The Egyptian pyramids had many uses, but it mainly served as a tomp for the pharaohs. The first pharaohs built mastabas, which were simpler tombs. Mastabas were square tombs with a room inside for the mummy and the coffin and some other things they brang in the afterlife. They were built in pyramids from the beginning of the old kingdom to the end of the middle kingdom. If you really think about it, that is a very long time!! And did you know that they were buried with their queens? Now how about that?? Yes, yes the pyramids were very useful to the egyptian society and are still standing today so go see them!
Monday, December 15, 2008
I bet you are wondering who built those crazy pyramids anyway. You see, at first I thought it was the slaves but i was very wrong. Actually, most of the time the slaves had nothing to do with the project. It was the laborers who hauled the huge blocks of stone, and the more skillful work was done by trained craft workers. The workforce included, metalworkers, surveyors, stonemasons, and carpentars. Painters and sculpture decorated the walls of the temples. And finally scribes kept records of all the materials needed. Well i consider this to be a done deal.
With simple tools, the egyptians cut and shaped very hard stone that was used to make the pyramids. Some examples of this stone was granite and basalt, as well as softer limestone. Limestone is a white stone that is very easy to cut and carve. Limestone was a very popular stone for building the pyramids. Although it was very heavy, they had the ramps so it was easier to build the pyramids.
If you are looking to read about a huge pyramid that this is the post to read!! This pyramid was built by Khufu and is about 482 feet tall. WOW!! it was also built with about 2,300,000 limestone blocks. If it was me building that it would take about 5 million years to complete the project. But that's just me. You see, this pyramid was different from others. Unlike later pyramids, Khufu's had several chambers and galleries inside. The plans might've been changed during construction. In the end, when Khufu died, he was buried in the top of the chamber.
Friday, December 12, 2008
It seems like there is about a trillion steps to making a pyramid because they are so big, but really there is only about seven. First the outline of the pyramid was marked out so that they knew where to start building the pyramid. Next, the builders started building. You see this is not a short-term product, it took about 20 years to make one pyramid!!!! And it took the over eighty years to make the pyramids at Giza. Third, the blocks used for the pyramid were shipped by boat because back then there were no cars or plane like we have today. I don't know about you, but i would just die if i didn't have the modern day technology that we have! Then, the big, humongous blocks were hauled to the site on sleds along traks made of water, milk, or oil. What a waste of the stuff we use to get strong bones!!! Fifth, the ramps were made to push the blocks up as the pyramid got bigger. I mean they had to make these ramps becaus the blocks weighed as much as 25 refridgeraters!!! OMG!! Next, blocks were set into position using stone wedges. And finally, once complete the ramps were taken away!!!! Finally they can take a break after 20 whole years!