than the Egyptian pyramids. Egyptian pyramids: about the secret of construction
When referring to the Egyptian pyramids, as a rule, they mean the Great Pyramids located in Giza, not far from Cairo. But they are not the only pyramids in Egypt. Many other pyramids are much worse preserved and now resemble hills or piles of stones.
During the period of the first dynasties, special “houses after life” appeared - mastabas - funerary buildings, consisting of an underground burial chamber and stone structure above the surface of the earth. The term itself already refers to the Arab time and is due to the fact that the shape of these tombs, similar in section to a trapezoid, reminded the Arabs of large benches called “mastaba”.
The first pharaohs also built mastabas for themselves. The oldest royal mastabas, dating back to the 1st dynasty, were built from adobes - unbaked bricks made of clay and / or river silt. They were built in Nagadei Abydos in Upper Egypt | Upper Egypt, as well as in Saqqara, where the main necropolis of Memphis, the capital of the rulers of the first dynasties, was located. In the ground part of these buildings there were chapels and rooms with grave goods, and in the underground part there were actually burial chambers.
The largest pyramids of Egypt
- Pyramid of Cheops (IV dynasty): base size - 230 m (height - 146.6 m);
- Pyramid of Khafre (IV dynasty): 215 m (143 m);
- Pink Pyramid, Sneferu (4th dynasty): 219 m (105 m);
- Bent Pyramid, Sneferu (4th Dynasty): 189 m (105 m);
- Pyramid at Meidum, Sneferu (4th dynasty): 144 m (94 m);
- Pyramid of Djoser (3rd dynasty): 121 × 109 m (62 m).
Dating of the building
| Pharaoh | Approximate dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Djoser | OK. 2630-2612 BC e. | Saqqara |
| Sneferu | OK. 2612-2589 BC e. | 2 pyramids in Dahshur and one in Meidum |
| Khufu | OK. 2589-2566 BC e. | Giza |
| Jedefra | OK. 2566-2558 BC e. | Abu Rawash |
| Khafra | OK. 2558-2532 BC e. | Giza |
| Menkaura (Menkaura) | OK. 2532-2504 BC e. | Giza |
| Sahura | OK. 2487-2477 BC e. | Abusir |
| Neferirkara Kakai | OK. 2477-2467 BC e. | Abusir |
| Nyuserra Isi | OK. 2416-2392 BC e. | Abusir |
| Amenemhat I | OK. 1991-1962 BC e. | El Lisht |
| Senusret I | OK. 1971-1926 BC e. | El Lisht |
| Senusret II | OK. 1898-1877 BC e. | El Lahun |
| Amenemhat III | OK. 1861-1814 BC e. | Hawara |
Pyramids of the pharaohs of the III dynasty
Pyramid Khaba
In the central part of the pyramid in Zawiet el-Erian, the masonry structure is clearly visible - the layers of stone are slightly inclined towards the center and seem to rest on it (because of this, it is sometimes also called "Puff"). The material of the building is roughly hewn stone of small size and clay mortar. The technology for building the pyramid at Zawiet el-Erian is similar to that used in the construction of the pyramid of Sekhemkhet and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.
Pyramid of Djoser
This is the first step-type pyramid, called the Pyramid of Djoser. The building dates from around 2670 BC, and looks like several mastabas of decreasing size stacked on top of each other. Most likely, this was precisely the intention of the architect of this pyramid, Imhotep. Imhotep developed a method of laying from hewn stone. Subsequently, the Egyptians deeply revered the architect of the first pyramid, and even deified him. He was considered the son of the god Ptah, the patron of arts and crafts.
The Pyramid of Djoser is located at Saqqara, northeast of ancient Memphis, 15 km from Giza. Its height is 62 m.
Pyramids of the pharaohs of the 4th dynasty
broken pyramid
The historical significance of the Pink Pyramid is that it is the first royal tomb of a regular pyramidal shape. Although the “pink” tomb is considered the first “true” pyramid, it has an extremely low slope of the walls (only 43 ° 36 "; the base is 218.5 × 221.5 m. at a height of 104.4 m.).
The name is due to the fact that the limestone blocks that make up the pyramid acquire a pink color in the rays of the setting sun. The entrance through the sloping passage on the north side descends into three adjoining chambers accessible to the public. This pyramid is attributed to Snofru because his name is inscribed on several blocks of sheathing in red paint.
Pyramid at Meidum
great pyramids
Great Pyramids at Giza
The Great Pyramids are the pyramids of the pharaohs Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin located in Giza. Unlike the pyramid of Djoser, these pyramids do not have a stepped, but a strictly geometric, pyramidal shape. These pyramids belong to the period of the IV dynasty. The walls of the pyramids rise at an angle of 51° (Pyramid of Menkaure) to 53° (Pyramid of Khafre) to the horizon. The edges are precisely oriented to the cardinal points. The pyramid of Cheops was built on a massive natural rocky elevation, which turned out to be in the very middle of the base of the pyramid. Its height is about 9 m.
The Pyramid of Cheops
The largest is the pyramid of Cheops. Initially, its height was 146.6 m, but due to the fact that now there is no lining of the pyramid, its height has now decreased to 138.8 m. The length of the side of the pyramid is 230 m. The construction of the pyramid dates back to the 26th century BC. e. The construction is believed to have taken over 20 years.
The pyramid is built from 2.3 million stone blocks; no cement or other binders were used. On average, the blocks weighed 2.5 tons, but in the "King's Chamber" there are granite blocks weighing up to 80 tons. The pyramid is almost a monolithic structure - with the exception of several chambers and corridors leading to them.
Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure
Later, the tradition of building pyramids was taken over by the rulers of ancient Sudan.
Pyramid of Userkaf
Pyramid of Sahure and Neferefre
Finishing
Block AlignmentSome pyramids, which have retained their lining, allow you to see the quality of the surface treatment of the stone. In addition, the large blocks are fitted so that there are no gaps between them, and the leveled outer surface often forms an ideal plane, despite the fact that this plane is at an angle to the base. A striking example of this is the facing of the Bent and Meidum pyramids.
When leveling the surface of the stones at the entrance to the pyramid of Menkaure, the outermost stones were not completely leveled, and the edge of the leveling line passes continuously through all the stones of the masonry, which allows us to assume that the surface of the blocks was leveled after the stones were laid. The same assumption is confirmed by the leveling of the floor, not far from the pyramid of Userkaf. The lower surface of the floor stones is in the sand and has a natural raw shape; although the stones are of different heights, the upper part of the stones forms a single flat surface.
