Great Pyramids
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramids When most people think of Ancient Egypt they associate it with the pyramids. To construct such great monuments required a mastery of architecture, social organization, and art that a few cultures of that period could achieve. The pyramids of ancient Egypt are the last remaining Wonder of the World. Even in the days of Ancient Egypt when powerful pharaohs ruled over Egypt the pyramids were still considered a wonder. Today, the ruins of about 35 pyramids still stand near the Nile River in Egypt. The great pyramids in Egypt played an important role in the lives of the Egyptians, not only religiously, but also architecturally and mathematically. ... The main purpose of the pyramids was they were built as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. These pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to about the end of the Middle Kingdom. ... The Egyptians did not just think of the pyramids as a resting place for their dead. They believed that their rulers were divine god-kings who would ascend into heaven from the pyramids to take their place among the gods in the afterlife. The afterlife was also of great concern to the Egyptians and constructions of the great tombs were of paramount importance. The pyramids played a large role in the religious beliefs of the Egyptians, not only with their rituals but also the physical appearance of the pyramid. ... The belief in raising the human spirit towards the gods is the typical purpose behind the construction of the pyramids. It was believed that the pyramids were symbolic of the primeval mound which arose out of the ancient waters, on which the sun god was born. ... These pyramids were incredibly ambitious projects, the largest structures ever built. ... The pyramids were built by farm laborers, who made up about 90 per cent of the population in Ancient Egypt. ... Working on the pyramids, under the supervision of skilled builders, was a kind of tax that the poor had to pay. ... The interior design was changed during the pyramids’ construction and the designs in the burial chamber were finished. ... The construction of such great monuments involved an enormous effort, especially considering the relatively simple tools, lifting equipment, and mode of transportation available to the Egyptians.