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Pyramids

Mysterious pyramids of Egypt

The Egyptian pyramid of Djoser, better known as the step pyramid, is located in Sakkara, 30 km from Cairo. A visit to the pyramid is part of the Dashur-Sakkara excursion. It is worth visiting this pyramid at least out of curiosity, because this is the very first pyramid built in honor of the ruler Djoser. The peculiarity of the pyramid is that it is made in a stepped form. Six steps is the path along which the pharaoh goes to the afterlife, according to historians. Inside the pyramid there are 11 burial chambers for the pharaoh and his family members. During archaeological excavations, Djoser himself was not found, only the mummies of his relatives. This is due to the fact that by the time the excavations began, the tomb had already been plundered in order.

An excursion to Sakkara with a visit to the Djoser pyramid will cost about $ 80 per person.

Pyramid of Mikerin

The pyramid is located on the Giza plateau next to other famous pyramids - Cheops and Khafre. In comparison with them, the pyramid of Mikerin is considered the smallest and youngest pyramid of the famous triad. The peculiarity of this pyramid is in its color - up to the middle it was made of red granite, and above it was made of white limestone. But in the 16th century, the cladding was destroyed by the Mamluk warriors. The fact that the pyramid of Mikerin is relatively small in size, scientists explain by the fact that the Egyptians stopped making grandiose tombs. But despite this, the pyramid never ceases to amaze scientists and travelers. For example, the largest stone block weighs about 200 tons! What technical means helped the ancient Egyptians so much? An excursion to the pyramid is included in the travel program in Cairo, its cost is approximately $ 60 per person.

Pyramid of Mikerin

The Pyramid of Cheops

There is hardly a person. who would not know the main attraction of Egypt - the pyramid of Cheops. The height of this one of the Seven Wonders of the World today is 140 meters, and the area is about 5 hectares. The pyramid consists of 2.5 million stone blocks. The construction of the pyramid took 20 years. Several thousand years have passed since the construction of the Cheops pyramid, but the Egyptians still greatly honor the pyramid, and every year in August they celebrate the day of the beginning of its construction. Despite the fact that the research and excavation of the pyramid, it still holds many secrets. For example, in the burial room of the Pharaoh's wife, secret doors were found, which, according to scientists, symbolize the path to the afterlife. But the archaeologists could not open the last door. The cost of an excursion to the Giza plateau with a visit to the pyramids is 50-60 dollars. For children, the ticket will cost half the price.

Pyramid of Khafre

Although the pyramid of Khafre is 4 meters smaller than the pyramid of Cheops, visually it seems taller. The secret is that the pyramid stands on a ten-meter plateau and is very well preserved to this day. The pyramid has two entrances - one at a height of 15 m, and the other on the same side at the base level. Inside the pyramid of Khafre it is quite modest - two rooms and a couple of corridors, but here is a real sarcophagus of the pharaoh. The tomb is made at the highest level and does not leave indifferent any of the tourists. The tomb itself is empty.

Archaeologists found a grandiose find in a pyramid in the 19th century - a sculpture of a pharaoh from a mountain diorite.

The cost of an excursion to the Khafre pyramid is about 60 dollars.

Pyramid of Khafre

Dashur

This place is not as popular as the Giza plateau with its pyramids. Dashur is famous for its pyramids, which were built during the reign of Pharaoh Snofu. These structures are considered the first tombs in history, built according to new types of structures.

The southern pyramid, which is better known as the Broken Line, got its name from its irregular shape. In the course of its construction, the angles of the edges were changed for some unknown reason. Perhaps this was a mistake, but scientists explain it as a construction move with concern for the strength and durability of the pyramid. The main difference between the Broken Pyramid is. that it has two entrances - the "traditional" northern and almost never encountered southern.

