The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures with a square
base and four sloping triangular faces located in Egypt [1]
were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during
the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. As of 2008, 138 pyramids have been
discovered in Egypt. [2] The most famous are the three great pyramid tombs at
Giza, which were built by three successive Fouth-Dynasty kings. I believe that
they are the best representatives of ancient Egyptian art, not only because
they are architectural marvels, but also the because of their portrayal of
wisdom and the culture of ancient Egypt.
1. Architectural beauty
The Giza Pyramids embody great beauty with unique elements not
seen in modern architecture. Together with the surroundings, such as the
small pyramids and the temples, they form a complex and symmetric layout.
Their location was also chosen with special consideration to capitalize on the
building techniques of the time period. All these considerations have made
them great wonders of the world. With the Nile River flowing beside them,
water, sand, wind and the pyramid tombs altogether present a magnificent
picture.
2. Wisdom of Ancient Egyptian People
It is not difficult to imagine how many problems occurred during the
. Most of them
The Great Pyramids at Giza
construction of these pyramids. As each one consists of millions of huge
stones (ranging from 2000 kg to 100 tons for each stone), it called for a great
quantity of workers to carry these stones to the construction site. Without
trucks or cranes, how did they achieve that? And, without explosives in that
period of time, how did the people get enough stones or rock? Some people
don’t believe such ...
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bodies. As the Egyptian people believe in eternity, they had to come up with
the methods to keep the deceased’s physical bodies eternally existing. As
a result, dealing with mummies became an important subject at that time,
and Egyptians studied anatomy to develop a better understanding of the
human body. In this way, medical science developed quickly. The connection
between architecture and medicine is an example of how art integrated with
science.
Therefore, I believe that pyramids are one of the most import pieces of
art in Egypt and are representative of the period in which they were built.
The values of art and science combined to produce spectacular results that
are still seen today. For ancient Egyptians, it is the connection of soul and
physical body, while for modern people it presents the beauty of mystery,
elegance and authority.
This periodical discusses the physical appearance of The Pyramids Of Giza as built by each pharaoh, and also the function of the pyramid as a mortuary temple (Salima Ikram, Janice Kamrin 2012). It also discusses the Pyramids of Giza as great structures of the ancient world (Salima Ikram, Janice Kamrin 2012). This periodical was very important to my understanding as it showcased why Pyramids were so important to the burial process, showing the connection between burial and architecture. The authors of this periodical remain non bias throughout, providing factual information about the Pyramids Of
The Great Pyramid of Giza’s history, mystery, and unique design defines its significance to the world. Because of its countless mysteries, archeologists continue to study the structure and its landscape in hope of revealing the unknown someday. The Great Pyramid of Giza was and is still looked upon as a source of ancient knowledge. Its interior walls hold a story written by history that reignites the memories of the great wonder. These walls only tell so much about the great hands that built it, but the journey to identify these remarkable people will be incredible. As one of the great wonders of the world, the Great Pyramid of Giza will forever be a legend in history. One that will always be remembered by our peers and
Imagine, a magnificent structure in which you can see from space or have to journey in the deepest jungle of Central America. These great structures are known as pyramids. The two main type of pyramids which could be found in two different parts of the world. Egypt, the Pyramids of Giza and the Mayan Pyramids which are found in Central America. Also the designs and the purpose for why the ancestor have created these beautiful and flawless frameworks. Let us continue into a journey of the Mayan and Egyptian Pyramids.
...e shaped and given a smooth finish by rubbing rock on rock, an abrasive. For gouging and digging, artists used a drill tipped with extremely hard stone and a mounted by a rod weighted down with bags of small stones and rotated by a handle. This method required immense amounts of dexterity and patience.
The Pyramids at Giza were beautiful structures were built to endure an eternity. They are meant to protect and usher an Egyptian Pharaoh in the afterlife. The monumental tombs are the legacy of Egypt 's Old Kingdom era and were constructed more than 4,500 years ago. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt were expected to become gods once they entered the afterlife. In preparation for their journey through the afterlife, Pharaohs recruited his people to erect monuments and temples worshipping the gods, as well as massive pyramid tombs for themselves. Along with the building of the tomb, the builders would filled the tombs with everything a ruler would need to sustain himself in the next life. Along the tomb walls artist would carve and paint beautiful scenes depicting the daily lives of Egyptians. The entire Giza Pyramid complex tells us that the ancient Egyptians searched for order out of the chaos. They used an understanding of the frailty of life and the driving need to understand the constants in nature to form the basis for their beliefs, daily lives, and ultimately their culture.
