How the Egyptian pyramids were built. Who built the pyramids? Mysteries of ancient civilizations. Conan Doyle version

Almost every representative of modern society has at least once in his life wondered about who or with whose help great buildings were built. historical monuments, what tools, tools and mechanisms did our ancestors use during the construction process and are there any answers to the riddles of the ancient pyramids?

To begin with, we suggest that you first familiarize yourself with some concepts, moments in history, as well as the opinions of various people.

What is a pyramid?

From the point of view of architectural science, a pyramid is a structure that is a polyhedron, usually with four triangular faces. To ancient people, buildings of this kind served as tombs (mausoleums), temples, or simply monuments.

The history of the pyramids begins around the 3rd millennium BC. It is these numbers that confuse numerous historians. It is difficult to believe that people had advanced tools at that time, if the descendants of some of them are still engaged in hunting and gathering, which is characteristic of the primitive level of development.

Modern scientists identify several main concentration points of the ancient pyramids.

Egypt

It's no secret that “the land of the pyramids” is the second name for Egypt. This metaphor is well deserved. It was here that the very first pyramids in the world were built. They are located on the Giza plateau, on the territory of an ancient cemetery.

Only a few pyramids have survived to this day. Ancient Egypt. These are the pyramids of Cheops, Mikerin and Khafre. According to scientists, there used to be many more of them.

The Pyramid of Cheops is considered to be the most important, because it is the tallest pyramid. Formally, it is recognized as one of the wonders of the world. Its height is 147 meters, which is comparable to the height of five ten-story buildings. The sides of the bases, in turn, are about 230 meters long. The area of ​​the structure is 50 square kilometers.

The great Napoleon was amazed at the size of the Cheops pyramid. According to his saying, the stone blocks with which they were built Egyptian pyramids, would be enough to completely surround France with a three-meter wall.

The Pyramid of Khafre was built as a tomb for the son of Cheops. Its dimensions are slightly smaller than the previous one.

It is worth noting that this funeral complex, unlike other pyramids, includes the famous Great Sphinx. According to one of the legends, the Sphinx's gaze is directed towards the depths of which, according to ancient legends, secret knowledge is imprisoned.

It is considered the smallest and “youngest”. Its height is 62 meters, and the length of the sides is equal to the length of a football field. There are suggestions that the pyramid was previously slightly larger, since the structure was originally covered with a red granite lining, which may have been lost as a result of Mameluke raids. During the construction of this pyramid, Menkura ordered the use of stone blocks much larger in size than in the pyramids of Chefren and Cheops. He also allowed workers to process the stone less carefully. The fact is that the pharaoh wanted to complete the tomb before his death and tried in every way to speed up the construction process. However, Menkur could not live to see its completion.

Mesopotamia

It would seem that from Mesopotamia to Egypt is not so far, the conditions for construction and materials are practically the same, therefore, their approach to architecture should not be particularly different. But it was not there.

The pyramids of Mesopotamia are unique places of worship- ziggurats (translated from Babylonian as “mountain top”). Their external structure resembles the Egyptian pyramids, but, unlike them, the levels of the ziggurat were connected using stairs, and along the edge of the wall, in turn, there were special ramps (gentle slopes) that led to the temple.

Another feature of the structure of ziggurats is the broken line of the wall, formed with the help of protrusions.

If it was necessary to have window openings in the structure, they were created, as a rule, on the upper part of the wall. They were a narrow gap.

It is noteworthy that the peoples of Mesopotamia did not use ziggurats as funeral structures for the reason that they did not see any connection between the preservation of the body of the deceased and his gaining immortality in the next world, as the ancient Egyptians did.

Sudan

At one time, the Sudanese kings revived the ancient Egyptian tradition associated with the use of pyramids as burial places for the rulers of the country.

By and large, the cultures of Ancient Egypt and Sudan were closely related. Consequently, architecture also had a lot in common.

In Ancient Sudan, there were the following types of pyramids: classical structures (based on the principle of Egyptian structure) and mastabas, shaped like a truncated pyramid. In contrast to Egyptian ones, Sudanese buildings have a steeper slope.

