The pyramids of Egypt are just one of the most important witnesses of the fabulous Egyptian civilization, they are also one of the most spectacular monuments of humanity, due to their history, the legends that circulate around them or their imposing architecture. We all know roughly what they are and what they are like, but when was the appearance of the pyramids of Egypt? Next, we will tell you about it in Superhistory.
The appearance of the pyramids of Egypt
When one thinks of the Egyptian pyramids he imagines towering pyramidal structures made of stone. Images of the pyramids known to all come to mind, the pyramids of Gizeh, located on the outskirts of Cairo. The pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure are true architectural wonders that have witnessed centuries of history. However, before the appearance of the great pyramids, other, more “modest” constructions were built, which would be the sketch of what these great pyramids would later become.
The funerary complex Saqqara contains what is the oldest known pyramid, that of the pharaoh Djoser. Until the time of its construction, the only architectural works known to bury the pharaohs were the mastabas, tombs with polygonal shapes that initially began as simple pits in the ground with separate compartments for each of the elements that were to accompany the pharaoh to the afterlife. Even slaves were sacrificed and buried nearby to serve him in the afterlife.
Mastaba
But these burials were perfected over time and gained in width and elevation. The next step was the construction of two-story mastaba: in the lower part was the sepulchral chamber which was reached through a well, and in the upper part there was a room with a door where the offerings were left. That door was the path that crossed both worlds.
From there to the establishment of security systems to prevent looting there was only one step. Traps, hidden cameras, false rooms began to be placed… The interior labyrinths turned the construction of the ever-increasing mastabas into authentic architectural works. It was only necessary to have the necessary economic solvency and sufficient wealth to think of new constructions and forms.
Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara
And so it happened in the XXVIII century BC With the arrival of the Ancient empire, the capital was brought to Memphis. The pharaohs were living gods who reigned on Earth, and the levels of prosperity had grown to unsuspected limits. Djoser also had the great fortune of having a true genius at his service: Imhotep, the person who devised the construction of the stepped pyramid. Imhotep was a wise man who knew astronomy, medicine, architecture and his fame reached even the pharaoh. He became “first after the king of Upper Egypt, administrator of the great palace, and high priest.” And his genius knew no bounds, for from his brilliant mind came the idea of using nearly a million tons of limestone to build a pyramid. It was a challenge that had to be overcome, since it involved not only the handling of large stones, when previously only the adobe extracted from the Nile was used, but also their transportation, which had to be brought from further afield, as well as the utensils necessary to build them because the wood used was not very resistant for such a large construction.
That funerary complex had a perimeter of almost a kilometer and a half and housed in its center a sixty-meter-high pyramid with six floors, each one smaller than the previous one, so the image it offers is of being built on a staircase.
that fabulous Step Pyramid of Djoser It opened the ban for the following pharaohs to begin the construction of impressive pyramids along the entire banks of the Nile. The intention was to make the eternal transit in the best possible way. It was Snefruthe pharaoh who opened the IV dynasty who surprised everyone with the construction of not one, but three pyramids, two in Dahchur and one in Meidum, the latter in the style of the Mesopotamian ziggurat.
Pyramid of Snefru
After him, it was his son Cheops who raised the greatest wonder the world knows: the great pyramid which we can enjoy today on the plains of Gizeh.
There are many, as we have said, the pyramids and constructions made throughout the history of ancient Egypt, but they all have a common point: the mystery of the construction of the pyramids. How were those huge blocks of stone quarried? how were they transported? How were they placed until the construction was shaped? mysteries that perhaps no one can ever unravel. Many theories have emerged about extraterrestrial intervention in the construction of the pyramids, but we leave that for lovers of ufology and strange theories.
Who built the pyramids?
There are no documents that confirm who and how the pyramids were built, so all that is known is from the archaeological remains found. It is very likely that the first pyramids were built by slavesIn fact, they were buried next to the tomb of the pharaoh to serve him in his next life.
However, for the construction of the great pyramids of the classical era, although it is often said that they were also built by slaves, the reality is that they were built by workers, is believed to be quite well paid. Various archaeological excavations near these pyramids have found tons of cow bones and fish bones, in sufficient quantity to feed thousands of men for hundreds of years. In addition, remains of bread and beer were found in the tombs of these workers.
It is also known that many of these workers were specialized. The construction of the pyramids was a very complex process in which specialized experts were needed in different areas: logistics, transport, infrastructure, engineering, workers… This process included the construction of channels for the perimeter of the pyramid, sand ramps for to go raising the building and, of course, the stockpiling of stones, generally brought from nearby land or even from the south in large boats.
Now, to finish, we leave you with a video and some links that you might find interesting to complement the information in the article.
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