Facing
In order for the surface of the pyramid to be even, it was lined with facing slabs (mainly limestone).
- The pyramid at Meidum is faced with polished slabs of Turkish limestone. In our time, the entire lining and most of the outer layers have not been preserved.
- The pink pyramid was lined with white limestone, but over time, the lining was removed by the local population and now blocks of pink limestone are visible.
- The pyramid of Khafre was covered with limestone, which is preserved only at the top.
- The Pyramid of Mycerinus, about a third of its height, was lined with red Aswan granite, then it was replaced by white slabs of Turkish limestone, and the top, in all likelihood, was also made of red granite.
pyramid builders
According to Herodotus, who first described the pyramids of Giza in detail, 100,000 slaves were employed in the construction of the Cheops pyramid, but these data seem very doubtful. Stonecutters, transporters and builders were not driven to death, thousands of perishing slaves, but workers who lived in tolerable conditions and received payment for their work.
The first pyramid, which gave rise to all Egyptian pyramid construction, is located in Saqqara, about 17 km south of Giza. It was built in 2667-2648 BC for Djoser, the first pharaoh of the third dynasty.
The history of the construction of the pyramid of Djoser
The invention of masonry is attributed to the beginning of Djoser's reign. The Pyramid of Djoser is considered the oldest stone structure on Earth, its prototype was the mastabas of the pharaohs of the first dynasty, built of unbaked bricks. At first, it also represented a stone mastaba, but after that it went through five stages in its development.
Initially, the pharaoh's architect Imhotep erected a large mastaba, similar to the previously built tomb of Djoser in Upper Egypt. This time, the mastaba was not made of bricks, but of stone blocks. Subsequently, during the reign of the pharaoh, it was expanded in four directions, and then made oblong. The decision to expand the building for the fourth time resulted in a tomb unlike any built before. Imhotep built three more mastabas, placing them on top of each other, each of them was smaller than the previous one. So the first pyramid appeared, which became the prototype of all Egyptian pyramids.
However, Djoser wanted to make the pyramid even larger, he ordered to increase its base, and to make six terraces on its top. The pyramid was lined with limestone, which was delivered from the opposite bank of the Nile, from the hills of Tura.
Design features
To create the step pyramid of Djoser, several independent layers of masonry were used, they relied on a central base of. In a similar way, all the pyramids that appeared in the future were built - Khafre, Khufu and other pharaohs who reigned later. However, unlike the later pyramids, here the stone blocks are tilted inward at an angle of 74° in order to give the structure greater strength. In the pyramids built later, the masonry layers are arranged horizontally.
The tomb of Djoser was located under the foundation, it was carved into the rocky ground, a square shaft led to it. The entrance to the mine was far outside the pyramid, to the north of it. A massive ten-meter wall was built around the pyramid, and inside it was a square on which several temples were erected and
Long gone are the days when the Egyptian pyramids amazed the observer with their unprecedented grandeur and unsurpassed monumentality. Approximately one thousand three hundred years ago, mankind learned to build more, higher, more massively and faster than the ancient Egyptians did. But still, for four thousand years, leadership in the field of construction was retained by a long-disappeared people...
Who, how and when built the Egyptian pyramids? Interest in the pyramids of Giza has not faded for five millennia in a row. Egyptologists know the answers to most questions.
How and from what the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids - in many cases we only assume, and among the hypotheses promoted there is a lot of outright fantasy. Let's try to understand the history of the Egyptian pyramids without prejudice, mysticism and mock mystery.
How many pyramids are there in Egypt?
The question is far from idle, given the length of the period of construction of the pyramids, the variety of materials used, the features of architecture - and, of course, safety. According to various sources, the total number of Egyptian pyramids reaches 140, but many of them are difficult to identify.And if the pyramids of Giza are famous for their impressive size, perfect shape and good preservation, the pyramids of other ancient Egyptian tombs were less fortunate. Many of them - due to the fragility of the mud-bricks common at that time or the urgent need for building materials - have collapsed completely or partially, and are more reminiscent of hills than pyramids.
So, in 2013, the American archaeologist Angela Micol, examining photo maps high resolution, suggested that several hills on the territory of modern Egypt are nothing more than ancient pyramids, partly eroded under the influence of climatic factors, partly covered with sand and dust.
Inspired by a tip from across the ocean, Egyptian archaeologists undertook an expedition to the indicated heights. Cautious statements have appeared in the press regarding the fairness of the judgments of the American scientist, however, Angela Mikol's finds have not yet been included in the official register of the Egyptian pyramids - as well as the remains of 17 more pyramids similarly discovered by Sarah Parkak from the University of Birmingham, Alabama.
Mastaba - a modest tomb of the pharaoh
The tradition of building pyramids as pharaoh's tombs was not born suddenly. The burials of the pharaohs of the first dynasty (there are more than 30 dynasties in total) were arranged in relatively small buildings, resembling a cut hill or a tetrahedral pyramid with a cut top and a rectangular base.The imperfection of the then building technologies forced the Egyptians to create buildings with sloping edges of the outer walls. The intuitive assimilation of the artificial structure of a natural mound of stone ensured the stability of the erected structure no worse than that of a conical pile of fragments of various sizes at the foot of the mountain.
In Arabic Egypt, the first tombs of the pharaohs were called "mastaba", which means "stool" in Arabic.
In terms of architectural appearance, the mastaba repeats a slightly grown ancient Egyptian residential building, and there is not a drop of holiness in a purely utilitarian building. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that every new ruler sought to build his mastaba above any buildings in the area, and most importantly - above the tomb of his predecessor. Delusions of grandeur are so characteristic of leaders!
The logical result of the growth of the mastaba was a geometrically correct pyramid, but it was not possible to achieve the desired shape immediately.
