The Pyramids at Giza - Research Paper Example

The Pyramids at Giza Almost buried on the Giza plains 100 years ago, the pyramids of the desert were, even then, matters for great wonder and amazement. Erected where there was apparently no available rock and demonstrating a precision that was rarely matched even with modern equipment and mechanical lifting equipment, the pyramids astounded not only for their size but for their technological achievement. From the days of antiquity to the present, the pyramids have stood the test of time in terms of instilling strong fascination and in teaching the modern day about the beliefs, social structures and knowledge of the time that they were built. The Great Pyramid remains one of the taller manmade structures on earth, equating to the approximate height of a 50 story skyscraper. 1 So old it is even mentioned in the Bible and awesome enough to have been included in the original list of great wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid at Giza, the only one of the seven great wonders still standing, together with the other structures found on the Giza plain, remains an unparalleled work of art that speaks eloquently of the social, political and spiritual concepts of its time in its construction, style and composition. The technical details of the Great Pyramid itself are a source of modern marvels. According to Andrew Bayuk 2, the base of the great pyramid is level to less than an inch and the sides measure almost equal lengths, with fluctuations at less than 1.75 inches. While it seems general knowledge that the average weight of the blocks is approximately 2.5 tons, Bayuk provides more precise detail. “Many blocks are indeed smaller than this, the blocks toward the top decrease in size. Some of the casing stones at the base are very large, weighing as much as 15 tons. The heaviest blocks are the granite blocks used to roof the king’s chambers and the weight relieving chambers above the king’s chamber. These are estimated to weigh from 50 to 80 tons.” 3 While it had been thought that the stones used to build the pyramids must have been dragged for miles over the hot desert sands, analysis of the Giza plain has revealed that the stones actually came from just below the pyramids themselves. Despite the closer locale of the building materials, the construction of the Great Pyramid and the other pyramids located in and around the Giza plain indicate a level of mechanical knowledge unequaled in their time and suggest a level of creativity not typically associated with the ancients. Some of the other materials used in the pyramids were pre-existing on the site as the base of the Great Pyramid is a natural rock outcropping and several chambers are filled with sand. However, there is also some truth to the concept that rock was brought in from elsewhere. “The fine white limestone came from Tura, about 8 miles away on the other side of the Nile. The granite came from quarries at Aswan, around 600 miles upstream. In some of these sites there are clear marks left in the rock.” 4 One of the amazing aspects of the pyramids is the precision with which they’re built and the crude tools with which the Bronze Age Egyptians had to work. “The most plausible answer is that the Egyptians, who lacked tackle and pulley for lifting heavy weights, employed a sloping embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and in length as the pyramid rose and up which the stone blocks were hauled by means of sledges, rollers, and levers.” 5 While it has been widely believed that the construction of the pyramid was carried out by slaves, Andrew Millmore indicates that this is not true. “One hundred thousand people worked on it for three months of each year. This was the time of the Nile’s annual flood which made it impossible to farm the land and most of the population was unemployed.” 6 A great deal of information about the workers themselves has been provided through excavation and study of the worker’s village, found near the pyramid site in 1999. “We do know much more about the work activities, particularly at Giza, then ever before.  Archaeologists have carefully studied the worker’s villages, the craft shops, the bakeries and other related structures” which has revealed that the building of the pyramids included “carpenters to make tools and sledges, metal workers to make and sharpen cutting tools, potters to make pots for food preparation and hauling water for mortar and other purposes, bakers, brewers and others, consisting of between 20,000 and 25,000 workers at any one time.” 7 By providing employment for these people, Khufu ensured that his subjects ate well, were properly sheltered and had good clothing even during times when they could not be otherwise productive and employed, for which he was kindly remembered in Egyptian folktales. The significance of this type of labor pool, partially conscripted, partially voluntary and not the strict concept of the slave approach previously understood, must have had a significant impact on the society of Egypt. In fact, Egyptologist Mark Lehner has suggested that the building of the pyramids was an action that actually built Egypt itself. The level of organization required to bring together the manpower required for the effort, to provide them with food and necessary tools and to care for them while they were on the job site also suggests a society that is much more focused on keeping its workforce alive and healthy than the concept of a slave race continuously toiling away under the lash would indicate. For example, food remains found within the worker’s village indicate that they were fed well, “the bones in the area suggest that workers enjoyed quite a lot of prime beef. Previous excavations have discovered that they also ate bread and fish, and drank beer.” 8 At the same time, human remains found among the pyramid workers suggest a high degree of medical care as well: “Evidence has been found of healed broken bones, amputated limbs, and even brain surgeries.” 