Egyptian pyramids: interesting facts. Secrets of the Egyptian pyramids

The endless series of eras of human civilization contains a huge number of secrets and mysteries. Each of them requires close attention and study. Studying is complicated by the huge time intervals that separate modern man from the affairs of the past. Looking at living people from eternity, the greatest architectural and artistic creations are not at all going to talk about how, by whom, and most importantly, why they were created.

One of the most mysterious masterpieces of bygone times is, without any doubt, pyramids Ancient Egypt . These grandiose creations of human hands delight and fascinate, amaze with their size and at the same time evoke a feeling of deep bewilderment: why was it necessary to spend so much effort, energy, and time on absolutely useless structures.

Most likely, those who lived 45 centuries ago wanted to emphasize the greatness of their era, the significance of their rulers, the inviolability of their power and closeness to the gods. Or maybe these structures contain some other meaning, beyond the understanding of modern man. All this is a secret behind seven seals, securely hidden for thousands of years.

The first ancient pyramids of Egypt

Evidence indicates that the first pyramid was built in ancient Egypt under the founder of the 3rd dynasty Pharaoh Djoser. He reigned approximately 2780-2760 BC. e. and radically changed the architectural style of tombs practiced before him.

From the end of the 4th millennium BC. e. rulers were buried in mastabas - truncated pyramids. These were small structures made of stones held together with clay mortar. In those distant times, they may have made an impression on people, but in the present century they are shapeless stone piles that bear little resemblance to architectural creations.

The tomb of Djoser (located in Saqqara - 20 km south of Cairo) had nothing to do with the mastaba. Or rather, it was six mastabas placed on top of each other. The lowest one was also the widest. The next mastaba was smaller, there was an even smaller one on it, and even smaller one higher up. This resulted in a stepped pyramid 62 meters high and with perimeter dimensions of 125 by 115 meters.

For those times, the building was, of course, majestic. Developed it, designed it, and then implemented it Vizier of Pharaoh Imhotep. Apparently she was a very extraordinary person, since her name has survived almost five thousand years. Imhotep is rightfully considered the founder of a new architectural style that lasted in Ancient Egypt for almost 200 years.

The shape of the pyramids underwent significant design changes during the time of the founder of the IV dynasty Pharaoh Snofru(reigned 2613-2589 BC). Two pyramids are associated with his name, but these are no longer stepped, but fundamental structures with smooth inclined walls. One pyramid is called broken line- its height is 104 meters, another pyramid has the name pink. It is taller, its height is 109 meters.

The pyramids are located in Dahshur, a desert area 26 kilometers south of Cairo. They are not alone in their greatness. Next to them there are 20 more pyramids of the pharaohs of the XII and XIII dynasties. In this necropolis, the Sneferu pyramids are the oldest, but despite the fact that other man-made tombs were built many centuries later, these two pyramids are much better preserved. They have not lost their geometric shapes, have not crumbled under the weight of centuries, but continue to rise regally above the mortal earth, dispassionately looking at the world around them.

Such amazing vitality is explained by completely different construction technologies, completely different from those with which the rest of the necropolis structures were built.

The pink and broken pyramids are assembled from granite blocks, perfectly processed and adjusted to each other. These blocks are not held together with mortar, but the structures stand like a monolith. Enormous weight reliably connects all the nodes of these ideal architectural structures, and the 46 centuries that have passed since their construction serve as proof of their strength.

The rest of the pyramids are assembled from ordinary unprocessed stones, or rather cobblestones. They were connected with mortar and, stacked on top of each other, they created structures that were significantly inferior in strength to Sneferu’s pyramids. All this is quite strange, since in 700 years it was possible not only not to lose the technologies practiced during the period of the IV Dynasty, but also to significantly improve them. The fact remains: during the construction of the broken and pink pyramids, more advanced construction methods were used than in later centuries.

In general, it falls out of the usual range of similar building structures. Its name already speaks about this. The fact is that the angle of inclination of the walls of this structure from the base to the middle of the height is 54° 31′. Then the angle changes and is equal to 43° 21′. The reason for such architectural sophistication is unknown, although there are a great many assumptions and theories.

The prevailing opinion is that in connection with the death of the pharaoh, they decided to speed up the construction work and therefore made the slope of the upper parts of the walls steeper. Other researchers believe that this was just a “test of the pen.” Until that time, nothing like this had been built in Ancient Egypt, so they decided to create something original and different, but apparently this form did not meet with the support of those around them and did not take root.

It got its name due to the peculiar color of the stone blocks from which it is laid out. The blocks have a pale pink color and in the setting rays of the sun they take on the appropriate shade. This was the reason for calling it the pink pyramid. Although in ancient times it was not pink at all, but white. The cladding, made of white limestone, had this color. Over the centuries, the coating peeled off and pink limestone was exposed, from which, in fact, the pyramid was assembled.

The pyramids of Snofru are huge, but they cannot be compared with similar structures located on the Giza plateau (northwest of Cairo). There are three pyramids here, two of them are amazing in size. The largest is the pyramid of Sneferu's son Pharaoh Cheops(ruled 2589-2566 BC). Its original height was 146.6 meters, and it was made of 2.3 million limestone blocks.

