The Test Of Time
Most homes won’t stand longer than a few hundred years. Even the best-crafted homes aren’t going to last thousands of years. This makes you wonder about the Egyptian pyramids. They have been standing for thousands and thousands of years, and the ancient Egyptians didn’t have the modern machinery that we use today. The thing that most people don’t realize about the pyramids is that they aren’t just tall piles of rock. The greatest minds on Earth have been trying to learn more about the Pyramids, hoping that one day, we can learn more about them. Eerie evidence uncovered within the Great Pyramids has scientists questioning the landmarks’ origins.
Pop Culture and Reality
Pop culture leads us to believe that slaves built the pyramids, while under the watchful eye of the pharaoh’s men. Many historians believe that slaves may have helped out with the labor, but the real construction was left to skilled craftsmen. They don’t think that slaves could have pulled off the complicated work necessary to built the pyramids.
Hard Work
Even the most hardcore DIY-er wouldn’t even try to build an authentic Egyptian pyramid the same way the ancient Egyptians did. At that point, the wheel hadn’t been invented. To get the rocks where they needed to be, the Egyptians used a series of ramps and sleds to haul the stones. In some cases, they had to drag it from hundreds of miles away.
Advanced Ventilation
Anyone who has ever been to the Sahara Desert knows that it can get incredibly hot there. Most people won’t travel in the desert without a camel. You would expect the pyramids to be incredibly hot, but they are actually very cool. The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids with an advanced ventilation system, that causes the interior chambers to drop to as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Diamond Shine
Although the pyramids form one of the most iconic skylines in the world, they looked even better after they were first built. The ancient Egyptians created a casing of polish limestone that has made them shine like diamonds in the sun. The coating has since fallen off, so they don’t shine the way that they once did.
Recently Discovered Rooms
When you look at the pyramids from the outside, they look pretty straightforward. Inside, things are different. The pyramids contain an intricate system of tunnels, chambers, and air ducts for ventilation. Recently, scientists went into the pyramids with cosmic-ray imaging technology. The purpose of these hidden rooms remains a mystery.
More Fascinating Details
In 2018, a scientific exhibition to the pyramids discovered something else incredible. They found that the base of the pyramids and the inner rooms hold an electromagnetic charge. This has led conspiracy theorists to believe that aliens built the pyramids, but scientists just disagree.
Howard Carter
Of all the experts, archaeologists, and scientists who studied the Egyptian pyramids, Howard Carter made one of the most significant finds. In 1923, he unsealed the tomb of King Tutankhamun. There is an Urban legend that claims that the pharaoh’s curse killed him and his workers. This isn’t true, because Howard Carter didn’t die until 1939.
A Look At Egyptian Burials
Howard Carter’s find was huge in the world of archaeology because it gave us an idea of what Egyptian burials were like. His discovery revealed that the Egyptians sent their royals to the afterlife with food, household goods, and pets. The ancient Egyptians believed that their spirits would need these things in the afterlife.
Grave Robbing
No pyramid or royal tomb was found intact until 1920. This is due to grave robbing. Thieves would steal valuable trinkets, leaving just remnants behind for archaeologists to find.
Aerial Photography
Before the invention of aerial photography, it was believed that the Egyptian pyramids had four sides. After aerial photographs were taken, it was discovered that the pyramids had four indented seams that were perfectly straights. These seams divided the pyramids into eight sides, not four.
The Last Standing
The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still standing. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Lighthouse of Alexandria, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, The Statue of Zeus at Olympia, The Temple of Artemis, and Colossus at Rhodes are all lost or in ruins.
The Great Sphinx
Historians believe that the ancient Egyptians built the Great Sphinx to guard the pyramids. They think that the face was based on Khafre, who was an obscure pharaoh. He did have a nose, but it crumbled over time.
Mummifying
Most people know that the ancient Egyptians believed in mummification, but the process isn’t as simple as many think. Over many months, high priests had to remove the dead’s internal organs, dry the body in salt, and then wrap it in layers of linen. It was a long and daunting process.
Lots of Rock
Just by looking at the pyramids, you can tell that the construction required a lot of rock. To help you understand how much, Giza’s three main pyramids contain enough stones to built a 10-foot wall around all of France.
The Tallest Manmade Structure
When the Great Pyramid was completed in 2560 B.C., it was 481-feet tall and was the tallest man-made structure in the world. It held this title until 1311 when the Lincoln Cathedral was built.
West Side of the Nile
Almost all of the Egyptian pyramids were built to the west of the Nile. The ancient Egyptians believed that the spirits of the dead could follow the setting sun. Also, most of the quarries in the region were on that side of the river, making it easier to get the rocks to the site.
20-Ton Door
The Great Pyramid features a 20-ton door on one side. It may sound impossible, but the ingenious hinges make it possible for a single person to open the door.
Orion’s Belt
The placement of the three pyramids of Giza is believed to be aligned with the stars. It is thought that they align with the stars in Orion’s Belt. This theory is believed by some and not accepted by others.
Pharoah Djoser’s Pyramid
Some of the oldest pyramids in the world are located in Peru, but the earliest is Pharoah Djoser’s pyramid in Egypt. It was built in the 27th century B.C. and has a primitive step design.
Still Making Discoveries
Archaeologists have been studying the ancient pyramids for centuries. Thanks to the cunning people of ancient Egypt, discoveries are hard to find. This is why experts still visit the pyramids hoping to make a new discovery.
