The most famous Egyptian pyramids. Pyramids of the pharaohs of the IV dynasty. Secrets of the Egyptian pyramids

Introduction

Almost five thousand years ago, the Egyptian pharaoh Djoser and his brilliant architect Imhotep decided to erect a structure that the world had never seen before - a colossal mountain of stone, built according to strict mathematical calculations, so strong that it stood until the end of time. The construction of this first pyramid in the world lasted more than two decades, and the number of workers - prisoners of war, slaves, volunteers - numbered in the tens of thousands. Over the next two centuries Egyptian pharaohs following the example of the first builders of the pyramid, they erected tombs for themselves. During this relatively short period of time, the great pyramids were built, which to this day amaze and delight crowds of people. But the construction of these grandiose man-made mountains stopped as suddenly as it began. The pharaohs, as before, were content with more modest tombs.

Despite all the apparent inviolability of the pyramids, they, ironically, suffered not so much from the forces of nature as from the hands of man. The ancient Egyptians were the first vandals: they plundered their burial chambers and mercilessly tore off their limestone shell, using material for other buildings, and. this barbarism continued into later times.

Father of history" Herodotus called the Egyptian pyramids "the first wonder of the world." The past millennia not only confirm this name, but also increasingly force researchers to consider this "miracle" the greatest and most mysterious of all known to mankind.

Pyramids discovered in different corners world, show that they are not only the prerogative of the Egyptians. The size, age and good preservation of the pyramids are simply amazing. Perhaps such architecture embodied knowledge unknown to us and had some special sacred meaning ... One thing can be said for sure: the pyramids of the world defy time and traditional science.

The purpose of the work is to study the pyramids as an object of the world historical cultural heritage.

study the history of the pyramids;

Consider the location of the pyramids on earth;

Consider interesting facts and secrets of the pyramids;

Consider the astronomical and mathematical riddles of the pyramids.

pyramids of the world

The history of the pyramids

pyramid civilization astronomical

Ancient Egypt is the oldest world civilization, which still remains largely mysterious and full of secrets, despite all technical achievements modern science. And one of these secrets remains the history of the creation of the pyramids. Pyramids are majestic structures, a symbol of Ancient Egypt. The rulers of ancient Egypt, the pharaohs, needed to stand out among other mortals, to confirm their divine origin, therefore, after the death of their mummies, they should not have been in the usual scale - tombs of the traditional form in the form of a truncated pyramid, but in more powerful structures - huge stone tombs of a pyramidal shape.

There are a number of versions about the origin of the pyramids. The official, or so to speak, classical version says that the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt began 4000 years before the beginning of our era. The very first pyramid was built by the ancient architect Imhotep for the dynasty of pharaohs Djoser in Saqqara. It has been perfectly preserved to this day and is located 20 km from modern Cairo. This is a stepped pyramid with a rhombus at the base. Later, Imhotep, who did not come from a royal dynasty, received divine status for erecting such a majestic structure. History has preserved the name of this man to our times, which in itself is unusual. Among the so-called "seven wonders of the world" known in antiquity, which amazed the imagination of their contemporaries, another pyramid of Ancient Egypt is called. This is the pyramid of Cheops. It, unlike other wonders of the world, exists to this day and still produces a grandiose impression of majesty. Its height is 146 m and is on a par with the most tall buildings modernity. The pyramid of Cheops was built from 2.3 million limestone blocks, which, as it were, had not been touched by time.

The construction of these majestic structures was carried out by thousands of slaves. They dragged huge blocks of stone worked with copper tools along the ramps. In some pyramids, the blocks reached a weight of two hundred tons, and for modern builders it is incomprehensible how the ancient Egyptians lifted such blocks to the tops of the pyramids. According to the Greek historian Herodotus, they used mechanical hoists, although even now in the 21st century there are not many designs of overhead cranes on the globe that are able to move a load of this weight. Therefore, the most fantastic theories of the appearance of the pyramids in ancient Egypt have arisen and continue to arise. The perfect processing of stone blocks, some of which have not just a smooth, but downright mirror-like surface, suggests that special tools were used in their construction, which simply could not have been in the Bronze Age. Hence the very common version of space aliens, who are the true builders of the ancient Egyptian pyramids.

