Exploring Ancient Mysteries: The Pyramids at Giza

The pyramids at Giza in Egypt are among the wonders of the world surrounded by many mysteries and controversies. Several studies conducted are in agreement that the pyramids were built to serve as tombs to serve the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt. The contention is how the pyramids were constructed to such perfection when there was little technology at the time to achieve such a feat. Considering the pyramids were constructed during a time when there was no machinery to simplify the construction as in modern times, it has always plagued a lot of studies how the construction was possible. This paper looks at this mystery and tries to explain the different ideologies that aim to explain how the pyramids were built and the techniques used in achieving the successful completion of the structures.

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The pyramids are huge monuments that have a square base and four triangular sides that rise to an apex. Achieving the successful completion of the pyramids has baffled humanity for a long time with some people creating controversial theories to try to explain how the construction was done. Some scholars are of the opinion that Egyptians had a technique that must have been lost through the passage of time (Hoffman, 16). The process of building the pyramids was complicated and needed intense labor and as such, massive human labor went into these constructions.

It is purported that Pharaohs usually started building their pyramids as soon as they ascended the throne. They would first assemble an engineering faction with the sole purpose of constructing their pyramid. The pyramids at Giza, specifically the grandest which is called Khufus pyramid was constructed with stone blocks estimated to be 2.3 million in number with each stone weighing between two to five tons. The speculation of historians is that the stones were dragged up through ramps that were inclined. The ramps are said to have been made of compacted rubble that was bonded and made slippery by using a special form of lime-clay. The stones may have also been raised from one tier to another up the side of the structure by use of levers (Youssef and Elleithy, 44).

The pyramid features great mathematical and astronomical precision, as they are oriented to the four points of a compass. This means that Egyptians had and used mathematical knowledge in the construction of the pyramids. The cores of the pyramids were often made of limestone found in the local area.

Considering the manpower needed for the success of these constructions, it is said that Egyptians employed the use of slaves in construction. However, scholars have noted that the workers comprised of peasants who worked and were granted tax breaks. They were also provided with food and shelter. These workers were also aided by oxen which were used to drag the stones from the quarries to the construction site. Once the stones got to the site of construction, the workers built ramps that made it possible to place them on the building.

Conclusion

Many theories still abound about the construction of the pyramids with people disagreeing with whether the huge stones used were rolled into place, lifted or whether they were dragged. Contradiction over the workers is still around as others believe that slave workers were used yet some indication points to the use of highly skilled workers. Studies are still ongoing in this respect but it is important to agree that the achievement of such a feat is always going to baffle humankind to some degree.

Works Cited

Hoffman, Carl. "Pyramids at Giza." (2013).

Youssef, Tamer, and Khaled M. Elleithy. "The Giza Pyramids: A History of Wireless Electricity Transmission Validated by Todays Science." (2014).