31-03-2017, 22:01 |
The Pyramid of Cheops is the only one of the seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day. Weight 5 million tons, height 146 meters, age 4500 years. The construction of the Cheops pyramid is still shrouded in great mystery. Many scientists and Egyptologists make a number of assumptions about how it was possible to build such a massive structure at that time.
With the help of modern technology, one of the French architects managed to reproduce a fairly accurate picture. In general, the pyramids are a wonderful and mysterious sight. The massive structures of the pyramid were built without special techniques, only by the hands of the ancient Egyptians. This is very strange and that is why it is so interesting.
Construction of the ancient pyramids of Egypt
To clarify the whole picture, let's return during the construction of the pyramids. it is a manifestation. They became the gateway for all pharaohs from the world of the living to the eternal world of the dead. The most impressive of the pyramids was built by the Egyptians within one century. Initially, step pyramids were built, for example, the pyramid of Djoser in Sakar is like this.
But the first pyramid with smooth edges was built by the pharaoh from the IV dynasty Snephrom. He was the father of Cheops. The special facing of the pyramids made them the earthly embodiment of the sun. Over time, the truth cladding was borrowed from us for the construction of temples and mosques. We can find such a facing only at the base of the Cheops pyramid and at the top of the Khafre pyramid.
The pyramid of Khafre became the last great pyramid in Egyptian history. Then, after a century of grandiose construction, the whole country entered a difficult time for itself. The time of strife, climate change also occurred, and droughts began to happen very often. This led to the fact that in the troubled time of civil strife, the secrets of the construction of the pyramid were lost.
Recently, archaeologists have found a settlement, in their opinion the builders of the pyramid lived there. This led to many discoveries. It became clear to the Egyptologists how it went - they lived quite decently, had good housing and plenty of food, ate meat, bread, drank beer. As it turned out, the builders did not appear. Previously, it was this point of view that prevailed.
Interestingly, the Cheops pyramid was the tallest in the world until the endXIX century. Let's remind that its height was 146 meters. The burial chamber of the pyramid is lined with granite blocks weighing more than 60 tons. This is all very strange and mysterious. How did they build the pyramids. The striking heights and granite blocks inside the Cheops pyramid are two big secrets.
Cheops pyramid viewpoint on construction
Many have tried to uncover the secret of the construction of this one. Herodotus in the 5th century BC the idea of \u200b\u200busing levers made of wood was put forward. Another idea about the existence of embankments up to the top of the pyramid, or about the ramps outside in the form of a spiral. These hypotheses are very common in history lessons. However, not one of them contains a clear evidence base. There are no arguments that would make it possible to say with 100% probability that this or that hypothesis is correct.
A French archaeologist came up with the idea that the pyramids were built from the inside using a spiral tunnel. Before that, he conducted a number of studies of all hypotheses, reviewed the drawings. Soon he built his own guess about how they built. To begin with, he should have done a technical analysis of his assumption. That is, to develop a theory about how such construction was implemented in practice.
In order to prove this hypothesis, everything had to be calculated. It can be stated with certainty that the Egyptians did not build ring-shaped tunnels. But they knew how to build structures at right angles. So the idea of \u200b\u200bbuilding a ramp inside at an angle of 90 degrees came into development. If such a ramp existed, then it became possible to raise the blocks so high, even by 146 meters.
Construction in detail of the pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops
So, the idea of \u200b\u200binternal ramps. The slope of the ramps should not exceed 7%, otherwise it is simply unrealistic to raise the blocks high. Special open areas were created at turns. They made it possible to turn the blocks in the desired direction and at the same time ventilate the tunnels. The ramp theory was good, but it needed proof.
To verify all calculations, it was required to enlist the support of prominent historians. The French architect began to look for interested Egyptologists. However, it was not possible to find those in France who would pay attention to his large-scale project. But one of the American Egyptologists responded to his proposal. Upon meeting, the American was amazed by this theory.
