The first wonder of the world: the tallest pyramid. The ancient pyramids of Egypt: history, description and secrets
Unsolved mysteries on our planet every year becomes less and less. The constant improvement of technology, the cooperation of scientists from various fields of science reveals to us the secrets and mysteries of history. But the secrets of the pyramids still defy understanding - all discoveries give scientists only tentative answers to many questions. Who built the Egyptian pyramids, what was the construction technology, whether there is a curse of the pharaohs - these and many other questions still remain without an exact answer.
Description of the Egyptian pyramids
Archaeologists talk about 118 pyramids in Egypt, partially or completely preserved to our time. Their age is from 4 to 10 thousand years. One of them - Cheops - is the only surviving "miracle" from the "Seven Wonders of the World". The complex called "The Great Pyramids of Giza", which includes and, was also considered as a participant in the New Seven Wonders of the World competition, but it was withdrawn from participation, since these majestic structures are actually the "wonder of the world" in the ancient list. 
These pyramids have become the most visited excursion objects in Egypt. They are perfectly preserved, which cannot be said about many other structures - time did not spare them. Yes and locals contributed to the destruction of the majestic necropolises, removing the lining and breaking out the stones from the walls to build their houses. 
The Egyptian pyramids were built by pharaohs ruling from the 27th century BC. e. and later. They were intended for the repose of the rulers. The huge scale of the tombs (some up to almost 150 m high) should have testified to the greatness of the buried pharaohs, things that the ruler loved during his lifetime and which would be useful to him in the afterlife were also placed here. 
For the construction, stone blocks of various sizes were used, which were hollowed out of the rocks, and later brick began to serve as the material for the walls. Stone blocks were turned and adjusted so that a knife blade could not slip between them. Blocks were stacked on top of each other with an offset of several centimeters, which formed a stepped surface of the structure. Almost all Egyptian pyramids have a square base, the sides of which are oriented strictly to the cardinal points. 
Since the pyramids performed the same function, that is, they served as the burial place of the pharaohs, their structure and decoration are similar inside. The main component is the burial hall, where the ruler's sarcophagus was installed. The entrance was arranged not at ground level, but several meters higher, and was masked by facing slabs. From entrance to inner hall Ladders and corridors led, which sometimes narrow so much that you can only walk along them squatting or crawling. 
In most necropolises, burial chambers (chambers) are below ground level. Ventilation was carried out through narrow shaft-channels, which penetrated the walls. Rock paintings and ancient religious texts are found on the walls of many pyramids - in fact, scientists draw some of the information about the construction and owners of the burials from them. 
The main mysteries of the pyramids
The list begins unsolved mysteries from the form of necropolises. Why was the shape of the pyramid chosen, which is translated from Greek as “polyhedron”? Why were the edges located clearly on the cardinal points? How did the huge stone blocks move from the place of development and how they were lifted to great height? Were the buildings erected by aliens or people who own a magic crystal? 
Scientists even argue over the question of who built such tall monumental structures that stood for millennia. Some believe they were built by slaves who died in the hundreds of thousands building each. However, new discoveries of archaeologists and anthropologists convince us that the builders were free people who received good food And medical care. They made such conclusions based on the composition of the bones, the structure of the skeletons and the healed injuries of the buried builders. 
All deaths and deaths of people involved in the study Egyptian pyramids, attributed mystical coincidences, which provoked rumors and talk about the curse of the pharaohs. None scientific evidence this is not. Perhaps the rumors were spread to scare off thieves and marauders who want to find valuables and jewelry in the graves. 
The mysterious interesting facts include the short time frame for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. According to calculations, large necropolises with that level of technology should have been erected in at least a century. How, for example, was the pyramid of Cheops built in just 20 years? 
Great Pyramids
This is the name of the burial complex near the city of Giza, consisting of three large pyramids, huge statue Sphinx and small satellite pyramids, which were probably intended for the wives of the rulers. 
The initial height of the pyramid of Cheops was 146 m, the length of the side was 230 m. It was built in 20 years in the 26th century BC. e. The largest of Egyptian landmarks has not one, but three funerary halls. One of them is below ground level, and two are above the base line. Intertwining corridors lead to the burial chambers. On them you can go to the chamber of the pharaoh (king), to the chamber of the queen and to the lower hall. The chamber of the pharaoh is a chamber made of pink granite, has dimensions of 10x5 m. A granite sarcophagus without a lid is installed in it. Not a single report of scientists contained information about the mummies found, so it is not known whether Cheops was buried here. By the way, the mummy of Cheops was not found in other tombs either. 
It still remains a mystery whether the Cheops pyramid was used for its intended purpose, and if so, then apparently it was plundered by looters in the past centuries. The name of the ruler, by whose order and project this tomb was built, was learned from the drawings and hieroglyphs above the burial chamber. All other Egyptian pyramids, with the exception of Djoser, have a simpler engineering device. 
Two other necropolises in Giza, built for the heirs of Cheops, are somewhat more modest in size:
Tourists travel to Giza from all over Egypt, because this city is actually a suburb of Cairo, and everything leads to it. road junctions. Travelers from Russia usually travel to Giza with excursion groups from Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. The trip is long, 6-8 hours one way, so the tour is usually designed for 2 days. 