Another attraction of Dashur is the Northern Pyramid, better known by its name as the Red Pyramid. The pyramid got its name from its facing red color. This is the first tomb with a regular pyramidal shape. It is very dark in the pyramid, so it is worth taking a flashlight with you. In the lowest burial chamber one can observe a high stepped ceiling, the same as in the gallery of the Cheops pyramid.

The cost of an excursion to Cairo, which includes a trip to Dashur, will cost an average of $ 85.

Perhaps every person wants to look at the pyramids. And if this is your dream since childhood, then a tour to Egypt is what you need. It is very simple to order such a tour today - it is enough to contact the travel agencies of your city through a special form on our website, or contact with all your questions at 8-800-100-30-24.

The great seven wonders of the world - the hanging, the Alexandria lighthouse, the statue of Zeus, the colossus of Rhodes, etc. Everyone knows about them. But only one "miracle" of these seven has survived from our days. They are mysterious Egyptian pyramids which are more than 4,500 years old.

Location and structural features of the Egyptian pyramids:

The pyramids are located on the territory of the ancient cemetery in Giza, which is on the opposite bank from the (modern capital).

Scientists note that during the entire existence of the Ancient Egyptian kingdom, more than 80 pyramids were built, but only a small part has survived to us. In total, there are three pyramids that have survived - these are the pyramids of Cheops, Khafren and Mikerin (they also have Egyptian names - Khufu, Khafra and Menkaur). Only the first of this list formally belongs to the legendary seven. However, they are all mysterious and majestic.

The views of these structures are impressive. They stand out clearly against the blue sky and dark yellow sand. You notice them even from afar, before you approach them. For anyone, the giant pyramids evoke sacred awe. They seem to be something cosmic, it is hard to believe that man had anything to do with their construction.

The main pyramid is the pyramid of Cheops (Khufu). Each side of the base is 233 m long. The height of the pyramid is 147 m. The area of ​​the pyramid is more than 50 thousand square meters. Its internal premises occupy a very small volume - no more than 4% of the total area.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the Cheops pyramid was considered the largest structure on our planet. According to Napoleon's calculations, the stone blocks of the three pyramids of Giza would be enough to encircle the entire wall with a wall three meters high and 30 centimeters thick.

All sides are practically symmetrical - such accuracy is surprising. The pyramid consists of 2,500,000 huge blocks, each of which weighs at least two tons, the heaviest block weighs 15 tons. The architect of this pyramid is also known - the Egyptian Hemuin.

Many misunderstandings arise from the layout of the inner corridors and the so-called "main royal chamber" with an empty sarcophagus of the Cheops pyramid. As you know, a narrow passage - a ventilation duct - leads out from this room at an angle, and above the chamber there are several empty unloading rooms, built in order to reduce the huge stone mass. One of the mysteries, for example, is the location of the main room - it is not located along the central axis, as in all tombs, but deviated to the side.

Khafre pyramid(Khafre) is almost not inferior to the pyramid of Cheops. It is slightly smaller - 215 m long and 143 m wide, but due to the fact that it is located on steeper slopes, it seems larger. Khefren is buried in it - this is the son of Cheops.

Not far from this pyramid is the legendary Great Sphinx, which is also part of the burial complex. The size of the figure is rather big: its height is 20 meters, and its length is 57 meters. The figure, carved from solid rock, depicts a lying lion with a human head.

Pyramid of Khufuso has come down to our times in good condition compared to other pyramids: it is the only one that has preserved the lime cladding at its top.

Menkaur pyramid(Mikerina) is the smallest of the legendary pyramids. It is almost 10 times smaller than the Cheops pyramid. Its height is only 66.4 meters. The pyramid was intended for the grandson of Cheops.

History of the Egyptian pyramids:

The time of the erection of the Egyptian pyramids refers to the beginning of the Old Kingdom, and this is approximately 2800 - 2250 BC. NS.

Almost 5 thousand years ago (28th century BC), the founder of the III dynasty, Pharaoh Djoser, having barely ascended the throne, ordered the construction of his tomb to begin. The construction was entrusted to the architect Imhoten. The innovation that the architect used in the construction of the tomb for Djoser was that he erected it in the form of six benches placed on top of each other. Moreover, each subsequent one was smaller than the previous one. Imhoten created the first step pyramid. Its height was 60 m, length - 120 m, width - 109 m. Unlike the previous tombs, the pyramid of Djoser was built not of wood and brick, but of large limestone blocks. This pyramid is considered the ancestor of the great Pyramids.

The first of the great pyramids is the Pyramid of Cheops... It is completely impossible to imagine that it was erected, according to the manuscripts that have come down to us, in just 20 years. Even today, with all modern technology, it is difficult to build such a huge structure, not to mention the fact that the pyramid was erected 4,500 years ago, when no mechanisms were even suspected. Sometimes the opinion is expressed that the people living in the Bronze Age could not build the pyramids, and that ... aliens took part in the creation of these colossal structures. But, according to the official scientific version, the construction of the pyramid is the work of ordinary people. The main builders were nearly 100,000 slaves.

Millions of blocks were literally gouged out of the rock with primitive red copper drills that were quickly dulled by such hard work. Fitting wooden boards under the future slab, they were constantly poured with water. The tree swelled and tore off the stone from the rock. Then the resulting block was carefully polished, giving it the required shape. One has only to marvel at the impeccable result, because, in fact, the work was carried out with completely primitive tools. Without any measuring instruments, they ended up with a block that was ideal in proportion and shape. In the vicinity of Aswan, there are still ruins of ancient quarries, on the territory of which many ready-made blocks have been found. As it turned out, this is a marriage that was not used when laying the pyramids.

The processed blocks were transported by boats to the other side of the Nile. Then they were taken along a specially paved road, the construction of which took 10 years and which, according to Herodotus, is only slightly simpler than the construction of the pyramids. The pyramid was erected on a bedrock limestone massif, cleared of sand and gravel. Workers dragged them to the site using ramps, blocks and levers, and then pulled them together without any mortar. The stones of the pyramid are so tightly "fitted" that it is impossible to put even a knife blade between them. To raise the blocks, the Egyptians built an inclined embankment of brick and stone with an angle of rise of about 15. When the main structure was completed, it resembled a series of steps. As the pyramid was built, the embankment was lengthened. Perhaps they also used a wooden sled, on which blocks were dragged up by hundreds of slaves. Traces of these carts have been found here and there.

When the construction was basically finished, the inclined embankment was leveled and the surface of the pyramid was covered with facing blocks.

Construction ended in 2580 BC. NS. Initially, the height of the pyramid was 150 meters, but over time, due to destruction and advancing sands, it has become smaller - today by 10 meters.

There is no doubt that this pyramid was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Cheops. In ancient Egypt, it was customary to build structures for burial long before the death of the person to whom it was intended. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife and prepared carefully for it. They believed that in the event of a person's death, his body should be preserved so that the spirit could continue to live after death. They removed the internal organs, filled the body with salts and wrapped it in linen sheets. So the body turned into a mummy. Together with the pharaohs, they buried jewelry that, according to the ancients, could be useful to him in another world. In addition, along with the ruler, a large number of servants were often buried, who would serve the master even after death. The pyramids served the pharaohs, according to their religious beliefs, as a ladder along which souls ascended to heaven.

After the construction of the Cheops pyramid, the cocking of the Khafre pyramid began. Huge money was invested in these buildings. The third pyramid should have been no less majestic in design. But Menkaur could not afford to build a large pyramid. The country was ravaged by the construction of the Khufu and Khafre pyramids. Hunger began. The population, worn out by overwork, grumbled. But, despite its smaller size, the Menkaur pyramid still looks unusually beautiful.