Scientists go to find proof of their theory. It is worth noting that the Cheops pyramid is an amazing sight. Tourists are allowed inside through a robbery passage. Examining the pyramid from the inside, scientists tried to find at least some hints of the inner ramp. The joints between the blocks are striking, they are just perfect, there are no gaps.
If you move through a narrow passage under the ceiling of the gallery, it will lead to 5 layers of granite blocks. They form discharge lanes above the king's chamber; it relieves the load from the ceiling of the lower chambers. If it were not for this system, then the pharaoh's chamber would collapse.
In addition, there is a special construction passage to the very top of the pyramid. It was there that scientists at the beginning of the 19th century. found a cartouche of Pharaoh Cheops. This is the main proof that this is the pyramid of the Pharaoh Cheops.
By the way, if you are a tourist and want to get acquainted with the treasures of the pharaohs, then you should go to the Cairo Museum. There are a million exhibits that tell about the ancient civilization of Egypt. But only two exhibits are related to the pyramid of Cheops specifically - a figurine of Cheops made of ivory and a sled made of cedar. A Lebanese cedar sled allows you to understand how the pyramid was built.
Stages of construction of the pyramid
During the reign of Cheops, not a single Egyptian had any idea what a wheel was. Stone blocks were transported on cedar sleds. But, nevertheless, in terms of technology, the Egyptians achieved great success. The genius of the pyramid builders still amazes Egyptologists.
According to the theory of the French architect, there were two ramps. The first straight line goes from the base of the pyramid to the outside. It allows you to erect the base of the pyramid and even more than half of the building itself, while also building the pharaoh's gallery. Then a second ramp was built, which was already inside the pyramid. According to theory, after the construction of 43 meters of the pyramid, blocks for the king's chamber were raised on its surface. Then the outer ramp was dismantled and a second inner ramp was built from these materials.
To prove this theory, you need to find the remains of a ramp inside. Not far from Cheops, the Temple of the Sun was built, it was built 100 years later. Interestingly, there is a passage inside, similar to an internal ramp. The temple itself would have been destroyed at the end of the 19th century, but there is a drawing of it. This is direct evidence that the Egyptians knew how to build such passages. Thus, there is a high probability that the same ramp was built in the Cheops pyramid.
Pyramid of Cheops and construction features
In order for the form to be ideal, according to the scientist, external blocks were first laid. Accordingly, the internal blocks were laid later. This sequence made it possible to visually control the surface and the slope angle of the building being built. There is a broken pyramid in Dashur, its facing has been preserved. The thickness of the outer cladding blocks is much greater than that of the indoor blocks. This also speaks in favor of the fact that first they put external polished blocks, and then internal ones.
So, the outer polished blocks were laid, then another layer of blocks horizontally, and the rest of the space was filled with rough blocks as filler. With this order of construction, it really could have been erected within 20 years. This date is indicated in the texts of the ancient Egyptians.
On the Cheops pyramid, whitish lines are visible from the outside, it can be assumed that this is the ramp. Their latitude and slope correspond exactly to the numbers in this theory. For accurate data, the pyramid needs to be scanned and if there are fluctuations in density, then this will be the main proof of the existence of the ramp. After research, the same fluctuations were found. The vibrations formed a spiral shape. These results were obtained by microgrammetric research.
According to microgrammetric study, the voids in the density of the pyramids formed a spiral shape. According to the data obtained, voids occupied 15% of the entire density of the Cheops pyramid. There is a notch on the northeastern edge of the pyramid, according to calculations it runs right in the area of \u200b\u200bthe ramp. Maybe there was a construction site where the Egyptians unrolled the blocks. But it is difficult to explore this area, since it is forbidden to climb the pyramid after accidents.