The great buildings are available for visiting only during working hours, usually until 17:00, in the month of Ramadan - until 15:00. It is not recommended to enter inside for asthmatics, as well as for people suffering from claustrophobia, nervous and cardiovascular diseases. You must take with you on the tour drinking water and headwear. The tour fee consists of several parts:
- Entrance to the complex.
- Entrance inside the pyramid of Cheops or Khafre.
- Entrance to the Museum of the Solar boat, on which the body of the pharaoh was transported across the Nile.
Against the backdrop of the Egyptian pyramids, many people like to take photos while sitting on camels. You can bargain with camel owners.
Pyramid of Djoser
The first pyramid in the world is located in Saqqara, near Memphis - former capital Ancient Egypt. Today, the pyramid of Djoser is not as attractive to tourists as the Cheops necropolis, but at one time it was the largest in the country and the most complex in terms of engineering. 
The burial complex included chapels, courtyards, and storage facilities. The six-step pyramid itself does not have a square base, but a rectangular one, with sides of 125x110 m. The height of the structure itself is 60 m, inside it there are 12 burial chambers, where Djoser himself and members of his family were supposedly buried. The mummy of the pharaoh was not found during the excavations. The entire territory of the complex of 15 hectares was surrounded by a stone wall 10 m high. Currently, part of the wall and other buildings have been restored, and the pyramid, whose age is approaching 4700 years, has been preserved quite well.
General information
To the northwest of the capital of Egypt, Cairo, on the Giza plateau, there is a unique burial complex, consisting of three big and several small pyramids, great sphinx and the remains of religious temples. The highest of the three large pyramids of this complex is the pyramid of Khufu of the pharaoh of the 4th dynasty ancient kingdom(2589-2566 BC or 2551-2528 BC) better known to us under the Greek name Cheops. The pyramid itself is called "Akhet-Khufu", which means "Horizon of Khufu" in ancient Egyptian.
The shape of the pyramid
The view of the pyramid is striking in its majesty. The original height of this structure was 146 meters. Limestone, basalt and granite served as the material for the manufacture of its base, huge blocks of these stones were cut down with the help of copper tools and delivered to Giza, first by river on ships, then dragged to the construction site. Appearance the pyramids were complemented by facings of granite slabs, polished to a shine, and at the very top lay a gilded stone - a pyramidion, sparkling brightly in the sun. Here are some statistics for clarity.
The height of the pyramid today is approximately 139 meters.
Foundation area - 53,000 sq.m.
The length of the side rib is about 225 meters.
The angle of inclination of the side face of the pyramid is 51 degrees 50 minutes.
It is estimated that about 2.5 million stone blocks with a total weight of 6.25 million tons were required to build this pyramid.
The entrance to the pyramid is located quite high - more than 15 meters above the ground with north side. Inside the pyramid are ascending and descending passages leading to the burial chambers located in the very center of the pyramid. There are also narrow passages and manholes ending in dead ends.
Who and how built the pyramid
The architect of the Khufu pyramid is Hemiun, the vizier of the pharaoh, who was the author of the project and directly supervised the construction of this grand structure. We know from sources that it took 20 years to build the pyramid. But who were these builders? We know the answer. These were the Egyptians themselves, both slaves and free people. And they worked for the most part not out of fear, not obeying the brute force of the overseer, but being firmly convinced that they were fulfilling the will of God. Pharaoh's Ancient Egypt deified, and who dares to contradict the will of the divine pharaoh. In addition, the builders were fed quite well and provided them with medical care if necessary.
There are several versions of the construction process itself. Stone blocks weighing several tons are not so easy to lift up. Some scientists believe that the stones were lifted with the help of levers, ropes and blocks, others say that something like dry concrete was previously made from the stones, brought upstairs, bred there and poured into special formwork.
However, in Lately the dominant theory is that the finished blocks were lifted up along an inclined sand embankment, which, as the pyramid grew, lengthened and encircled it. The stones were carried on wooden sledges and rollers, pouring water over the embankment for better glide. The largest blocks lie below the burial chamber; according to scientists, at least 600 people were required to lift them. Smaller stones lie above, the work of lifting and setting them was easier, but more technically complex. The most skillful and strong workers were involved for it. The most difficult thing in the construction of the pyramid was the installation of the pyramidion, it was placed manually and on high altitude. Then the process of facing the pyramid with granite slabs and work on the interior decoration began.
The purpose of the pyramid
Around the issue of appointment Great Pyramid spears are still breaking. Previously, the prevailing theory was that the pyramid is the tomb of the pharaoh - the last refuge of his mummified body, from where he will move to the Kingdom of the god Osiris. Now this theory is being criticized. A fair question is asked - why build such a large and complex tomb, it is easy to find and rob. Other versions are put forward about the purpose of the pyramid - a means of obtaining cosmic energy, a means of communication with alien civilizations or gods, an ancient observatory. However, serious scientists do not even pay attention to such attempts at explanation. The most interesting version is that the pyramid is a monument to the greatness of the pharaoh. IN different time great rulers and dictators loved to create large structures to emphasize the strength of his power and leave such a testimony of it to his descendants. It is very likely that it was originally intended to use the pyramid as a tomb, but then this idea was abandoned due to fear of a possible robbery. Perhaps the burial did take place, but then the priests transferred the mummy of the pharaoh and all the filling of the tomb to another place, where the robbers would not disturb the peace of the deceased ruler of Egypt.