Secrets of the Egyptian pyramids:

There are absolutely fantastic assumptions about the pyramids. For example, that these are not tombs at all, but something like observatories. Astronomer Richard Proctor claims that the descending corridor could have been used to observe the movement of some of the stars, and the Great Gallery, open above, was used to map the sky. Still, the official version is that the pyramids were built primarily as tombs.

Since the pharaohs were buried along with various valuable things, it is undoubted that jewelry can be found in them. The search for treasures in the tomb of Cheops does not stop today. Until now, there is a lot of unexplored. That is why the ancient pyramids are a favorite destination for treasure seekers. For a long time, the plundering of the pyramids was considered the main problem. It seems that this problem existed in the Old Kingdom, so the tombs were designed according to the principle of labyrinths, with secret rooms and doors, decoys and traps.

According to the official version, the first time they entered the pyramid was in 820 AD: the Arab Caliph Abdullah Al Manum decided to find the treasures of Khufu. Immediately, the treasure hunters were faced with the fact that it was completely impossible to find the entrance to the tomb. After a long search, we decided to dig under the pyramid. They soon found themselves in the passage that led down. These digging continued for several months. People were simply in despair - as soon as they entered a corridor, it immediately ended in a blank wall.

The first room they managed to find was what is now known as the "royal room". From it they were able to find a way out into the space at the junction of two corridors and come to the "large gallery", which, in turn, led to the "king's room" - about 11 meters long and 5 meters wide. Here they found only an empty sarcophagus without a lid. There was nothing else in the room.

Several years of work gave nothing - no treasure was found. It is most likely that the tomb was looted long before the arrival of Abdullah Al Manum, but the workers said that this was simply impossible, since all the slabs inside the pyramid were intact, and it was impossible to pass through them in any way. True, in 1638, John Greves discovered a narrow passage in the Great Gallery, which was littered with debris. It is possible that all the treasures were carried out through this passage. But many scientists doubt this, since the passage is very small and a thin person can hardly fit into it.

What happened to Khufu's mummy and his treasure2 Nobody knows. Various investigations have found no other rooms or passageways. However, many people still believe that the main rooms and the treasures hidden there have not yet been found.

The first wonder of the world of all time, one of the main structures of our planet, a place full of secrets and mysteries, a point of constant pilgrimage for tourists - the Egyptian pyramids and in particular the pyramid of Cheops.

Building the giant pyramids, of course, was far from easy. Huge efforts of a large number of people were made in order to deliver stone blocks to the Giza or Saqqara plateau, and later to the Valley of the Kings, which became the new necropolis of the pharaohs.

At the moment, there are about a hundred pyramids found in Egypt, but the finds continue, and their number is constantly increasing. At different times, one of the 7 wonders of the world meant different pyramids. Someone meant all the pyramids of Egypt as a whole, someone the pyramids near Memphis, someone the three large pyramids of Giza, and most critics recognized only the largest pyramid of Cheops.

Afterlife of Ancient Egypt

One of the central moments in the life of the ancient Egyptians was religion, which shaped the entire culture as a whole. Particular attention was paid to the afterlife, perceived as a clear continuation of earthly life. That is why preparation for life after death began long before her, was posed as one of the main tasks of life.

According to the ancient Egyptian belief, a person had several souls. The soul of Ka played the role of the Egyptian's double, with whom he was to meet in the afterlife. Ba's soul connected with the person himself, and left his body after death.

Religious life of the Egyptians and the god Anubis

At first it was believed that only the pharaoh had the right to life after death, but he could grant this "immortality" to his entourage, who were usually buried next to the tomb of the ruler. Ordinary people were not destined to get into the world of the dead, the only exceptions were slaves and servants, whom the pharaoh "took" with him, and who were depicted on the walls of the great tomb.

But for a comfortable life after the death of the deceased, it was necessary to provide everything necessary: ​​food, household utensils, servants, slaves and much more needed for the average pharaoh. They also tried to preserve the human body so that the Ba soul could later reconnect with him. Therefore, in matters of body preservation, embalming and the creation of complex pyramid tombs were born.