The Pyramid of Cheops
But the authorities went to the meeting, and the Egyptologist, along with an assistant, climbed to look at the notch closer. However, no hint of a ramp could be found. But research has proven that there is a spiral cavity inside. Only here is another mystery - this is how the blocks were raised for the king's chamber. After all, only small blocks can be lifted along the inner ramp, but how did they deliver the rest ... This is also a mystery question for now. If you build a pyramid, then the outer ramp will not help deliver the 60 ton block to the top. This requires 600 people to work synchronously. And this is almost impossible.
Thus, the assumption of an internal ramp in the form of a spiral is viable, moreover, this version is more suitable for the construction of pyramids. But there are some nuances that are still difficult to explain. Maybe this will remain a mystery for many years to come.
Cheops pyramid construction video
The Pyramid of Cheops was built around 2600 BC.
The pyramids are shrouded in mystery to this day. Many scientists have devoted their entire lives to unraveling the great construction and purpose of these magnificent buildings. However, several millennia, from the first study of Herodotus to the present day, have not brought the expected success. The main questions remained unanswered - who? when? what for? We will tell you about the most reliable assumptions and versions collected by the best scientists over several centuries and related to the history of the Egyptian pyramids.
Already in ancient times, the pyramids were considered one of the main wonders of the world! Their number was about 100 pieces located along the banks of the Nile River. If you look at all the pyramids from above, then their location is similar to the map of the starry sky. The largest, main pyramids are at Giza. The world famous sphinxes, as well as temples and tombs of the pharaohs, are also located here. A very important factor of the pyramids is that all their faces are clearly located along the magnetic poles of the Earth! You probably already know the names of the three main pyramids? If not, then be sure to remember - the pyramid of Cheops, Mikerin and Khafre.
The largest pyramid, Cheops, was erected by Khufu, who at that time was the pharaoh. The estimated, most accurate date of construction is 2590 BC. The height of the pyramid is more than 146 meters, the length of each side is more than 241 m. The sides are located to the cardinal points with amazing accuracy, the angle of inclination is 52 degrees. The Cheops pyramid covers an area of \u200b\u200b5.4 hectares, the base is aligned with the horizon with an accuracy of 3 centimeters. The pyramid consists of more than 2,350,000 stone blocks, each weighing about two and a half tons! The pyramid was originally covered with white sandstone cladding for precise shape and long-term preservation. Unfortunately, the facing has not survived to this day.
The entrance to the pyramid is at a height of 14 meters. There are no decorations inside, no inscriptions or drawings. For that, there are three chambers, the lower of which is located at a depth of 30 meters above the ground. The room is carved into the rock, in order to get to it you need to overcome 120 meters of a narrow corridor (1.1x1.0) at an angle of 27 degrees. After that, the remaining 9 meters, the angle changes to zero relative to the horizon. The tunnel ends with a burial chamber with dimensions (8.0x14.0x3.0).
Now the passage to the lower tier is closed, for that you can go up the stairs, and then along the 40-meter corridor that leads to the queen's chamber. A room with dimensions (5.5x5.2x6.3) is located clearly in the middle, at a height of 20 meters from the ground. There are two ventilation shafts in the walls, directed exactly north and south, but not facing the street.
Even higher is the "Great Gallery" - a corridor more than 48 meters long, with a ceiling height of 8.4 m and an inclination angle of 26 degrees. The walls are lined with polished limestone slabs in eight layers. At the end of the corridor there is the main room - the tomb of the pharaoh with dimensions (10.5x5.3x5.8). The chamber is lined with black Aswan granite, each block of which weighs at least thirty tons! Moreover, all blocks are so well polished and fitted that even the thinnest knife blade will not pass between them. The ceiling consists of 9 monoliths, each weighing over 400 tons. Above them are located unloading chambers 17 meters high, designed to preserve the peace of the pharaoh. A gable roof was built above them, made of huge blocks that take on the weight of more than a million tons! Note also that the pharaoh's sarcophagus is much wider than the entrance to the chamber, and most likely it was hewn right here, from a large block of granite.
