Essay Sample on The Pyramids of Giza: A Symbol of History in the World

Introduction

The Pyramids of Giza are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They were built more than a thousand years ago, and are symbols of history in world today. They are situated in Egypt were they served as tombs for pharaohs who were rulers. They were built in a span of three generations under the rulers Khufu, Khafre and, Menkaure ("The Great Pyramids of Giza" (article), np). Under each ruler was one pyramid built during his era from the largest to smallest pyramid respectively. The pyramids were considered as sacred places for the Pharaohs to travel to the after-life and even having temples inside the pyramids. The structure itself represent a solidified structure of the sun’s rays which the Egyptians believed was a path skywards to the after-life. The structures were built of stone walls by 2000 men transporting about 340 stones from the quarries to the pyramids.

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The Stonehenge Structures

Stonehenge was ancient structures found in the United Kingdom built in three phases of about 100-300 years each ("Stonehenge (article), np). They are built of hard stone weighing about 25tons each. The structure itself is built in a horseshoe shape following sophisticated planning. The Stonehenge served as burial sites for important people in the nation. They also brought out a unique aspect which was their relation to the lunar and solar calendars. The builders designed the stones in such a way that the sunrise of the midsummer solstice is exactly framed by the end of the horseshoe at the interior of the monument, and exactly opposite that point, at the center of the bend of the horseshoe, at the midwinter sunset, the sun is also aligned. These signs marking the longest and shortest days of the year.

Ziggurats Structure and Purpose

Ziggurats are also ancient marks of culture and history. With a stair-like structure similar to the pyramids, the Ziggurats are built on a square or rectangular base and core of mud bricks and the outer layer of baked bricks. They were found in the major cities of Mesopotamia each being built in honor of the city's god.

Conclusion

The difference between Ziggurats and pyramids is that they do not have inner chambers but instead have staircases where their priests could climb and do religious practices as there was a shrine at the top of each Ziggurat. Although many have been ruined one that remains is the Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat in Iran. Furthermore, they offered a safe sanctuary for the people awing to the frequent flooding in the area. All of these structures have been uniquely built artistically in different communities. One that they have in common is that, they served as religious monuments and burial grounds. They also serve as a reminder that art was not started yesterday and it is up to us to ensure it does not die tomorrow by appreciating art and embracing our different cultures.

Works cited

"Stonehenge (article) | Khan Academy", Khan Academy, 2020, online, Internet, 10 Jul. 2020. , Available: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/prehistoric-art/neolithic-art/a/stonehenge.

"The Great Pyramids of Giza (article) | Khan Academy". Khan Academy, 2020. Online. Internet. 10 Jul. 2020. . Available: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/egypt-art/predynastic-old-kingdom/a/old-kingdom-the-great-pyramids-of-giza.