Egyptian Pyramids are marvels of architecture. Here we explore how and why they were constructed, and the names of some fascinating structures.
Egypt is a land of mysteries; it is a key to the many legends that lie buried underneath the sands of time and history. Most believe that Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their dead pharaohs. Isn't it weirdly fascinating that they built such huge and magnificent structures only to store corpses?
Here we discuss these epic mausoleums, which have attracted the attention of countless people over the time.
Why were they built?
It was believed by the Egyptians that their kings had a very active afterlife. They believed that once their pharaohs died they became Osiris, the King of the Dead, who was also considered to be a God in Egyptian mythology.
Similarly, the young king who succeeded the dead king would become Horus, the King of the Heavens; therefore they made sure that pyramids were made, so that they could have a hassle-free afterlife.
It was considered to be one of the primary duties of these Pharaohs. The mummified kings were also supplied with dolls of guards and servants so that they would not face any problems after their deaths.
Prior to the popularity of pyramids, Egyptians made much simpler tombs for their pharaohs, though they were still huge, out of rocks and covered with structures that had flat roofs. These structures were known as 'mastaba'.
There was a belief among the Egyptians that the Pharaohs reached Heaven with the help of the sun's rays, and therefore they shaped the pyramid to allow for the ascension to take place at a high, focused point.
If we take a broader look, we would find that most religious or mythological structures that were meant to have a connection with the spiritual world have a similar kind of structure; the shape is believed to converge and concentrate the positive powers at the center of the structure, where lies the sanctum of a spiritual structure.
Some Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
★ The Pyramid Complex of Giza, which is one of the first wonders of the world. It took a period of approximately three months to build, and employed about one hundred thousand workers.
Amongst the three pyramids, the one known as the Great Pyramid was, at one point in time, the tallest man-made structure in the world.
★ The Step Pyramid at Saqqara was built by King Djoser, and it is a marvel of architecture where the impossible has been achieved without the help of modern technology. This was the first-ever pyramid.
★ The Pyramids of Abu Sir are also remarkable pieces of architecture. For a long time, they were not open to tourists.
★ The Pyramid of Dahshur is known as an example of the transition that occurred from the "step" style of architecture to the "true" style.
★ The Pyramid at el-Lahun is yet another example of artistry and common sense, as the foundation of this pyramid was not made; it stands on a natural limestone hill. Thus, not only is the pyramid given a strong foundation, it also saved valuable time and resources.
Pyramids have been destroyed to a great extent by time, nature, and vandals.