Bird's eye view of the Great Pyramids of Giza

The top of the pyramid was covered with white limestone, the top was decorated with a pyramidion: a stone made of polished granite. It was covered with gold and shone majestically in the rays of the sun. At the base of the stone there was a square ledge, at the top of the pyramid there was a recess for it. The pyramidion was thus securely attached at a great height, perfectly complementing the grandiose picture of the greatest structure on the planet.

On the eastern side of the pyramid there was a temple and three pyramids for queens. Nowadays, only the foundation of the temple remains, but small pyramids have been preserved. The temple located in the valley was also destroyed. It was connected to the Cheops pyramid by a road. But the ruler’s “solar boat”, made of cedar, remained in excellent condition. After the death of the pharaoh, it was dismantled and placed in a vault at the foot of the pyramid, apparently considering that the formidable ruler would need it in the afterlife.

How the Pyramid of Cheops was built

Such a huge structure has always raised one question among people: how was it possible to create such a masterpiece? Each block of the pyramid weighs at least two tons, but in total, as already mentioned, there are more than two million. They are all perfectly matched to each other and raised to different heights. In addition, there are three chambers inside the pyramid. The topmost one, the burial “chamber of the king,” is lined with granite blocks weighing 60 tons each.

This chamber is located at an altitude of 43 meters from the base of the monumental structure. Raising such blocks tens of meters is a truly difficult task. However, the Egyptians somehow dealt with this and even perfectly matched the granite slabs to each other. There are no gaps between them, which indicates the highest production technology.

Hemiun

The architect of the pyramid is called the vizier of Pharaoh Cheops Hemiun. It was Hemiun who designed this structure and supervised its construction. He died shortly before the completion of the work, which, according to ancient sources, lasted 20 long years. Two decades of titanic work produced the greatest architectural masterpiece, has stunned the human imagination for 45 centuries.

So how was Hemiun able to build such splendor? There is no clear answer to this question. There are different versions and assumptions. One version claims that the blocks were not raised to great heights at all. Workers crushed limestone, turned it into powder, removed moisture, and thus it became ordinary cement. The latter was poured into special formworks located directly on the pyramid under construction, diluted with water, stone and crushed stone were added for binding and monolithic blocks were obtained.

Does this theory have a practical basis? Limestone is a medium-hard rock. It is cut and polished using modern technologies. But how to turn more than six million tons of rock (the weight of the Cheops pyramid is 6.3 million tons) into powder is a rather labor-intensive task, perhaps even impossible. It is unlikely that Hemiun would have dared to do such an action. Besides, where would he get enough wood to make several hundred formworks at the same time?

Wood in Ancient Egypt was worth its weight in gold. It was brought from distant lands, and it was very expensive. Taking into account all the costs, it would be easier to cast gold bars and make a tomb for the pharaoh from them. True, then it would not have stood for 45 centuries, but it would have cost less.

Another point of view looks much more realistic. Some American and French researchers adhere to it. Having carefully studied the internal and external structure of the ancient structure, they put forward a rather interesting theory, which is proposed to discerning readers.

In this case, it is planned to install an external ramp at the beginning of construction. A ramp means an embankment along which the slabs are dragged to the place where they should lie. The pyramid grows, and the height of the ramp also increases. In addition to its height, its length also increases: after all, the flatter the embankment, the easier it is to drag blocks along it.

But at a certain height there comes a time when extending the ramp becomes problematic. To maintain the minimum angle, it is necessary to increase the embankment by a kilometer or more. Such a structure is already beginning to exceed the pyramid under construction in volume. But its height is 146.6 meters. This is the kind of embankment you need, and even with a slope angle of maximum 10°.

Hemiun found a way out of a seemingly hopeless situation. The tomb chamber for the king is located at an altitude of 43 meters. It was up to this point that an external ramp was made in order to drag 60-ton slabs along it. If the dimensions of the embankment had allowed, the chamber would have been made much higher, but this height was critical.

To this place, along the external ramp, 600 people could easily drag a huge and heavy block. They moved these stone blocks on sleds. Logs were unlikely to be used, since the wheel was not yet known at that time, so the corresponding analogies most likely could not have occurred to the builders.

Higher up, according to the project, there were stone blocks weighing 2-3 tons. In order to lay them down, an internal ramp was made. It was a narrow spiral-shaped cavity, gently rising upward. It was, and still is, located very close to the edges of the pyramid, above the “king’s chamber.” If you know where to chisel the walls, then the internal ramp is easy to spot.

Five unloading cavities were installed above the chamber itself, with stone slabs placed between them. A gable roof was placed over them. They did this to evenly distribute the weight of the overlying layers of the huge structure.

The weight of these layers is one and a half million tons. If there were no unloading cavities, then the huge mass of stones would crush the “king’s chamber” trimmed with black granite like a nut shell.

The process of installing the upper blocks was as follows: the external ramp was dismantled to a height of just over 15 meters. That is, to the place where it is located main entrance into the pyramid (after completion of the work it was sealed with a granite plug). The stone blocks from which the entire upper part of the pyramid, more than 100 meters high, was laid out, were dragged here.

