“Man fears time, yet time fears the pyramids,” quoted an unknown Arabian philosopher. The Great Pyramids of Giza are probably the most ancient and legendary pyramids in the world, which also includes the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the seventh, and last standing wonder of the ancient world. The construction of these monumental structures, the astonishing history of why the pyramids were built, and the amazing tourism, are few of the many characteristics of the Great Pyramids of Giza.
The construction of these pyramids has baffled scientists and archeologists to this day. One thing is for sure, the pharaohs that built these pyramids wanted to show their power and authority over everything and everyone they owned (Great Pyramids of Giza). The construction of these pyramids took an outstanding twenty years to accomplish and was finished in 2560 B.C (Wikipedia). The process of building these pyramids was an extensively tough task for the slaves, or “workers” that built these wondrous structures (Pyramids_of_Giza). First of all, the slaves would carve huge chunks of limestone, miraculously, into two ton blocks of perfectly smoothened limestone. The amazing feat they accomplished was not using iron, but bronze tools. The bronze chisels and hatchets that they used were a lot less durable than any iron chisel. They carved out two million limestone blocks for the pyramids (Philips). The true mystery of these pyramids is how the Egyptian workers put one two ton block on top of another (Great Pyramids of Giza). A majority of scientists and archeologists believe workers of the time would use ramps to shift the blocks on top of another block. According to archeologists, workers would cover the stone ramps with mud to help the block move upwards (Wikipedia). Other scientists think that the workers rolled logs under the limestone blocks (Wikipedia). Few scientists believe they used cranes, but this would be very unlikely as the crane- which was more likely made out of wood- could not at all carry the two ton blocks. The total number of workers was 50,000 and the total blocks used ended at a number of about two million blocks, which was enough blocks to surround Paris with a ten foot high, three foot thick wall (Pyramids_of_Giza). In the end, the three pyramids were finished- the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and last but not least, the Pyramid of Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu was the tallest standing man-made structure, at 481 feet high, for over three millenniums (Pyramids_of_Giza). It was finally out-heightened in 1931 by the Empire State Building in New York City, New York (Great Pyramid Feature Stories). Even though the structuring of the pyramids is fascinating, the broad reasons of why it was built are extraordinary and have left an immense debate over this one subject.
The purpose of the construction of these pyramids has left scientists with arguments and debates. A fact is that the Pyramids of Giza were built mainly to hold the bodies of their deceased pharaohs (Giza Pyramid history). According to records on papyrus, there are many reasons as of why the pyramids were built. One reason, which is agreeable with many scholars of the Pyramids of Giza, is to please the gods that revolved around Egyptian’s lives (Wikipedia). They believed that Ra, the sun god, would help them in harsh conditions and wars if they were able to please him. Another reasonable motive for their construction was that they used the pyramids in astronomical sequences. The proof lies on the corners of these pyramids, which has less than half a degree of flaw. The stars above these pyramids align perfectly downwards to these corners. Though the idea of the Egyptians using astronomy with pyramids is unknown, there is definitely a significance of astronomical usage (Wikipedia). Another explanation for this subject is that the pyramids may have been used as “solar beams”, so that they could verify when the sun would fall into the earth. The Egyptians believed that the earth would end one day when Ra- as previously mentioned, he was the sun god- decided to collide the sun into the earth. Even though all these rationales of the pyramids being built are possible, there is still a wide gap that separates scholars from finding out the truth on why these amazing landmarks were built (Philips). The motives of this topic vary widely, but one fact is certain- the tourism is the main attraction of these pyramids.
The tourism of the Pyramids of Giza is the only way one can really experience the pyramids up front. “You have come tonight to the most fabulous and celebrated place in the world. Here on the Plateau of Giza stands the forever mightiest of human achievements. No traveler, emperor, merchant or poet has trodden on these sands and not gasped in awe,” are the exact words in the opening of the light and sound show at night time of the Pyramids of Giza (Great Pyramids of Giza). The pyramids majestically stand in what today is called Cairo. The hotels and museums are excellent ways of getting around at the day time before the light and sound show. One can experience the way that the Egyptians lived by going on camel rides through the desert. The Cairo Egyptian Museum is one of the most fascinating museums with its many artifacts and tombs (Travel Video: Giza). One monument that you will want to visit for sure is the Sphinx. It was built by King Khafre, the original builder of the Pyramid of Khafre. If a person has spent day and night outside of a shelter, the five star hotels can accommodate you to stay and rest in these many comfortable inns (Travel Video: Giza).
The Pyramids of Giza are the world’s most extraordinary buildings. As aforementioned, the construction of these pyramids, the reason of why they were built, and the tourism are the most exciting themes on the Pyramids of Giza. Archeologists may know a lot about them, but there are still many mysteries and secrets that still lurk in the pyramids themselves.
Sources
“Great Pyramids of Giza”. November 6 2006.
“Great Pyramid Feature Stories”. November 7 2006.
“Giza Pyramid History”. November 6 2006.
Philips, John. The Great Pyramid and It’s Design. 1886 Albany, New York. Health Research.
“Pyramids of Giza”. November 6 2006.
“Travel Video: Giza”. November 16 2006.
“Wikipedia”. November 6 2006.
