These ancient Egyptian monuments remain a source of speculation and controversy.
Illustration: Three pyramids known as the Pyramid of the Queen from the Giza Plateau, preceded by three smaller three-satellite pyramids. From left to right: Pyramid of Menkala, Pyramid of Khafre and Pyramid of Khufu
Built in the 26th and 25th centuries BC (circa 2600 BC – 2400 BC), the Pyramids of Khufu, Kafra, and Monkhail in Egypt were built in this order, a testament to ancient planning and engineering.
The exact year in which they were built is somewhat unclear, as these dates depend on the exact reign of the pharaoh who built them, a subject of debate among scholars. For example, set the date of Khuf's reign as ca. 2551–2528 BC, Cabrayo. 2520–2494 BC and Menkaure for ca. 2490–2472 BC However, different sources and scholars have different estimates of the time of each pharaoh's reign.
How these pyramids were built is also a source of speculation and controversy. Many researchers believe that some form of ramp system was used during construction to move blocks into place. When the pyramids were built, they were all or partly wrapped in white limestone, and most of them are now lost.
As bricks move through the desert, a small amount of water is placed on the sand in front of them, making it easier for them to move. In 2018, researchers found a quarry in the Eastern Desert that could be used to help move bricks up ramps. The installation has a central ramp flanked by stairs with many column holes on the stairs. The researchers say a similar device could be used in Giza.
In addition, archaeologists have found Giza and the eastern Mediterranean transported to the site. The researchers found that imported goods included limestone from Tula, a small town in Egypt, and cedar wood from Lebanon.
Although there are differences between the three pyramids (Khufu's pyramid, the "Great Pyramid" is several times more massive than That of Menkara), the southeastern end of each pyramid is almost precisely aligned. Each pyramid has a mortuary and valley temple with a causeway connecting them. They also have smaller pyramids, known as the Satellite Pyramid or the Pyramid of the Queen.
The Sphinx, a mysterious monument usually associated with King Khafre, stands near his valley temple. To the south of the Sphinx is the "Wall of Crows," 656 feet (200 meters) long and 32 feet (10 m) thick.
South of the city walls are settlements that archaeologists sometimes call the "Lost City." According to Live Science, the city has the potential to house barracks for troops. Archaeologists have found in the city a simpler house in the city that should have been used by senior officials where workers might have lived in the pyramid itself. The study also revealed evidence that the business fed the people of Giza.
Next to the giza pyramid, which has been used for thousands of years, is a huge cemetery – long after the pyramid was built. Some tombs were used for members of the royal family and senior officials.
In 2018, archaeologists reported the discovery of a female official of the year. Inside the tomb there are murals depicting hunting and fishing scenes, music and dance performances, and a pair of monkeys, one of whom is dancing in front of an orchestra.
Pyramid of Khufu
When Khufu was complete, the Great Pyramid rose 481 feet (146 m). Today, due to the loss of some stones, the pyramid is slightly shorter, 455 feet (138 m) long. It was the tallest building in the world until the central tower of Lincoln Cathedral was completed in England in 1311.
The Great Pyramid is sloping, with the west side slightly longer than the east side. In 2016, calculations by engineer Glen Dash and Egyptologist Mark Lehner showed that the east side was initially between 755.561 and 755.817 feet (230.295 to 230.373 meters), while the west side was between 755.833 and 756.024 feet (230.378 and 230.436 meters).
To the southeast of the Great Pyramid are three smaller pyramids. Two of these were dedicated to Khuff's wife, Queen Hennussen and The Meritorious Queen, while the other small pyramid was dedicated to Khuff's mother, Queen Hettfils, director of the Foundation for Archaeology and Heritage in Ancient Egypt, Pietra Kowala, who wrote in his book "" (Bunker Hill Press, 2004).
Seven boat pits were found at the Pyramid of Khufu, two on the south side, two on the east side, two between the Pyramid of the Queen, and one next to the morgue and the causeway. The best-preserved vessel is carefully assembled from more than 1,200 pieces, 142 feet (43 m) long, with planks and oars. The purpose of these ships is a mystery.
The pyramid of Khufu has three rooms. A magnificent gallery leads to the King's Room, a red granite room with a now empty royal sarcophagus. The king's room was protected by a huge stone block in front of the room to protect it from grave robbers. Eventually, sometime in antiquity, people managed to get into the room and rob it.
At the center of the pyramid is the so-called Queen's Chamber, although it may never have had a queen. Beneath the pyramid is a crypt whose purpose, like the Queen's Room, is a mystery.
Both the king's room and the queen's room contain two "gas wells" (although they may not have been used in this way). The shafts of the King's Bedchamber now lead outside, while the two shafts of the Queen's Bedchamber came to a halt after some distance. The robot's exploration of the shafts showed that they led to doors with copper handles and hieroglyphs.
The largest of the three pyramids of Giza is the Pyramid of Khufu
In 2017, scientists scanned the pyramids using μ, μ are high-energy particles that constantly land on Earth. Mesons behave differently when interacting with different materials, such as stone and air. Through this analysis, the researchers found that the large gallery is about 98 feet (30 meters) long and 20 feet (6 meters) high above it may contain one or more chambers. They found a second much smaller void on the north side of the Great Pyramid.
They detected the hole by analyzing μ, an approved probe using a more powerful μ, which could reveal more information about the material contained in the hole.