The blocks were dragged along a rising corridor that ends at the “king’s chamber.” Currently, this tunnel is divided into an ascending corridor and a Grand Gallery. The large gallery is a high and narrow passage 48 meters long and 8 meters high. Right in the middle of the gallery a square recess stretches its entire length. Its width is 1 meter, depth 60 centimeters. There are 27 pairs of indentations on the side protrusions. The passage ends with a horizontal protrusion with a smooth surface 2 and 1 meter wide and long, respectively.

Here, 45 centuries ago, wooden guides were installed along which sleds were moved, with a stone block lying on them. The guides were held on wooden blocks driven into the recesses of the side protrusions. The next block was dragged to a horizontal ledge, and from it moved to an internal ramp, the entrance to which is located next to the “king’s chamber.” Researchers have not yet reached it, but there is no doubt that in the near future it will be discovered.

Next, the two-ton block was pulled along the ramp to the construction site. Here the builders laid it in one of the rows and began working on the next one. They laid out the outer rows of blocks first, and then the inner ones, in order to maintain the correct geometric shapes of the huge structure. This was a very complex and precise matter: after all, correctly setting an inclined surface is many times more difficult than a vertical one. However, the ancient engineers succeeded brilliantly.

Pyramid of Cheops
and the highest
world buildings

After the construction of the majestic structure, it was covered with white limestone slabs. Now there is nothing left of the cladding on the Cheops pyramid. All of it was stolen long ago by the residents of Cairo to build their houses. The pathetic remains of white limestone can only be observed on the neighboring pyramid - Khafre's pyramid.

The height of this structure is 143.5 meters. According to legend, it was crowned with a granite pyramidion decorated with pure gold. When he disappeared from the top, where he is now, is unknown. The technology for constructing this structure fully corresponds to that by which the very great pyramid- Pyramid of Cheops.

Khafre created his creation almost 40 years after the father of Pharaoh Cheops. The years of his reign fall on 2558-2532 BC. e. From 2556 to 2558 BC. e. Another pharaoh reigned in Egypt - Djedefre. He was Khafre's older brother, but he built his pyramid in Abu Roash - 10 km. north of Giza.

Its height after construction was only 68 meters, but the pyramid was lined not with white limestone, but with red granite. They brought him from the very south of the country, since they could not find him closer.

The third pyramid at Giza, standing next to two giants, is Pyramid of Mikerin. Unlike its colleagues, its height is only 66 meters. It is 10 times smaller in volume than the Cheops pyramid. This pharaoh, who took power after Khafre, was not distinguished by apparently exorbitant ambitions and showed modesty unusual for such people.

It seems that most likely the matter is not in the modesty and vanity of the ruler, but in the economy of Ancient Egypt. Seventy years of continuous construction of gigantic structures that brought absolutely no profit, but, on the contrary, pumped out all funds from the treasury, so undermined the well-being of the state that it simply no longer had the opportunity to continue to build something grandiose and exorbitantly huge.

So one can only sincerely sympathize with Mikerin. His creation looks very faded against the general fundamental and majestic background and does not make the proper impression on true connoisseurs of antiquity who come from all over the world to look at the pyramids of Ancient Egypt.

Other ancient pyramids of Egypt

Actually, the construction of the Great Pyramids stopped with Mikerin. Nothing else breathtaking and inspiring a state of delight was created by the pharaohs. The first pharaoh of the V dynasty, Userkaf (ruled 2465-2458 BC), built a pyramid 44.5 meters high. It is located in Saqqara and today is a pile of poorly processed stones that bear little resemblance to an architectural structure.

For some unknown reason, the brilliant technology used to install the pyramids of the pharaohs of the 4th dynasty came to naught. They were never revived. The pyramids, throughout the subsequent centuries, were built from carelessly processed stones or unfired clay bricks and were not even remotely similar to the fundamental structures of the 26th century BC. e.

Such construction continued until the XIII Dynasty. This is the 18th, early 17th centuries BC. e. It was in the 17th century BC. e. The era of constructing grandiose structures ended, and the pyramids of Ancient Egypt became history. Subsequently, the rulers of this power never practiced anything like this.

Thus, about one hundred pyramids were built in Ancient Egypt. They are all located on the left bank of the Nile from Abu Roash to Meidum (70 km south of Cairo) on a limestone plateau. They were created by different people in different centuries, but there are no architectural differences in the appearance of these structures, unless they differ in volume and height.

Who built the Great Pyramids and why?

The pyramids of the pharaohs of the IV dynasty stand apart. During their construction, completely different technologies were used, and the quality of the work stands out sharply against the general background of rather primitive and clumsily made structures. Some researchers explain this by the fact that slave labor was not used in the construction of these structures. The majestic structures were built by hired teams of workers - hence the corresponding quality. Subsequently, forced labor was used in such work, which immediately affected such original tombs for the pharaohs.

Perfectly crafted and fitted stone blocks from one of the Great Pyramids

Such an argument may convince someone, but certain things are striking that cannot be explained from this position. In particular, the ideal processing of the stone blocks from which the pyramids are assembled. Their surfaces look mirror-smooth. This can only be done using special equipment for stone processing. Nowadays, there are corresponding machines and tools, but where could they have come from 45 centuries ago, during the Bronze Age?

Another particularity is traces of erosion in the lower layers of the pyramids, which indicates their long stay in water. Even shells are found - this once again emphasizes that the creation of such majestic structures can be safely attributed to more ancient eras, when the climate was not so arid, and the limestone plateau was very often flooded with water.

