The Giza Pyramids (or Gizah) in Egypt are among the most famous and oldest monumental constructions of humanity. Located on the western border of the valley of the Nile, about eight kilometers southwest of the city of Giza. The Giza Pyramids approximately are 15 km from the city of Cairo and can be reached directly from the "Avenue of the Pyramids" (Sharia el- Ahram). The Pyramid of Cheops is the only remains of Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Since 1979 the Giza pyramids are a Heritage Site. [1]
Construction History edit
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Background edit
The area where the pyramids are located Gizah had been a Necropolis important from the first dynasty, which belongs to the tomb of the Pharaoh Wadj which was located south of the cemetery . Here we must have dug large mastabas of the first, second and third dynasty are also remains have been found in a tomb of the second dynasty in the southern part of the period of the reign of Ninetjer whose name was found on seals jars . It is not known how these tombs were destroyed earlier during subsequent constructions in the necropolis of pyramids and construction of the Fourth Dynasty .
From predynastic period burials had been made in mastabas , which is a subterranean structure excavated chambers and corridors covered with an external structure usually in the form isosceles trapezoid . Especially from Pharaoh Djoser and his Step Pyramid to begin to build tombs for pyramid . After several attempts , some more successful than others, the completion of the Egyptian pyramidal funerary architecture comes with the pyramid of Cheops pyramids and their successors and Khefren MICER .
Building pyramids edit
The Pyramids appeared approximately between the 2620 BC and 2500 BC During the fourth dynasty. It is built on a plateau limestone from about 1000 to 2,000 meters , where the root of the construction of the pyramids , there were smaller pyramids , temples , cemeteries and villages of workers. It is noteworthy that during the construction of the pyramids were not used cars , although at that time the Egyptians probably already knew wheel .
Alignment of the pyramids edit
The alignment of the pyramids in Giza is totally Cardinal . The line main diagonal corners of the complex aligns the southeast side of the three main pyramids (Cheops , Kefren and MICER) to about 43 ° from the U.S. in the following geology is called the horizontal direction the Mokkatam training or, in other words, a line perpendicular to the slope , this alignment builders get the basics of the three pyramids were approximately the same level. It is possible that the former surveyor is the influenced another aspect , probably a religious subject , is intended also the existence of a diagonal northwest of Heliopolis and south -west towards the entrance of the first royal cemetery [ [ Abydos ] ] . the symmetry observed throughout the architectural complex of pyramids of Giza have stimulated the imagination in search of hidden meanings that could explain these mysterious alignments . The 1994 Robert Bauval exhibited the deduction of Giza diagonal is related to [ [ star ] ] s belt constellation Orion stars that the Egyptians had as a symbol of [ [ Osiris ] ]; [2]
Purpose edit
It is believed that Gizah pyramids were built to house the body of the deceased pharaoh . [3] The ancient Egyptians believed that part of the pharaoh 's spirit , called the ka remained in the body . Had to take care of the rest properly so that the old pharaoh could " carry out their task as king of the dead ." It has been proposed that the pyramid not only served tomb of Pharaoh , but also it could have stored the items you might need in the afterlife ( Duat ) , as in the case of hipogeo s of Valley of the Kings . " The ancient Egyptians believed that death on Earth was the start of a journey to another world. 's [ [ Mummification | embalmed body ] ] King buried underneath or within the pyramid to protect it and to allow it to transform and ascend in life after death . " [4] ( see also: Osiris judgment and Pyramid Texts)
The Great Pyramid ( Pyramid of Cheops ) edit
The pyramid of Khufu , also known as pyramid Khufu or pyramid of Giza - Khufu is the Egyptian name of this Pharaoh while Χεωψ (Khufu) is the same name helenizado - known as the Great Pyramid , is the largest of the three pyramids Giza . It was built by Pharaoh [ [ Cheops ] ] of [ [ Dynasty IV ] ] , who ruled for about 23 years. Its old name was " the pyramid which is the site of the sunset and smile ." At his side were built in the Khefran and Menkaure pyramids. In Hellenistic Greece The Great Pyramid of Khufu was mentioned by Antípater of Sidon as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
The pyramid of Cheops was originally 146.6 meters ( 137.2 meters currently does ) , the sides are on average 230.3 meters and have an inclination of 51 ° 52 ' . They use about 3 million stone blocks to build it, which means the weight is around two and a half tons , and was completely lined with limestone blocks . Inside we find the large photo , which makes 8.5 meters high and 47 meters long . The master builder Hemiunu went into the construction . At the end of the great gallery is the burial chamber of Pharaoh . Inside are still remnants of the sarcophagus of Granite . In addition there called chamber of the queen and the first burial chamber , underground . On the eastern side of the pyramid are the remains of the mortuary temple of Pharaoh and of carriageway . The Valley Temple is buried beneath the modern city. Southeast of the mortuary temple are the mastabas queens Hetepheres I , Meritetis and Henutsen . Inside the museum solar boat on the south side of the pyramid of Cheops , exhibited a funeral boat that was disassembled , it was unearthed in 1954 and re-assembled . In the funerary complex of the pyramid there are three smaller pyramids of queens and cult pyramid .