The most famous pyramids are the cities of Meroe. In the second half of the sixth century BC, the capital was moved here, which a little later also became the cultural and religious center of the state.

Modern scientists have counted several dozen pyramids in Meroe that have survived to this day. In 2011, these archaeological structures were officially declared a World Heritage Site.

Nigeria

Here, according to custom, pyramids were erected in honor of the god Al. Ancient people believed that it was possible to contact the deity through these structures. They believed that his abode was located on the tops of the pyramids.

The official opening of these religious buildings took place only in the 30s of the last century. Then, the famous archaeologist Jones took several photographs of the pyramids for his own archive (however, they were published only eighty years later).

In his opinion, the buildings of Nigeria were built much earlier than the pyramids of Ancient Egypt, and also that the local civilization is much older than many others. Unfortunately, the pyramids have survived to this day in a rather dilapidated condition.

Mexico

Since ancient times, this country was inhabited by a people to whom modern historians attribute a rich mythology and cultural heritage, - Aztecs.

Although the heyday of civilization dates back to the 14th-16th centuries, the Aztec pyramids were built long before that. For example, the famous one, which ranks third in the world in size and is only seven meters lower than the tomb of Cheops, according to historians, was erected approximately 150 BC.

The pyramids of Teotihuacan, in turn, are considered a monumental attempt to realize an eternal blessed utopia.

For seven centuries, the Aztec pyramids were a kind of guiding star, whose radiance called all those eager to taste the noble dream. It is believed that the city of Teotihuacan was obsessed with the idea of ​​order and regularity. However, love and harmony did not prevent human blood from flowing through the blades of barbarity and inhumanity. The Aztecs mercilessly killed anyone they disliked and sacrificed them to the gods.

The pyramids, where these sacrifices were carried out, had some similarities with the Mesopotamian ziggurats: they also had a “stepped” shape, and there was also a ramp (it was the only one leading to the very top of the structure).

Unfortunately, not all Aztec pyramids were able to survive to this day. Most of them were destroyed during the invasion of Mexico by European colonialists in the 16th century.

China

Of course, some readers were very surprised when they saw this subtitle. After all, they practically don’t talk or write about Chinese pyramids.

In total, scientists count about a hundred such structures. They acted as burial mounds for the rulers of famous Chinese dynasties. The shape of the pyramid had a truncated appearance (like the Sudanese scale). Due to the characteristics of the local flora, some large structures took on the appearance of overgrown hills.

The origin of the pyramids is quite interesting. The fact is that in written sources that date back to the fifth century BC, the buildings are already called “ancient”. Did the pyramids really appear much earlier than the time the document was written? It should be admitted that humanity is unlikely to know about this. A detailed study of structures, as is done in Egypt, is practically impossible: excavations in the areas where they are located are often prohibited by local authorities.

North America

In the 11th century, when endless wars were fought in Europe, on the other side of the hemisphere, in the Mississippi Valley, the Indian civilization peacefully developed and flourished. They quickly built homes for themselves and developed infrastructure.

Also, the ancient Indians had a habit of building special mounds with an area of ​​approximately several dozen football fields. Here they did almost everything: celebrated holidays, held religious and sporting events, etc. Quite often, the mounds also served people as mounds (burial places). One of the largest concentrations is Cahokia - a group consisting of 109 mounds. It has also been declared a World Heritage Site.

Who built them and why?

People have been puzzling over this question for many years. It is unlikely that anyone will be able to wrap their heads around the fact that building pyramids at the level at which ancient people did it, even today, is a rather complex process, given modern methods and technologies. How, for example, did the Egyptians drag stone blocks weighing 7-10 tons to the height of a ten-story building, and how did they manage to process them perfectly (sometimes even a blade cannot squeeze between loose blocks)?

Currently, there are several theories and hypotheses that are the most plausible.

I. The existence of a highly developed proto-civilization

Everyone is accustomed to thinking that man today is a highly developed and enlightened being, sometimes subject to Mother Nature herself, but many thousands of years ago people were savages living to satisfy their primitive needs. However, few people thought that once on our planet there already existed a similar civilization with a high level of intelligence and technology. Maybe they also knew much of what we are rediscovering today?

According to one version, this civilization may be the Atlanteans, who either built the pyramids themselves using technologies inaccessible to others, or helped to do so.

According to another, ancient people were able to find and quickly adapt for use the technologies of previously existing but disappeared highly developed civilizations.

Another version says that ancient people (the same Egyptians) themselves were at a fairly high level of development, both mentally and technologically.

All this can be refuted by a single fact - the ancient manuscripts never mentioned contacts with any super-civilizations.

II. Alien Intervention

This theory of the origin of the pyramids is the most widespread and discussed. According to it, representatives of the extraterrestrial civilizations.

First, let's figure out why suddenly aliens from outer space (if they actually existed) would help people who were underdeveloped at that time build the pyramids of the world?

According to one version, the structures served representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations as a source of energy, still incomprehensible to humanity, or as intermediaries for communication between planets (the rather strange shape of the pyramid is also attributed here, like architectural building generally).

There is another theory. It lies in the fact that ancient people, coming into contact with aliens, could take them for gods.

The aliens, with their technology and “chariots of fire,” had great amount opportunities, which people took advantage of, turning to representatives of highly developed civilizations for help in such matters as the construction of pyramids.

Many ufologists interested in the question of who built the pyramids are interested in the connection between the location of the pyramids and the star map. In their opinion, this connection is direct, since, for example, the famous Giza complex in Egypt, which we already talked about today, corresponds to the three largest stars located in the constellation Orion. Perhaps this pattern is based on the fact that this constellation was symbolic for the Egyptians: it personified the god Osiris, one of the most important deities of Ancient Egypt.

But another question immediately arises: why did the Egyptians associate the names of the gods with the stars? According to the same experts, perhaps this was some kind of connection between these same “gods” and their abode.

As another proof of the presence of aliens on Earth, one can cite various drawings that depict strange circles, and sometimes even humanoid creatures. Are these drawings depicting real creatures or are they simply the works of an artist with a rich imagination?

It is worth mentioning the ancient Egyptian manuscripts, which speak of a certain war of powerful Gods. What or who could people call Gods, what was this war like, did it exist in reality or is it just a fairy-tale myth? The answers to these questions have long been buried in oblivion.

III. Skeptical theory

According to it, ancient people were able to independently build the pyramids of the world. According to scientists who adhere to this point of view, people could have enough incentives to build such structures: religious considerations, the desire to receive a living for the work they do, the desire to stand out in terms of unique architecture.

The ancient historian Herodotus was the first Greek scientist who, in his writings, was able to describe in detail famous pyramids Giza. In his opinion, to build a structure of this type in a short time (if you believe the descriptions, the period of construction of one pyramid was, as a rule, 15-20 years) it was necessary to use at least one hundred thousand workers.

This does not include the unpaid labor of slaves and prisoners, who died in the thousands at construction sites from disease, hunger and thirst, unbearable work, and the anger of their owners. In contrast, stonemasons, architects, and builders received money for building ancient pyramids.

Ordinary peasants could also be involved in the construction of the pyramids. This process could take the form of a kind of labor conscription, that is, the same people were called to work after a certain period of time (most likely once every year or two for a period of several weeks). Thus, the Egyptians were able to easily renew their workforce.

It is possible that some kind of “competition” was held between the workers involved in the construction of the pyramids, the winners of which could be determined by the amount of work done both in a group and individually, its quality, etc. Those who were able to stand out among others received various incentives.

As proof of Herodotus' theory, one can cite multiple burials of workers and architects discovered by archaeologists during excavations, as well as ramps near unfinished pyramids, along which stone blocks were most likely raised. From the same burials one can judge how difficult the work of the workers building the structures of that time was. This conclusion can be made by examining the remains of ancient people: numerous traces of healed fractures were found on their bones.

