Jonathan Freeman
The Great Pyramid of
General Description
The Great Pyramid of the ancient Egyptians is located in what is known as the Giza Necropolis, which consists of two other pyramids as well. The pyramid was created during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu. The pyramid was built to serve as a tomb for both him and his wife. It is the only surviving wonder of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Archeologists estimate the construction of the great pyramid took approximately 20 years to complete and was finished around 2560 B.C.
Architectural Design
Although the Great Pyramid appears to be a fairly simple design, however, the shear size of it makes it so impressive. The pyramid is about 140 meters tall with each side of the base measuring about 230 meters. The pyramid is constructed of large limestone blocks, some of which weigh in excess of 70 tons. It is debated whether the stones were brought from a nearby quarry or constructed on-site out of a concrete type material. Originally a white limestone casing covered the stepped surface of the pyramid giving it a smooth surface. Since then the casing has broken off and surrounds the pyramids in piles. The pyramid contains passageways which lead to three chambers: one for the king, one for the queen, and one which is incomplete.
Harmony with Nature
The Great Pyramid has some very unique relations with nature which give some complexity to the structure. Its four sides face the cardinal directions, north, south, east, and west, almost perfectly. Built in a time where transportation of materials over large distances was almost nonexistent the pyramids hold a unique bond with the surroundings. The pharaoh’s vizier, architect of the pyramid, had to create a design which utilized material which could be obtained nearby. The Egyptians used an art form known as Dwat when constructing the three pyramids of the Giza Necropolis, where structures on earth are built to reflect images of astronomy. The three pyramids are related to one another so that they are almost exactly proportional as the three stars are of Orion’s Belt.
Symbolism & Sacred Objects
The Great Pyramid is built to serve both as a tomb and a monument of the Pharaoh. It stands as a focal point of the surrounding civilization for many generations to come. A pharaoh took pride in the pyramid constructed under his rule because in some since it was a testament to their accomplishments. Although hieroglyphics are commonly used by the Egyptians to tell stories of the past the Great Pyramid actually contains none.
How it is used by Worshippers
The pyramids of the Egyptians don’t serve so much as a place to worship as it does a portal to the afterlife. The chambers created for the pharaoh and his queen housed their mummified bodies as well as many objects of value to be used in the afterlife. The mummification process used to prepare bodies for burial involved removal of all the internal organs and rapping the body in linen. The bodies were then placed inside sarcophagus, a type of wooden casket, and placed in the burial chamber. The ironic part of the kings tomb is that the sarcophagus is too small to contain a human body. Two small vent shafts were found in both the king’s and queen’s chambers which historians now believe served as pathways for the soul to escape to the afterlife. The Egyptians believed there were five parts to a human soul: the Ren, Ba, Ka, Sheut, and Ib. Unfortunately the pyramids not only served as a beacon to the future generations but also to grave robbers.
Sources
“The Great Pyramid.” Wikipedia.
“Great Pyramid Statistics.” Crystalinks.
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