There are also ventilation chambers (0.2x0.2) with an exact north-south direction, but unlike the queen's chamber, here they go outside. In 817, Caliph Mamun was able to penetrate into the tomb of the pharaoh, but found there only an empty sarcophagus, the remains of Cheops were never found.
The finds near the pyramid are also interesting. For example, in 1953, during excavations, the oldest ship in the world was discovered - a wooden boat, about 44 meters long, built without nails from cedar. On the wooden elements of which traces of silt were found, it means that at one time the boat was used for its intended purpose. Ancient scriptures claim that the pyramid was surrounded by a stone wall that was 10 meters high and 3 meters wide. Two temples were located nearby - the upper and the lower. The upper one was to the east of the pyramid, built of Turkish limestone, it contained about 40 granite pillars. The lower temple was used for the first part of the burial ceremony.
The essence of the entire system of buildings was most likely as follows - initially, the remains of the pharaoh were delivered along the Nile to the lower temple, where, after the necessary preparations, they were sent to the upper temple along a long, connecting corridor. In the upper temple, among the many columns, a funeral service and prayers for the repose of the pharaoh took place. After that, the body was delivered to the lower chamber of the pyramid, where the pharaoh was carefully walled up. On the four sides of the pyramid, walled up in the rocks, there were four boats intended for travel in the afterlife. The main pyramid was accompanied by three small companion pyramids (base length 49 m), located, like the upper temple, in the east. Moreover, each next of which (from north to south) is less than the previous one. It is believed that the companion pyramids were intended for the wives of the pharaoh.
There are other theories about the purpose of the pyramids. In those distant times, the pharaohs were ruled by a group of priests who possessed unearthly knowledge. This was a separate caste of people who called themselves the elect. They knew mathematics, medicine, astronomy and other sciences very well. The level of education of the priests was several times higher than our idea of \u200b\u200bthe world. This knowledge was inaccessible to the common man. The priests chose their disciples themselves, initiating and teaching them in underground rooms located under the pyramids. The teachings assumed a connection with the universe and an awareness of the essence of earthly existence. After that, the student was subjected to tests in the labyrinths of the pyramids, then in a secret sanctuary, under pain of death, they achieved complete obedience and an oath not to disclose secrets. The priests could predict the future, thanks to their connection with the higher forces of the universe. Let's make a reservation right away, later the chosen ones disappeared, due to the so-called disconnection.
Modern scientists have found a lot of evidence for this - the 33-year duration of Christ, the date of the beginning of the Second World War. As early as 1964, Charles Smith suggested that the pyramids store information for understanding the prophecies from the Bible from the beginning of time until the second coming of God.
In 1994, a discovery was made using computer simulations that explained the location of the three main pyramids, which exactly correspond to the positions of the three stars in Orion's belt, which at the time were crossing the Giza meridian. If this assumption is correct, then the age of the pyramids can be increased to 10,400 years BC! The same Sphinx is a confirmation of this theory, because his gaze is directed exactly to the point where this constellation was located.
With the help of modern equipment, hidden tunnels were discovered under the Sphinx itself, which, according to the legend, were supposed to lead to a chamber containing a capsule with a message for all mankind. Indeed, the chamber was found, it contained a sarcophagus made of black granite, unfortunately it was also empty. For that, on the walls of the tunnel leading to the chamber, drawings were found that represent predictions of the future of humanity. From there it became known that a series of cosmic cataclysms awaits our civilization, which will nightmare "Earth" for several millennia .. However, the priests will reappear on our planet and find a way to salvation by conquering space and restoring a civilization based on the laws of existence.
Cheops pyramid. Device. Puzzles. Pyramids on the map. Dimensions. A photo
The most ancient wonder of the world that we can admire even now is the pyramid of Cheops. Shrouded in myths and legends, the Egyptian pyramid was the largest and tallest structure for many millennia. Khufu (another name for the pyramid) is located in Giza, the most popular tourist destination.