And finally, why did everyone decide that the Great Pyramids were built by Snefru, Cheops and their successors. Where is this written? This point of view exists with the light hand of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (484-425 BC). This venerable man visited Egypt in 445 BC. e., communicated with local representatives of the nobility, priests, and even described the construction of the Cheops pyramid. But how true is all this? This master has been caught making serious distortions more than once historical facts, but when they mean the pyramids of Ancient Egypt, they believe him unconditionally.

And one more detail - in the same pyramid of Cheops there are no images or inscriptions indicating its creator. But such paraphernalia was an integral part of the funeral art of this state. And the granite sarcophagus itself in the “king’s chamber”, apparently, never served as a storage place for his mummified body. At least there is no evidence or trace that it was once there.

Sculpture of the Great Sphinx

It is also impossible to ignore such a creation of architecture as Great Sphinx sculpture. It is carved from a monolithic limestone rock and, although it has nothing in common with any of the pyramids of Ancient Egypt, it is an integral part of the man-made complex at Giza.

The dimensions of the sphinx are truly enormous: length 73 meters, height 20 meters. Over the millennia, the sculpture was covered with sand up to its neck. From time to time they tried to clear it, although they were limited only to the front part. They completely cleared it and learned the true volumes only in 1925.

The face of the Great Sphinx has pronounced Negroid features

There is an assumption that it was built during the time of Pharaoh Djedefre. He created it in memory of his father, but for some reason his face has pronounced Negroid features. Some researchers, pointing to the disproportionately small head, argue that at first it was the muzzle of a lion, but then one of the later rulers of the state ordered the excess to be cut down and immortalized his face.

It is interesting that the sculpture has clearly visible horizontal stripes. This is erosion, indicating that the sphinx was once up to its neck in water. When? During the great flood that took place 11 thousand years BC. e. according to Sumerian mythology, or during floods - they were a frequent occurrence in the 5th millennium BC. e. Then it turns out that it was created long before the Egyptian pyramids or simultaneously with them, but at a time much earlier than 45 centuries ago. Who created it, when and why?

There are many questions, but no specific answers. Even the above-described theory of the construction of the Cheops pyramid does not have a single practical proof. All this is just guesswork and speculation.

Based on all that has been said, the conclusion suggests itself: the Great Pyramids were created by some other civilization that existed in these places millennia before Ancient Egypt. And they were erected for purposes that the human mind cannot comprehend.

Maybe it was a powerful energy station, maybe through the pyramids there was a connection with space. It is also possible that this could be a healing center: the properties of the pyramids indicate that they have a beneficial effect on a living organism and kill pathogenic bacteria.

What then to do with Cheops? Unfortunately, there are no traces left of the powerful ruler, except for the pyramid with his name. The only thing is a small ivory figurine depicting this man. She was found in Giza in 1903.

People search, guess, assume, doubt. The pyramids of Ancient Egypt are devoid of throwing and vibration. For 45 centuries they have seen everything, it is impossible to surprise or excite them with anything. Great man-made creations dispassionately look at the vain world, and even Time itself respectfully bows its head before them, recognizing them as equal to Eternity.

The article was written by ridar-shakin

Based on materials from foreign and Russian publications

Report on the topic: “ Egyptian pyramids» will help you prepare for the lesson and learn interesting information.

Message "Egyptian pyramids"

Pyramids - known to everyone architectural monuments Ancient Egypt. The pyramids of Cheops and Giza are one of the seven wonders of the world. Pyramids are huge pyramid-shaped stone structures that were used as tombs for the pharaohs. The word "pyramid" is Greek and means polyhedron. In total, more than 118 pyramids of different shapes and heights were discovered in Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian architecture, even today, amazes with the power of its enormous stone structures. At the entrance to these buildings, there are huge statues of pharaohs, and sphinxes made of stone lie. Sphinx - in Ancient Egypt - the embodiment of royal power, a statue depicting a fantastic creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human or sacred animal.

Great Pyramid Cheops is the face of the Egyptian pyramids and the largest construction of antiquity. The construction of the pyramid took two whole decades and was completed in 2560 BC. With a height of 146.5 meters, it was the largest structure in the world for more than 4 millennia. The weight of the pyramid is more than 6 million tons. The area of ​​this giant is about 5 hectares. The Cheops Pyramid consists of 2.3 million stone blocks.

The second most important pyramid is the pyramid of Khafre, the son of Cheops. It was built on a 10-meter plateau, so it seems taller than the Cheops pyramid, but it is not. Its height is 136.4 meters. Not far from the Pyramid of Khafre is the Great Sphinx - a monument carved into the rock. The Sphinx's facial features mirror those of Pharaoh Khafre.

The crypts of the Egyptian pharaohs are not located inside the pyramids, as many mistakenly believe, but not far from them, in the Valley of the Kings. According to one theory, the mathematical “leverage principle” they mastered helped the Egyptians build the majestic pyramids. But, at the same time, it would have been possible to build the Cheops pyramid in this way in a century and a half. Whereas it appeared in just two decades. The Egyptian pyramids took about two centuries to build. While one was being built, another was already emerging on the sands.

You can write a message about pyramids yourself using this information to get a good grade.