Tomb of Djoser - the first Egyptian pyramid
Thirty kilometers south of Cairo is the village of Saqqara. Saqqara is the resting place of the pharaohs of the III-IV dynasty. Here is the oldest surviving Egyptian pyramid - the Pyramid of Djoser.Imhotep is a brave innovator
According to information collected by historians, Imhotep - main architector project - originally planned to build an ordinary mastaba. However, the idea of building a multi-tiered tomb seemed to both the architect and the customer to be much more fruitful. Therefore, already in the process of construction, the project was changed. A three-fold superstructure of a smaller mastaba over a larger one resulted in a forty-meter four-tiered pyramid with a rectangular base.Understanding that raw clay bricks (in the Russian tradition the material is known as "adobe") is not strong enough to create a high-rise structure, Imhotep ordered limestone blocks to be used to build the body of the tomb.
The ingenious technology of building the pyramid of Djoser
for construction was mined in a quarry nearby. The dimensions and shape of the stone blocks were not strictly observed, but they made it possible to make masonry with dressing: three longitudinally oriented blocks were replaced by two transverse ones, and so on. The mass of a single block did not exceed the "carrying capacity" of a strong porter.A thick clay composition was used as a binder solution, designed not only to hold the blocks together, but to fill the voids. The idea of such a building material could have been suggested to Imhotep by nature itself. The Egyptians traveling around the surrounding world must have come across, formed by mudflows and quickly turning into a dense and durable material.
Clay was dug in the Nile valley, soaked and mixed with some sand (to prevent cracking during the drying process). The wall stone was laid with an inclination inside the building so that the line of the wall deviated from the vertical by 15˚. Thus, the walls of each of the tiers of the tomb formed an angle of 75˚ with the conditional plane of the earth's firmament.
The critical components of the internal structures of the pyramid of Djoser were made of two-ton blocks delivered from afar by water, and coarsely hewn limestone. The cementing gypsum mortar, used by the Egyptians more often than lime, held the elements together only in some places. In particular, the blue tiles in the lining of the interior of the tomb were kept on the walls thanks to gypsum binders.
Imhotep - the deified pioneer of perestroika
Having erected a four-tier pyramid, Imhotep, inspired by the success, proposed not to stop construction and bring the number of tiers to six while simultaneously increasing the total area of the pyramid. For the outer cladding of the building, it was supposed to use white limestone from the Tursky quarry with east coast Nile.The consent of the pharaoh was not long in coming. The uninterrupted continuation of work allowed the outstanding architect ancient egypt increase the height of the pyramid to 62 meters. Having become six-tiered in 2649 BC, the pyramid of Djoser crowned huge complex ritual buildings and for a long time became a record building in Egypt and the whole world of that time.
It is estimated that 850 thousand tons of limestone were spent on the construction of the pyramid of Djoser. According to the unanimous opinion of the builders of our time, there are no technological mysteries in the construction of the first Egyptian pyramid. However, Imhotep's contemporaries treated the outstanding architect with much more reverence. After his death, the architect, engineer and scientist Imhotep was deified, and the Egyptian pyramids, according to the behest of the founder, were built stepwise for a long time.
Pyramids in Giza - the focus of secrets and mysteries
There are quite a lot of stepped and multi-tiered pyramids and pyramids built according to the precepts of the great Imhotep in Egypt. But the Egyptian pyramids are classified as wonders of the world only in the correct tetrahedral shape, and not all, but only those that stand in Giza.The pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Menkaure are the pinnacle of the building art of Ancient Egypt. The conducted studies did not give a clear and reliable picture of the stages and methods of construction. Of the historical documents, the description of Herodotus is considered the most detailed - however, it must be remembered that Herodotus made his notes 2000 years after the construction of the Cheops pyramid ...
Hemiun - the hero of pyramid-building work
The task assigned to Hemiun, a relative of the pharaoh and, concurrently, the chief administrator of the state, was difficult. On a rocky square base, a pyramid of regular geometric shape and standard aesthetic merit should have been built. The construction, of course, had to be higher than the pyramids of the former pharaohs and, preferably, remain unsurpassed in the future. 
Perhaps the task was set somehow differently - but it does not matter. Hemiun managed to create a pyramid that contained millions of tons of natural stone, rose almost to the sky (147 meters in height), hid several secret rooms, amazed (and amazed) the observer with the perfection of forms and the grandeur of the idea.
The first secret plus the main secret
How the construction was carried out is not described anywhere. Not a single papyrus has been found that not only reveals the construction technology of Hemiun, but even simply mentions the pyramid of Cheops!This is the first mystery of the main of the Egyptian pyramids. However, there are several clues:
- a) researchers were just unlucky to find desired document;
- b) there was a ban on documenting and disclosing the methods of erecting the pyramid;
- c) project documentation was not drawn up, construction records were not carried out - as unnecessary.
How was the largest of the Egyptian pyramids built?
Most of the pyramid of Cheops is made of blocks of yellow-gray limestone, a material that is relatively loose, but strong enough. Since the blocks were cut down in different sizes, it would be logical to arrange the stone during the procurement of materials at the construction site so that their largest and heaviest bottoms were spent on the construction of the lower tiers of masonry, and less massive stones were intended for the upper tiers. 
The Egyptian builders did just that. The limestone blocks of the pyramid are the smaller, the closer they lie to the top. Which, by the way, refutes the fashionable theory about the construction of a structure from concrete blocks.
Is the concrete idea false?
It is really easier to transport buckets of thick mortar to the upper floors of the construction site, but why change the formwork standard from tier to tier? Artificial building stone, as a rule, has standardized dimensions, while the blocks of the Cheops pyramid are far from standard.The time factor is also important. The curing of concrete requires a long rest of the cast part. Primary setting is not equivalent to full strength gain. On a freshly cast and already hardened stone, one cannot immediately pile up a multi-ton load like this. You can speed up the hardening of the casting with organic additives - even with egg white - but then the mountain of shells will exceed the size of the pyramid. Is such a monument pleasing to the pharaoh?
The production of a binder for making concrete requires high-temperature dehydration of the feedstock - in the case of Ancient Egypt. A certain amount of gypsum mortar, the country's resources allowed to produce painlessly, but not the millions of cubic meters required for a complete transition to artificial building stone! There was simply no such amount of firewood in the state!
Concrete is not only a binding solution, it is also a mineral filler of several fractions. Modern concrete is created from cement mortar, sand and crushed granite. The blocks of the Egyptian pyramids are entirely limestone. You can, of course, imagine how thousands of slaves have been crushing natural limestone for years to get crumbs, thousands more dragging stretchers with limestone chips to a construction site, others carry water in waterskins, and still others trample wet concrete - because without compaction it will turn out to be fragile.