Geometry and Art edit
The central height ( apothem ) of any triangle side relates half the coefficient proportional basis according to the golden section . For Egyptians this figure was of vital importance. The fields should be inspected annually due to flooding of the Nile and this triangle served as the measuring instrument . The Great Pyramid was a royal tomb and also a great calendar year to measure the accuracy of a modern telescope .
The whole area was 98,000 m² and volume of 2,500,000 m³ . The pyramid was built 44 meters above the normal level of [ [ Nile ] ] . It is built with 2.3 million stone blocks over two tons each. The blocks used for the chamber of Pharaoh were [ [ granite ] ] quarries of [ [ Aswan ] ] and weigh up to 40 tons. His entrance was to the north. There is an unfinished chamber 35 m below the pyramid , the chamber of the queen is at the end of the great gallery. The royal chamber is 43 meters high and is covered in pink granite and contains the [ [ sarcophagus ] ] Pharaoh whose [ [ mummy ] ] had disappeared . The temple is in the eastern two pits that allowed boats to travel sacred heavenly . A sacred boat of 43 meters long and 6 wide was found in [ [ 1954 ] ] perfectly preserved . Although there remain only the three pyramids , the Egyptian pyramid was actually the center of a large architectural complex consists of several elements : a temple , a ramp that went to the funeral of the temple , and in addition to the pyramid itself , a series of warehouses and buildings. At the head of this small town had a mayor .
Construction began when Khufu ascended the throne and lasted twenty years ; [ [ Herodotus ] ] says that employs one hundred thousand men, but modern estimates consider that you could do with some twenty thousand workers .
The pyramid Khefren edit
The pyramid is the middle is the Pharaoh Khafra . Reigned about the [ [ 2558 BC ] ] to [ [ 2532 BC ] ] . Pyramid Khefren was originally 143.5 meters (currently 136.4 ) , the base measures 215.25 meters inclination angle is 52 ° 20 ' . Like the Pyramid of Khufu , was completely covered with limestone slabs . At first glance it looks bigger than the Great Pyramid , as it is built in a higher ( hence the profane often confused with the Great Pyramid ), but although his chalky coating preserves vertex actually smallest is 3 meters ( 136 meters, 139 of Cheops ) . [5]
400 meters away , a road decorated with [ [ Relief ( sculpture ) | relay ] ] from the temple gate of the valley, the [ [ Temple of the Sphinx of Giza | Temple of the Sphinx ] ] and the [ [ Sphinx of Giza ] ] to the funerary temple and the pyramid itself. Temple Valley made 45 of 45 meters and 18 meters. Cracks in the land of [ [ Alabaster ( mineral ) | alabaster ] ] indicate the location of some 23 ancient Pharaoh -size figures made of alabaster, [ [ board ] ] and [ [ greenstone ] ] . [6] south of the pyramid are the remains of a small cult pyramid .
North of the [ [ Temple Valley ] ] and there is carriageway Khefren sculpture of [ [ Giza Sphinx | Sphinx ] ] , 73 feet long , which makes the rock escolpir download. The head of the Sphinx is covered by a scarf with royal [[ Uraeus ] ] , the ' Dream Stela of Pharaoh [ [ Tuthmosis IV ] ] ( [ [ eighteenth dynasty of Egypt | eighteenth dynasty ] ] ) , who restored , is located between the front legs .
The [ [ 1817 ] ] Egyptologist Giovanni Caviglia could not enter the pyramid but the [ [ 1818 ] ] succeeded Egyptologist Giovanni Belzoni , who discovered the top entry and investigated the underground parts . The [ [ 1837 ] ] was studied by Perring . Mariette made excavations in the zone [ [ 1853 ] ] . Petrie also worked there . The first modern systematic excavation was not until [ [ 1909 ] ] - [ [ 1910 ] ] by the German Ernst von Siegler and Uvo Holscher . The [ [ thirties ] ] there and later worked Hassan and Lehner [ [ Zahi Hawass ] ] .
Temple Valley is one of the best preserved of the ancient empire. Clean the 1869 of the sand that covered it , was used instead of the opening ceremony of the [ [ Suez Canal ] ] . The area was cleaned again by Zahi Hawass the 1995 , which allowed more specific structure . Roads connecting two separate entries with the channel 's Nile , each entry had a Sphinx , the northern entrance was dedicated to the goddess [ [ Bastet ] ] and the ten southern Hathor . The temple was a square structure was used as input to the overall funerary complex . The temple had 24 statues of the pharaoh one larger and made of alabaster and diorite .
The high road was probably covered with stone and granite probably decorated the outside . The road into the mortuary temple near the end of the south facade .
The mortuary temple did not touch the pyramid which was separated by a wall. Was rectangular and thin stone wall , the interior was larger, had five chapels with statues , warehouses and living offerings . An anteroom was adorned with a pair of pink granite pillars . Other chambers are considered a avantemple and the rest as an area of worship . In the room that follows the anteroom had 12 pillars , which probably continued after the court had an altar in the middle . A door to the west communicated with five chapels originally contained statues of the pharaoh , wearing a broker in the living offerings to the southwest , northeast stairs lead to a terrace and another runner in the grounds of the pyramid.
All buildings were plundered in ancient times but found the remains of five boats out of the mortuary temple , both the north and three south of the temple .
The pyramid was surrounded by a stone wall behind which stood the yard separation of 10 meters on all four sides of the pyramid , it was all paved . The stone pyramid was obtained from quarries nearby that you can still find some remains north of the pyramid. The joints between stones are not so accurate as those of Cheops ( which are less than 5 mm) , but was used mortar . Low levels were coated pink granite stone top and thin Turah increasingly thin as they ascended .
The pyramid has two underground entrances : one about 30 meters to the north , below ground level is known as the " bottom entry " and leads to a chamber where the material was probably burial , then rises to corridor shared with the " top entry " . This entry is also in the north about 12 meters below ground level . Rectangular burial chamber is oriented east-west . Close to the sarcophagus had probably left a place where the sacred boat . The mummy of Pharaoh was not found
Besides a subsidiary pyramid , probably linked to the funerary cult of the pharaoh , Petrie discovered after the [ [ 1880 ] ] , outside the outer wall , a structure with some room ( 111 ) which meant that they were the homes of workers. This site could accommodate a maximum of five thousand workers , Lehner and Hawass assume that it is rather the complex of warehouses and shops of the pyramid. There were also numerous elliptical molluscs , which suggests that the area was not used to the desert , but a savannah .
The pyramid had been looting and destruction at the time of [ [ XIX Dynasty ] ] . [ [ Ramses II ] ] used the stones for a pyramid temple [ [ Heliopolis ( ancient Egypt ) | Heliopolis ] ] . It is believed that they also use the pyramid stones from [ [ 1356 ] ] and [ [ 1362 ] ] to the construction of the Al- Hassan mosque . The Arab historian Ibn Abd as- Salaam said that the pyramid was open [ [ 1372 ] ] and probably then some tunnels were closed .
The Pyramid of Menkaure edit
The pyramid smallest of the three is the Pharaoh Menkaure (MICER) . Reigned approximately between the 2532 BC and 2503 BC . The Pyramid of Menkuaure was originally 66.4 meters high , is not reached half the height of the other two pyramids . The sides are 102.2 to 104.6 meters long ( the average length of the base is 103.4 meters), and has an inclination of 51 ° , which is almost identical to that of Cheops . The top of the pyramid was lined limestone blocks - like the Pyramids of Cheops and Kefren - . However, the lower layers consist of 16 pink granite surround . The valley and associated funerary temples have survived completely . In [ [ Egyptian Antiquities Museum ] ] exhibited MICER group of statues that were found in the mortuary temple . On the south side are the three pyramids of queens , two of which were designed to [ [ Stepped Pyramid | pyramids ] ] . [5]
Behind the door of the temple there was a chamber with four columns , four on each side warehouses. Then followed a great patio decorated walls , a portico with two rows of wooden columns and a hall of offerings with an alabaster altar . There were statues of Pharaoh . The temple was damaged during Dynasty V hail that hit the west side , but restored in the time of Pepi II.
The path to the pyramid that went from the Valley mortuary temple was finished Shepseskaf but not quite. The land was limestone walls and had at least 2 meters . The construction seems to be halted reached as far west quarry used by Khufu and then went down to the temple perhaps as a ramp to carry stones. This path was more than 600 meters.
The mortuary temple was on the east side of the pyramid. The temple was not completed as far Menkaure died , the mortuary was completed Shepseskaf . The church contains an altar and other items , was probably built in pink granite but how his son ended did stone .
The pyramid is over Mokattam where training meets the training Maadi . Its original height was 66.5 meters with an angle of just over 51 degrees. The sides are based on 104.5 each. It has a rock solid base of 2.5 meters . It seems that the outer layer was fine Tura limestone . Reached by an entry in the axis of the north wall , 4 meters below ground level , down a corridor of 26 degrees to a vertical chamber , the following runner has a granite wall , the corridor continues following a undecorated room , the east end of which is under the vertical axis of the pyramid , another passage known as the top runner passes parallel to the corridor below. In the fourth Vyse found a coffin with the name of Menkaure and human remains inside , but it is believed that later was placed as the carbon-14 dating tests the coffin of Coptic Christian period towards the century I or II . The fourth floor corridor to become horizontal until burial chamber is oriented north-south and covered with pink granite , is about 15 feet above the level of the base of the pyramid , also has access to a tunnel built from the west, where today visitors entering the pyramid. In the chamber there Vyse found an empty coffin . We found no sacred boat despite intensive search .
Beside the pyramid has three subsidiary pyramids pyramids called las three queens or three pyramids of the queens , identified as G3a , and G3b G3c . Only the last is a true pyramid , and others are staggered (4 steps ) . Although the three women have been attributed to other experts consider the king pyramids dedicated to the worship and in any case were clearly used as a burial place for queens or not, and being locked into an enclosure bounded by stone walls .
The easternmost is the G3a has a mortuary temple , south row of wooden columns , a chapel and a room for worship offerings . Is the largest of the three and has entry to the North wall just below ground level . It has a burial chamber with a broker. In the burial chamber and sarcophagus that was destroyed was a by grave robbers . Reisner thought that was buried Khamerernebti II women MICER home . It has a height of 28 meters and a degree of inclination of just over 52 degrees , the sides measure 44 meters at the base
The middle , G3b , is smaller but also has a descending corridor , the remains of a woman were found in the pink granite sarcophagus in the burial chamber near the west wall . It also has a mortuary temple oriented north-south . The base measures 31 meters on each side
The G3c was never finished , the burial chamber was built in the north -west , not burial remains were found . The base measures 31 meters on each side
Nearby, Mark Lehner has been recently excavated city workers who built the pyramids and maintained . The main area is 300 meters south of the [[ Sphinx ] ] where there is a structure known as the " Valley of the Crown " and the cemetery workers , nearby there was cake , bake shops and houses workers with a way that you think wearing a royal palace .
And Khentkaus == grave ( the "fourth pyramid" ) ==
Southeast of the pyramid Kefren near the Sphinx is the tomb of the fourth dynasty Queen [ [ Khentkaus I] ] , the tomb is often called the " fourth pyramid of Giza " . This particular tomb , explored for the first time in 1932 , had the characteristics of a stepped pyramid twice and was originally considered an unfinished pyramid . The first step measures 45.8 m × 45.5 m and consists of a square stone , which allowed to stand in local quarries . It is made of bricks , like [ [ Mastaba | mastabas ] ] the second time. The building was covered with limestone as the Great Pyramids , and reached a height of 17 m. In this tomb there was a settlement for priests and a boat grave was endowed with the attributes of a tomb full of government.
