With Egypt unveiling a new logo for its pyramids and for tourist promotion, it may be a good idea to talk a little bit about the Pyramids of Egypt…..
The pyramids of Egypt were constructed by the 3rd to the 6th Dynasties. They lie scattered along the western side of Nile stretching to the south of the apex of the Delta.
The pyramids, today, stand isolated against the backdrop of the Egyptian deserts. At the time of their construction, these pyramids were part of a complex of buildings that were surrounded by a walled enclosure. The temple was normally located on the east of the pyramid and was dedicated to the worship of the dead. There was also a raised and enclosed causeway on this side, leading to the western edge of the cultivation. Near this was the ‘Valley Building’ in which the embalmment of the bodies was carried out and interment rites performed. A canal connected the ‘Valley building’ to the Nile.
The ancient Egyptians designed shape of the pyramid to represent the primordial mound from which the earth was created. The shape is also believed to represent the descending rays of the sun. The names of the pyramids also referred to solar luminescence. They were highly polished to reflect the rays of the sun and give them a brilliant appearance. One of the narrow shafts from the burial chamber within the pyramid extends to the centre of the pyramid that point to the sky suggesting that the pyramid was conceived of as a means of magically launching the deceased pharaoh’s soul into the abode of the gods. The West (the side on which the pyramids are built) also has mythological associations with the land of the dead.
The early pyramids were architecturally similar to Mastabas. The step pyramid of Pharaoh Zoser at Sakkara is an example of the intermediary stage of evolution of the pyramid from mastabas. One of the pyramids at Meydum and two at Dahshur by Seneferu(bent pyramid) can also be cited as examples of the evolving architecture of the pyramids. The finest examples of true pyramid architecture can be seen in the famous three pyramids of Giza built by the fourth dynasty successors of Seneferu.
The construction of pyramids involved a lot of labor and materials. Each pyramid was a lifetime project of the Pharaoh. The pyramids were built on living rocks which were first levelled and built upon. The limestone rocks, of which the pyramids were built, were brought from the quarries. The outer face of the pyramid was built with limestone quarried locally, while the inner face was built with limestone from Tura (on the eastern side of Nile). Some amount of granite has been used for linings of the chambers and passages. This granite was brought from Aswan. The tomb chambers and their approaches were cut into the rock below or were constructed in the core of the pyramid. The entrances to the pyramid were normally in the northern side of the pyramid. The sides of the pyramid were scrupulously oriented with cardinal points.
The structure of the pyramid involved building a series of concentric sloping slices or layers around a steep pyramidical core. During construction the pyramid appeared to be a mass of step like tiers that were later filled in to give it the finished smooth steep look with its specific angle of inclination. The steps were filled in with packing blocks and brought with finely finished facings. The finishing was done from top to the bottom and the apex stone was sometimes gilded.
Interestingly, the Egyptian construction tools were very primitive. They had no knowledge of the pulley and their principal tool for raising the stone blocks was the lever. Wooden sledges with or without wheels were used to transport the blocks to the construction site. Broad topped, sloping sand ramps reinforced with crude brick walls were built on the pyramid and the blocks were dragged up these ramps of sand and bricks.
There are as many as hundred pyramids scattered along the western side of the Nile. Many of them have been rifled and pilfered in the chaos that followed the 6th dynasty. They have also been the target for tomb robbers over the years. A few pyramids have been well preserved and are great tourist attractions today.