Moreover, components of a device have been found that is most likely a prototype of the modern one. It is unlikely that the construction of the pyramids was accelerated and facilitated only through the use of this mechanism. It is possible that there were many other devices.

Skeptics also have certain views on the technique of building pyramids.

Let's start discussing the process from the very first stage of creating this kind of structures - the production of building blocks. It has been scientifically proven that those who built the pyramids used “soft” limestone as the main materials, as well as harder ones: granite, quartzite and basalt. However, opinions on exactly how construction began are somewhat divided.

According to one version, the extraction of blocks was carried out in special quarries located near the places where the pyramids were built. The flaw in the theory is that using these quarries would only complicate the construction process and make transporting the blocks a practically impossible process.

Another hypothesis is that the blocks were cast on site from limestone concrete. Its adherents are confident that those who built the pyramids knew how to make concrete mixtures from various hard rocks. However, there are also opponents to this theory of the construction of ancient structures. They argue their point by citing the fact that in some areas where the pyramids were built in large quantities, there are simply no resources to create a binder concrete solution.

Speaking about the hypotheses for moving blocks, it is worth mentioning that here, too, the opinions of experts are divided.

The most common version in this regard is the drawing of blocks. As proof of this theory, historians cite one of the ancient Egyptian frescoes, which depicts about one hundred and fifty people pulling the monument of Djehutihotep the Second. In this case, workers use special drag sleds. It is noteworthy that their runners, as depicted in the fresco, are watered with water, which was most likely used to reduce friction and facilitate the process. This hypothesis can be refuted by the fact that the process is quite labor-intensive and it is unlikely that those who built the pyramids could do it quickly.

Another theory discussed is the use of various kinds of mechanisms by ancient people. The most famous hypothetical devices are the so-called "cradle" mechanism, square wheel technology (using a special track), internal ramp, etc. But, according to many, these technologies were not yet available at that time.

Summarizing

Based on the above, we can conclude that the question of who built the pyramids and what was their main purpose remained relevant at all times. Most likely, humanity will never know this again. Over time, everything disappears into oblivion: manuscripts, frescoes, drawings. And such historical sources are few and far between these days.

It is obvious that the mysteries of the pyramids will never leave a person indifferent.

Time is afraid of pyramids. They never shared their secrets. The scale of this construction is amazing. According to supporters of the Alternative History Laboratory, the Egyptians could not have built it. In their opinion, the pyramids could have been built by anyone: Atlanteans, representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations, representatives of other peoples, but not the Egyptians themselves. This very strange thesis is largely based on the fact that the Egyptians did not have advanced technologies that would have allowed them to begin processing highly hard stones, lifting heavy weights, and the like.

Many of the early pyramids were quite crudely built. They are made of small stone blocks and are imperfect in terms of installation. These pyramids are incomparable in their beauty to those that stand, say, in the Necropolis of Giza. And here many supporters of the Alternative History Laboratory resort to deception: they convince us that the more advanced pyramids are the very first ones. And less perfect ones were built by the Egyptians. That is, it turns out that the facts are adjusted.

Today it is very difficult for us to imagine an era that is several thousand years ago. And therefore, many people who grew up in the age of modern technology cannot imagine life without iron, without machines, cannot understand how people who did not have all this could build such impressive structures.

What is the main argument that the Egyptians built their pyramids? The fact is that they did not come to this right away. First there was the thousand-year era of the Stone Age, during which the Egyptians learned to simply process stone. But as for the methods of delivering stone to the construction site, another question arises.

You need to understand that the largest pyramids are built surprisingly harmoniously and correctly. The largest blocks were laid at the base, meaning they did not need to be raised to a significant height. And closer to the top there are smaller blocks. Thus, builders saved their time and resources. They understood perfectly well that large blocks cannot be lifted to great heights; this requires very significant efforts of many thousands of people. According to the drawings found in the tombs, large weights were usually dragged by people or bulls; the Egyptians had no other force. Therefore, we can conclude: it was very important for the Egyptians that the spirit of the nation was embodied in these pyramids, so that they could thus declare themselves in history, that in this grandiose construction they could accumulate all their knowledge.

The Pyramid of Khafre (more precisely, Khafre) is the second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid

The Egyptians did not immediately come to the idea of ​​​​creating rooms inside the pyramid itself. Initially, all the rooms were underground, that is, under the base line, and the pyramid itself was empty. And only as construction principles improved, when the so-called idea of ​​a stepped vault arose, did they begin to design rooms inside the pyramid itself. What was the impetus for this revolution in architecture, we do not know. There is a hypothesis according to which the underground premises were flooded with groundwater, so new solutions had to be found. To protect the sarcophagus with the mummy, they tried to raise it as high as possible. And for this, they first came up with the idea of ​​a stepped vault - what we see in the pyramids of Sneferu, and subsequently in the pyramid of Khafra, where unloading chambers were used. Thus, with each new pyramid the sarcophagus with the king's mummy rises higher and higher. Subsequently, all the pyramids were built with a burial chamber at the base line, which shortened and made the construction process cheaper and became more economically feasible. And gradually the Egyptians completely abandoned the construction of pyramids.

When talking about pyramids in general, they use a term such as “polygonal masonry.” True, it is typical for Latin America, in particular, the Inca culture. But nevertheless, there are several examples of polygonal masonry, which was used in the construction of granite blocks in the valley temple of King Khafre. The fact is that polygonal masonry is not the art of stone processing, but the use of natural stones and a specific situation. That is, the Egyptians did not adjust the stones; instead, they used their natural irregularities to create a surface.

There is a very common thesis among conspiracy theorists that the limestone stones are chosen perfectly, that it is impossible to insert a knife blade, a sheet of paper, etc. between them. However, it is necessary to mention one of the most important properties of limestone - its plasticity. This stone begins to compress under great pressure. And if favorable air humidity is maintained, then the process of diffusion - interpenetration - occurs. Over the millennia, as the blocks lay on top of each other, they partially fused together. And today it seems to us that this is just a perfect seam. Although initially the seams could not be flawlessly perfect.

In addition, the limestone from which the Egyptian pyramids are built is very easy not only to process, but also to environmental influences. Therefore, modern pyramids for the most part do not have cladding - over many centuries the limestone has weathered. And even if we just press hard on it with our hand, it begins to crumble under our fingers. And although they say that time is afraid of the pyramids, in reality this is not so. The pyramids are destroyed, and the older they are, the more fragile the limestone from which they are made becomes. Gradually, the stones crumble, and many even fall out of their places.

Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) - the largest of the Egyptian pyramids

Any pyramid today requires conservation measures, and therefore many of the stones in Khufu's pyramid are coated with a special polymer-containing composition to prevent air and water erosion. The pyramid is a remarkable structure, but it is also a monument to the great genius of the Egyptian people. It was the Egyptians who first learned to process limestone. The Egyptian civilization is a civilization of limestone, which is what most Egyptian temples are made of.

To build the pyramid, significant knowledge of mathematics was required. And today scientists are convinced that the Egyptians performed mathematical calculations before starting construction. But there is no evidence of their mathematical thinking. We do not know how they planned, conceived and tried to calculate the strength of this or that pyramid. But we know for sure that the model was originally built. It could be wooden or stone. But on this model all possible solutions were calculated. If during construction it turned out that the calculation was not correct, the Egyptians made adjustments. Famous pyramid Sneferu, the broken pyramid at Dahshur, was originally designed with perfectly regular edges. But gradually the mass of the pyramid levels being built began to put pressure on the interior. As a result, the builders realized that if they continued construction at the same pace and with the same dimensions, the interior would collapse. As a result, they had to reduce the height of the pyramid as quickly as possible. That's why it turned out broken.

Pyramid at Medum

The pyramid at Medum was also designed to be correct. But in its design, the so-called false vault masonry was used for the first time. The builders incorrectly calculated the height of the walls of the internal burial chamber, and the pyramid simply crumbled. Its upper part still lies in ruins, although on the outside it has retained some of its original shape.

It is important to understand that the Egyptians built their pyramids by trial and error. Naturally, they did not have a modern, developed mathematical apparatus, but they possessed secrets that allowed them to build majestic structures. They never shared these secrets or wrote textbooks. They passed on their skills from father to son, and therefore we cannot fully understand them. For example, they erected embankments, thanks to which stone blocks were moved to considerable heights. How were these embankments then eliminated? But at least we know that these mounds existed; their remains have been preserved. But most importantly, the Egyptians also used the energy of water, the energy of the Nile. So the ancient Egyptian civilization is the Nile River civilization. Not only did they navigate the great river, but they also used it to move large masses of stone directly to the base of the pyramids. The Egyptians created an amazing civilization that was able to harness the Nile. They not only built the famous dams, but also built cities on the dams, and also rationalized labor in the construction of the pyramids.

From a historical perspective, the Romans even surpassed the Egyptians in some ways. For example, when they built their famous aqueducts to deliver large volumes of water to places where water was scarce. Although the idea of ​​aqueducts itself belongs, most likely, to the same Egyptians. Yes, they would envy the scale of construction of the Romans, but each civilization made its own contribution to the treasury of historical architectural thought. If the Romans became famous for building aqueducts, then the Egyptians became famous for building pyramids. And no one else tried to repeat their experience.

It was the Egyptian pyramids that gained world fame in their time. At first glance, all this excitement around the pyramids seems strange. In appearance, these are ordinary triangular-shaped buildings. It won’t be difficult to build something similar in Russia or any other country. First, you will need to create 3D models of future pyramids using a computer program, purchase the necessary building materials and adjust modern construction equipment.

This is all normal construction work. Only the ancient Egyptians most likely did not even think about the appearance of computers in the distant future. Construction Materials they mined them themselves rather than buying them in specialized stores. Instead of construction equipment, they used their own backs, arms and legs. With such a modest construction arsenal, they managed to erect gigantic structures of precise shape from heavy stones with small rooms and passages inside. But there is another popular version among the people. Perhaps the Egyptian pyramids were built by a more advanced civilization.

What are the Egyptian pyramids

Egyptian pyramids are ancient structures made of stones in the shape of a pyramid, which are located in Egypt. Behind last years We managed to find approximately 138 Egyptian pyramids. The main part of these buildings are tombs for the pharaohs. The most ancient Egyptian pyramids are located in the city of Saqqara.

The most famous Egyptian pyramids are located in Giza. Three of them were considered the largest objects in the world. They are also called the Great Pyramids. These are the tombs of the pharaohs Menkaure, Khafre and Cheops. The Cheops pyramid is the largest in size. The great Egyptian buildings have the most even shape possible, in contrast to the first step pyramids. It’s amazing that each of their faces looks exactly towards the sun.

The most famous

Pyramid of Mikerin

This pyramid is the lowest of the Great Pyramids of Giza. The length of the base is 108.4 m and the height is 66 m. There is an assumption that it did not have a unified construction plan. At first they planned to leave it to the heir to the throne, but then the size was increased.

Pyramid of Khafre

The second largest Egyptian pyramid of the Great Pyramids. Located next to the Great Sphinx. It has a height of 143.5 m and a base length of 215.3 m. There are two tombs in the pyramid itself. One of them was turned into a treasure room. Near the pyramid there is another pyramid, where the wife of the pharaoh rests. There is also a port and a temple nearby.

The Pyramid of Cheops

The famous pyramid of Cheops is the largest of all existing in Egypt. Base length – 230 m, initial height – 146.6 m. this moment The cladding of the pyramid collapses. Therefore, today its height is 138.8 m.

More than 2.3 million stones were used to build the Cheops pyramid. One such medium-sized pebble weighs 2.5 tons. A large analogue will hold all 15 tons. The structure includes: granite blocks, limestone, basalt. The main entrance to the pyramid is located at an altitude of 15.63 m. Tourists are led through a hole in the pyramid, which was made in 820. Inside there are three tombs located one on top of the other. They didn’t have time to finish the lowest one. The middle tomb is the “Queen’s Chamber”, the top one is the “King’s Chamber”.