9 While the materials, construction techniques and workers are all integral elements of the pyramids as works of art, they nevertheless remain somewhat external to the evidence left of the social, political and spiritual ramifications of the structure itself. The purpose of the pyramids was ostensibly to house the tombs of the Pharaohs, the largest of which, the Great Pyramid itself, to house Khufu. The Pharaohs were considered gods on earth and therefore their final resting place had to be equally as splendid. As a result of this celestial connection, the pyramids were carefully aligned with the stars. The sides are nearly perfectly aligned with the four cardinal points of the compass. “The Egyptian astronomers had incredible skill lining up the sides of the pyramids on a particular star which causes the sides to face almost exactly north, south, east and west. Since the Egyptians were known for their ability in mathematics, they were familiar with triangles and that a triangle with sides of 3, 4 and 5 units would automatically yield a right angle and using squares similar to what builders and masons use today making sure that the corners were perfectly square.” 10 It can be presumed that the perfection with which the pyramids were built was a reflection of the devotion the people had to their beliefs. More than just the precision of the work itself, there is some evidence that the workers felt their participation in the building of the pyramids would help to assure them of a place of honor in the afterlife. Inscriptions on walls and stones indicate a belief that The work crews were identified by particular associations such as the ‘boat gang’, ‘vigorous gang’, ‘north gang’ and ‘friends of Khufu gang’ which gave them identity and indicates a sense of pride and perhaps competition among the crews. The interior of the pyramid presents plenty of room for speculation as well. It is believed that the original tomb was raided long before any historians had a chance to document what might have been located inside, but it is believed that Khufu was the only individual entombed within the structure with his wives buried in chambers within the smaller pyramids. “Historians say that pyramids were built as transportation devices to the afterlife.” 11 which is supported by the care and precision with which they were constructed and aligned. Evidence from other pyramids suggests that the Egyptians had a strong belief in the afterlife as well. “Pharaohs made sure that all material possessions that had been cherished in their lifetime were placed inside. This was to insure the pharaoh that he/she would be as happy in the afterlife as in their previous life.” 12 There are two burial chambers within the pyramid, labeled the King’s chamber and the Queen’s chamber by modern historians. It is assumed by most that the Queen’s chamber was originally intended to be Khufu’s final resting place, but that his sarcophagus was too large to make it through the narrow tunnels and he was buried instead in the King’s chamber. Given the careful considerations that were given to the rest of the pyramid and the burial process, it is difficult to agree with this assessment. New evidence of hidden chambers within the pyramid, particularly just beyond the Queen’s chamber, in which robots sent down recently discovered shafts have revealed carefully sealed second doors, suggest that perhaps many have come to question this assumption although no evidence has yet been found. Inscriptions on the walls, pottery and other artifacts as large as entire boats have been discovered within and around the pyramid, further illustrating the importance of the afterlife to the Egyptians, as well as the political power and social organization it would have taken to coordinate this structure. The construction of the pyramids of Giza are astounding in terms of scale, construction, degree of effort, precision of planning, mechanics developed and artifacts provided. A careful study of these elements has revealed that the people who built these pyramids had a highly developed sense of the spiritual world, complete with celestial connections and an understanding of an afterlife. In addition, the sheer magnitude of the project illustrates the degree to which the society had to be organized under a single, powerful and prosperous ruler in order to keep construction efforts continuous and precise throughout the entire process. Finally, the artifacts left behind tell us much about the society that constructed the pyramids as items important to their way of life were considered necessary for a happy and successful afterlife. Works Cited Bayuk, Andrew. “The Great Pyramid: The Pyramid of Khufu.” Guardian’s Giza. (2005). (accessed April 14, 2011) Handwerk, Brian. “Pyramid Builders’ Village Found in Egypt.” National Geographic News. (September 18, 2002). (accessed April 14, 2011) Millmore, Mark. “The Pyramids at Giza.” Egyptian Pyramids. (1997). (accessed April 14, 2011) Russell, Rusty. “The Great Pyramid at Giza.” Bible History Online. (2005). < http://www.bible-history.com/resource/ff_giza.htm> (accessed April 14, 2011) Shaw, Jonathan. “Who Built the Pyramids?” Harvard Magazine. July-August 2003: Volume 105, Number 6, pp. 42-99. Winston, Alan. “The Labors of Pyramid Building.” Tour Egypt. (2005). < http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pyramidworkforce.htm> (accessed April 14, 2011) Read More