The granite slabs the Egyptians used to build the pyramids weighed forty tons apiece. They were able to move these blocks without the invention of the wheel or cart. It is amazing how the Egyptians built such big structures with such little technology because they were perfect in almost every dimension, it was all done by the physical strength of men, and many of the pyramids still stand today. During Egypt’s Third Dynasty, King Djoser had the first pyramid constructed (McCaulay 3). The years 2686 to 2181 B. C. were known as the Old Kingdom when the great age of the pyramid building took place (Morley 5).
The Egyptians did not have the same mechanical devices we have today. They did not have the inventions of the wheel, cart, crane, or pulley. Even without all this, they were able to move granite slabs that weighed forty tons apiece. The pyramids were built by the physical strength of men. Most of the people who helped build the pyramids were paid workers (Pyramids). Many people worked hard and lost their lives to help build these structures. The Egyptians got the granite slabs they used for the burial chamber from Azwon, which was nearly 500 miles away(Pyramids).
After the block was cut, it was given to one of the work gangs so it could be delivered. They rolled the block onto a wooden sled and tie it down so it would not fall using heavy timber levers and ropes. Then, they pulled it to a boat waiting for the block (Macaulay 19-20). Ramps were built on the sides of the pyramids so they could put the stones into place. As the pyramid rose, the ramps got taller. In each layer of stone space was left for the burial chamber. They used specials slabs to withstand the huge weight of the roof (Morley 12).
The priests’ job in the pyramids was to perform ceremonies for the gods in the shrine. The shrine was built next to the pyramids where the priests would worship the gods. The gods’ image was washed, dressed, and offered food by the priests every day. Priests entered the shrine with torches to approach the gods (Morley 34, 35). The priests would also bless the body and the tomb before they left (Macaulay 77). The pharaoh had to be careful that the Chief Priest did not gain too much power because he was very influential (Morley 29). The pyramids were built as tombs for the Pharaoh.
The Egyptians believed the Pharaoh was all powerful and their god-king (Morley 28). The Egyptians built the pyramids in the pyramid shape for the Pharaoh because the sun god Ra, considered the father of all Pharaohs, was known to have sat on a pyramid shaped mound, which emerged from the primordial sea (McCauley 2). People from all social classes would have their bodies mummified. They believed that the earthly form was an important transition to the afterlife (Pyramids). The Egyptians believed life would last forever if certain precautions were taken.
Death was the beginning of a new life in a new world (Macaulay 5). Ancient Egyptians were able to leave us their history, science, and mythology through their literature. Hieroglyphics enabled Egypt to have a rich literature. Hieroglyphs are a writing system of little drawings with meanings the Egyptians created. We have learned about their culture and lives through hieroglyphics (Pyramids). The Egyptians carved hieroglyphics into temples, tombs, and pyramids (Morley 35). Tombs in the middle Kingdom were decorated with scenes of daily life in bright colors.
They put objects the dead person might need in the tomb (Morley 24). Pictures of the pharaoh’s afterlife were carved and painted on the facing stones of the pyramids. The walls of the pyramids were covered with pictures of the pharaoh’s most impressive deeds, some real and some imaginary (Macaulay 62, 69). Critics say the Bible can not be right. They say the pyramids were built before Noah’s Flood, so the flood must have gone on in one region not the whole world. The Bible says people from the Euphrates river, where the Tower of Babel was and the languages got confused, were the first people who migrated to Egypt.
Some people believe humans have evolved from basic hunter gatherers, but how could they have such amazing structures? Some people believe aliens built the pyramids. Villages have been found where pyramid workers lived, which proves the pyramids were built by people. In ancient Egypt, death was considered the beginning of a new life. If certain precautions were taken, it was believed to last forever (Macaulay 5). The Egyptians buried people on the western side of the Nile because they believed when the pharaoh died he would go west with the sun.
Therefore, they thought the land of the dead was in the west (Morley 6). The pyramid represents the sun’s bright rays (McCauley 2). The pyramid meant they would live forever if the Pharaoh united with the gods. The pyramid was a symbolized life after death (Morley 6). The location of true north had to be found before they could start building. To create a horizon line, the Egyptians would build a circular wall high enough to block the view of the hills nearby approximately in the middle of the site. The top was made level and this created a horizon line (Macaulay 22).
An astronomer priest would observe the stars to find out which way was true north. This was done before work began because the sides of the pyramid had to face exactly north, south, east, and west. The priests observed the stars rising through a notched staff. They did did this to get the exact point. The site the pyramids were built on had to be leveled. To do this, they first filled the channels with water, then cut away any stone above the waterline, and lastly filled it with rubble (Morley 8,9). The people who worked on the pyramids were sent to live and in towns on the edge of the desert.
In a separate part of the town, the workmen lived in small houses that had flat roofs that provides extra space to work, sleep, and live. The Pharaoh wanted as few people as possible to know how to get into his pyramid to get to the tomb. He had a high brick wall built around the town with a closely guarded gate (Morley 18). Every year, many people died working on the pyramids and villages lost men. Accidents usually happened when the stones were being moved (Macaulay 46). The market was where people would exchange goods. The ancient Egyptians were paid wages in food and clothing, because they did not use money (Morley 22).
All the hard work that went into the pyramids was all done for the Pharaoh. Many people spent lots of time working on the art that was carved and painted in the pyramids. They built the pyramids so the pharaoh could live forever and believed in the afterlife. The people who worked on the pyramids had to live in separate towns than everyone else. It is amazing how the Egyptians built such big structures with such little technology because they were perfect in almost every dimension, it was all done by the physical strength of men, and many of the pyramids still stand today.