But isn't it easier to carve ready-made blocks out of stone? Moreover, all qualified mineralogists are unanimous in their assessment of the main material of the Cheops pyramid and consider it to be natural limestone.
However, individual elements of the pyramids could indeed be made of artificial stone. But only not the most responsible and loaded with astronomical masses of overlying materials.
The Granite Mystery of the Pyramid of Cheops
Adepts of secret knowledge talk about the impossibility of manufacturing, processing and delivering granite construction parts without using a tool made of steel and abrasives of a hardness level.Meanwhile, granite columns, obelisks and other "megaliths" in ancient Egypt were produced without much difficulty. Our French contemporaries have reproduced all the stages of mining and processing of granite, and are quite satisfied with the experience gained.
The following method was used to break off a large workpiece from a natural massif.
- 1. A low hearth was built along the contour of the proposed clay brick blank.
- 2. Firewood was loaded into the hearth, a fire was made. Hot coals heated the underlying granite to a shallow depth.
- 3. Water poured onto the heated granite. The stone cracked.
- 4. After the removal of bricks, ash and exfoliated rock, the heating zone was subjected to impact treatment with dolerite (dolerite - a variety) hammers. As a result, a groove 10–15 cm deep was formed in the monolithic granite massif.
- 5. To deepen the contour groove, the operation was repeated.
Handmade technique with a rounded dolerite hammer suggests endurance and perseverance of the performer. Hourly (even not too dexterous) beating with dolerite on granite allows you to remove a layer 6-8 mm thick over an area of several square decimeters.
A dolerite concretion split in half served as the main tool for grinding granite. The abundance of dolerite in the eastern regions of Egypt allowed the masters of antiquity to use this hard stone in unlimited quantities.
Lifting weights without a crane
Herodotus writes that the stone was lifted up by simple wooden devices such as a well crane. The carrying capacity of such devices is sufficient for two-ton loads (the average volume of the limestone block of the Cheops pyramid is 850 - 1000 liters, the limestone density is 2000 kg per cubic meter). But how were the much more massive structural elements installed? In particular, a pyramidion, a monolithic top of a pyramid weighing 15 tons?Modern inventors talk about the possibility of sheathing a stone product with voluminous wooden structures that bring the shape of the packaged part closer to a cylinder. Such a container does facilitate transportation, but requires a solid road.
Sloped ramp or spiral road?
How is a waste heap constructed - a cone-shaped dump of waste rock? First, props are installed, an inclined rail track is erected on them. Wagons with loose mass are driven onto the rails and unloaded to the side. As the dump grows, the road lengthens. In the end, an artificial mountain is formed with steep slopes and a long, gentle embankment with rails from a flat sole to the very top. 
Approximately so, the researchers believe, were built and access roads to the Egyptian pyramids. A scalable (7˚-8˚) ramp made of loose materials, compacted and reinforced with imported timber, could really help in the delivery of massive stone blocks to their installation site.
However, the volume of earthworks in this case turns out to be comparable to the volume of the entire construction, and the pace of work is limited by the frequency of reconstruction of the transport route. The bulk spiral road laid around the pyramid makes it impossible to check the geometry of the edges and faces of the entire structure.
Another thing, suggested the French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin, if a spiral road is laid in the body of the pyramid along its outer edges. On such a road, you can walk like a gentle staircase, dragging limestone blocks up along the way. True, this path is replete with turns at right angles. But if at the places of turns to make open areas with the simplest forklifts, the difficulties will disappear.
Houdin's hypothesis is flawed in many respects. Nevertheless, turntables in the corners of the building were found, as well as some inclined passages along the perimeter of the pyramid. However, the Egyptian authorities have not yet given permission for a large-scale instrumental study of the historical structure.
Final reconstruction of the process
A generalized reconstructed picture of the construction of the Cheops pyramid looks like this:- - the most massive parts of the base of the pyramid and the interior of the tomb were delivered to the place of installation along surface roads and a low bulk ramp;
- - the blocks that make up the body of the pyramid climbed the spiral scaffolding attached outside;
- - white limestone top - pyramidion - was installed immediately after the masonry was completed;
- - facing blocks of white limestone, in cross-section representing a right-angled triangle, were laid from top to bottom, flush with the faces of the pyramidion.
And although the individual details of the construction have not been clarified to the end, the overall picture is quite clear and plausible. However, the secrets of the Egyptian pyramids were not only in the design and construction of cyclopean structures.
"Unsolved" secrets of the Egyptian pyramids
Exploration of the pyramid of Cheops, undertaken by humanity greedy for treasures over the past two thousand years, turned out to be very traumatic for the historical structure. Partly for this reason, and partly because of the high tourist potential, it is very difficult to obtain permission for scientific research in Giza.As a result, today scientists do not have a complete plan of the cavities and rooms of the Cheops pyramid - which is why assumptions about the purpose of rooms, corridors and channels are based on insufficient information.
This situation gives food for idle thought about the presence of secret treasures under the Egyptian pyramids and the Sphinx. The yellow press is exaggerating with might and main the idea of the secrecy of samples of ancient knowledge, stored either under the paws of the Sphinx, or under the burial chamber of Khufu, or even deeper.
However, historians and archaeologists do not expect special revelations from hypothetical treasuries. Yes, upon discovery of repositories that have not been plundered in the past, the museum collections of the world will be fairly replenished with works of ancient Egyptian art - but one cannot expect advanced technologies among the surviving artifacts. Alas…
Pyramid - a working device?
The idea that each individual pyramid, and especially the largest and most beautiful pyramid of Cheops, is not just a monument and a tomb, but a kind of tool for interacting with secret forces, has been tormenting mankind for four and a half thousand years.Echoes of the excitement that arose during the years of perestroika and concerning the miraculous properties of pyramidal structures are still alive. Allegedly, the blades in them are self-sharpening, bacteria are self-destructing, water is self-sanctifying - and in great pyramids plus, time slows down, organisms become younger and fools grow wiser.
Experiments are still ongoing, but the statistics of the results are disappointing. Neither in the pyramids of ancient Egyptian work, nor in their modern counterparts, nothing special happens.
“Besides,” the esotericists object, “that contact is being made with the higher mind!”