Another common version of the construction of the pyramids - they were erected by Atlantes, giant creatures from the island of Plato. The authenticity of this hypothesis is confirmed by traces of erosion on the lower blocks of the pyramids, which may appear from long stay structures in the water. In addition, even fossils of shells are found, which are much older than the usual age of the Egyptian pyramids. There are other versions, which only adds to the mystery of these grandiose symbols Ancient Egypt, and, at the same time, not passing curiosity and admiration for them to our contemporaries.

Pyramids of the world.

Recently, I was surfing the Internet in search of a topic for an article and came across interesting information about the pyramid big size which was built in France. We are all used to the fact that the pyramids are Egypt, and then France, why would it suddenly?


Pyramids of Giza

I am not an adherent of those fables that are diligently told to us at school and in various literature on history. Well, it doesn’t fit in my head that people in loincloths with the help of ropes dragged huge blocks and adjusted them to each other with an accuracy of a millimeter - so that a razor blade could not crawl between the plates. And we, the people of the 21st century, who sent a dog and a man into space, consider the ancient Egyptians to be primitive savages, but at the same time we cannot build what these savages built in our opinion. Some amendments are needed here: either stop considering the Egyptians a primitive civilization, or stop appropriating the construction of such monumental buildings to them.


Egyptian pyramids

Well, okay, our history is generally very strange and consists of hypotheses, and not of facts. And now we will return to the facts, or rather to the fact that throughout the globe find pyramids like those at Giza. And it's hard to argue with that - it's a fact. Yes, we can argue about their origin, but to deny their existence will not work.

Traveler Thor Heyerdahl believed that the pyramids on different continents were built by one civilization. When he did excavations at the pyramids, he found the same objects near different pyramids, for example, skulls with gold plates implanted in them. But our history says that at that time people did not know how to move between continents. And how then to explain the "pyramidal" similarities?

Pyramids found in China, Indonesia, Bosnia.

Mayan pyramid

Mayan pyramid has the same layout with the pyramids of Giza, as well as the same orientation to the cardinal points.


mayan pyramid

China

China. As far as I understand, there are several pyramids in China. But the most main pyramid called the "White Pyramid" by the Chinese.


Chinese " white pyramid»

It was found only in the middle of the 20th century. They don’t climb inside the pyramids, excavations are carried out only around the pyramids, foreign archaeologists are not allowed in and tourists are also not allowed, the territory is guarded by the military.


One of the Chinese pyramids
Chinese pyramids

Bosnia

Bosnia. In 2005, in Bosnia, it was discovered that Mount Visočica in the city of Visoko is actually not a mountain, but a pyramid. Soil studies have confirmed that the mountain is not a mountain at all.


Bosnian pyramid

And the analysis of the slabs found near the pyramid showed that the substance from which the slabs are made resembles concrete, but the composition is unknown to us. The pyramid was called the "Pyramid of the Sun".


"Pyramid of the Sun"

Indonesia

Indonesia. Java island. Here, too, scientists drew attention to a mountain named Sadehurip, its shape very much resembled a pyramid.


Pyramid of Indonesia

By that time locals generously planted the surface of the pyramid with local seedlings. Excavations began during which slabs with unfamiliar inscriptions and images were found.

Crimea

According to some information, there is a pyramid in the Crimea. By official version drillers during the search for reserves thermal waters stumbled upon a place with powerful microwave radiation. They began to drill and at a depth of 10 meters came across a pyramid.

Researchers Goz V.A. and Taran V. began to investigate it. It turned out that it was filled up as a result of the flood and the composition of its walls coincides with the composition of the Egyptian pyramids, it also contains gypsum, lead, liquid glass and cuprous oxide. But official science and archaeologists are not interested in the find and are not going to help enthusiastic researchers. After all, according to official science, in the days of ancient Egypt, there was a sea on the territory of Crimea, not pyramids.


This story is reminiscent of the Australian pyramid. There are satellite images, but there is no official data. The Australians say it's a drained body of water or even more nonsense, that it's part of some kind of wall. They do not have a single opinion.


australian pyramid

France

And here is the very French pyramid that prompted me to write this article. The pyramid is located in the province of Languedoc-Roussillon.


french pyramid

And they discovered it quite by accident, during the construction of the highway. There is no information about her either in Russian or in English.