Aliens and Egyptian pyramids

There are many versions of the appearance of triangular-shaped buildings in Egypt. Herodotus began to describe the first assumptions in his book. He was sure that the body of Pharaoh Cheops rested on the island in the hidden tomb of the pyramid. Engineers Howard Wise and John Perring undertook to check this version in the 19th century. To do this, they dug a well 11.6 meters deep and began to look out for Cheops. But all efforts were in vain. Later studies showed that one chamber was not completed, and the tombs were located in the very center of the pyramid.

It has already been scientifically proven that the Egyptian pyramids were built by the Egyptians. But the fans are itching for everything. They are trying in every possible way to attribute authorship to aliens. Allegedly, people could not lift such weights without special equipment, but the Egyptians not only lifted, but also created the correct shapes of pyramids from these stones. At that time, only aliens with advanced technology could have such capabilities.

But recent research has proven the absurdity of the alien version. Obvious irregularities were discovered at the base of the Cheops pyramid. This once again proves the participation of ordinary ancient Egyptians in the construction of the pyramids and no one else. Poor people under the yoke of the pharaohs hauled heavy stones for pennies and crumbs of bread. The limitlessness of human capabilities is simply amazing. Today is a completely different time. A person is only required to believe in himself and the success of his personal Egyptian pyramids.

There are fewer and fewer unsolved mysteries on our planet every year. Constant improvement of technology, collaboration of scientists from various fields of science reveals to us the secrets and mysteries of history. But the secrets of the pyramids still defy understanding - all discoveries give scientists only tentative answers to many questions. Who built the Egyptian pyramids, what was the construction technology, is there a curse of the pharaohs - these and many other questions still remain without an exact answer.

Description of the Egyptian pyramids

Archaeologists talk about 118 pyramids in Egypt, partially or completely preserved to this day. Their age ranges from 4 to 10 thousand years. One of them - Cheops - is the only surviving “miracle” from the “Seven Wonders of the World”. The complex called the “Great Pyramids of Giza”, which includes and, was also considered as a participant in the “New Seven Wonders of the World” competition, but was withdrawn from participation, since these majestic structures are actually a “wonder of the world” on the ancient list.

These pyramids have become the most visited excursion objects in Egypt. They are perfectly preserved, which cannot be said about many other buildings - time has not been kind to them. Yes and local residents contributed to the destruction of the majestic necropolises by removing cladding and breaking stones from the walls to build their houses.

Egyptian pyramids were built by pharaohs who ruled from the 27th century BC. e. and later. They were intended for the repose of rulers. The enormous scale of the tombs (some reaching almost 150 m in height) was supposed to testify to the greatness of the buried pharaohs; things that the ruler loved during his lifetime and that would be useful to him in the afterlife were also placed here.

For construction, stone blocks of various sizes were used, which were hollowed out of the rocks, and later brick began to serve as material for the walls. The stone blocks were ground and adjusted so that a knife blade could not slip between them. The blocks were stacked on top of each other with an offset of several centimeters, which formed a stepped surface of the structure. Almost all Egyptian pyramids have a square base, the sides of which are oriented strictly to the cardinal points.

Since the pyramids performed the same function, that is, they served as the burial place of the pharaohs, their structure and decoration are similar inside. The main component is the burial hall, where the sarcophagus of the ruler was installed. The entrance was not located at ground level, but several meters higher, and was masked with facing slabs. Stairs and passages-corridors led from the entrance to the inner hall, which sometimes narrowed so much that they could only be walked on squatting or crawling.

In most necropolises, burial halls (chambers) are located below ground level. Ventilation was carried out through narrow shaft-channels that penetrated the walls. Rock paintings and ancient religious texts are found on the walls of many pyramids - in fact, from them scientists draw some of the information about the construction and owners of burials.

