How was the Egyptian pyramid built?

The Aztecs, Mayans and ancient Egyptians belong to three very different civilizations but share the same symbol: pyramids. However, in these three ancient civilizations, the standards of the pyramid design set by the Egyptians are recognized by most people as classical pyramids: a massive building with a square base. , four triangular smooth faces towards the top. The Aztecs and Mayans also built their pyramids in successive steps with flat tops.

According to the explanation of Donald Redford - a professor specializing in the study of ancient Mediterranean civilization in Pennsylvania, maybe the ancient Egyptians chose different styles for their pharaohs because they worshiped the sun god. . The Egyptian god of the sun is considered to be the pharaoh. God created himself from a small pyramid-shaped hill before creating other gods. The shape of the pyramid represents the sun's rays.

According to Professor Redford, 'the Egyptians began building pyramids shortly after 2700 BC, the golden age of pyramids for the royal family lasted about 1000 years, until 1700 B.C'. The first pyramid was built by the third Egyptian dynasty Djoser. The architect of the first pyramid is Imohtep. He built a ladder-shaped pyramid by stacking six rectangular graves of previous kings. The largest and most famous are the pyramids in the city of Giza, which includes the Giza pyramid of pharaoh Khufu.

First pyramid: Saqqara

For centuries, people have proposed many theories about the process of building pyramids. Some argue that pyramids are definitely built by extraterrestrial organisms. Others believe that the Egyptians have a secret that has been lost for generations.

According to Professor Redford, although the process of building pyramids is complex, it is not as grandiose as most of us think. Approximately 20,000 to 30,000 workers are mobilized to build the Giza pyramid in less than 23 years. But compare it to the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, it takes nearly 200 years to complete this cathedral.

According to Professor Redford, pharaohs began to build their pyramids as soon as they were crowned. First, the pharaoh must set up a pyramid construction committee consisting of a foreman, a chief engineer and an architect. Usually the pyramids are located on the west bank of the Nile with the notion that the souls of the pharaohs will join the sun when the sun goes down before continuing the eternal cycle with the sun. Professor Redford added that the two determinants of the pyramid construction site are that the pyramids must head to the western horizon where the sun sets, and near the central city of Memphis in ancient Egypt. .

The central part of the pyramids is usually built from limestone taken in the region. Better quality limestone is used to build the outer layer of the pyramid so that they have a sparkling white that can be seen from miles away. Stone placed on top is usually granite, basalt or any other hard rock that can be plated with gold, silver or electrum - gold and silver alloy. Especially those stones must reflect sunlight well.

Professor Redford said the fact that slaves are forced to participate in the construction of pyramids is still not true.'The concept of slavery of ancient Egyptian civilization is a very complicated issue because the legal aspects of contractual obedience as well as slavery are complicated'. Poor farmers who build pyramids will be exempt from taxes, they will be taken to construction sites, which provide food, shelter and clothing.

Pyramid at Giza

The ancient Egyptian method of cutting and transporting stones is still being studied. Scholars have found evidence that ancient Egyptians used chisels in red copper to exploit sandstone and limestone . For harder rocks such as granite or diorite, stronger tools are required. Dolerit - a very hard black flint used by Aswa people to get granite.

During excavation, massive dolerite mortars were used to smash rock pieces outside the granite block. According to Redford, there are about 60 to 70 men who are responsible for kicking. At the bottom, they will insert wood pieces into the cut slots and pour water into these slots. The inserted wood will expand, separate the stones and then slide down a waiting ship.

A group of people or a herd of cows will pull the stones on a slide that is lubricated with prepared oil. Professor Redford said that the image on the tomb dating back to the 19th century BC in central Egypt described 'a 6m tall taller plaster flower statue being used by 173 men. , where the statue goes, there will be another man lubricating the slide there. '

When the blocks are transported to the construction site, small slopes are built to bring the stone to the pyramid. People use bricks made of mud to create those slopes and cover them with mortar to harden the surface. Redford notes: 'If they constantly raise the slopes bit by bit as they pull up the stones, they will be able to put the blocks in place quite easily'. He also said that at least one such slope still exists.

When answering doubts about why such heavy stones could be transported without a machine, Professor Redford said: 'I often give people who have doubts a photo of 20 people. My work at an archaeological site is pulling a two and a half tons of granite. I know it is possible because I also participated in pulling stones. '