But there is a small footnote in French. It says that the pyramid was built in 1974-1976 by the highway architect Ricardo Bofill. And this pyramid is dedicated to Catalonia.

I have never seen such a funny excuse. According to official science, he apparently not only built a pyramid, but also then covered it with soil on one side.

And here are more pyramids around the world:

Why they were built and who built them is not yet known to us. Perhaps there is information, but apparently it is not for the general public, and most likely this information will go against official sciences. This is how we live in a complete lie. But let's hope that the truth will prevail and we will finally know the history of our planet.


Pyramid Kailash in the Himalayas
Complex with underwater pyramids off the coast of Japan
Pyramid in India

Only one of the seven wonders of the world has survived in the world - the pyramids in Egypt. How they were erected, what purpose they have and what they symbolize - this article answers these questions.

Construction and evolution of the form of tombs

Official science classifies the Egyptian pyramids as multi-level tombs for the burial of pharaohs. Total in different areas There are about 120 pyramids on the Nile, but all of them are built in the same way - a regular pyramid with a square at the base. Part of the pyramid is on the surface of the earth, part is hidden under the sands. Inside there is a burial chamber, to which passages lead from two sides. The walls of the passages were painted with hieroglyphs containing religious texts.

How were the pyramids built in ancient Egypt? The first pyramids were built from bricks obtained by mixing clay with river silt - adobe. With the development of building knowledge, large limestone megaliths began to be used. Until now, the facts of how the pyramidal complexes were built without the presence of sophisticated construction equipment remain mysteries.

Pyramids are divided into two types. Step pyramids are of more ancient origin and did not have impressive overall dimensions. Over time, they were replaced by pyramids with a smooth surface, which were built from large monolithic stones mined in upstream Nile. The pyramids of ancient Egypt are not only one building. Two temples should have been located near them: one directly next to them, and the second should have been washed by the waters of the Nile and connected to the first temple by an alley.

Rice. 1. Step Pyramid in Egypt.

Contrary to popular belief that the pyramids were built by slaves, excavations have shown that the builders lived in good conditions with decent nutrition.

Pyramids of Dahshur and Saqqara

Extensive pyramid building at Dahshur occurred during the succession of the 3rd and 4th dynasties. Pharaoh Huni was the first to build a pyramid of the correct form, taking as a basis step structures from Meidum. This pyramid was supposed to be the tomb for his son - Snorfu (2613-2589 BC).

Although Snorfu finished his father's work, he built his pyramid in steps. However, it had to be abandoned, since changing the angle of inclination of the lateral plane led to a change in the angle of inclination. This pyramid has survived to this day and is called Broken.

TOP 2 articleswho read along with this

Saqqara is home to the oldest Step Pyramid of Djoser. It was from her that the pyramidal construction began. In Saqqara, an ancient document "Pyramid Texts" was found, according to which its architect was the son of the god Ptah Imhotep, who invented masonry from hewn rock.

The dissatisfaction of the pharaoh with the Bent Pyramid led to the construction around 2600 BC. pink pyramid, so named because it was built from red limestone. It was created in the correct form and had a slope of 43 degrees.

Rice. 2. broken pyramid in Egypt.

Pyramids of Giza

On the banks of the Nile, 20 km. from Cairo stands the wonder of the world - the pyramid of Cheops. The great pyramids of ancient Egypt were built in 2500 BC.

Rice. 3. Pyramid of Cheops.

It still remains a mystery how the Egyptians managed to make a huge technological breakthrough in the short 200 years that is equal to the time between the construction of the Lomana and great pyramids. After all, for a breakthrough in construction, other spheres of human activity had to be affected, but this was not observed in those years.

It is noteworthy that in addition to a strict orientation to the cardinal points and the ideal side faces of the pyramids of Giza, they are all oriented to the stars. The pyramid of Cheops consists of 2.3 million stone blocks weighing from 2 to 15 tons.

Much about the construction of the pyramids has come down to our days thanks to Herodotus, who visited there. According to his records, the pyramid of Cheops was built by 400,000 people over 20 years. But these data are considered increased and scientists believe that about 20,000 workers were involved in the construction.

What have we learned?

According to the official version, the pyramids had a religious purpose and were built during the lifetime of the pharaohs for their eternal stay there. This unique monument ancient civilization, which carries information that has yet to be fully received.

