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Study of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

Study of the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids

During the Old Kingdom, Egypt’s greatest period of glory and power, massive pyramids were created. Though believed to be “astronomical observations” because of an uncanny alignment to the stars, the pyramids were built to house a pharaoh's remains, while protecting his body and possessions from weather and thieves. These impressive structures ensured the pharaohs union with the gods in the afterlife since the rulers were both kings and gods. With his ownership of everything and supreme authority, the pharaoh was thought to maintain the Ma’at. Egyptians were legally and religiously obligated to follow a pharaoh’s laws and felt that the fate of their people was in his hands. Pharaohs were also believed to be responsible for the Nile’s inundation and utilized its life-giving gift of resources. These materials, matched with a large, organized work force that the pharaoh paid to quarry and transport it, helped them to construct the pyramids and unite Egyptian society. In fact, by assembling the pyramids, the Egyptians generated the knowledge, stability and culture needed to build a nation.

The three-dimensional shape of the pyramids represented the rays of the sun falling on the Earth. While the base is square, “safe” pyramids are angled at to a point whereas “ideal” pyramids are aesthetically angled at like those at Giza. By using geometry, Egyptian architects mastered the management of great volumes to design a series of inner passageways, corridors, and corbelvauted chambers. The architectural principles used in the construction were centered on the pharaoh’s advanced stone working techniques and precise measurement. Some engineering methods practiced included the use of different materials, such as limestone. Other approaches were the organization of workers into crews.

When constructing the mastabas, dried mud bricks were arranged in a long, rectangular, flat-topped way that resembled the benches outside Egyptian houses. In an attempt to build a more elaborate mastaba, Imhotep built a square tomb that was 26 feet high out of stone. Still unsatisfied, however, he continued extending the measurements until he eventually formed a step pyramid that rose over 200 feet. By filling in the steps and adding an outer casing, the slope-sided pyramid was created. Unfortunately, the outer casing collapsed during construction because the casing didn’t rest on a firm foundation and the blocks were not correctly positioned. The bent...

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