The influence of the Egyptian pyramids on the mind
The initiates write: whoever lies in the sarcophagus of the pyramid of Cheops and concentrates, voices are heard, colorful pictures are seen, the complexities of the universe are understood - and the future is still revealed. So Napolen, as he spent the night in a sarcophagus, came out pale, was silent about his experiences, and only in exile on the island of St. Helena hinted that he had a chance to see his own fall ...True, psychiatrists, having learned about the voices and visions, begin to nervously trample and stroke the bags of medicines. Psychologists also talk about the similarity of individual reactions to darkness, silence and complete solitude. To save money, they say, instead of a sarcophagus, you can lie down in a wooden box with a lid, and instead of an Egyptian pyramid, use any dungeon - even a shallow hole.
The sum of sensations and thoughts that arise in the subjects is typical. In such solitude, every person thinks about the transience of life, the futility of all things and the inevitability of the end. The pyramids are here!
Astronomical factor
The Belgian Robert Buvel, who was born and lived for a long time in Egyptian Alexandria, was not the first person to notice the similarity in the location of the pyramids in Giza and the stars in Orion's Belt. However, he was the first to speak loudly and publicly about the likeness.The check showed that the coincidence of directions and proportions is very conditional. Defending his point of view, Buvel suggested that the position of the pyramids corresponds to the picture of the starry sky of the time of the third dynasty of the pharaohs.
The development of computer technology has made it possible to restore the position of the stars in the past. A simulated starry sky pattern from 2500 BC turned out to be close to the location of the Giza pyramids, but only approximately ...
Further research led astronomers to the conclusion: the relative position of the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaur (Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin) fully corresponds to the location of Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintak (the stars of the Orion's Belt asterism) in 10500 BC.
Idle thinkers immediately came to the conclusion that the initial marking of the construction site was completed in 10500, and the actual construction was decided to be postponed for 8 thousand years.
Furthermore! At the beginning of the beginning, namely, 14 thousand years before the birth of Christ, on the site of the future Giza and all its tombs, there was a pyramid - for all the pyramids, a pyramid, the size of a real mountain! True, the progenitor of the pyramids was monolithic and cracked during the earthquake. It was decided to demolish the hulk, and in its place, after cleaning up the debris, to build a new pyramidal complex.
Who and why made such unexpected decisions, the thinkers do not say.
Numerological heresy of the pyramid of Cheops
Heading to Egypt, Napoleon, as you know, included more than one and a half hundred scientists in the detachment. Having missed the time of transitions, inquisitive scientists pounced on the Egyptian pyramids like a hungry dog on a bone. All available space was subjected to measurements and measurements, including each of the pyramids and the Sphinx.The data obtained became the subject of scientific discussions that continue to this day. For two hundred years of thinking, especially advanced experts have established a relationship between the linear parameters of the Cheops pyramid and:
- - the size of the Earth and the solar system;
- - the number "pi";
- - past and future events;
- - physical constants that determine the balance of interaction of forces in the Universe.
Hey psychiatrists!
So, there are no secrets in the Egyptian pyramids?
There are many more secrets in Egyptology. However, the Egyptian pyramids have been studied very thoroughly, although not completely. In the unhurried existence of the pyramids, there are a number of ambiguities that are visible to specialists. For example, did the visible deflection of the Cheops pyramid faces result from an unforeseen deformation of materials or as a result of architectural calculation?So far, there is no unambiguous picture of the complex of technologies used almost 5,000 years ago. It is not clear why the pyramid of Cheops, the most monumental of all the monuments of Ancient Egypt, is devoid of wall inscriptions and images. There is no certainty in understanding the purpose of the discovered objects, premises, buildings ...
It is important, however, that only those studies of the Egyptian pyramids that are carried out within the framework of materialistic theory become fruitful. The search for the extraordinary forces involved in the creation of the Egyptian pyramids is fantastically fun - and nothing more.
pyramids
The mysterious pyramids of Egypt
The Egyptian pyramid of Djoser, better known as the step pyramid, is located in Saqqara, 30 km from Cairo. A visit to the pyramid is part of the Dashur-Sakkara tour. It is worth visiting this pyramid at least out of curiosity, because this is the very first pyramid built in honor of the ruler Djoser. The peculiarity of the pyramid is that it is made in a stepped form. Six steps - the path by which the pharaoh goes to afterworld according to historians. Inside the pyramid are 11 burial chambers for the pharaoh and his family members. In the process archaeological sites Djoser himself was not found, only the mummies of his relatives. This is explained by the fact that by the time the excavations began, the tomb had already been plundered in order.
An excursion to Saqqara with a visit to the pyramid of Djoser will cost about $ 80 per person.
Pyramid of Menkaure
The pyramid is located on the Giza plateau next to others famous pyramids- Cheops and Khafre. Compared with them, the pyramid of Menkaure is considered the smallest and youngest pyramid of the famous triad. The peculiarity of this pyramid is in its color - up to the middle it was made of red granite, and above it was made of white limestone. But in the 16th century, the lining was destroyed by Mamluk warriors. The fact that the pyramid of Menkaure is relatively small, scientists explain by the fact that the Egyptians stopped making grandiose tombs. But despite this, the pyramid never ceases to amaze scientists and travelers. For example, the largest block of stone weighs about 200 tons! What technical means helped the ancient Egyptians so much? An excursion to the pyramid is included in the Cairo travel program, its cost is approximately $ 60 per person. 
Pyramid of Menkaure
The Pyramid of Cheops
There is hardly a person. who would not know the main attraction of Egypt - the pyramid of Cheops. The height of this one of the Seven Wonders of the World today is 140 meters, and the area is about 5 hectares. The pyramid consists of 2.5 million stone blocks. The construction of the pyramid took 20 years. Several thousand years have passed since the construction of the Cheops pyramid, but the Egyptians still greatly honor the pyramid, and every year in August they celebrate the day when its construction began. Despite the fact that the research and excavation of the pyramid, it still keeps many secrets. For example, secret doors were found in the burial room of the pharaoh's wife, which, according to scientists, symbolize the path to the afterlife. But archaeologists have not been able to open the last door. The cost of an excursion to the Giza plateau with a visit to the pyramids is 50-60 dollars. For children, the ticket will cost twice as much.