History of the pyramids
The pyramids in Egypt are practically the main attraction of the country. There are many hypotheses related to their origin and construction. But they all agree on one important conclusion of the pyramid in Egypt - these are impressive tombs for the great inhabitants of the country (in those days they were the pharaohs). The Egyptians believed in the afterlife and further life after death. It was believed that only a few were worthy of continuing their life path after death - these are actually the pharaohs of their families and slaves who were constantly next to the rulers. Images of slaves and servants were painted on the walls of tombs so that after their death they could continue to serve their king. According to the ancient religion of the Egyptians, man had two inner souls, Ba and Ka. Ba - left the Egyptian after his death, and Ka always acted as a virtual double and waited for him in the world of the dead.
So that the pharaoh did not need anything in the afterlife, food, weapons, kitchen utensils, gold and much more were left in the tomb of the pyramid. In order for the body to remain unchanged and wait for the second soul of Ba, it was necessary to preserve it. This is how the birth of the embalming of the body and the need to create pyramids arose.
The rise of the pyramids in Egypt dates back to the construction of the pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser 5 thousand years ago. The outer walls of the first pyramid were in the form of steps, which symbolized the ascent to heaven. The height of the structure was 60 meters with many corridors and several tombs. Djoser's chamber was located in the underground part of the pyramid. Several more passages were made from the royal tomb leading to small chambers. They contained all the accessories for the further afterlife of the Egyptians. Closer to the east, chambers were found for the entire family of the pharaoh. The structure itself was not so huge in comparison with the pyramid of Pharaoh Cheops, whose height is almost 3 times greater. But it is with the pyramid of Djoser that the history of the emergence of all the Egyptian pyramids begins.
Very often in the photo of the Cheops pyramid, you can see two more nearby pyramids. These are the famous pyramids of Herfen and Mekerin. It is these three pyramids that are considered the most important treasures of the country. The height of the Cheops pyramid significantly distinguishes it from the others near the standing and other pyramids of Egypt. Initially, the walls of the structure were smooth, but after a long period of years they began to crumble. If you look at modern photos of the Cheops pyramid, you can see the relief of the facade and its unevenness, formed over millennia.
The birth of the Cheops pyramid
According to the official version, the pyramid of Cheops was erected in the fall of 2480 BC. The date of the appearance of the first ancient wonder of the world, many historians and researchers dispute, citing arguments in favor of their arguments. The construction of the Great Pyramid took about 2-3 decades. More than one hundred thousand inhabitants of ancient Egypt and the best craftsmen of that time took part in it. First of all, a large road was built for the delivery of building materials, then underground passages and a mine. Most of the time was spent on the construction of the upper part of the pyramid - walls and internal passages and tombs.
There is a very interesting feature of the building: the height of the Cheops pyramid in its original form and the width was 147 meters. Due to the sands filling the base of the building and sprinkling of the facing part, it has decreased by 10 meters and now it is now 137 meters in height. The giant tomb was built mainly from huge, weighing about 2.5 tons of limestone and granite blocks, which were carefully polished so as not to lose the ideal shape of the structure. And in the tomb of the most ancient pharaoh, granite blocks were found, the weight of which reached almost 80 tons. According to the calculations of Egyptologists, about 2,300,000 huge stones were needed, which cannot but impress us all.
The doubts associated with the construction of the pyramid were that in those dark times there were no special machines and devices at all capable of lifting and ideally folding heavy blocks under a certain slope. Some believed that more than a million people took part in the construction, others that the blocks were lifted by a lifting mechanism. Everything was so thought out and as perfect as possible that without the use of concrete mortar and cement, the stones were laid in such a way that it was completely impossible to insert even thin paper between them! There is an assumption that the pyramid was not created at all by people, but by aliens or another force unknown to man.
We are based specifically on the fact that the pyramids are still the creation of people. In order to quickly remove a stone of the required size and shape from the rock, its outlines were made. A conventional shape was carved, and a dry tree was inserted into it. It was regularly watered with water, the tree grew from moisture, and under its pressure a crack was formed in the rock. Now the large block was removed and given the required shape and size. The stones for construction were redirected along the river by huge boats.
