Mysterious Egyptian Pyramids
Matea Ferk
ENGL 101 – Holt
Research Paper – Portfolio Draft
May 4, 2011
Mysterious Egyptian Pyramids
The Great Pyramid is the only construction that remains from the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Egyptian pyramids have always been surrounded by mystery. We know their purpose and who built them, but we are still unsure how and when they were built. Ancient Egypt was one of the most powerful, richest and advanced civilizations in our history. They showed a magnificent knowledge of astronomy, architecture, medicine, accounting, art and much more but it is still amazing how pyramids could be made at that time with primitive tools and without modern technology. While there is much known about the pyramids, there are still many unanswered questions.
Even if we know a lot about the pyramids, there is some general information that should be considered. The Great Pyramid is located at the Giza Plateau in Egypt. Besides the Great Pyramid, on the Giza Plateau were built other two pyramids for pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure, and the affiliated funerary complex. The earliest pyramids were step pyramids that evolved from the simplest form of royal tomb called mastaba (Silverman 168). Putting a massive rectangular block one over another, Egyptian architects came up with the first example of pyramid that consequently evolved in the “real” pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty that we all know. The Great Pyramid is the biggest pyramid of the hundred built in Egypt. “It has lost little from its original height of 480 (146m) feet and base width of 755 feet (230m), formed by 2.3 million limestone blocks” (Silverman 174). It was built for the pharaoh Khufu who ruled Egypt about 2547-2524 B.C. by his brother, Hemienu (Brier, “Build” 27).
The purpose of the pyramids is generally agreed upon. Egyptologists found enough evidence on the walls of the burial chambers. Inscriptions inside the chambers confirmed that pyramids are pharaohs’ tombs. Furthermore, pyramids were constructed on
ENGL 101 – Holt
Research Paper – Portfolio Draft
May 4, 2011
Mysterious Egyptian Pyramids
The Great Pyramid is the only construction that remains from the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Egyptian pyramids have always been surrounded by mystery. We know their purpose and who built them, but we are still unsure how and when they were built. Ancient Egypt was one of the most powerful, richest and advanced civilizations in our history. They showed a magnificent knowledge of astronomy, architecture, medicine, accounting, art and much more but it is still amazing how pyramids could be made at that time with primitive tools and without modern technology. While there is much known about the pyramids, there are still many unanswered questions.
Even if we know a lot about the pyramids, there is some general information that should be considered. The Great Pyramid is located at the Giza Plateau in Egypt. Besides the Great Pyramid, on the Giza Plateau were built other two pyramids for pharaohs Khafre and Menkaure, and the affiliated funerary complex. The earliest pyramids were step pyramids that evolved from the simplest form of royal tomb called mastaba (Silverman 168). Putting a massive rectangular block one over another, Egyptian architects came up with the first example of pyramid that consequently evolved in the “real” pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty that we all know. The Great Pyramid is the biggest pyramid of the hundred built in Egypt. “It has lost little from its original height of 480 (146m) feet and base width of 755 feet (230m), formed by 2.3 million limestone blocks” (Silverman 174). It was built for the pharaoh Khufu who ruled Egypt about 2547-2524 B.C. by his brother, Hemienu (Brier, “Build” 27).
The purpose of the pyramids is generally agreed upon. Egyptologists found enough evidence on the walls of the burial chambers. Inscriptions inside the chambers confirmed that pyramids are pharaohs’ tombs. Furthermore, pyramids were constructed on
Cited: Brier, Bob. “How to Build a Pyramid. Archeology.” 62.4 (2009): p27-29. Web. March 6, 2011. Ibid. “Return to the Great Pyramid.” 60.3 (2007): p22-27. Web. March 6, 2011. “Dating the Pyramids.” Archeology. 52.5 (1999): p26-33. Web. March 6, 2011. Hawass, Zahi A. Mountains of the Pharaohs: the Untold Story of the Pyramid Builders. New York: Doubleday, 2006. Print. Silverman, David P. Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. Print.