Pyramid of Khafre
Although the Chefren pyramid is 4 meters smaller than the Cheops pyramid, visually it seems higher. The secret is that the pyramid stands on a ten-meter plateau and is very well preserved to this day. The pyramid has two entrances - one at a height of 15 m, and the other on the same side at the level of the base. Inside the pyramid of Khafre is rather modest - two rooms and a couple of corridors, but the real sarcophagus of the pharaoh is kept here. The tomb is made at the highest level and does not leave indifferent any of the tourists. The tomb itself is empty.
Archaeologists found a grand find in the pyramid in the 19th century - a sculpture of a pharaoh from mountain diorite.
The cost of an excursion to the pyramid of Khafre is about 60 dollars. 
Pyramid of Khafre
Dashur
This place does not have such popularity as the Giza plateau with its pyramids. Dashur is famous for its pyramids, which were built during the reign of Pharaoh Snofu. These structures are considered the first tombs in history built according to new types of structures.
The Southern Pyramid, which is better known as the Bent Pyramid, got its name from its irregular shape. During its construction, for some unknown reason, the angles of the faces were changed. Perhaps this was a mistake, but scientists explain this as a construction move with concern for the strength and durability of the pyramid. The main difference between the Bent Pyramid is that. that it has two entrances - the "traditional" northern one and the almost uncommon southern one.
Another attraction of Dashur is the Northern Pyramid, better known by its name as the Red Pyramid. The name of the pyramid was due to its facing red color. This is the first tomb of the correct pyramidal form. It is very dark in the pyramid, so you should take a flashlight with you. In the lowest burial chamber one can observe a high stepped ceiling, the same as in the gallery of the Cheops pyramid.
The cost of an excursion to Cairo, which includes a trip to Dashur, will cost an average of 85 dollars.
Everyone wants to look at the pyramids. And if this is your dream since childhood, then a tour to Egypt is what you need. Ordering such a tour today is very simple - just contact the travel agencies of your city through a special form on our website, or contact all your questions by calling 8-800-100-30-24.
general information
Among the Egyptian pyramids there are huge and more modest scales, with a smooth surface and stepped ones, which are very well preserved and resemble a pile of ruins. They can be observed in Saqqara and Memphis, Khawara and Upper Egypt, Medum and Abusir, El Lahun and Abu Ravash. However, the main tourist sites only a few are considered, namely the pyramids in Giza, a suburb of the Egyptian capital, erected, as is commonly believed, during the reign of the IV-VI dynasties of the pharaohs, which fell on the XXVI-XXIII centuries BC. e.
Looking at these grandiose creations of human hands, you involuntarily think: how much time and effort was spent on the construction of such structures, which seem - at least in their scale - absolutely useless. Either the pharaohs who ruled 45 centuries ago thereby wanted to emphasize their own divinity and the greatness of their era, or these structures contain some hidden meaning that is still inaccessible to our understanding. But it is difficult to comprehend it, because the secrets are securely hidden under the layer of millennia, and we have no choice but to build guesses and versions, hoping that sooner or later all the secret will definitely become clear ...
Secrets of the Egyptian pyramids
Pyramids of Egypt shrouded in a halo of myths and secrets, and with the passage of time and the development of science, there are still more questions than answers. As the proverb says: "Everything in the world is afraid of time, but time itself is afraid of the pyramids." Interest is fueled by various theories about the appearance of these majestic monuments. Fans of the mystical consider the pyramids to be powerful energy sources and believe that the pharaohs spent time in them not only after death, but also during their lifetime in order to draw strength. There are also quite incredible ideas: for example, some believe that the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens, and others that the blocks were moved by people who own a magic crystal. Let's look at the generally accepted and most likely scenario.
Religion in the life of ancient Egypt occupied a dominant position. It shaped both the worldview of the people and their entire culture. Death was perceived only as a transition to another world, so preparation for it had to take place ahead of time, even during earthly life. However, the privilege of remaining "immortal" was, as it was believed, only with the pharaoh and members of his family. And he, at his own discretion, could bestow it on his entourage. Commoners were deprived of the right to an afterlife, with the exception of servants and slaves, whom the powerful ruler "took" with him. Nothing should have interfered with the comfortable "existence" of a high-ranking deceased, so he was supplied with everything necessary - food supplies, household utensils, weapons, servants.
At first, the rulers were buried in special "houses after life", and in order for the body of the pharaoh to be preserved for centuries, he was embalmed. These early burial buildings - mastabas - date back to the period of the first dynasties. They consisted of an underground burial chamber and an above-ground part in the form of a stone structure, where chapels were equipped and grave goods were located. In section, these tombs resembled a trapezoid. They were built in Abydos, Nagadei, Upper Egypt. The main necropolis of the then capital of the first dynasties - the city of Memphis - was located in Saqqara.
Actually, pyramidal tombs began to be erected about 5 thousand years ago. The initiator of their construction was Pharaoh Djoser (or Necherihet), the first in the III dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The construction of the necropolis named after this ruler was led by the supreme dignitary and famous architect of his time, Imhotep, who was almost equated with a deity. If we discard all the fantastic versions about the contacts of the then rulers with aliens and proceed from the fact that these structures were nevertheless built by people on their own, then the scale of the work, their laboriousness cannot but impress. Experts tried to establish their chronology and nature, and here are the results they came up with. Since the pyramids are made of stone blocks, the question immediately arose: where and how were they mined? It turned out, in the rocks ...
Having marked the shape in the rock and hollowed out the grooves, dry trees were inserted into them, which were watered with water. From moisture, they expanded and created cracks in the rock, facilitating the process of excavating blocks. Then they were immediately, on the spot, subjected to processing with tools and, having given the desired shape, they were sent by river to the construction site. But how did the Egyptians lift these heavy masses up? First, they were loaded onto wooden sleds and pulled along gentle embankments. By modern standards, such technologies look backward. However, the quality of work is top notch! The megaliths are so closely adjacent to each other that there are practically no mismatches.
The Pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara, is considered the very first pyramid in Egypt and the oldest of such large stone structures surviving in the world (its size is 125 by 115 meters with a height of 62 meters). It was built in 2670 BC. e. and has the appearance of a building with six huge lined steps. Because of such an unusual shape, it was called the “false pyramid” in those distant times. The pyramid of Djoser began to attract the attention of travelers since the Middle Ages, and this interest has not dried up to this day.