To lift the heavy boulders up, they used a massive sled made of wood. On a gentle rise, the stones were lifted one after another by their teams of hundreds of slaves.
Pyramid device
The entrance to the pyramid was originally not where it is now. It was in the form of an arch and was located on the north side of the building more than 15 meters high. In an attempt to rob the great tomb in 820, a new entrance was made, already at a height of 17 meters. But Caliph Abu Jafar, who wanted to enrich himself with the loot, did not find any jewelry and valuable things and left with nothing. It is this passage that is now open to tourists.
The pyramid consists of several long corridors leading to the tombs. Immediately after the entrance, there is a common corridor that diverges into 2 tunnels leading to the central and lower parts of the pyramid. The chamber below is not completed for some reason. There is also a narrow loophole, behind which there is only a dead end and a three-meter well. Climbing up the corridor, you will find yourself in the Great Gallery. If you take the first left and walk a little, you will see the chamber of the Vladyka's wife. And along the corridor above there is the largest one - the tomb of the pharaoh himself.
The beginning of the gallery is interesting because there is a long and narrow almost vertical grotto. There is an assumption that he was there and was even before the base of the pyramid itself. From both tombs of the pharaoh and his wife, narrow passages about 20 centimeters wide are made. Presumably they were made to ventilate the chambers. There is another version that these passages and corridors are pointers to the stars: Sirius, Alnitaki and Tuban and that the pyramid served as a place for astronomical research. But there is another opinion - according to the belief in the afterlife, the Egyptians believed that the soul returns from heaven through the channels.
There is one important and interesting fact - the construction of the pyramid was carried out strictly at one angle of 26.5 degrees. There is every reason to believe that the inhabitants of antiquity were very well versed in geometry and the exact sciences. That only are proportional smooth corridors and ventilation ducts.
Not far from the pyramid itself, during excavations, Egyptian cedar boats were found. They were made of pure wood without a single nail. One of the boats of the ball is divided into 1224 parts. Restorer Ahamed Yussuf Mustafa managed to collect it. For this, the architect had to spend as much as 14 years, such a high patience in the name of science can only be envied. The assembled boat can be admired today in the bizarre museum. It is located on the south side of the Great Pyramid.
Unfortunately, inside the pyramid itself, you cannot shoot videos and photographs. But on the other hand, you can take many incredible pictures in the background of this creation. Various souvenirs are also sold here, so that an excursion to these enchanting places can remind of yourself for a long time.
The photos of the Cheops pyramid certainly do not reflect all the greatness and uniqueness of this structure .. With us you will plunge into history and look at the world with different eyes!
The Pyramid of Cheops - the tallest pyramid in Egypt, at the same time it is the most mysterious and majestic structure in the world. This is the only remaining miracle from the oldest list of the seven wonders of the world, a masterpiece of engineering and architectural art not only because of its gigantic size (its height is 150 meters, area is 4000 square meters, gigantic stones are stacked in 200 rows).
The Pyramid of Cheops was built around 2550 year BC. One gets the impression that it is simply not subject to time, but, by the way, it is already at least 5 thousand years old. Who built them, and even so skillfully - a question to which there is no answer.
It is believed that the Cheops pyramid weighs 6,3 million tons, and it contains more building material than all cathedrals, churches and chapels in England! Until the 13th century, the pyramid was faced with white polished limestone. But after an earthquake in the 13th century, which loosened some of the shell stones, the Arabs began to use the cladding to build and restore Cairo's mosques and palaces (including the Sultan Hassan Mosque).
Historians claim that the construction of the pyramid lasted 14 - 20 years, and their architect was Hemiun - the vizier of Cheops. Books about the history of ancient Egypt show pictures of pyramid-building, where Egyptian workers use cranes from palm branches to build a pyramid - how naive! Not so long ago, a team of Egyptologists conducted a small experiment - they tried to build a miniature pyramid 10 meters high using such cranes from palm branches, imitating the construction conditions of that time. The result was disastrous, palm cranes simply could not withstand the weight of the stones, so scientists soon had to curtail their attempts.
