Chamber, followed the Great Step which leads to the King’s chamber. The Queen’s Chamber: Though it was initially believed that the wife of Khufu – the Queen – was buried in the Queen’s Chamber, the wider perception today is that it was used to burry a statue that was a reminiscence of the King’s powers. Though this statue was never found, a carving on the wall of this chamber reminds of a huge statue of the King. The King’s Chamber: The King’s Chamber holds nothing except for a coffin – or the sarcophagus. Surprisingly the size of the sarcophagus is much larger than the size of the doorway and it is believed that the chamber was built around the sarcophagus. The interior of this chamber is marvelously done and is an example of master engineering, which surprises the world even today. The roof of the King’s chamber is supported by nine huge granite beams and beyond this roof lie another five chambers that balance the weight of this huge pyramid. These chambers were named as Stress Relieving Chambers and were designed very skillfully. Air Shafts: The airshafts are cut through passages, carved all the way out of the King and the queen’s chamber to the outer world. These airshafts were sealed with granite slabs after the burial of the pharaoh. It is believed that these shafts were used symbolically to connote the ascent of the King’s spirit after he died. Others believe that these shafts were used to allow air flow inside the pyramid so that the workers would not asphyxiate (Sakovich, 2005). Conclusion Though the internal structure of the Great Pyramid slightly differs than the other pyramids that were built earlier and in later years, it possesses all the characteristics of a pyramid. It is widely believed that the Great Pyramid of Khufu is divided into seven sections – or mastabas, one atop the other. If a diagram was to be laid out, one can observe familiar sections in the Great Pyramid. Diagramed representation of the pyramid reveals that that the Queen’s Chamber is placed over a mastaba and the Grand Gallery is carved into another mastaba exactly on top of the mastaba with the Queen’s Chamber. This Grand Gallery then opens into the third mastaba – the King’s Chamber – also exactly on top of the mastaba encasing the Grand Gallery (Bryn, 2010). Following Khufu’s pyramid stands his son’s – Khafre’s – pyramid. Unfortunately this structure could not live up to the charm of its ancestor and lacks the magnificence that Khufu’s pyramid holds. That does not deprive this structure of its own beauty but nonetheless the difference can be easily observed. Khafre’s pyramid is smaller than that of Khufu’s, despite it being built on higher elevation. The angle at which the two pyramids are built, differ too. Even the many pyramids that followed after Khufu’s grandson’s death were not really pyramids but mere rubbles of stone (Gadalla, 1998). They lacked the interior as well as the exterior and were used to serve as tombs only. It was also speculated about Khufu’s Great Pyramid that his chamber was not planned and that the Queen’s Chamber was initially supposed to be used for the King’s burial but that idea proved out to be invalid (Miatello, 2010). Due to being extensively studied, Khufu’s Great Pyramid has also stood several harms. One such incident being in December 1993 when 25 meter length of the foundation wall of his pyramid was destroyed by some researchers and the Inspectorate of Antiquities of Giza had to intervene and stop any further research (Berger and Mathieu, 1997). Nonetheless, answers to most of our questions have already been answered. Since almost nothing is based on concrete evidence, archaeologists and Egyptologists have based most of their theories on assumptions. No pharaoh or anybody from his dynasty lives today to narrate us the story and the reality behind these vast structures. Today Khufu’s Great Pyramid still stands proudly on the face of the earth and reminds us of the ancient miracles of mankind. References Ancientegypt.co.uk (n.d.). What does the word 'pyramid' mean?. Retrieved from www.ancientegypt.co.uk/pyramids/about/meaning. BRYN, O. (2010) Retracing Khufu's Great Pyramid. Nordic Journal of Architectural Research, 22 (1/2), p.139. BERGER, C. AND MATHIEU, B. (1997) Etudes sur l' Ancien Empire et la necropole de Saqqara. ORIENTALIA MONSPELIENSIA, (IX), p.248. DUNN, J., & WINSTON, A. (1881). The Pyramid of Pepi Ii at South Saqqara in Egypt. DUNN, J., & WINSTON, A. (1950). Egypt: The Bent Pyramid of Snefru at Dahshur. Retrieved from http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/snefrubentp.htm Eternalegypt.org (2002). The Pyramid of Menkaure. Retrieved from http://www.eternalegypt.org/EternalEgyptWebsiteWeb/HomeServlet?ee_website_action_key=action.display.element&language_id=1&story_id=15&module_id=150&element_id=30796&ee_messages=0001.flashrequired.text GADALLA, M. (1998). Egypt: a practical guide. Greensboro, N.C., Tehuti Research Foundation. REISNER, G. A. (1934). The History of the Egyptian Mastaba. Imprimerie de l'Institut francais d'archeologie orientale. MIATELLO, L. (2012). A Debated but Little Examined Mathematical Text: Papyrus Berlin 6619. Zeitschrift fur Agyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde, 139(2), 158-170., 7 (6), p.3. Puffin.creighton.edu (2001, December). The Pyramid of Khafre. Retrieved from http://puffin.creighton.edu/museums/cohagan/giza_khafre.htm Sacred-destinations.com (2005). Bent Pyramid - Dahshur, Egypt. Retrieved from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/egypt/dahshur-bent-pyramid.htm SAKOVICH, A. P. (2005). Explaining the Shafts in Khufu's Pyramid at Giza. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt. 42, 1-12. Thinkquest.org (n.d.). Saqqara. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0210200/ancient_egypt/saqqara.html Unmuseum.org (2000). Seven Wonder of the Ancient World: Khufu's Great Pyramid. Retrieved from http://www.unmuseum.org/kpyramid.htm Read More