Most people simply know that the Egyptian pyramids are large, impressive structures built a long time ago in ancient Egypt. It is also a widely known fact that the pyramids served as monumental tombs in which the pharaohs, the rulers of ancient Egypt, were buried. However, there are actually many more interesting things and little-known facts that many do not know about these fascinating structures. To expand your knowledge of the Egyptian pyramids, check out the twenty-five facts below that you may not know.

25. The three most famous Egyptian pyramids are those at the Giza Necropolis, but in fact approximately 140 pyramids have been discovered in the area of ​​ancient Egypt.

24. The most ancient Egyptian pyramid is considered to be the Pyramid of Djoser, which was built in the Saqqara Necropolis in the 27th century BC.

23. While the Pyramid of Djoser is considered the oldest, the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza) is the largest. The original height of the pyramid was 146.5 meters, and the current height is 138.8 meters.

22. Until the Lincoln Cathedral was built in England in 1311, the Great Pyramid of Giza held the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world. She held the record for at least 3,871 years!

21. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders Ancient World(Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and the last one currently existing.

20. Estimates of the number of workers involved in the construction of the pyramids vary greatly, however, it is likely that at least 100,000 people built them.

19. The Pyramids of Giza are guarded by the Great Sphinx, the largest monolithic sculpture in the world. It is believed that the face of the sphinx was given a resemblance to the face of Pharaoh Khafre (Khafra).

18. All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile River, which is the place of sunset and was associated with the kingdom of the dead in Egyptian mythology.

17. The ancient Egyptians buried their noble citizens in pyramids with funeral gifts that ranged from household items to the most expensive items such as jewelry. They believed that the dead would use them in the afterlife.

16. The earliest known architect of the pyramids was Imhotep, an ancient Egyptian polymath, engineer and physician. He is considered the author of the first large pyramid- Pyramids of Djoser.

15. While experts generally agree on the hypothesis that the pyramids were built from huge stones cut with copper chisels in quarries, the methods used to move and stack them are still the subject of heated debate and speculation.

14. Another relatively obvious fact is that the methods used to build the pyramids evolved over time. Later pyramids are built differently from the earliest pyramids.

13. After the end of the period of pyramid construction in Ancient Egypt, an outbreak of pyramid construction began in the territory of modern Sudan.

12. In the 12th century, an attempt was made to destroy the pyramids of Giza. Al-Aziz, the Kurdish ruler and second Ayyubid Sultan of Egypt, attempted to demolish them, but had to give up because the task was too large-scale. However, he managed to damage Menkaure's Pyramid, where his attempts left a vertical gaping hole in its northern slope.

11. The three pyramids of Giza are precisely aligned with the Constellation of Orion, which may well have been the builders' intention, since the stars of Orion were associated with Osiris, the god of rebirth and the underworld in ancient Egyptian mythology.

10. According to estimates, the Great Pyramid of Giza consists of 2,300,000 stone blocks that weigh from 2 to 30 tons, and some of them even weigh more than 50 tons.

9. The pyramids were originally covered with casing stones made of well-polished white limestone. These stones reflected the light of the sun and made the pyramids shine like precious stones.

8. When the casing stones covered the pyramids, they could be seen from the mountains in Israel and maybe even from the moon.

7. Despite the wild heat around the pyramids, the temperature in the pyramids themselves actually remains relatively constant and stays around 20 degrees Celsius.

6. It is quite difficult to calculate exactly, but the weight of the Cheops Pyramid may well be approximately 6 million tons.

5. The Pyramid of Cheops was built facing north. In fact, it is the most carefully north-aligned structure in the world. Despite the fact that it was built thousands of years ago, it still faces north, with only a slight error. However, the error occurred because the North Pole is gradually shifting, meaning that the pyramid was once pointing due north.

4. On average, it took 200 years to build each pyramid. This means that often several pyramids were built at once, rather than just one.

3. One of the reasons why the pyramids are so well preserved is the unique cement mortar used in them. It is stronger than real stone, but we still don't know how they prepared it.

Pyramids of Ancient Egypt: secrets, riddles, structure, architecture and internal structure of the pyramids of Ancient Egypt

• Last minute tours to Egypt
• Tours for May all over the world

Any UNESCO

the most unesco

Pyramid of Djoser

Giza, Al Badrashin

It’s definitely worth deciding on this trip, if only out of curiosity. After all, the Pyramid of Djoser is recognized as the oldest surviving Egyptian pyramid. Yes, yes, this is the first pyramid of Egypt, and it was built in honor of the ruler Djoser by the architect and close associate of the pharaoh Imhotep.

• Pyramids of Egypt - unique monument architecture, which has remained for centuries thanks to mysterious builders who managed to create structures so strong that no natural disasters or destructive wars could completely destroy these ancient Egyptian necropolises. The mystery of the pyramids has not yet been solved: it is impossible to speak with certainty either about the method of their construction, or about who acted as the main labor force. Now in Egypt there are about 118 pyramids, the largest of which were built during the reign of the III and IV dynasties of the pharaohs, that is, during the period of the so-called Old Kingdom. There are two types of pyramids: stepped and regular. The most ancient structures are considered to be of the first type. For example, the pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, dating back to 2650 BC. e.

  Necropolis translated from Greek means “ city ​​of the dead"and is a cemetery, usually located on the outskirts of the city. Egyptian pyramids - one of the varieties of this type of burial - served as monumental tombs for the pharaohs.

  What do we know about the pyramids of Egypt?

  They first learned about the pyramids thanks to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC. Traveling around Egypt, he was amazed by the famous pyramids of Giza and immediately ranked one of them, dedicated to Cheops, among the seven wonders of the world. Moreover, it was Herodotus who created the legend about how these structures were built. As soon as the pyramids became the object of study by scientists, and this happened only two hundred years ago, this legend immediately became a historical truth, the authenticity of which was refuted not so long ago.

  How the ancient pyramids were built

  Not as much has reached our time intact as we would like. Numerous vandals robbed the pyramids for the treasures hidden inside, and local residents, who broke out stone blocks for the construction of palaces and mosques, destroyed part of the external and internal appearance. Thus, the Pink or Northern Pyramid from Dahshur (26 km south of Cairo) got its name because of the color of the stone, turning pink in the rays of the setting Sun. However, she wasn't always like this. Previously, the structure was covered with white limestone, which was entirely used for the construction of houses in Cairo.

  For a long time it was believed that people who disturbed the peace of the pharaohs were doomed to death by the ancient gods. This was confirmed by the legend about the curse of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, according to which everyone who participated in the opening of the grave was supposed to die within a few years. And indeed, by 1929 (the tomb was opened in 1922), 22 people, one way or another involved in the autopsy, died. Whether the cause was the magic of Ancient Egypt or the poison placed in the sarcophagus during burial is anyone's guess.

  It is believed that the famous Great Sphinx, lying near the pyramids of Giza, is the guardian of the peace of the buried pharaohs.

  Architecture and internal structure of the pyramids

  The pyramids were only part of the ritual and funerary complex. Next to each of them there were two temples, one nearby and the other much lower, so that its foot was washed by the waters of the Nile. The pyramids and temples were connected by alleys. An analogue of an alley of a similar plan can be seen in Luxor. The famous Luxor and Karnak temples were united by an avenue of sphinxes that has partially survived to this day. The pyramids of Giza practically did not preserve their temples and alleys: only the lower temple of Khafre, the pharaoh of the IV dynasty, remained, for a long time considered the temple of the Great Sphinx.

  The internal structure of the pyramids implied the obligatory presence of a chamber where the sarcophagus with a mummy was located, and cut passages to this chamber. Sometimes religious texts were placed there. Thus, the interior of the pyramids in Saqqara, an Egyptian village 30 km from Cairo, contained the oldest works of funeral literature that have come down to us.

  It is believed that the famous Great Sphinx, which lies near the pyramids of Giza, is the guardian of the peace of the buried pharaohs. The ancient Egyptian name of this first monumental sculpture in the world has not reached our time. Only the Greek version of the designation remains in history. Medieval Arabs called the Sphinx "the father of horror."

  Modern Egyptologists suggest that the construction of the pyramids was carried out in several stages. Moreover, sometimes the size of the tomb during the creation process increased several times in comparison with the original project. The pharaohs built their tomb for many years. Only ground work and leveling the site for the future structure required at least ten. It took Pharaoh Cheops twenty years to build the largest pyramid to date. The workers who built the tombs were not slaves tortured to death. Moreover, archaeological excavations have shown that they were kept in fairly decent conditions, treated and fed normally. However, it is still unknown exactly how the huge stone blocks got to the very top. What is clear is that construction techniques have changed over time, and later structures are built differently from the first.

General information

Among the Egyptian pyramids there are huge and smaller ones, with a smooth surface and stepped ones, very well preserved and reminiscent of a pile of ruins. They can be observed in Saqqara and Memphis, Hawar and Upper Egypt, Medum and Abusir, El Lahun and Abu Rawash. However, only a few are considered the main tourist sites, namely the pyramids in Giza, a suburb of the Egyptian capital, built, as is commonly believed, during the reign of the IV-VI dynasties of the pharaohs, which occurred in the XXVI-XXIII centuries BC. e.

Looking at these grandiose creations of human hands, you can’t help but wonder: how much effort and time was spent on the construction of such structures that seem, at least in their scale, to be 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 buildings 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 a layer of millennia, and we have no choice but to make guesses and versions, hoping that sooner or later everything secret will definitely become clear...

Secrets of the Egyptian pyramids

The Egyptian pyramids are shrouded in an aura 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 also fueled by various theories about the appearance of these majestic monuments. Lovers of the mystical consider pyramids to be powerful sources of energy and believe that the pharaohs spent time in them not only after death, but also during life, in order to draw strength. There are also completely incredible ideas: for example, some believe that the Egyptian pyramids were built by aliens, and others that the blocks were moved by people who owned a magic crystal. Let's look at the generally accepted and most likely scenario.

Religion occupied a dominant position in the life of Ancient Egypt. 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 in advance, even during earthly life. However, the privilege of remaining “immortal” was, as it was believed, only with the pharaoh and his family members. And he, at his discretion, could bestow it on those around him. 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 provided with everything necessary - food supplies, household utensils, weapons, servants.