Constructed during Egypt's 4th Dynasty, The Pyramids of Giza are truly an astonishing work of architecture. These pyramids display several of the characteristics, that are now known, to be attributed to the Ancient Egyptian era. Years of research show that much of the ancient Egyptian's focus in their artistry, was that of a religious nature, regardless of medium. Artists of the time, focused their efforts on depicting the various Gods and Goddesses, immortality and the afterlife, and the glorification of the pharaohs. (MindEdge) One of the best examples of this are the pyramids. Each pyramid was built to be the final resting place of a pharaoh (Khufu, Khafre, or Menkaure) upon his death, and subsequent mummification. They were built on the
The First pyramid is Imhotep, this was the first artist whose name recorded during the third Dynasty for King Djoser. The god-king’s pyramid resembles a series of stacked mastabas of diminishing size. This is one of the oldest stones structures that is built in Egypt and it had the final form of the first truly grandiose royal tomb. The Fourth Dynasty pyramids are the three pyramids of Gizeh. They took the shape of ben-ben, the emblem of the sun god. The sun rays were the ramp the Egyptian kings used to ascend the heavens to the heavens after their death and rebirth. By the end of the time pyramids came to an end their quality and the construction declined much more and as well as the powers of the
In the third dynasty the egyptians gained more power and wealth. They wanted a way to show off their great power and wealth, so they built pyramids, pyramids were huge pointed stone structures. Pyramids contained rooms full of treasure and secret passageways. The first pyramid was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, built for King Zoser around 2750 B.C. “The step pyramid was the only one of its kind, it was an amazing improvement from the mastaba.” ( pg 49)
Ancient Egypt’s pyramids are the oldest and largest stone structure in the world. Along the Nile 35 major pyramids still stand. The three largest pyramids at Giza rank as one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World. It was on the list of notable things to see which was made up by the travelers during ancient times. The ancient Egyptians also built temples of limestone. They designed parts of the temples to resemble plants. Moreover, many of ancient Egypt’s finest paintings and other works of art were produced for tombs and temples. Ancient Egyptian sculptors decorated temples with carvings showing festivals, military victories, and other important events. Sculptors also carved large stone sphinxes. These statutes were supposed to represent Egyptian Kings or Gods and were used to Guard temples and tombs. The Temples were houses of worship. The word temple most often refers to Buddhist, Confucian, Hindu, Taoist, and ancient Near Eastern and European places of worship. Most Temples are built to honor god, a God, or many Gods. Many of these buildings are considered the homes of gods. Back then and still today worship at temples often involves traditional ceremonies and may include sacrifices. Certain temples stood on sacred sites. The design of numerous temples was symbolic.
The Great pyramids of Egypt are undoubtedly one of the most recognized and admired landmarks in the world. Built to pay tribute to gods and pharaohs, the pyramids were of great importance to the Egyptians, and the mystery of their construction continues to amaze us today. Many theories pertaining to how the pyramids were built have been suggested, however, none are as well supported or intelligible as the heave-ho method of quarrying and cutting limestone. Joseph Davidovits’ theory disproving this, in which states the pyramids were moulded, is not plausible. Substantial physical evidence which is consistent with the Egyptologists’ portrayal of the heave-ho method has been found. The entire process of building a pyramid with this method is possible, as demonstrated by thorough experiments and analysis of the Egyptian culture. Indisputably, the Great Pyramids of Giza were constructed by quarrying limestone, and the use of ramps, sleds, and cutting tools, owing to the ingenuity and strength of highly organized Egyptian workers.
Today, the Great Pyramids of Giza are dubbed one of the Seven Wonders of the World. These monumental giants were built around 2670 BC by the ancient Egyptians and served as tombs for the Pharaohs Khufhu, Hemiunu and Imhotep. The largest Pyramid built by Pharaoh Khufhu is often referred to as “Cheops”. Building a pyramid and positioning it was heavily influenced by astronomy, mathematics and religion at the time, which were all closely interlinked with each other.
When one travels to Egypt, what does he/she see - pyramid after temple after tomb, each standing the test of time. One stands out - they are all associated with religious beliefs, they all have stood unmoving for thousands of years, and they all involve mechanical genius- the moving of colossal stones without the use of the wheel. The finest example such mechanics is shown in the construction of the revered pyramid. These three factors, all belonging to the religious architecture of ancient Egypt, do nothing else but prove its greatness.
- [2] Redford, Donald B, Ph.D.; McCauley, M, "How were the Egyptian pyramids built?", Research The Pennsylvania State University, Retrieved 11 December 2012.
Stone was typically reserved for temples and tombs. The interior and exterior walls of these structures were covered in frescoes and hieroglyphs. The pyramids of Giza testify to the masterful engineering techniques developed by the ancient Egyptians. The largest of these, the Great Pyramid of Giza, was completed around 2500 BCE. Rulers built pyramids as a testament to their earthly power, and as a way to make their names famous long after they were dead.
The pyramids of Egypt are fascinating, however, they remain to be a mystery. The well-built architecture is located in Giza, Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile River. The pyramids of Egypt are the oldest and only surviving member of ancient wonders. It is also the pride and one of the most important factors in Egyptian culture.