The Pyramid of Cheops is the only pyramid with ascending and descending passages. It is impossible not to single out the huge slope present in its construction, which is called the "great gallery". At its end there is a narrow passage that leads to the King's Room, where the walls are decorated with polished granite. Scientists believe that the "king's room" was a triumph of Egyptian geometry, because, according to their calculations, it was built according to the golden ratio. The sarcophagus is made of a monolith of red granite, while its dimensions are even larger than the entrance to the room itself. The sarcophagus was first discovered open and no valuable things were found in it. Today, no one knows if it was meant for the body of the pharaoh.
In the very center is the smallest room - the Queen's Room. The eastern wall of the pyramid of Cheops has a niche where, according to the hypothesis of Egyptologists, there was a statue of the Pharaoh's wife. The third room is unfinished and is located underground at a depth of 27.5 meters. It is crudely decorated, without the luxury of the other two rooms. Among Egyptologists, there is an opinion that this particular room was supposed to serve as a burial chamber for the pharaoh, but Cheops changed his mind and ordered to build it higher.
Some constructive facts testify to the deep astronomical and mathematical knowledge of the priests who supervise the construction of the Cheops pyramid. For example, adding the four sides of the base of this pyramid and dividing the resulting number by its height, we get 3.1416 - the well-known number "Pi". And the next feature is simply amazing - the height of the Cheops pyramid exactly coincides with a billionth fraction of the distance from the Earth to the Sun! It turns out that the Egyptians already 5,000 years ago possessed the knowledge that even the scientists of the Newtonian era did not have. It is not surprising that nowadays there are a variety of assumptions about how the pyramid of Cheops was built, up to hypotheses about the intervention of aliens in this process.
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Of course, everyone knows where the Cheops pyramid is. After all, this is one of the most outstanding monuments not only of Egypt, but of the entire planet. And despite the achievements of modern science, the secrets of the Cheops pyramid are still unsolved. This is one of the reasons why this huge structure attracts numerous tourists, as well as the fact that it is the only wonder of the world that has survived to our times.
This place really has some kind of special magnetism. And even the numerous sellers of souvenirs and camel drivers who want to make money on curious tourists do not spoil the overall impression. Looking ahead, I will say that the Cheops pyramid inside is not as amazing as outside. And if you decide to save money on an "internal" excursion, you won't lose much. Moreover, I would not recommend going inside for people with claustrophobia, breathing problems or heart problems. The corridors here are quite narrow, and the air is heavy and stuffy, despite the presence of ventilation ducts. By the way, excursion tours are often very eventful and do not provide time to get acquainted with the pyramidal structures inside. Therefore, be sure to clarify this point in advance, if you still decide to get in touch with the secret from the inside.
Construction history
The most famous pyramidal structure owes its "birth" to Pharaoh Khufu, who ruled Egypt for at least 27 years. According to legend, a huge amount of money was spent on the creation of this great monument, which led to the weakening of the state. Scientists do not yet have a consensus on how this corresponds to reality. But it is unambiguous that a lot of resources were spent. After all, the initial height of the Cheops pyramid is 146.6 meters. But what is remarkable is that it looks somewhat lower than the neighboring building. And not only because it “lost” the top. The son of Cheops, building his pyramid, cheated a little by choosing a place 10 meters higher.
There are many versions of how the Cheops pyramid was built, consisting of 2.3 million stone blocks. Their total weight is approximately 6.5 million tons. The stone blocks are carefully adjusted to each other and fastened with a special compound - pink plaster "milk". The walls slope 52 degrees and represent the number pi. This giant is located on an area of \u200b\u200b5 hectares. The scheme of the Cheops pyramid clearly demonstrates that inside it is practically a monolith, in which there are only a few corridors, halls and ventilation ducts. To avoid theft, the ancient Egyptians placed special mechanisms inside. But the traps of the Cheops pyramid, religious prohibitions and other tricks did not save the structure from robbers.