The main mysteries of the pyramids

The list of unsolved mysteries begins with the shape of the necropolises. Why was the pyramid shape chosen, which is translated from Greek as “polyhedron”? Why were the edges located clearly in the cardinal directions? How were huge stone blocks moved from the excavation site and how were they raised to great heights? Were the buildings built by aliens or people in possession of a magic crystal?

Scientists even argue over the question of who built such tall monumental structures that stood for thousands of years. Some believe that they were built by slaves, who died by the hundreds of thousands during the construction of each. However, new discoveries by archaeologists and anthropologists convince us that the builders were free people who received good food And medical care. They made such conclusions based on the composition of the bones, the structure of the skeletons and the treated injuries of the buried builders.

Mystical coincidences were attributed to all deaths and deaths of people involved in the exploration of the Egyptian pyramids, which provoked rumors and talk about the curse of the pharaohs. None scientific evidence no to this. Perhaps the rumors were started to scare away thieves and looters who wanted to find valuables and jewelry in the graves.

To the mysterious interesting facts The short time frame for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids can be attributed to this. According to calculations, large necropolises with that level of technology should have been built in no less than a century. How, for example, was the Cheops pyramid built in just 20 years?

Great Pyramids

This is the name of the funeral complex near the city of Giza, consisting of three large pyramids, a huge statue of the Sphinx and small satellite pyramids, probably intended for the wives of rulers.

The original height of the Cheops pyramid was 146 m, the side length was 230 m. It was built in 20 years in the 26th century BC. e. The largest of Egypt's landmarks has not one, but three burial chambers. One of them is below ground level, and two are above the base line. Intertwining corridors lead to the burial chambers. Along them you can go to the chamber of the pharaoh (king), to the queen's chamber and to the lower hall. The Pharaoh's Chamber is a chamber made of pink granite, measuring 10x5 m. It contains a granite sarcophagus without a lid. Not a single report by scientists contained information about the mummies found, so it is unknown whether Cheops was buried here. By the way, the mummy of Cheops was not found in other tombs.

It still remains a mystery whether the Cheops pyramid was used for its intended purpose, and if so, then apparently it was plundered by looters in past centuries. The name of the ruler, by whose order and design this tomb was built, was learned from the drawings and hieroglyphs above the burial chamber. All other Egyptian pyramids, with the exception of Djoser, have a simpler engineering design.

Two other necropolises in Giza, built for the heirs of Cheops, are somewhat more modest in size:

Tourists travel to Giza from all over Egypt, because this city is actually a suburb of Cairo, and all transport interchanges lead to it. Travelers from Russia usually travel to Giza as part of excursion groups from Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. The trip is long, 6-8 hours one way, so the excursion usually lasts 2 days.

Great structures can only be visited in work time, usually until 5 p.m., in the month of Ramadan - until 3 p.m. It is not recommended for asthmatics, as well as people suffering from claustrophobia, nervous and cardiovascular diseases, to enter inside. You should definitely take it with you on your excursion drinking water and hats. The excursion fee consists of several parts:

1. Entrance to the complex.
2. Entrance inside the pyramid of Cheops or Khafre.
3. Entrance to the Museum of the Solar Boat, on which the body of the pharaoh was transported across the Nile.

With the Egyptian pyramids in the background, many people like to take photos while sitting on camels. You can bargain with camel owners.

Pyramid of Djoser

The first pyramid in the world is located in Saqqara, near Memphis - former capital Ancient Egypt. Today, the pyramid of Djoser is not as attractive to tourists as the necropolis of Cheops, but at one time it was the largest in the country and the most complex in engineering design.

The funeral complex included chapels, courtyards, and storage facilities. The six-step pyramid itself does not have a square base, but a rectangular one, with sides 125x110 m. The height of the structure itself is 60 m, inside it there are 12 burial chambers, where Djoser himself and members of his family were supposedly buried. The pharaoh's mummy was not found during excavations. The entire territory of the complex of 15 hectares was surrounded by a stone wall 10 m high. Currently, part of the wall and other buildings have been restored, and the pyramid, which is approximately 4700 years old, has been preserved quite well.

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