Preview

The Great Pyramid of Giza Was Not Constructed as a Burial Chamber.

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1039 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Great Pyramid of Giza Was Not Constructed as a Burial Chamber.
The pyramids of Ancient Egypt are as fascinating and intriguing, as they are breathtaking. Egyptologists and historians have long debated the question of who built the pyramids, and for what reason. There are many different and often conflicting theories in regard to the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. When turning back the pages of history, it is discovered that a number of theories have been developed to explain the presence of such a significant historical landmark. "Theories vary from a tomb for a king, to a special chemical factory, a beacon for extraterrestrial aircraft's, a stone form of the Bible, a possible way to contact a Higher Being and a stone announcement of the second coming of Christ..." (Schillings, M. : 1999 : Sheet 1). Such examples of varying controversial theories have sparked a number of speculations to the mystery of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
<br>
<br>According to traditional Egyptology, the Great Pyramid of Giza was built by Egyptian pharaoh Khufu during the Fourth Dynasty around "...the year 2560 BCE..." (Schillings, M. : 1999 : Sheet 1). It has been suggested that the Egyptian civilisation succeeded in establishing a complex and organised work force of people to create and build an astonishing burial tomb for the pharaoh in aid of his journey to the afterlife. However, contrary to this suggestion, one must ask why the modern Egyptians continue to rely on traditional beliefs and attitudes to explain the presence of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Could this be the prefect example of nationalistic views? It could be argued that as a result of the continual spread of Egyptian hearsay, the Egyptians obtained the understanding that the entire civilisation - past and present - is somehow superior in status to that of the average mortal man. Undoubtedly, in modern times, the world has gained an increased awareness of the uncertainties that surround investigations into such a distant past. Despite several emerging historical puzzles and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The pharaoh was undoubtedly the most important terrestrial figure in ancient Egypt and played a significant role in the functioning of Egyptian society. Entrusted with governing the realm of Egypt and providing a link between the Egyptian people and the gods, pharaohs were “an essential element in the maintenance of the position of society in the order of creation”. This idea has been substantiated through the various artefacts located in tombs in the Valley of the Kings, particularly that of Tutankhamun. These finds have shed light on the role and lifestyle of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt. Through the discovery and analysis of these items, historians and archaeologists alike have been able to glean considerable amounts of information in regards to the pharaoh’s role in religion and the afterlife, warfare and leisure activities.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Great Pyramid is extraordinary and world renowned, however, not many know about the equally extraordinary Khufu Vessel I, a ship that was found buried and disassembled in a pit next to the Pyramid. This ship is one of the oldest in the world; subsequently it is also the largest and most well preserved ancient boat known to archaeologists (Jenkins, 8). The Khufu vessel is one of the most important sources of information about ancient shipbuilding for archaeologists. The Khufu vessel is a prime piece of evidence of the sophisticated civilization that built it. By the time the Khufu ship was built, there had been a long tradition of shipbuilding, and therefore a…

    • 1630 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    CulturalArtifactSpeech 1

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. You all have heard of the Great Pyramids of Giza correct…Did you know that those pyramids were built with such precision that our current technology, as advanced as it is, cannot replicate it. There are so many mysteries and facts about these pyramids that it baffles archaeologists, scientists, astronomers, and even tourists.…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the world’s most iconic monuments. It was carved from a massive block of limestone, making it the biggest single stone statue in existence. The measurements of the sculpture are 60 feet in height, or as tall as a six-story building, and 240 feet in length. It is often described to have the body of a lion, and a head of a Pharaoh, which can be seen through the iconographic elements like the headdress and a seemingly symmetric face. With such a large and iconic figure, it is ironic that there is so little known about it. There are no texts, hieroglyphics, or maker’s mark that can be used to date the Sphinx, and because of this, it is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Many archeologists have…

    • 834 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the Giza Plateau, located in Egypt, resides a monstrous and mysterious monument known as the Sphinx. Characterized by its human-like face and cat like body, there has been much controversy regarding its origin. Questions about its purpose and who built it are very popular among the topic of the Sphinx. Although some scientists and geologists agree to disagree, most have come to one conclusion. The Egyptian Pharaoh Khafre originally ordered the Sphinx to be built as part of a tomb for his father using labor from both Egyptian workers and civilians.…

    • 642 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Has it ever occurred to anyone who was the mastermind behind the great pyramids? Who could have built such a magnificent structure back then with such poor construction, transportation and organization. Well, I strongly advocate the concept of Egyptians building the Great Pyramids because there is plenty of evidence conveying this. Many journalists or Egyptologists may agree that it is a true fact that people built it with the aid of technology. Margaret Sears a journalist bases one of her articles specifically on "Who built the Great Pyramid?" (1990). She provides ample…