Topic quiz

Report Evaluation

Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 326.

Pyramids to this day keep many secrets and mysteries. Some of them, of course, have already been disclosed, but there are questions that still disturb the minds of scientists and historians. How and by whom were these monuments created? What technologies were used in construction? How did the builders manage to move stone blocks of enormous weight? Why did the pharaohs need this kind of tombs? You will learn all this and many other interesting facts from the article and become a little closer to understanding the secrets of the pyramids and knowing their power and greatness.

Interesting facts about the Egyptian pyramids

These ancient building structures have been occupying their places of honor for more than one century and glorify the talent of their creators, thanks to whom they managed to make eternal monuments. Until now, scientists have not been able to reliably determine how the pyramids were made and what technologies were used. Only some data is known, but most of the technologies used remain secret.

Just tombs?

There are about 118 pyramids in Egypt, created in different periods, of various sizes and types. There are two varieties of pyramids, the older step ones, one of the earliest surviving examples is the Pyramid of Djoser, circa 2650 BC. e.

In fact, these pyramids are graves, and their clusters are a cemetery. In ancient times, it was believed that wealthy people should be buried with everything they might need in the afterlife, so the pharaohs found their last refuge in luxurious pyramids, which they began to build long before their death.

The robbers of the tombs of the pharaohs

The horrors that take place about the Egyptian pyramids are directly related to the robbers who so love to visit them under the cover of night and take away their last property from the deceased. However, not only for the sake of the jewels hidden in the tombs, marauders visit the monuments.

Local residents spoiled the appearance of some pyramids a lot. For example, the two pyramids at Dahshur do not look at all like they used to, all the limestone they were covered with was stolen to build houses in the nearest city. Also, stone blocks and other building materials are often stolen, which leads to incredible destruction.

Secrets and myths

The horrors of the Egyptian pyramids also lie in the fact that many legends reign around them. The reason for the emergence of such a myth was the fictional curse of the most famous tomb in the world - the tomb of Tutankhamun. It was discovered in 1922 by a group of explorers, most of whom died within the next seven years. At the time, many believed it was related to the curse of the tomb or some mysterious poison, although most still believe so.

But it all became one huge delusion. Immediately after the tomb was opened, it made a splash. In one of the newspapers, in the name of raising ratings, it was indicated that in front of the entrance to the tomb there was a warning sign that anyone who entered here would die. However, this turned out to be just a newspaper duck, but after the researchers began to die one after another, the article gained popularity, and since then there has been a similar myth. It is worth noting that most of these scientists were of advanced age. This is how easy some of the mysteries of the Egyptian pyramids are solved.

The device of the pyramids

The burial complex of the pharaohs consists not only of the pyramid itself, but also of two temples: one next to the pyramid, one should be washed by the waters of the Nile. Pyramids and temples, which were not far from each other, were connected by alleys. Some have partially survived to this day, for example, the alleys between Luxor and Between the pyramids of Giza, unfortunately, no such alleys have been preserved.

Inside the pyramid

Egyptian pyramids, interesting facts about them, and ancient myths - all this is in direct connection with the internal structure. Inside the pyramid there is a chamber with a burial, to which passages lead from different sides. The walls of the aisles were usually painted with religious texts. The walls of the pyramid in Saqqara, a village near Cairo, were painted with the oldest funeral texts that have survived to this day. Next to the pyramids of Giza is also the famous figure of the sphinx, which, according to legend, should protect the peace of the deceased. Unfortunately, the original name of this building has not survived to our time, it is only known that in the Middle Ages the Arabs called the monument "the father of horror"

Types of pyramids

Many mysteries of the Egyptian pyramids are directly related to their creation. Until now, no one has been able to reliably determine how the ancient Egyptians managed to create such monumental buildings, which are still preserved to this day.

Scientists believe that the construction was carried out in several stages, during which the size of the pyramid could increase significantly compared to the original. Construction began long before the death of the pharaoh and could take several decades. Just to create a suitable site for construction and leveling the soil, it took about a dozen years. It took two decades to create the largest pyramid to date.

Who built the pyramids

There is an opinion that the pyramids were built by slaves who were starved and whipped for poorly done work, but this is not true. showed that the people who built the pyramids were kept in good conditions, they were well fed. However, no one has yet been able to figure out for certain how the heaviest stone blocks rose up, because human strength is incapable of such a thing.

