How they survived for 4,500 years remains a mystery to this day: Pyramids of Giza

About 4,500 years ago, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs built the pyramids of Giza as their tombs. These pyramids are amazing feats of engineering and are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Pyramids of Giza are composed of three big pyramids that are named after the three pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. These pyramids are situated on a high land called the Giza Plateau, near the Nile River. Besides the pyramids, there are also small pyramids where the pharaohs’ wives and relatives are buried, statues and temples that are made to honour and protect the pharaohs’ souls.

WHO BUILT THE GIZA PYRAMIDS?

The first Egyptian king to build a pyramid at Giza was Pharaoh Keops. Keops’ project began around 2550 BC.
The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest pyramid in Giza, standing 147 meters above the ground. The current height of the pyramid is slightly lower because the soft stone cladding on its exterior has eroded away over the years.
The Great Pyramid of Cheops was built with 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 and 15 tons.
Cheops’ son Kefren built the second pyramid at Giza around 2520 BC.
The necropolis of Kefren stands out in particular because the Sphinx is also here.
The body of the Sphinx, a mysterious monument with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh, was buried in the sand until the 1800s.
It is possible that the purpose of the Sphinx, of which only the head is visible, was to be the guardian of the Pharaoh’s tomb. However, there is no conclusive evidence that Kefren built the Sphinx.

How were the pyramids of Giza built?

Scientists are still curious about how the pyramids of Giza were built, what their purposes were, and what kind of secrets they hide. There are many things we don’t know about these pyramids, but some fascinating facts are:

• The Khufu Pyramid is made of about 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing an average of 2.5 tons. It is a mystery how these stone blocks were cut, moved, and placed. Some scientists have proposed that a long-lost branch of the Nile River was used to transport stone blocks by boats.
• The Khufu Pyramid has a sophisticated design with many concealed rooms and passages in it. Some of these rooms have not been found yet, and new technologies are being used to explore the inner structure of the pyramid. For instance, in 2017, a cosmic-ray scan revealed a big void in the northeastern corner of the pyramid.
• The Khafre Pyramid looks like the highest of the pyramids, but it is actually smaller than the Khufu Pyramid. This is because the Khafre Pyramid was built on a higher land, and part of the stone casing on the top of the pyramid is still intact.
• The Menkaure Pyramid is the smallest of the pyramids and has a red colour unlike the others. This pyramid has endured less damage than others, and the rooms in it are better preserved. The pyramid contains sculptures of Menkaure’s wife Queen Khamerernebty.

The building of the pyramids was a massive undertaking in terms of time and the number of workers. The building of colossal pyramids, such as the Khufu Pyramid, took about 20 years. Each of the stones used to build the pyramids weighs approximately 20 tons. How these heavy stones were moved at that time remains a mystery. The building of the pyramids is believed to have been done by thousands of workers or slaves, who then lifted the stones up the pyramid with ramps.

What tools were used to build the pyramids

It is not known exactly what tools were used to build the pyramids, but some possible tools include:

• Copper chisels: used to shape blocks from stones.
• Boats: used to carry stone blocks using the Nile.
• Elephants: used to drag heavy stone blocks.
• Cranes: used to lift and place stone blocks.
• Ropes: used to tie and move stone blocks.
• Levers: used to turn and adjust stone blocks.
• Wedges: used to split and drop stone blocks.
• Sledges: used to transport stone blocks.
• Wood: used to make ramps and scaffolds.
• Rollers: used to slide stone blocks from ramps.

Some people claim that the tools and technology used to build the pyramids could not be made by the human technology that existed at that time, and that they must have been done by aliens. However, this theory has no evidence and is dismissed by most scientists.
The Pyramids of Giza are the mysterious legacy of ancient Egypt. These pyramids are the largest and oldest monuments in human history. These pyramids are a symbol of the pharaohs’ desire for immortality, engineering skills, and artistic taste. These pyramids tell us a lot about the culture, beliefs and life of ancient Egypt. These pyramids also remind us that there is still a lot to be discovered.