After the Fourth Dynasty == == Giza necropolis had been outstanding during the [[Old Kingdom of Egypt | Ancient Empire ] ] and will probably be stopped at the beginning of [ [ First Intermediate Period of Egypt | First Intermediate Period ] ] , when it was abandoned . Of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt | Middle Empire ] ] in little remains , and surprisingly , just the cult of the dead in evidence to the pyramids at the time. Only from the time of the [[ New Kingdom of Egypt ] ] and [ [ Egyptian Empire ] ] there is a significant contrast in Giza , tombs with important again. It was testified that restoration of temples and pyramids . [ [ File: Model of Giza pyramid complex - Kunsthistorisches Museum.jpg | thumb | Model of the pyramids - rebuilding the port ( [ [ Museum of Art History in Vienna ] ])] ]
Archaeology == == Scientific research of the pyramids began with [ [ Napoleonic Campaign in Egypt and Syria | Syrian and Egyptian campaign ] ] of [ [ Napoleon | Napoleon ] ] ( 1798-99 ) . Influenced the [[ Empire style ] ] Europe.
It was excavated in 1860 under the direction of the Egyptologist ] ] French [ [ Auguste Mariette ] ] . In 1979, the pyramids and the sphinx were declared Gizah [ [ historical monument , the [ [ Heritage ] ] by [ [Activity ] ] .
Tourism edit
You can visit the pyramids outside and be entered into . The Khufu has access and some limited visiting hours . For several years climbing the pyramids is prohibited without special permission , because several people had died intant climb them .
Night Show edit
Three times a day , in the evening there is a show of colored lights projected images and for tourists , with an explanation about the history of the pyramids and the Sphinx . The show focuses mainly on the Great Pyramid . Called " ( show ) Sound and Light " ( Sound and Light , official name in English). This type of performance nightlife monuments of the Pharaohs can also be made to the temples of [ [ Abu Simbel ] ] , [ [ Karnak ]] temples of [ [ Philae ] ] s and [[ Edfu ] ] . [7]
Exposure to groundwater edit
In early June 2012 the authorities did install a [ [ pump ( Engineering ) | pumps ] ] ultramodern water to extract the [ [ water table | groundwater ] ] which were under the Sphinx . For some time both the Sphinx and the Valley Temple were in serious danger because of rising groundwater level . This is due to the new system [ [ sewer ] ] who settled in neighboring Nazlet Al- Seman and the new system [ [ irrigation ] ] in the area of Al- Ahram Hadae . The [ [ Ecology | Environmental ] ] and [ [ Hydrology | hydrologists ] ] reported that , due to the large amount of water is pumped , the surface collapses and is increasing the risk of [ [ erosion ] ] . For this reason both the Sphinx and the pyramids could collapse . Ali El- Asfar , the director of the plateau Gizah ( Gizah Plateau official English name ) does not agree . According to him, the pumps have been installed in the ground water level reached 4.5 meters from the surface. He also claims that at this point the monuments are completely safe , because the water table existed in ancient times . [8] [9]
References edit
- ^ "STIs and Memphis Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur". Activity.
- ^ Robert Bauval . The Orion Mystery , Unlocking the Secrets of the Pyramids , 1994 . superimposed on the map of the constellation of Giza on the map , not all pyramids match the stars .
- ^ Verner , Miroslav . The Pyramids : The Mystery , Culture , and Science of Egypt 's Great Monuments . Grove Press . 2001 (1997). ISBN 0-8021-3935-3
- ^ "Egypt pyramids". culturefocus.com.
- ^ a b Lange & Hirmer 1962, p. 43.
- ^ Wildungen 1998, p. 55.
- ^ [ http://www.soundandlight.com.eg/Shows/GizaPyramidsHome.aspx the shows official website ] . {{ you } } ( and others)
- ^ . ahramonline. 5 July 2012 [= Egypt 's Sphinx , Pyramids Threatened by groundwater , Hydrologist warn = Egypt 's Sphinx , Pyramids Threatened by groundwater , Hydrologist warn].
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); Missing or empty|title=(help); Unknown parameter|Author=ignored (|author=suggested) (help); Unknown parameter|query=ignored (help) - ^ selket.de, ed. (6 July 2012). http://blog.selket.de/aus-der-forschung/experten-warnen-sphinx-und-pyramiden-durch-grundwasser-bedroht.html.
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