However, archaeologists believe that over time, the construction technique changed, and the Egyptian pyramids themselves changed. Interesting Facts in mathematics, too, relate to the construction of pyramids. So, scientists managed to determine that the pyramids have mathematically correct proportions. How the ancient Egyptians managed to do this remains a mystery.

Egyptian pyramids - wonder of the world

  • The Pyramid of Cheops is the only surviving wonder of the world.
  • There are several theories about the construction of the pyramids. According to one of them, the construction took place on the principle of leverage, but taking into account this, it would take no less than a century and a half, and the pyramid was erected in two decades. That's what remains a mystery.

  • Some lovers of the mystical consider these buildings to be powerful energy sources and believe that the pharaohs spent time in them during their lifetime in order to receive new vitality.
  • There are also quite incredible theories. For example, some believe that the pyramids were built by aliens, while others believe that the blocks were moved by people who own a magic crystal.
  • There are still some questions regarding the construction. For example, it has not yet been clarified why the pyramids were built in two stages and why breaks were needed.
  • The pyramids were built for two centuries and were built several at a time.
  • Now, according to the studies of various scientists, their age is from 4 to 10 thousand years.
  • In addition to the exact mathematical proportions, the pyramids have another feature in this area. The stone blocks are arranged in such a way that there are no gaps between them at all, even the thinnest blade will not fit through.
  • Each side of the pyramid is located in the direction of one side of the world.
  • The Pyramid of Cheops, the largest in the world, reaches a height of 146 meters, and its weight is more than six million tons.
  • If you want to know how the Egyptian pyramids were built, you can learn interesting facts about the construction from the pyramids themselves. Construction scenes are depicted on the walls of the aisles.
  • The sides of the pyramids are curved by one meter so that they can accumulate solar energy. Thanks to this, the pyramids could reach thousands of degrees and emit an incomprehensible rumble from such incandescence.
  • An ideally straight foundation was made for, so the faces differ from each other by only five centimeters.
  • The first pyramid built is dated 2670 BC. e. In appearance, it resembles several pyramids located next to each other. The architect created a type of masonry that helped achieve this effect.
  • The pyramid of Cheops was created from 2.3 million blocks, perfectly even and matching each other.
  • Structures similar to the Egyptian pyramids are also found in Sudan, where the tradition was later picked up.
  • Archaeologists managed to find the village where the pyramid builders lived. A brewery and a bakery were discovered there.

  • Many secrets hide the Egyptian pyramids. Interesting facts relate, for example, on the basis of which the pyramid is made. The walls are at an angle of 52 degrees, which makes the ratio of height and perimeter equal to the ratio of length.

Power and greatness

Why were the Egyptian pyramids built? Interesting facts about the construction do not give an idea of ​​what they served for. And pyramids were created to praise the power and greatness of their owners. Lush tombs were a significant part of the entire burial complex. They were filled with things that the pharaohs might need after death. There you could find literally everything that a person might need. Any clothes, jewelry, utensils - all this and many other things were sent along with the pharaohs to their tombs. These riches, buried with the owners, are often the reason for the appearance of robbers who want to get jewelry. All these mysteries and myths that envelop the pyramids, starting from the very creation, have remained unsolved for many centuries, and no one knows if they will ever be revealed.

Great seven wonders of the world - hanging gardens Semiramis, Alexandrian lighthouse, a statue of Zeus, the colossus of Rhodes, etc. Everyone knows about them. But only one "miracle" of these seven has survived to this day. It's mysterious Egyptian pyramids which are over 4500 years old.

Location and structural features of the Egyptian pyramids:

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

Scientists note that during the existence of the Ancient Egyptian kingdom, more than 80 pyramids were built, but only a small part has come down to us. There are three surviving pyramids - these are the pyramids of Cheops, Khafre and Mykerin (they also have Egyptian names - Khufu, Khafre and Menkaur). Only the first of this list formally belongs to the legendary seven. However, they are all mysterious and majestic.

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

The main pyramid is the Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu). Each side of the base has a length of 233 m. The height of the pyramid is 147 m. The area of ​​the pyramid is more than 50 thousand square meters. Her interior spaces occupy a very small volume - no more than 4% of the total area.

