The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza is part of the Giza Pyramid Complex and is the largest of the three pyramids there. While it was built for a pharaoh by workers, others have put forward aliens had to help the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids. However, archaeological evidence has disproved this.

Background

What It Is

The three Pyramids at the Giza pyramid complex were built primarily during the Old Kingdom, with the first one being built in 2611 and the last one being completed by 1292 at the latest . The ancient Egyptians believed that their pharaoh was divine, so these large pyramids were built in order to be a final resting place where he could be remembered as majestic and to hold everything he would need in the afterlife ; the Giza Complex also had different religious aspects that could be used to help the Pharaoh after his death . Specifically, the Great Pyramid was built for the Pharaoh Khufu over twenty years .

Construction

The Great Pyramid of Giza was built with a relatively large number of construction workers, though the number is often debated upon. The stones were quarried and moved from these known locations and moved on sledges to the Giza Plateau. To get the blocks of limestone up the side of the pyramid, there were ramps and men hauled the slabs up with ropes . Since limestone is a soft stone, the ancient Egyptians presumably used flint tools to get the slabs out of the quarry.

Context of the Site

The Great Pyramid of Giza was first excavated in 1880 by Sir Petrie . Since then, more excavations have been done at the Giza Plateau. These excavations have helped archaeologists confirm that these pyramids were used as tombs for pharaohs . In the pyramid complex, some unassembled boats were found, presumably to bring the Pharaohs to the afterworld ; however, not too much is known about the inside of the Pyramid .

Controversy

Alternative Views on Its Construction

A majority of anthropologists and historians, if not all, believe that Egyptian workers helped to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. However, this widely held theory is not believed by some people; they, instead, have put forward their own theories as to how the Great Pyramid must have been built. The most common one was first put foward by Erich von Däniken in his 1968 book "Chariot of the Gods."

Astrological Reasons

In "Chariots of the Gods," von Däniken puts forward that the pyramids lined up with the stars. von Däniken stated that the star Sirius could not possibly have lined up with the Nile flood unless it was simply a coincidence or there was something else that helped them learn about the stars. Along with that, he points out that Ra, one of their gods, was the god of the sun and, coincidentally, the height of the Great Pyramid multiplied was the distance to the sun. Not only that, but he also points out the fact that the Great Pyramid is located on the median and divides continents as well. von Däniken suggested that this precise knowledge of the earth could only mean that beings, not the Egyptians, who had intimate knowledge of the earth and the contienents could have built the Pyramid where it is.

Length of Construction with Egyptian Tools

von Däniken also doubted the length of time that it took for the Egyptians to build the Great Pyramid of Giza. With the tools, including the rollers that they had, and manpower, it would take just over half a millenium for it to be built. von Dänkiken said that there are no good solutions to the problems with the Egyptian's tools that they used. He also claimed that there is nothing known about how, when, or why the pyramids at Giza were built, and these ancient Egyptian temples, cities, and tombs seemed to come from nowhere. He doubted that Egypt could have created these amazing things with no prehistory and with simple tools, which would mean that these sculptures would take years to build without advanced technology.

No Evidence of Workers

The book also claimed that there is no evidence of workers. With no grain storage or evidence of huts that he could find, von Däniken insinuated that there were no Egyptian workers and that outside forces had to help them.

Burial Items

von Däniken found it hard to believe that the Egyptians would build massive tombs for their kings. He also noted that it was unusual for the ancient Egyptians to bury jewelry and money with their dead. However, he did suggest that the gods planted the idea in the Egyptians' heads that after many years, their bodies would be given new life and these burial items would be used in their second life.