The pyramids on Giza The pyramids on Giza plateauplateau

Prof. Gabriela CosmaProf. Gabriela Cosma

Lb. englezaLb. engleza

Grupul Scolar`O.Goga`Jibou,Salaj

Str.Parcului,nr.3

Tel:0260-644652

E-mail:scoalagogajibou@yahoo.com

Why are pyramids famousWhy are pyramids famous??

Khufu`s Great Pyramid was the tallestman-made structure for 3,800 years. Itwas built 4,500 years ago. The constructionlasted 20 years. It was 147 m tall and eachbase side is 227 m long. It consists of 2.3 million blocks of stone, weighing more than 2 tons each .The base sides are aligned to the 4 cardinal compass points. From an architectural point of view it is a perfect construction, that is why it is considered one of The Seven Wonders of the World, the only one still standing today.

``Soldiers! 40 centuries arewatching us from the top of the pyramid.` (Napoleon)

Why were pyramids built?Why were pyramids built?

God RaGod Ra

The Egyptians` mythology was vast. The mostThe Egyptians` mythology was vast. The mostimportant god was important god was Ra,Ra, the God of the Sun. The the God of the Sun. The Egyptians believed that the pyramid shape copied theEgyptians believed that the pyramid shape copied the rays of the sun sent onto the Earth. That is why somerays of the sun sent onto the Earth. That is why some pharaohs wished to be buried inside the pyramid as pharaohs wished to be buried inside the pyramid as they believed that it would help them to travel tothey believed that it would help them to travel to the other world where they would have eternal life.the other world where they would have eternal life.

The Great PyramidThe Great Pyramid

Even in our days Khafre’s, Menkhaure`s and Khufu’s pyramids seem mysterious and inspire respect mixed with fear,especially the Pyramid of Khufu . Egyptologists discovered many of their mysteries, although there are still many others buried in the dust of time and desert.

The pyramids are located on the Giza Plateau, on the western bank of the Nile river, at 9 km from Cairo, the capital of Egypt

The Interior of Khufu`s PyramidThe Interior of Khufu`s Pyramid

The Egyptians never wanted access inside the pyramid to be easy. They blocked the entrance with huge blocks of granite and covered the entire surface with flat blocks of limestone.

Three chambers were discovered inside and a corridor called The Grand Gallery.From the King’s chamber two shafts go

upwards . These were meant to align with the stars which the Pharaoh’s

spirit was to visit in the after-life.

A Royal BoatA Royal Boat

Boats had an important role in the Egyptians’ religious beliefs. The

Pharaoh’s journey to after life wastaken in a boat . The death

chamber of the boat had six pairs of oars ,

which were used to maintain direction

In 1950 Khufu’s boat wasfound near The Great Pyramid. It was

43.6 m long and it was built from cider wood. It was assembled with

wooden nails and ropes

Khufu, The Tyrant?Khufu, The Tyrant?

Herodotus, ancient Greek historian ,mentioned that Khufu used slaves to carry out his astonishing achievement, but he was wrong in many aspects. Now we know that Egyptians were very proud of their buildings. Skilfull workers were hired full time, but most of the workers were peasants who paid their duties/taxes with their work or toil.

An Area Full of LifeAn Area Full of LifeThe pictures with pyramids leave the impression

that these were isolated in the desert, but in ancient times they were surrounded by

palaces, temples and other tombs and, nearby, there were ports for boats. The priests and workers

used to live close to the site, in crowded towns.

King Khufu,Cairo Museum

Powerful paintingsPowerful paintings

The writings (hieroglyphs) were meant to guide the

Pharaoh during the difficult journey. Some were prayers

and curses. In The New Kingdom a new set of

writings appeared , The Book of the Dead. It had five sections and each referred to an aspect of the afterlife.

The paintings, writings and the sculptures were not only decorations. They were a part of the necessary things for the King in the after-life. For example, a scene representing a person who was baking bread was a guarantee that the dead would know how to bake bread in the life after death.

The Secret of the PyramidsThe Secret of the Pyramids

The Egyptians had thorough knowledge of astronomy

It was scientifically proved that the pyramids on the Giza Plateau are arranged like the reflection in the mirror of the Orion constellation.

They thought that there was the home of Osiris, the God of the Dead and of he world beyond ,and that is where they wished to finally get.

BibliographyBibliography

www. google. roen. wikipedia . orgwww. discoveringegypt . comwww.googleimages.ro

Hieroglyphs (Osiris)Hieroglyphs (Osiris)

Enciclopedia lumii antice,Editura Aquila`93,2006

Fagan,Brian M,70 de inventii ale antichitatii,Editura Aquila `93,2005