    • 1127 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    According the Verner, the best evidence of the ancient Egyptians mathematical knowledge is found in the construction of their pyramids (Verner 70). For example, the Great Pyramid itself, which was built by Khufu, is not a typical four-sided pyramid like most pyramids built during the fourth century. In a book titled The Egyptian Pyramids, the author, J.P. Lepre states that the Great Pyramid is an eight-sided figure which is made possible with the concavity of it’s core (Lepre 65). The indentations that make this figure eight-sided, however, can only be seen from the air and are basically invisible from any position on the ground. This unique pyramid design and the ability of the ancient Egyptians to create an eight-sided figure that looks four-sided unless seen from the air, shows just how vast their mathematical skills and knowledge were thousands of years ago. In an article titled The Mysterious Secrets of the Great Pyramid, the author, William F. Dankenbring, discusses the ideas of another author named Peter Tompkins who says “Whoever built the Great Pyramid…knew the circumference of the planet, and the length of the year to several decimals – data which were not rediscovered till the seventeenth century” (Dankenbring 21). The fact that the ancient Egyptians had knowledge of such complex ideas before the common…

    • 1346 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Great Sphinx of Egypt

    • 1728 Words
    • 7 Pages

    It is not clearly evident for us to know why a building changes over time. Sometimes we do not even know how they have changed. It is only natural for the human brain to guess when and why some objects are built. In the Great Sphinx of Egypt many changes have occurred. In this report I will explain in some ways it has changed and possibly why.…

    • 1728 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Built during a time when Egypt was one of the richest and most powerful civilizations in the world, the pyramids, especially the Great Pyramids of Giza, are some of the most magnificent man-made structures in history. The reason that the Egyptians started building these very large structures was because when a pharaoh died, they believed that he became Osiris, the king of the dead. They thought that in order for a king to fulfill his duty, he needed a righteous resting place. This goes to show just how important the pharaoh or kind was in the lives of the ancient Egyptians. After the pharaoh underwent the seventy-day mummification process, they were sent to these places to begin the afterlife.…

    • 1026 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Pyramidal construction is as old as Egyptian history itself, going back to the beginning of the 3rd…

    • 1889 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Artfacts

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages

    For centuries, people have theorized how the great pyramids were built. Some have suggested that they must have been constructed by extraterrestrials, while others believe the Egyptians possessed a technology that has been lost through the ages.…

    • 836 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Christopher Dunn 's hypothesis, that the Great Pyramid at Giza functioned as a power plant via the principles of resonance and crystal amplification, I found it to be intriguing but highly unlikely. Dunn throughout his book tends to snowstorm the reader with numerical data that they can’t possibly understand. He approaches the design and function of the pyramid from an engineer’s viewpoint and continues his explanations that way throughout the book which in turn leaves the reader confused and lost. Dunn also tries to back his…

    • 1722 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Pyramids of Giza are located in Giza, Egypt. Three of the largest pyramids located there are Menkaura, Khafra, and Khufu. “The three pyramids at Giza are visible from space (“Great Pyramid” Data 44)” “These pyramids of Giza, Egypt, famous not only for their stupendous size and dramatic shape, but also for the astonishing skill with which they were built thousands of years ago (“Pyramids of Giza”42)”. The purpose of these pyramids was to function as monument tombs for pharaohs. The construction of the pyramids was elaborate. Stones weighing an average of two-and-a-half tons were pulled to their place on sleds with the help of at least thirty men. No powered equipment was available to them. Not to mention, the pyramid was hard to get around.…

    • 673 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    What Is The Sphinx?

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In the middle of the desert there is a monument memorializing a civilization wrapped in mystery. For many years, archeologists have tried to decipher the origins of the Sphinx through analysis of whatever records that they could find and by studying the statue itself. Although it is easy to believe that the Sphinx was an Egyptian made wonder, researchers have found that the Egyptians may not have built the Sphinx. Instead, the Sphinx having been built by an earlier civilization, then found by the Egyptians and remodeled. Although the Sphinx sits among monuments built by the Egyptians, signs point to another origin.…

    • 1066 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    curse of the pharaohs

    • 1963 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Here as we know it we are not the first generation of people to roam the earth as it is today. In History many decades ago there were many different cultures and diverse ethnic groups which Earth’s population derives from this day. Egyptian way of civilization is the most questionable, with a more complex way of life many superstitions lie within and beneath the colossal pyramids. Egypt’s historical monuments that still remain with us today are one of the several wonders of the ancient world.…

    • 1963 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays