This paper examines the history and construction of the ancient Egyptian pyramids, tracing their origins in Egyptian religious beliefs about death and the afterlife. It surveys key structures including the Red Pyramid and the Great Pyramid at Giza, discussing their scale, complexity, and the mathematical knowledge required to build them. The paper also explores the organization of the workforce, the quarrying and transportation of stone, and competing theories about how massive stone blocks were raised into place — with particular attention to ramp-based construction methods. Together, these elements demonstrate that ancient Egyptians were far more sophisticated than modern observers often assume.
The paper effectively synthesizes multiple scholarly perspectives on a contested topic — the method used to raise stone blocks — and presents competing theories (Herodotus's staircase scaffold, Diodorus's ramp, and Houdin's internal ramp hypothesis) without dismissing any outright, instead weighing the available evidence to arrive at a reasoned conclusion. This is a strong model of source-based argumentation at the introductory undergraduate level.
The paper opens with an introductory argument about ancient intelligence, then moves through Egyptian religious motivation, a survey of key pyramid structures, workforce and quarrying logistics, planning and mathematical knowledge, and finally the ramp debate. A brief conclusion returns to the paper's central thesis. Each section builds logically on the last, making it a good example of topic-driven organizational flow.
The pyramids in Egypt serve as a testament to the ingenuity of man. We often dismiss ancient civilizations because we assume they were not as intelligent as we are. When we think of the pharaohs of Egypt and their belief that they entered an afterlife beyond death, we might tend to regard them as uneducated or simply naive. This is a mistake. While these people may have held unusual beliefs about the afterlife, they were not unintelligent by any means. Their beliefs about the afterlife are precisely what compelled them to build the pyramids — structures that, to this day, astound all who encounter them. The complexity of these monuments proves to our so-called advanced society that ancient civilizations were intelligent, hardworking, and dedicated.
The Egyptians did not believe that death was the end of life, and the concept of immortality was important to them beyond what many of us stop to comprehend. Along with mummification, many rituals were performed at the time of death to ensure eternal life. The burial process was, by all accounts, deeply significant because it was seen as part of the journey of life itself. Multiply this significance by a thousandfold and we begin to appreciate the importance placed on the death of a pharaoh.
A pharaoh was special in both life and death, and the means by which he transitioned from one realm to the next were considered absolutely essential. This Egyptian belief system stems from the notion that once the pharaoh died, he became "Osiris, king of the dead" (National Geographic). In short, he became a god, which explains why a pyramid honored him even after death. The man who followed in the pharaoh's footsteps became Horus, "god of the heavens and protector of the sun god" (National Geographic). This transformation, or transfiguration, symbolized the "rising and setting of the sun" (National Geographic). Death and its accompanying rituals were taken very seriously because without proper care, the "former pharaoh would not be able to carry out his new duties as king of the dead" (National Geographic). Without proper burial, the cycle would be broken and "disaster would befall Egypt" (National Geographic). To avoid such an outcome, the dead pharaoh was mummified and buried in a pyramid — a vessel intended to carry him into the afterlife. The pyramids not only contained the body of the pharaoh but also everything he would need in his afterlife, including gold, furniture, and food. The afterlife proved to be just as important as life on earth.
The pyramids of Egypt are grand masterpieces, regardless of when they were created or why. There are more than one hundred of these structures throughout Egypt, with the most famous located at Giza. Part of the reason they are so celebrated is that they are considered among the largest structures ever built on Earth. The Khufu Pyramid — also known as the Great Pyramid — is the largest of the Giza pyramids. Many historians believe it took fifteen to twenty years to complete and that it stands approximately 480 feet tall. It is estimated that between 20,000 and 30,000 people worked to build each of the Giza pyramids, and the construction of one would take an entire lifetime.
Historians believe the first true pyramid was the Red Pyramid, built around 2600 B.C.E. This pyramid is one of three located at the Dahshur necropolis. Many believe the Red Pyramid was the first attempt at building a smooth-sided pyramid, and it took approximately ten years to construct. The Red Pyramid contains a single burial chamber, while the Great Pyramid contains three. The difference between these elements demonstrates the knowledge gained from building earlier pyramids. The Great Pyramid was built around 2500 B.C.E. — roughly one hundred years after the Red Pyramid. Its additional chambers include a Queen's Chamber and both ascending and descending passages. The workmanship demonstrated in its construction is astounding. The sides of the pyramid are nearly exactly the same length, and the sides of the base are aligned with the four cardinal compass points. The Great Pyramid alone is thought to be comprised of over two million limestone blocks.
The pyramids in Egypt stand as proof of the extraordinary capabilities of humankind. Society has evolved in many ways since these monuments were constructed, but they continue to baffle us. This enduring evidence serves as a constant reminder that, while we may wish to regard ourselves as more advanced than those who lived thousands of years ago, we are not as different from them as we might like to think. We may have cell phones, GPS technology, high-definition televisions, and countless modern conveniences, but we should not discount what the Egyptians achieved. We may not completely understand why they built such elaborate tombs, but the pyramids remain among the most remarkable structures ever created. The belief that the pyramid served as a portal to another life was perhaps the most compelling motivation ever to produce such a magnificent work of architecture.
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National Geographic. "Pyramids." March 03, 2011. Web. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/pyramids.html
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Shaw, Ian. "Great Pyramids: How They Were Built." BBC Online. Web. March 03, 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/great_pyramid_01.shtml
Verner, Miroslav, et al. The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove Press; New York. 1997. Print.
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