The architect initially did not plan to build such a pyramid. The stepped tomb became in the process of construction. In the presence of steps, a symbolic meaning is clearly guessed: the deceased pharaoh was supposed to ascend to heaven along them. This structure differed from previous necropolises in that it was built of stone, not brick. And one more feature: the presence of a very wide and deep vertical shaft, closed from above by a dome. In the pyramids built later, there is nothing of the kind. Of no less interest to archaeologists and Egyptologists are the marble fragments under the sarcophagus, on which carved images resembling stars are visible. These are clearly fragments of some unknown structure, but no one knows exactly which one.
The Pyramid of Djoser was intended not only for himself, and in this it also differs from other similar structures. In the burial chambers, there are only 12 of them, the ruler and members of his family were buried. Archaeologists discovered the mummy of an 8-9-year-old boy, apparently a son. But the body of the pharaoh himself could not be found. Perhaps he owned the mummified heel found here. Even in ancient times, it is believed that robbers entered the tomb, probably abducting its dead "owner" as well.
However, the version of the robbery does not seem so unambiguous. When examining the inner galleries, gold jewelry, porphyry bowls, clay and stone jugs and other valuables were found. Why didn't the thieves carry all this wealth? Historians were also interested in the seals affixed to small clay vessels. The name “Sekemhet” was written on them, translated as “mighty in body”. It clearly belonged to an unknown pharaoh of one of the powerful dynasties. Everything indicated that in ancient times the construction of another pyramid was started here, but for some reason it was not completed. They even found an empty sarcophagus, the internal state of which allowed us to conclude that no one was buried here ...
As for the pyramid of Djoser itself, the attraction has been well preserved to this day and is open to tourists. The entrance to it, as well as to other structures on the territory, is located on the north side. A tunnel equipped with columns leads inside. The northern temple, whose location on the ground is clear from the name itself, forms a single architectural ensemble with the pyramid. Funeral services were held in it and sacrifices were made in the name of the pharaoh.
Egyptian pyramids at Giza
The most famous among all the Egyptian pyramids are the so-called great pyramids, located in Giza - the third largest city in the modern Arab Republic of Egypt, with a population of almost 3 million people. The metropolis is located on the west bank of the Nile, about 20 km from Cairo and is actually a suburb of the capital.
The Great Pyramids of Giza are by far the most popular ancient monuments in the country. For many years, visiting them has become almost a ritual for tourists. Fly to Egypt and not see these majestic structures with your own eyes? This is unimaginable! Many travelers even consider this place spiritual, connected with the cosmos, and visiting here becomes akin to some kind of healing. Recent studies have shown that the builders of the necropolises pointed them surprisingly accurately to the belt of the constellation Orion, in which there is an as yet unrevealed meaning. It is also interesting that their faces are oriented to the sides of the sun, and this is done with the same accuracy.
The Egyptian pyramids at Giza are undoubtedly an extremely impressive sight. Their sandstone façades reflect the sunlight: pink in the morning, golden in the afternoon, and dark crimson at dusk. It is impossible not to marvel at the feat of engineering and organization that resulted in millions of stone blocks being transported from one place to another and stacked precisely on top of each other without power plants and lifting equipment.
The complex of the great pyramids is made up of the tombs of the three most ancient rulers - Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin. Unlike the previous "houses after life" (makabs), these necropolises have a strict pyramidal shape. Moreover, the first of them is the only one of the seven wonders of the world that have survived to this day.
Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)
You can talk about the pyramid of Cheops (or Khufu) for a long time and a lot, but in any case the story will be incomplete, because it continues to keep many unsolved secrets. One of them is the orientation to the North Pole exactly along the meridian: with its top, the monumental structure “looks” at the North Star. It is amazing how ancient architects could make such accurate calculations without modern astronomical instruments. This accuracy has even less error than the famous Paris Observatory.
Cheops, the second pharaoh of the fourth dynasty of Ancient Egypt, who reigned for 27 years, has the glory of a cruel and despotic ruler. He literally exhausted the resources of his kingdom, directing them to the construction of the pyramid. He was also merciless to his people, forcing them to overwork on the construction of his posthumous "dwelling". The Great Pyramid was built in three stages, as evidenced by the corresponding number of chambers. The first, its area is 8 by 14 meters, was carved deep into the rock, the second (5.7 x 5.2 m) - under the top of the pyramid. The third chamber - it is the only one of them completed - and became the tomb of the pharaoh. Special mention should be made of her. It stretches 10.4 m from west to east, and 5.2 m from south to north. Granite slabs, with which the room is lined, fit perfectly to each other. Nine monolithic blocks form the ceiling, their total weight is 400 tons.
Each cell has its own “hallway” connected to adjacent shaft corridors. At first, the entrance to the tomb was located on the north side and was located above the base at a height of 25 meters. Currently, you can enter the pyramid from another place, and this entrance is not so high. The builders could hardly have imagined that after several thousand years their brainchild would become a tourist attraction, so the 40-meter corridor was made not only narrow, but also low. Numerous tourists have to overcome it by crouching. The corridor ends with a wooden staircase. It leads to the same low room, which is the center of the entire necropolis.
The height of the pyramid of Cheops is more than 146 meters - this is the "growth" of a 50-story skyscraper. After the Great Wall of China, it is she who is the largest structure ever erected in all of human history. The attraction is not in "loneliness", there are several other buildings around it. Of these, only three companion pyramids and the ruins of the mortuary temple have survived to this day. Obviously, no less effort was made to build them. According to the most common version, the companion pyramids were intended for the wives of the ruler.
Pyramid of Khafre (Khafra)
A pharaoh named Khafre was either the son or brother of Cheops and reigned after him. His pyramid, located nearby, is somewhat smaller, however, at first glance, it is perceived as more significant. And all because it stands on some elevation. The pyramid of Khafre was found during archaeological excavations in 1860. The tomb of this ancient Egyptian ruler is “protected” by the famous Sphinx, which looks like a lion lying on the sand, whose face may have been given the features of Khafre himself. Being the oldest of the monumental sculptures preserved on our planet (its length is 72 m, height is 20 m), it is interesting in itself. Egyptologists tend to think that the tombs of the two pharaohs, together with the sphinx, represent a single burial complex. Slaves, it is believed, were not involved in the construction of this pyramid: free workers were hired for this purpose ...
Top of Khafre's pyramidPyramid of Menkaure (Menkaure)
And finally, the pyramid of Menkaure is the third in the complex of great monuments of Giza. Also known as the Pyramid of Menkaure, it bears the name of the fifth pharaoh of the fourth ancient Egyptian dynasty. Little is known about this ruler - only that he was the son of Cheops (at least, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus claimed so). This necropolis is called the "younger brother" of the two aforementioned tombs: it was built later than the others and the lowest of them, its height is slightly more than 65 meters. Such a modest size testifies to the decline of the ancient kingdom, the lack of resources necessary for the construction.
However, the monumentality of the structure as such did not suffer from this. For example, the weight of one of the blocks used in the construction of the mortuary temple exceeds 200 tons, which makes it the heaviest on the Giza plateau. Just imagine what inhuman efforts had to be made to put this colossus in place. And the majestic statue of the pharaoh himself, seated inside the temple! It is one of the largest sculptures embodying that mysterious era ... The destruction of the entire historical and architectural complex in Giza, conceived by Sultan al-Malik al-Aziz, who ruled at the end of the 12th century, could begin from the pyramid of Mikerin, as the smallest. The dismantling of the necropolis lasted about a year, but the practical result was minimal. The Sultan was eventually forced to turn them off, because his, frankly, stupid and unjustified undertaking entailed exorbitant costs.
Sphinx
At the base of the sacred causeway that once connected the pyramid of Khafre with the Nile, there is the Sphinx - a mysterious sculpture with the head of Khafre attached to a lion's body. In Egyptian mythology, sphinxes were guardian deities, and this sculpture is a protective monument 73 m long and 20 m high. After the death of the pharaoh, the body of the Sphinx was gradually covered with desert sands. Thutmose IV believed that the statue addressed him and said that he would become pharaoh if he cleared the sand, which he hastened to do. Since then, the ancient Egyptians believed that the monument had prophetic powers.
Solar Boat Museum
Behind the pyramid of Cheops is the Museum of the Solar Boat, which houses a beautifully restored cedar boat, on which dead body the pharaoh was transported from east to west coast Nile.
Useful information for tourists
The Great Pyramid Complex of Giza is open to the public from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The exceptions are the winter months (opening hours until 16:30) and the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when access closes at 15:00.
Some travelers believe that if the pyramids are located under open sky and are not a museum in the truest sense of the word, then here you can feel free, climb and climb these structures. Remember: it is strictly forbidden to do this - in the interests of your own safety!
Before agreeing to enter the pyramids, objectively assess your psychological state and physical health. Persons who have a fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia) should skip this part of the tour. Due to the fact that inside the tombs it is usually dry, hot and a little dusty, it is not recommended to enter here for asthmatics, hypertensive patients and those suffering from other diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system.
How much will a tourist visit the Egyptian pyramids area? Cost has several components. The entrance ticket to it will cost you 60 Egyptian pounds, which is equivalent to about 8 euros. Would you like to visit the pyramid of Cheops? For this you will have to pay 100 pounds or 13 euros. Inspection from the inside of the Khafre pyramid is much cheaper - 20 pounds or 2.60 euros.
A visit to the Solar Boat Museum, which is located south of the Cheops Pyramid (40 pounds or 5 euros), is also paid separately. Taking pictures in the pyramid zone is allowed, but for the right to take pictures you will have to pay 1 euro. Visiting other pyramids in Giza - for example, the mother and wife of Pharaoh Khafre - is not paid.
Many tourists admit that, after getting to know the main attractions, leaving this amazing place, literally saturated with the spirit of antiquity, you don’t want to at all. In such cases, you can rent camels for leisurely walks. Their owners wait for clients right at the foot of the pyramids. They may overcharge for their services. Do not settle for it right away, bargain, and you will get a discount.
- The Pyramid of Cheops is the only surviving wonder of the world.
- The pyramids were built for two centuries and were built several at a time. Now, according to the studies of various scientists, their age is from 4 to 10 thousand years.
- In addition to the exact mathematical proportions, the pyramids have another feature in this area. The stone blocks are arranged in such a way that there are no gaps between them at all, even the thinnest blade will not fit through.
- Each side of the pyramid is located in the direction of one side of the world.
- The Pyramid of Cheops, the largest in the world, reaches a height of 146 meters, and its weight is more than six million tons.
- If you want to know how the Egyptian pyramids were built, Interesting Facts construction can be learned from the pyramids themselves. Construction scenes are depicted on the walls of the aisles. The sides of the pyramids are curved by one meter so that they can accumulate solar energy. Thanks to this, the pyramids could reach thousands of degrees and emit an incomprehensible rumble from such incandescence.
- For the pyramid of Cheops, a perfectly straight foundation was made, so the faces differ from each other by only five centimeters.
- The first pyramid built is dated 2670 BC. e. In appearance, it resembles several pyramids located next to each other. The architect created a type of masonry that helped achieve this effect.
- The pyramid of Cheops was created from 2.3 million blocks, perfectly even and matching each other.
- Structures similar to the Egyptian pyramids are also found in Sudan, where the tradition was later picked up.
- Archaeologists managed to find the village where the pyramid builders lived. A brewery and a bakery were discovered there.
How to get there
Tourists from Russia and the CIS countries usually prefer to spend their holidays in Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada and often want to combine their holidays on magnificent beaches with a visit to the Giza pyramid complex. Since the resorts are far enough from the named city, you can only get there as part of an excursion group. If you go by bus, then you will have to spend from 6 to 8 hours on the way. By plane it will be faster: fly in just 60 minutes. It can also be reached by car with a driver. It is much more comfortable, but it will significantly hit the wallet.
In a more advantageous position are those who rest in Cairo, or stay in the Egyptian capital on a business trip. They can take the bus (routes nos. 900 and 997) or the subway (yellow line no. 2, exit at Giza station). Alternatively, you can call a taxi or catch one at Tahrir Square. The trip will cost more than public transport, but you will get there faster, in just half an hour. By the same car it will be possible to return and back, only you will have to pay a little more.
You can get to Giza from the capital by taking a bus in the New Cairo (aka Heliopolis) area, which follows one of two routes: No. 355 or No. 357. These comfortable vehicles, plying every 20 minutes, are marked with the letters STA, by which they are easy to recognize. The final stop is just before the entrance to the pyramid zone, at the crossroads.