At first, rulers were buried in special “afterlife houses”, and in order for the pharaoh’s body to be preserved for centuries, it was embalmed. These early funerary buildings - mastabas - appeared during 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 prayer rooms were equipped and burial goods were located. In cross-section, these tombs resembled a trapezoid. They were built in Abydos, Nagadea, and Upper Egypt. The main necropolis of the then capital of the first dynasties - the city of Memphis - was located in Saqqara.

Actually, pyramid-shaped tombs began to be built about 5 thousand years ago. The initiator of their construction was Pharaoh Djoser (or Necherikhet), 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 to 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 built by people on their own, then the scale of the work and their labor intensity cannot but impress. Experts tried to establish their chronology and nature, and this is the results they came to. Since the pyramids are made of stone blocks, the question immediately arose: where and how were they mined? It turned out to be in the rocks...

Having marked out a shape in the rock and hollowed out grooves, they inserted dry trees into them and watered them with water. They expanded from moisture and created cracks in the rock, facilitating the process of extracting blocks. Then they were immediately processed on the spot with tools and, having been given the desired shape, were sent by river to the construction site. But how did the Egyptians lift these heavy masses to the top? 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 at the highest level! The megaliths are so closely adjacent to each other that there are practically no discrepancies.

The Pyramid of Djoser, located in Saqqara, is considered the very first pyramid in Egypt and the oldest surviving such large stone structure 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 structure with six huge tiled steps. Because of such an unusual shape, in those distant times it was called a “false pyramid.” 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 did not initially plan to build such a pyramid. The tomb became stepped during construction. The presence of steps clearly reveals a symbolic meaning: it was along them that the deceased pharaoh had to ascend to heaven. This structure also differed from previous necropolises in that it was built of stone rather than brick. And one more feature: the presence of a very wide and deep vertical shaft, covered with a dome on top. There is nothing like this in the pyramids built later. Of no less interest to archaeologists and Egyptologists are the marble fragments under the sarcophagus, on which carved images resembling stars can be seen. These are clearly fragments of some unknown structure, but no one knows which one.

The pyramid of Djoser was not intended only for himself, and this also differs from other similar structures. The ruler and members of his family were buried in the burial chambers, 12 in total. Archaeologists have 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 the mummified heel found here belonged to him. Even in ancient times, it is believed that robbers entered the tomb, probably kidnapping its dead “owner.”

However, the version of the robbery does not seem so clear. When examining the internal galleries, gold jewelry, porphyry bowls, clay and stone jugs and other valuables were discovered. Why didn't the thieves take away all this wealth? Historians were also interested in the seals affixed to small clay vessels. The name “Sekemhet” was inscribed 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 had begun here, but for some reason it was not completed. They even discovered an empty sarcophagus, the internal state of which led to the conclusion 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, like to other buildings on the territory, is located on the north side. A tunnel equipped with columns leads inside. The northern temple, the location of which is clear from the name itself, forms a single architectural ensemble with the pyramid. Funeral services were held there and sacrifices were made in the name of the pharaoh.

Egyptian pyramids in 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 western bank of the Nile, about 20 km from Cairo and is a virtual suburb of the capital.

The Great Pyramids of Giza are today the most popular ancient monuments in the country. Over the years, visiting them has become almost a ritual for tourists. Fly to Egypt and not see these majestic buildings with your own eyes? This is impossible to imagine! Many travelers even consider this place to be spiritual, connected to space, and visiting here becomes akin to some kind of healing. Recent studies have shown that the builders of the necropolises surprisingly accurately directed them to the belt of the constellation Orion, which has an as yet unsolved meaning. It is also interesting that their edges are oriented to the sides of the sun, and this is done with the same precision.

The Egyptian pyramids at Giza are undoubtedly an extremely impressive sight. Their sandstone facades reflect the sunlight: they are pink in the morning, golden during the day and turn dark purple at dusk. It is impossible not to admire the feat of engineering and organization that resulted in millions of stone blocks being transported from one location to another and precisely stacked on top of each other without power plants or lifting equipment.

The complex of the great pyramids consists of the tombs of three ancient rulers - Cheops, Khafre and Mikerin. Unlike the previous “houses after life” (macabs), these necropolises have a strict pyramidal shape. Moreover, the first of them is the only one of the seven wonders of the world that has 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 the story in any case will be incomplete, because it continues to keep many unsolved secrets. One of them is the orientation towards 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 having modern astronomical instruments in their hands. This accuracy has an even smaller margin of error than the famous Paris Observatory.

Cheops, the second pharaoh of the fourth dynasty of Ancient Egypt, who reigned for 27 years, has the reputation 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 towards his people, forcing them to do back-breaking work to build their 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 - became the tomb of the pharaoh. Special mention should be made about her. It stretches 10.4 m from west to east, and 5.2 m from south to north. The granite slabs that line the room fit together flawlessly. Nine monolithic blocks form the ceiling, their total weight is 400 tons.

Each cell has its own “hallway”, connected to neighboring corridors-shafts. At first, the entrance to the tomb was 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 creation would become a tourist attraction, so the 40-meter corridor was made not only narrow, but also low. Numerous tourists have to cross it crouching down. 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 Cheops pyramid is more than 146 meters - this is the “height” of a 50-story skyscraper. After the Great Wall of China, it is the largest structure ever erected in history. human history. The attraction is not “alone”; there are several other buildings around it. Of these, only three satellite pyramids and ruins have survived to this day. mortuary temple. It is obvious that no less effort was put into their construction. According to the most common version, the companion pyramids were intended for the wives of the ruler.