The first pyramid in Egypt. Djoser's pyramid

Speaking about the construction of the pyramids in Ancient Egypt in general, it is worth mentioning the beginning of their history. The very first pyramid in Egypt was built about five thousand years ago at the initiative of Pharaoh Djoser. It is in these 5 millennia that the age of the pyramids in Egypt is estimated. The construction of the pyramid of Djoser was led by the famous and legendary Imhotep, who was even deified in the later centuries.

Djoser's pyramid

The entire complex of the erected building occupied an area of ​​545 by 278 meters. Along the perimeter, it was surrounded by a 10-meter wall with 14 gates, only one of which was real. In the center of the complex was the Djoser pyramid with sides 118 x 140 meters. The height of the Djoser pyramid is 60 meters. A burial chamber was located almost at a depth of 30 meters, to which corridors with many branches led. Utensils and sacrifices were kept in the branch rooms. Here archaeologists have found three bas-reliefs of Pharaoh Djoser himself. Near the eastern wall of the Djoser pyramid, 11 small burial chambers were discovered, intended for the royal family.

Unlike the famous great pyramids of Giza, the pyramid of Djoser had a stepped shape, as if intended for the ascent of the pharaoh to heaven. Of course, this pyramid is inferior in popularity and size to the Cheops pyramid, but still the contribution of the very first stone pyramid to the culture of Egypt is difficult to overestimate.

The Pyramid of Cheops. History and short description

But still, the most famous for the ordinary population of our planet are the three nearby pyramids of Egypt - Khafren, Mekerin and the largest and highest pyramid in Egypt - Cheops (Khufu)

Pyramids of Giza

The pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops was built near the city of Giza, which is currently a suburb of Cairo. When the pyramid of Cheops was built, at the present time it is impossible to say for sure, and research gives a wide spread. In Egypt, for example, the date of the beginning of the construction of this pyramid is officially celebrated - August 23, 2480 BC.

Pyramid of Cheops and Sphinx

About 100,000 people were simultaneously involved in the construction of the wonder of the world, the Cheops pyramid. During the first ten years of work, a road was built, along which huge stone blocks were delivered to the river and the underground structures of the pyramid. Work on the construction of the monument itself continued for about 20 more years.

The dimensions of the Cheops pyramid at Giza are striking. The height of the Cheops pyramid initially reached 147 meters. Over time, due to being covered with sand and the loss of cladding, it decreased to 137 meters. But even this figure allowed it to remain the tallest human structure in the world for a long time. The pyramid has a square base with a side of 147 meters. The construction of this giant is estimated to require 2,300,000 limestone blocks weighing an average of 2.5 tons.

How were the pyramids built in Egypt?

The technology of building pyramids is controversial in our time. Versions range from the invention of concrete in Ancient Egypt to the construction of pyramids by aliens. But it is still believed that the pyramids were built by man exclusively by his own strength. So for the extraction of stone blocks, first a shape was outlined in the rock, grooves were hollowed out and a dry tree was inserted into them. Later, the tree was doused with water, it expanded, a crack formed in the rock, and the block was separated. Then it was processed to the desired shape with tools and sent down the river to a construction site.

To lift the blocks up, the Egyptians used gentle embankments, along which these megaliths were dragged on wooden sleds. But even with such a backward technology by our standards, the quality of work is surprising - the blocks fit tightly to each other with minimal mismatch.

We can talk for a long time about the pyramids shrouded in myths and legends, their labyrinths and traps, mummies and treasures, but let's leave that to the Egyptologists. For us, the pyramid of Cheops is one of the greatest structures of mankind for all the time of its existence and, of course, the only First Wonder of the World that has survived from the depths of the centuries.

Diagram of the Cheops pyramid

Video about the pyramids of Egypt

Video about the Cheops pyramid