Until the middle of the 19th century, the pyramid of Cheops was considered the most big building on our planet. According to Napoleon, stone blocks from the three pyramids of Giza would be enough to surround the entire wall with a height of three meters and a thickness of 30 centimeters.

All sides are almost 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 leads outward from this room at an angle - a ventilation duct, 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 main room- it is not located along the central axis, as in all tombs, but is deflected to the side.

Pyramid of Khafre(Khephren) is almost as good as the pyramid of Cheops. It is slightly smaller - 215 m long and 143 wide, but due to the fact that it is located on steeper slopes, it seems larger. Khafre 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, and its length is 57 meters. The figure carved from a single 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 retained lime lining on its top.

Pyramid of Menkaure(Mycerina) is the smallest of the legendary pyramids. It is almost 10 times smaller than the pyramid of Cheops. 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 construction of the Egyptian pyramids dates back to the beginning of the Old Kingdom, which is approximately 2800 - 2250 BC. e.

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 applied 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. And each subsequent was less 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 from wood and brick, but from large limestone blocks. This pyramid is considered the progenitor of the great Pyramids.

The first of the great pyramids is the Pyramid of Cheops. It is absolutely impossible to imagine that it was built, 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 pyramids could not be built by the people living in bronze age, 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 almost 100,000 slaves.

Millions of blocks were literally gouged out of the rocks using primitive red copper drills that dulled very quickly from such hard work. Fitting wooden boards under the future stove, 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, as a result, they received a block that was ideal in its proportions and shape. In the vicinity of Aswan, even now there are ruins of ancient quarries, on the territory of which many ready-made blocks were found. As it turned out, this is a marriage that was not used when laying the pyramids.

The processed blocks were transported on boats to the other side of the Nile. Then they were taken along a specially laid 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 into place using ramps, pulleys and levers, and then pushed them together without any mortar. The stones of the pyramid are so tightly “fitted” that even a knife blade cannot be inserted between them. To raise the blocks, the Egyptians built a sloping mound of brick and stone with an elevation angle of about 15. When the main structure was completed, it resembled a series of steps. As the pyramid was built, the mound was lengthened. Perhaps they also used wooden sleds, on which blocks were dragged up by hundreds of slaves. In some places, traces of these wagons were found.

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

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

There is no doubt that this pyramid was built as a tomb for the pharaoh Cheops. IN ancient egypt it was customary to build structures for burial long before the death of the one to whom it was intended. The Egyptians believed in an afterlife and carefully prepared 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 extracted 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 jewels 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 owner even after death. The pyramids served the pharaohs, according to their religious beliefs, as a ladder by which souls ascended to heaven.

After the construction of the pyramid of Cheops, the cocking of the pyramid of Khafre began. Enormous money was invested in these constructions. The third pyramid was supposed to be no less majestic in design. But Menkaure could not afford the construction great pyramid. The country was devastated by the construction of the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre. Hunger has begun. The population, exhausted by overwork, grumbled. But, despite its smaller size, the pyramid of Menkaur 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 be used to observe the movement of some stars, and the Grand Gallery, open at the top, was used to map the sky. But still, the official version is that the pyramids were built primarily as tombs.

Since the pharaohs were buried along with various valuables, there is no doubt that jewelry can be found in them. The search for treasures in the tomb of Cheops does not stop today. There is still a lot of unknown. That is why the ancient pyramids are a favorite place for treasure seekers. For a long time, the plundering of the pyramids was considered the main problem. It looks like this problem has existed since ancient kingdom, so the tombs were designed according to the principle of labyrinths, with secret rooms and doors, baits and traps.

According to the official version, the first time they penetrated the pyramid in 820 AD: Arab caliph Abdullah Al Manum decided to find the treasures of Khufu. Immediately treasure seekers 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 a passage that led down. These digs 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 were able to find was what is now known as " 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 wide. Only an empty sarcophagus without a lid was found here. There was nothing else in the room.

Several years of work yielded nothing - no treasure was found. It is most likely that the tomb was plundered 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. True, in 1638, John Greves discovered a narrow passage in the Grand Gallery, which was littered with debris. It is possible that through this move all the treasures were taken out. 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 No one knows. Diverse investigations have not found any other rooms or passageways. However, many people still believe that the main rooms and the treasures hidden there have not yet been found.