Pyramid of Khafre (Khafre)

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 “guarded” 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 monumental sculpture preserved on our planet (its length is 72 m, height is 20 m), it is interesting in itself. Egyptologists are inclined to think that the tombs of the two pharaohs, together with the sphinx, constitute 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 pyramid

Pyramid of Mikerin (Menkaure)

And finally, the Pyramid of Mikerin is the third in the complex of great monuments of Giza. It is also known as the Pyramid of Menkaure, named after 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, this is what the ancient Greek historian Herodotus claimed). This necropolis is called the “younger brother” of the two above-mentioned tombs: it was built later than the others and the lowest of them, its height is just over 65 meters. Such modest sizes indicate the decline of the ancient kingdom and the lack of resources necessary for 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, making it the heaviest on the Giza plateau. Just imagine what superhuman efforts had to be made to hoist this colossus into place. And the majestic statue of the pharaoh himself, seated inside the temple! It is one of the largest sculptures that personify that mysterious era... The pyramid of Mykerinus, as the smallest one, could have begun the destruction of the entire historical and architectural complex in Giza, conceived by Sultan al-Malik al-Aziza, who ruled at the end of the 12th century. The work to dismantle the necropolis lasted about a year, but the practical result was minimal. The Sultan was ultimately forced to curtail them, since his, frankly speaking, stupid and unjustified undertaking entailed exorbitant expenses.

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 the body of a lion. 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 by the desert sands. Thutmose IV believed that the statue spoke to 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, where a beautifully restored cedar boat is kept, on which the body of the dead pharaoh was transported from the eastern to the west bank Nila.

Useful information for tourists

The Great Pyramid complex of Giza is open to the public from 8:00 to 17:00 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 air and are not a museum in the literal sense of the word, then here you can feel free to climb and climb onto these structures. Remember: doing this is strictly prohibited - in the interests of your own safety!

Before you agree to enter the pyramids, objectively assess your psychological state and physical health. People who have a fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia) should skip this part of the tour. Due to the fact that the inside of the tombs is usually dry, hot and a little dusty, it is not recommended for asthmatics, hypertensive patients and those suffering from other diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous system to enter here.

How much will an excursion to the area of ​​the Egyptian pyramids cost a tourist? Cost has several components. Entrance ticket it will cost you 60 Egyptian pounds, which is equivalent to about 8 euros. Do you want to go to the Cheops pyramid? For this you will have to pay 100 pounds or 13 euros. A tour from the inside of the Pyramid of Khafre is much cheaper - £20 or €2.60.

A visit to the Solar Boat Museum, which is located south of the Cheops Pyramid, is also paid separately (40 pounds or 5 euros). Photography is allowed in the pyramid area, but you will have to pay 1 euro for the right to take pictures. 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, they leave it amazing place, literally imbued with the spirit of antiquity, I don’t want it 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 charge an inflated price for their services. Don’t agree to it right away, bargain and you’ll get a discount.

• The Pyramid of Cheops is the only surviving wonder of the world.
• The pyramids took two centuries to build and were erected several at a time. Now, according to research by various scientists, their age ranges from 4 to 10 thousand years.
• In addition to precise mathematical proportions, pyramids have another feature in this area. The stone blocks are arranged in such a way that there are no gaps between them; even the thinnest blade cannot fit through there.
• Each side of the pyramid is located in the direction of one side of the world.
• The Cheops Pyramid, the largest in the world, reaches a height of 146 meters and weighs more than six million tons.
• If you want to know how the Egyptian pyramids were created, interesting facts You can learn about construction from the pyramids themselves. Construction scenes are depicted on the walls of the passages. The edges 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 roar from such heat.
• A perfectly straight foundation was made for the Cheops pyramid, so the edges differ from each other by only five centimeters.
• The first pyramid built dates back to 2670 BC. e. In appearance, it resembles several pyramids located next to each other. The architect created the type of masonry that helped achieve this effect.
• The Cheops Pyramid is made of 2.3 million blocks, perfectly aligned 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 bakery were discovered there.

Camels against the backdrop of the Giza pyramids

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 a holiday on the magnificent beaches with a visit to the pyramid complex in Giza. Since the resorts are located quite far from the named city, you can only get there as part of an excursion group. If you go by bus, you will have to spend 6 to 8 hours on the road. It's faster by plane: you'll get there in just 60 minutes. You can also get there by car with a driver. This is much more comfortable, but it will take a significant hit on your wallet.

Those who are on vacation in Cairo or are in the Egyptian capital on a business trip are in a more advantageous position. They can take the bus (routes no. 900 and 997) or the metro (yellow line no. 2, exit at Giza station). Alternatively, you can call a taxi or catch one in Tahrir Square. The trip will cost more than public transport, but you’ll get there faster, in just half an hour. You can go back and forth with the same car, but you will have to pay a little more.

You can get to Giza from the capital by taking a bus in the New Cairo area (aka Heliopolis) that follows one of two routes: No. 355 or No. 357. These comfortable vehicles, running every 20 minutes, are marked with STA letters, along which they are easy to recognize. The final stop is located just before the entrance to the pyramid zone, at the intersection.