Wednesday, June 11, 2008

The pyramids remain to be one of the greatest Seven Wonders of the World

Copyright © EgyptHasItAll.com

Pyramids are the only large stone structures built by early Egyptians. They were centerpieces for large building complexes of tombs and temples for worshiping their gods.

The first pyramid built was the Step Pyramid at Saqqara (Sakkara); it was built for the Pharaoh Djoser more than 4600 years ago. It was made of limestone blocks quarried across the river at Tura. Djoser's Step Pyramid is 204 feet high and was the largest known man made structure of its time.





Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramid is one of the most extensive archaeological sites comprising many important monuments such as the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Pyramid of Unas, Pyramid of Sekhemket, Mastaba of Ti and the deep underground Persian Tombs.s

It’s hard to imagine standing and facing the base of the Great Pyramid of Egypt and envisioning that this super structure was made by man thousands of years ago Its colossal structure has left a lasting indentation on modern times and continues to inspire many ideas for new and upcoming architecture.





There are 97 known big pyramids in Egypt (plus any smaller ones for wives and children). What makes the Giza Pyramids different? The size of the Giza Pyramids cannot be appreciated unless you have visited them but it is not the size that makes them one of the even wonders of the world, it is the mystery which surrounds them, they are also the oldest skyscrapers.

The largest pyramid, Cheops (Khufu), towered above, rising 450 feet from a 1,000-foot-wide base. The exact method of construction is unknown, but estimates are that 100,000 workers spent 30 years positioning 2-1/2 million stones, each weighing one to thirty tons. Symmetry remains intact despite ages of plunder on the outer stones.





A visit to Giza Pyramids is not complete without a visit to the nearby great Sphinx. This huge statue, half man, half lion, was carved from one huge stone during Pharaoh Chephren’s rule, but its purpose remains a mystery. Its missing nose and beard were the result of target practice by invading Turkish troops. Some devastation was also later charged to Napoleon's invading troops.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hi, The Pyramids of Giza are consistently listed in the top 100 things to see before you die; they are the last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World and are truly a sight to behold.