Also, there is no exact information about how old the Cheops pyramid is. Its age is estimated only at approximately 4.5 thousand years. But some researchers believe that the monument could have been erected much earlier - in the 11th millennium BC, and that representatives of extraterrestrial civilizations were involved in the construction.
There are many legends about this building. But I also picked up interesting facts about the Cheops pyramid, confirmed by scientific research. Among them are those that are still little known. And if you have never been here on an excursion, you are unlikely to be aware that:
- For almost three thousand years, the Cheops pyramid was the tallest structure in the world. She gave the "palm" only in 1311 - at this time the construction of the Cathedral was completed in Lincoln. Sometimes the Eiffel Tower, built at the end of the 19th century, is sometimes mistakenly called the new record holder. In fact, before her there were structures higher than the Cheops pyramid. These are mainly temple structures, as well as the Washington Memorial.
- Many consider the pyramid to be the tomb of the pharaoh. But this is a delusion, since the Egyptian ruler was buried in the Valley of the Kings, and his body was never inside the structure. Still, there is a direct connection with the Pharaoh. The pyramid functionally played the role of a kind of "suitcase". Within its walls are many things that, according to the ancient Egyptians, are necessary for a royal person in the afterlife.
- For a long time it was believed that the pyramids were built by slaves. But as modern researchers have proved, free residents of Ancient Egypt were employed in the construction, besides having high professional qualifications. The dimensions and proportions of the Cheops pyramid are ideally calculated, and the structure is built with impeccable precision.
- For the first time in writing the pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is mentioned in the works of Herodotus. The author describes his own impressions of visiting this religious building and shares the information he received from local priests. These writings are dated 440 BC. However, Herodotus could not get any valuable information, except for some geometric data.
- The pyramid of Cheops has its own "birthday" Egyptians celebrate it on August 23, and this day is a national holiday. However, this holiday appeared in Egypt quite recently - only in 2009, and has only a tentative relationship to the exact date of the start of construction. This hypothesis was put forward by scientists from Cambridge.
But, nevertheless, this day there are too many tourists, and if you want to explore the main Egyptian attraction in a relaxed atmosphere, do not plan an excursion for this day. There are also other nuances that are useful to know if you are going to get to know this wonder of the world with your own eyes.
Useful information
The Pyramid of Cheops on the map is located to the left and slightly south of Cairo, in Giza. It is from the Egyptian capital that it is most convenient to get to this pyramid complex, where, in addition to the famous tomb of Khufu, you will also see the pyramids of the pharaoh's son and grandson (Khafren and Mikerin), which are somewhat lower. It is the best-preserved pyramidal complex in the entire country. The journey from Cairo takes about 20 minutes. An excursion tour can be purchased both directly in the capital and in any of the resorts. The road from Hugarda is about 5-6 hours by bus, from Sherm al-Sheikh - from 7 to 8 hours.
- When buying excursions from these cities, do not be guided by the cheapest offers - there is a risk of finding yourself in an uncomfortable bus without air conditioning, which, at high Egyptian temperatures, can ruin the whole experience of the excursion.
- Entrance to the territory is paid (80 and 40 EGP for adults and children, respectively). Entrance inside is paid separately - (200 EGP for adults and half less for children). You will also have to pay extra for photography inside.
- Be sure to check the weather forecast. If there is a strong wind in the future, it is better to postpone the trip, as everything will be in the sand. And do not forget to take a hat - this is protection from the heat and from annoying sellers.
The number of internal visits is limited (300 people per day), so the chances of getting inside the pyramidal complex on your own, not as part of an excursion group, are not too high. But you can take magnificent photos against the background of the most famous Egyptian monument in any case, and they will remind you of this exciting journey for a long time.
