Witnessing the Great Egyptian Pyramids: A Mystery Unveiled - Essay Sample

Introduction

Ideally, witnessing the historical creation of the great Egyptian pyramids would be the most exciting event. The main reason behind this choice includes the insufficiency of reliable scholarly information and mythological speculations that fail to explain the mystery surrounding this wonder of the world. Newly discovered information begins to discredit the accounts proposed earlier. Additionally, the sophistication of the dynamics and marvels of engineering used in the structure creates a significant degree of curiosity. These structures are among the few ancient historic structures that continue to exist in the 21st Century; hence, obtaining first-hand information would help to answer most of the commonly inquired challenging questions based on design, orientation, and purpose.

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Exploring Egyptian pyramids arouses questions about their establishment, which have already been subject to speculation since Herodotus' historical account. Most of the questions remain unanswered as archaeologists continue to carry out advanced research and exploration since Egyptians lacked written records that could account for the science or theory proposed in such times.

The pyramid is one of the biggest mysteries of the world due to its complexity in the election techniques. The construction is closely linked to the development of agriculture, which was a survival mechanism in the desert country. Granite blocks and over 2million limestone were used to build the great pyramid of Giza. Quantitative scaling reveals that each piece of masonry used weighed approximately 2.5 metric tons (Edwards, 9). It is incredibly astonishing how these 2.3 million massive blocks were moved in an era without any known form of technology. The remains of wooden sleds found during research have led to speculative evidence that inclined planes or ramps were used to raise the massive stones, hence disputing any possibility of wheels in the fourth dynasty.

According to Herodotus literature obtained from Egyptian guides, 100, 000 slaves were used to build the pyramids (Edwards, 7). They took twenty years for the structure itself and ten more years to build a causeway that connected it to the temple (Edwards, 7). The use of immense machines positioned the stones. However, it was until the 1990s when the pyramid builders' graves were discovered. Herodotus, the Greek historian, had already swayed the world into believing that slaves built the pyramids. The discovery also revealed that low-income families, rather slaves, built the pyramids. The workforce was approximate 20,000 agricultural laborers (Edwards, 7). This discovery is reinforced by the honor of being buried in a tomb. The recognition could certainly not have been owed to slaves. Additionally, the idea of immense machines escalates more curiosity since different study shows that the first machine in Egypt was invented in the 4th Century BC.

The era of pyramid construction existed between the fifth and the sixth dynasties. The most recognized is the pyramid of Giza constructed between 2589 and 2504 BC. The pioneer and the methodology of construction remain mysterious. The current study stipulates that the massive blocks were pulled over wet sand in front of a contraption building (Dunham, 5). The quality of construction is said to decline over the period as power and wealth subsequently dropped. Pyramid builders are believed to be the initial inscribers of written accounts of religious compositions regarding Egyptian Kings in ancient Egypt. They are supposed to originate from simple rectangular tombs that were built over 5000 years ago by archaeologist Flinders Petrie. The advancement continued during the reign of pharaoh Djoser, whose mastaba tomb laid the foundation for the development of a six-layered step pyramid with chambers and underground tunnels.

Different publications attempt to explicate numerous proposed likelihoods on the primary step of the construction of these pyramids. The rituals were conducted in a specified time that enabled sketching the necessary cords to determine the pyramid's south orientation (Haack, 1). Due to the rhombic signs associated with mastaba stone of foundation, geometry could probably be the basic technique used for the primary plan and alignment. Other articles propose that the solar equinox festive day was selected for the ritual since the gnomon shadow aided in the indication of the E-W cardinal dimension. In the 3rd Century BC, sundials formed by equinox sun-shadow are believed to be universal.

The Giza pyramid is commonly recognized by its unique characteristics, such as the ability to act as a vast sundial (Kittler, 2). The pyramid's original height was 147 meters, which is the largest in the world and is known to cast a shadow on certain marks that tell the hour. Their sophistication is credited with the capability to exhibit equinoxes and solstices, which helped the Egyptians define the solar year (Kittler, 3). The pyramids continue to hold the highest rank in the architectural achievements of the ancient world. They present an incredible advanced feat of Engineering that is progressively constituting to a new structural discovery that was previously unnoticed.

Technical prowess mixed with superstition and mythology led to the construction of these structures, which can be described as formidable and durable pieces of architecture. A sophisticated culture characterizes ancient Egyptian history due to the extensive use of superstition and symbolism that steered decision making. It arose a sense of curiosity for the strategic location of the pyramids in the west bank of the Nile beside the mare construction. Published research from Kate Spence of Cambridge reveals that the stars, big dipper, and little dipper were the guiding force in the alignment of the pyramids in the north-south direction (Haack, 1). The measurement was nearly accurate, with an error margin of 0.05 degrees.

The Egyptians had a firm religious conviction in the gods and afterlife; hence the establishment of the pyramids was closely intertwined. Studies suggest that the association is linked to the sun's setting in the west, which is a symbol of death. The souls are again meant to reconnect at the time of rising. The west location to the Nile, thus metaphorically signify death while the entire cycle signifies eternal life and reconnection with the souls (Kittler,3). The distinct appearance in color, variation of angles, and smoothness reveal the complexity of the structure. Researchers are continually striving to understand the planning involved in the construction of the pyramid and other structures around it, such as cemeteries, boat pits, and the temples.

The current archaeologists in Egypt are actively excavating and decrypting many mysteries still left unrevealed. Cat mummies and cat statues revealed close to the Saqqara site of burial disclose the possibility of far much-uncovered knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians. It is challenging to describe how the builders managed to design the formidable structure regarding setbacks and problems observed to strain modern day engineers. The pyramids reveal a time of powerful civilization in the world. They as well continue to provide a glimpse even after 4,000 years, thus showing the rich cultural knowledge of Ancient Egypt. It is to wonder the diversity of more information that was never recorded

Works Cited

Dunham, Down. Building an Egyptian pyramid. Verlag nicht ermittelbar, 1956.

Edwards, Iorwerth Eiddon Stephen. The pyramids of Egypt. Vol. 168. In the Hands of a Child, 1955.

Haack, Steven C. "The astronomical orientation of the Egyptian pyramids." Journal for the History of Astronomy 15.7 (1984): S119-S125.

Kittler, Richard, and Stanislav Darula. "Applying solar geometry to understand the foundation rituals of 'Old Kingdom'Egyptian pyramids." Architectural Science Review 51.4 (2008): 407-412.