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A Passion for Pyramids - Part I - Page 2

© Jennifer Overhulse-King

Conservative figures indicate some 100,000 workers labored more than 30 years to build The Great Pyramid. Some of the more than 2.3 million blocks of limestone, granite and marble, which weighed an average of 2.5 tons each, were transported from as far away as Aswan and Tura. Debates still rage about the laborers who built the pyramids. Were they slaves? Were they skilled artisans? Did they work willingly? No one will ever be able to say for certain.

Upon completion, archaeologists believe The Great Pyramid was encased in a glistening, polished layer of white limestone and marble. They draw this conclusion mostly from rubble surrounding the pyramid itself and from the remnants of the casing still clinging to the second largest pyramid on the plateau – that of Chephren – Cheops’ son. The top portion of Chephren’s pyramid is still partially covered by the casing and combined with its more forward position on the Giza Plateau, therefore, it has the appearance of being bigger than the pyramid of Cheops. Unfortunately, over the years, the casing covering Cheops’ pyramid has either been eroded by sand and wind or removed and recycled by man. This no doubt destroyed some of the majesty and grandeur of the Fourth Dynasty’s greatest accomplishment, but it could not diminish the lasting effect this architectural wonder has had on the world at large.

This great monument was Cheops’ ticket to eternal life. He built this elaborate burial place that he hoped would not only protect his mummified remains from tomb robbers, but ensure him a place of stature in the afterlife. The tombs of the pharaoh’s were always elaborate, but Cheops truly took things to a new level. This tomb was literally a beacon to lead the pharaoh and his queen into the afterlife. Of course, you know what they say about the best laid plans. . .

Do the Math
It is not surprising that people stand and wonder in awe at the mere sight of the pyramids, but their imposing appearance is only one of the many wonders of The Pyramids of Giza. The mathematical skill it took to pull off the building of this tomb is truly remarkable, not by today’s standards – when measurements can be taken by machines and calculated down to the most infinitesimal of numbers – but certainly by those of the ancient world.

Even though The Great Pyramid likely lost about 33 feet from all its dimensions when the outer casing was lost, its basic measurements remain perfectly square. The pyramid of Cheops is approximately 756 feet on each side and the area of the base covers the equivalent of 13 acres. The height of The Great Pyramid is over 481 feet and the slope of each side is approximately 552 feet. It is the second largest “building” made entirely of stone. Its size is exceeded only by the Tower of Ulm Cathedral. And, just think, the ancient Egyptian builders did it all without so much as a tape measure of a level.

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