The construction of the Pyramids of Khufu was a daunting task. Mark Reiner, an archaeologist who excavated in Giza, estimated —assuming Khuf ruled for about 30 years—that 251 cubic yards (230 cubic meters) of stone had to be laid down every day. (Thames & Hudson, 2008) writes that this is "the rate of one average-sized block every two to three minutes in a 10-hour period a day," adding that the average size of these pyramid stones is estimated to be as high as 2.5 tons.
Scholars are learning more about the workers. Contrary to popular belief, scholars believe that the workers who built the pyramids were not slaves. In 2013, an important discovery was the found at the Wadi al-Jarf site in the Red Sea documenting the remains of a group of workers (sometimes translated as "gangs") led by a man known as Merer.
The logbook mentions that workers helped transport limestone from Tula to the Great Pyramid. Limestone will be used for the shell of the pyramid. The logbook mentions that the "gang" worked all over Egypt for most of the year. Scientists continue to analyze and decipher the logs, and future work may reveal more about the workers who helped build the Great Pyramid.
Pyramid of Kafra
Khuf's successor, Jedfrey, built his pyramid off-site in Abu Roash. Khafre, who succeeded Djedefre, returned to Giza and built a pyramid that is now about 446 feet (136 meters) tall, smaller than Khufu's. However, it was built at a slightly higher elevation, making it look taller than that.
The pyramid of Khafre looks different from Khufu's pyramid because of its different shell. Miroslav Verner, former director of the Czech Institute of Egyptology, wrote in his book that while the shell of the Pyramid of Khufu was made of limestone, the outer shell of the lower layer of the Pyramid of Khafre was made of red granite, while the upper part was made of limestone. "," (AUC Press, 2021). Most of these red granite casings are no longer present.
Illustration: Visitors view the coronation of Chephren funeral statue of the Fourth Dynasty (2613-2494 BC) at the Old Kingdom Gallery at the Egyptian Museum in the heart of the Egyptian capital Cairo, 27 October 2021.
Only one satellite pyramid is located outside the Pyramid of Cabra. Inside, the construction of the pyramids is simpler than Khuf's. It has two entrances, both on the north side, one 38 feet (12 m) above the bottom of the pyramid and the other on the ground. "The relatively simple planning of the entire substructure led us to conclude that the builders of the Pyramid of Khafre may have tried to avoid the complications encountered in building a technically difficult, time-consuming and expensive system of passages, barriers, and rooms. "Pyramids," Verner wrote in his book.
Both entrances lead to a passage that eventually leads to the burial chamber. There was an empty red granite sarcophagus in that room, and no trace of mummies or burial equipment was found, Forner wrote. They may have been robbed in ancient times.
Jeffrey Newman, a UCLA Egyptology ph.D. student, wrote in an article published at the Center for American Studies in Egypt that his valley temple contained a "bigger than a real person" statue of Hafra, on which he sat on his throne. Newman writes that the statue, made of a volcanic rock called oblique gneiss, "is one of the most important and iconic surviving sculptures of ancient Egypt," Newman wrote, noting that the sides of the throne contain hieroglyphs that "represent the king's duty to be taken literally." Combine the components of Egypt under one authority. The statue is now in the collection of the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Pyramid of Mencor
With a height of 215 feet (65 m) and a bottom of 335 x 343 feet (102 x 105 m), Menkaure is the smallest of the three pyramids to date. Lehner notes that its architectural quality is about one-tenth of that of the Pyramid of Khufu. Its complex includes three satellite pyramids on its south side.
The entrance to the Pyramid of Menkaure is located above the ground, and its passage leads to the vestibule and burial chamber. Howard Vyse discovered an ornate sarcophagus in the 19th century, but it was lost when the Beatrice, which was shipped to England, sank.
Why menkaure's pyramid is much smaller than the other two is a mystery. It may just be that Giza didn't have room to build another large pyramid, or that events during Mencour's reign prevented him from building another large structure. Future pharaohs would not have built pyramids as big as those built by Khufu and Cabra.
sphinx
The Sphinx lies in front of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt
All three of Giza's pyramids have mortuary temples, connected to valley temples by causeways. However, in the case of Kafra's pyramid, there is also a mysterious monument known as the Sphinx near his valley temple, and an unfinished temple dedicated to it.
The Sphinx is a 241-foot (74 m) long monument carved from the limestone bedrock of the Giza Plateau. It has a man's face and a lion's body. This mythical creature can be seen throughout the ancient Middle East as well as in Indian and Greek art. During the vernal equinox, the sun.
An article published in the book wrote that the Greek word "sphinx" can mean "strangler" or "bound." (Routledge, 2020). The face of the giza giant statue may have been based on Cabra's face. Efforts to protect and restore the Sphinx date back at least 3,400 years.
What is the purpose of the pyramids?
The simplest explanation for using pyramids is that they were the burial places of their respective kings. Sarcophagus found in all three pyramids supports this idea. The pyramid complex and the funerary objects that once housed them helped the king ascend to the afterlife.
"The pyramids should be the dead house of the pharaohs—unshakable, indestructible, eternal," Verner wrote in his book. He noted that nearby temple buildings "are dedicated to the sacrifice of the dead, and this should also continue forever..."
Interestingly, the spiritual importance of Giza seems to span all eras. In late 2010, archaeologists announced the discovery of the remains of about 400 malnourished people near the Raven Wall, buried in few funerary objects. Their history dates back 2,700 to 2,000 years, two thousand years after the pyramid was built, and their burial site indicates that they wanted to be close to Giza.
Today, while people may not worship the pharaohs, the Pyramids of Giza are a UNESCO World Heritage Site that have been visited by people from all over the world.