Pyramids
by Yulianna Torres
Around 2700 B.C.E. Egyptians built the Pyramids. Pyramids are architectural structures that were used as a final resting place for Pharaohs and Kings. The pyramids are composed of blocks of stones such as
limestone, granite, and sandstone and often covered in the end with a layer of
smooth limestone.Geometrically, the pyramids are formed out of a square base
and 4 triangular faces that all meet at the top of the pyramid at a point. Some
scholars theorize that the pyramids have this shape because of an ancient
legend explaining world formation. The Egyptians believed that in the
beginning, there was an immense ocean called Nun. Nun was said to be the
birthplace of the first hill and the pyramids were built with this shape in
order to remind people of this hill. Inside the pyramid were long corridors and secret rooms filled with furniture, weapons, jewels, and statues. These were placed in the tomb so the Pharaoh could use them in the
Afterlife. The pyramid
contained a special room, or chamber, where the Pharaoh's body lay in its
coffin.
Designers, sculptors, stone cutters, and other laborers all worked on constructing the pyramids. There are several theories on how the Egyptians were able to move these heavy stone blocks. The most accepted theory is that the stone blocks were dragged on wooden sleds up a long ramp and the ramp was made longer as the pyramid grew taller.
Around 2700 B.C.E., the first Egyptian pyramid was built. It was made for a pharaoh named Djoser. The pyramid is located at Saqqara (suh KAHR uh) near Cairo. Djoser's pyramid is the first step pyramid to ever be constructed and has a final height of 198 feet (60m). The Step Pyramid was a giant staircase that the king could climb after his death in order to reach the sun god, Re. The step pyramid is composed of six steps built on top of each other. Each step is a flat-topped building with sloped sides and covered with limestone.
In 2550 B.C.E., a pyramid now called "The Great Pyramid" was built for King Khufu and is located in Giza, Egypt. This pyramid covers an area about 570,025ft (52,900 m) (ten football fields) and is stands about 481ft (147m) high. Thousands of craftspeople and laborers built this giant tomb yet it is estimated that it took about years to complete. Scientists have not been able to count all the stone blocks that make up the pyramid but they estimate that there are more than 2 million stone blocks.The outside layer of The Great Pyramid has an uneven brick surface. Removal of stone from The Great pyramid was done in order to use for other buildings in egypt. Therefore this robery of limestone is the cause for the uneven brick surface. Some of the original outer limestone can still be seen at the top of the pyramid.
In 2550 B.C.E., a pyramid now called "The Great Pyramid" was built for King Khufu and is located in Giza, Egypt. This pyramid covers an area about 570,025ft (52,900 m) (ten football fields) and is stands about 481ft (147m) high. Thousands of craftspeople and laborers built this giant tomb yet it is estimated that it took about years to complete. Scientists have not been able to count all the stone blocks that make up the pyramid but they estimate that there are more than 2 million stone blocks.The outside layer of The Great Pyramid has an uneven brick surface. Removal of stone from The Great pyramid was done in order to use for other buildings in egypt. Therefore this robery of limestone is the cause for the uneven brick surface. Some of the original outer limestone can still be seen at the top of the pyramid.
Sources
http://web.sebscohost.com/hrc/detail?sid=e1db3ca2-9446-408e-8308-ddb01b1716f4%40sessionmgr15&vid=11&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=7696430
http://web.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail?sid=7691c980-f89d-4edb-8427-de209513e8d2%40sessionmgr4&vid=5&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=18044361
http://web.ebscohost.com/hrc/detail?sid=7691c980-f89d-4edb-8427-de209513e8d2%40sessionmgr4&vid=5&hid=11&bdata=JnNpdGU9aHJjLWxpdmU%3d#db=khh&AN=18044361