The pyramids of Egypt are only one of the most important witnesses of the fabulous Egyptian civilization, they are also one of the most spectacular monuments of humanity, for its history, for the legends that circulate around them or for its imposing architecture We all know, in broad strokes, what they are and how they are, but when was the appearance of the pyramids of Egypt really ? Next, we tell you in History Today Online.
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The appearance of the pyramids of Egypt
When one thinks of the pyramids of Egypt imagine imposing pyramidal structures made of stone.They come to mind the images of the pyramids known to all, the pyramids of Gizeh, located on the outskirts of Cairo.The pyramids of Cheops, Kefren and Micerinos are true architectural portents that have witnessed centuries of history, however, before the apparition of the great pyramids, other constructions were made, more «modest», which would be the sketch of what these great pyramids would later be.
The funeral complex of Saqqara contains what It is the oldest known pyramid, that of the pharaoh Zoser .Until the moment of its construction lasunicas architectural works that were known to bury the pharaohs were the mastabas , tombs with polygonal shapes that initially began as simple graves in the ground with separate compartments for each of the elements that should accompany the pharaoh to the other life.Even slaves were sacrificed and buried nearby to serve him in the afterlife.
Mastaba
But these burials were perfected over time and gained in breadth and elevation.The next step was the construction of two-story mastabas : at the bottom was the sepulchral chamber where it was reached through a well, and at the top 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 systems of s There was only one step to avoid looting.They began to place traps, hidden chambers, false rooms...The interior labyrinths turned the construction of the increasingly large mastabas into authentic architectural works.It was only necessary to have the necessary economic solvency and enough wealth to think about new constructions and forms.
Piramide of Zoser in Saqqara
And so it happened in the XXVIII century BC with the arrival of the Old Empire , the capital was taken to Memphis.The pharaohs were living gods that reigned on Earth , and the levels of prosperity had grown to unsuspected limits.Zoser also had the good fortune of having at his service a true genius: Imhotep , the person who devised the construction of the stepped pyramid.Imhotep was a wise connoisseur of astronomy, medicine , architecture and his fame reached the same pharaoh.He became "the first after the king of Upper Egypt, administrator of the grand palace and high priest." And his genius did not reach limits, because from his brilliant mind the idea of using about a million tons of limestone to build a pyramid.It was a challenge that had to be overcome, because that involved not only the handling of large stones, when before only the adobe that was extracted from the Nile was used, but the transport of the same, which had to be brought from farther away, as well as the necessary utensils to build them because the wood that was used was very little resistant for such construction.
That funerary complex had almost a kilometer and a half of perimeter and it housed in its center a pyramid of sixty meters high with six floors each smaller than the previous one, with what the image it offers is to be made in stairs.
That fabulous stepped pyramid from Zoser opened l forbid that the following pharaohs begin the construction of impressive pyramids along the entire bank of the Nile.The intention was to make the eternal transit in the best possible way.It was Snefru , the pharaoh who opened the IV dynasty who surprised everyone with the construction not of one, but three pyramids, two in Dahchur and one in Meidum, the latter in the style of the Mesopotamian ziggurats.
Pyramid of Snefru
Trasel, it was his son Cheops who raised the greatest wonder that the world knows: the Great Pyramid of which today we can enjoy in the plains of Gizeh.
Many are, as we have said, the pyramids and constructions made throughout the history of ancient Egypt, but all have a common point: the mystery of the construction of the pyramids .How were these huge blocks of stone extracted? how were they transported? how were they placed until Does the building shape? mysteries that perhaps no one can ever decipher.Many theories have emerged about extraterrestrial intervention in the construction of pyramids, but we leave that for lovers of ufology and strange theories.
Who built the pyramids?
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 raised by workers , it is believed to be quite well paid.Archaeological excavations near these pyramids have found tons of cow bones and fish scrapes, in such quantity as to feed thousands of men for hundreds of years.In addition, in the graves of these workers were found remains and bread and beer.
It is also known that many of these workers were specialized.The construction of pyramids was a very complex process in which specialized experts in different subjects were needed: logistics, transport, infrastructure, engineering, workers..This process included the construction of channels for the perimeter of the pyramid, sand ramps to build the building and, of course, the collection of stones, usually brought from nearby land or even from the south in large boats./p>
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