Pyramids of Giza
For background, watch Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt: Timeline & Facts. Some facts are still being challenged and debated as new technologies provide additional clues. For more: on that, watch these and other videos - Graham Hancock - The Great Pyramid of Giza
Egypt is all about ancient history - starting as far back as 2500 BC when these Pyramids were built by the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaohs.
The first and largest pyramid at Giza was built by the Pharaoh Khufu (often Hellenicised as "Cheops") whose reign started around 2551 BC. His pyramid, which today stands 455 feet tall, is known as the "Great Pyramid" - the tallest man-made structure in the world for about 3800 years. An antenna marker at the top shows its original height of 481 feet, which was reduced when Saladin hauled the top layer of stones away to build his own Citadel in Cairo in 1200 AD.
The second pyramid, of Khafre or Chephren, was built around 2520 BC by Pharaoh Khufu’s son, Khafre. This pyramid measures 448 feet in height, but looks the same size as the first one because it is built on higher grounds.
The Pyramid of Menkaure was built around 2490 BC, during the reign of Pharaoh Menkaure or Mykerinos. This structure rises to a height of 215 feet. It also has two small pyramids for his wives Rekhetre and Khamerernebty.
It's said that the Great Pyramid - also others - was built with such precision that our current technology cannot replicate it. The pyramid is estimated to have around 2.3 million stone blocks that weigh from 2 to 30 tons each with some weighing over 50 tons.
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| Notice the size of each stone block at the bottom of the Pyramid |
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| Constellation of Orion |
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| Matching 3 stars of Orion |
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| Slopes of two pyramids side by side |
For some tidbits about the Great pyramid:
- Interior temperature is constant at 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cornerstone foundations of the pyramid have ball and socket construction capable of dealing with heat expansion and earthquakes.
- Mortar used is of an unknown origin (Yes, no explanation was given). It has been analyzed, and its chemical composition is known, but it can’t be reproduced. It is stronger than the stone and still holding up today.
- Pyramid was originally covered with casing stones -made of highly polished limestone- which reflected the sun’s light and made the pyramid shine like a jewel. Appropriately, the ancient Egyptians called the Great Pyramid “Ikhet”, meaning the Glorious Light. A small portion of casing still remains at the bottom of north face of the Great Pyramid. How these blocks were transported and assembled into the pyramid is still a mystery.
- Aligned to True North: It is the most accurately aligned structure in existence and faces true north with only 3/60th of a degree of error. Of course, the position of the North Pole moves over time, so the pyramid must have been exactly aligned at one time.
- Center of Land Mass: The east/west parallel that crosses the most land and the north/south meridian that crosses the most land intersect in two places on the earth, one in the ocean and the other at the Great Pyramid.
- The Descending Passage pointed to the pole star Alpha Draconis, which was the North Star at that point in time (2170-2144 BC,)
- The southern shaft in the King’s Chamber pointed to the star Al Nitak (Zeta Orionis) in the constellation Orion The Orion constellation was associated with the Egyptian god Osiris.
Valley of the Kings (Tombs of the Pharaohs)
On the west side of Nile, as was the custom, directly behind the famous Hatshepsut Mortuary Temple near Luxor, is the famous Valley of the Kings, where Pharaohs from later dynasties (New Kingdom) were laid to rest. As building pyramids became cost prohibitive -and didn't prevent robberies, they selected this site closer to the source of their dynastic roots in the south (Upper Egypt.) The peak at the top of the valley has apex shaped like a pyramid, making it a giant pyramid for all the Kings in this valley. For safety, tombs were dug on the side of the mountain. Excavation would begin as soon as the new Pharaoh came in to power. The longer the reign of that Pharaoh, the deeper and more elaborate his tomb.
During the New Kingdom (1539-1075 BC), over nearly 500 years, the valley became a royal burial ground for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II, as well as queens, high priests, and other elites of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties - their pets such as hunting dogs, pet baboons and gazelles were also buried here. The first pharaoh to be buried in the Valley of the Kings was Thutmose I.
During the New Kingdom (1539-1075 BC), over nearly 500 years, the valley became a royal burial ground for pharaohs such as Tutankhamun, Seti I, and Ramses II, as well as queens, high priests, and other elites of the 18th, 19th, and 20th dynasties - their pets such as hunting dogs, pet baboons and gazelles were also buried here. The first pharaoh to be buried in the Valley of the Kings was Thutmose I.
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| Entry to the Valley of the Kings - apex of the mountain is shaped like a pyramid |
The Egyptian belief that "To speak the name of the dead is to make him live again" is certainly carried out in the building of the tombs. The king's formal names and titles are inscribed in his tomb along with his images and statues. Most of the tombs were cut into the limestone following a similar pattern: three corridors, an antechamber and a sunken sarcophagus chamber. These catacombs were harder to rob and were more easily concealed (so they thought.) Construction usually lasted six years, beginning with the new reign. The text in the tombs are from the Book of the Dead, the Book of the Gates and the Book of the Underworld.
The tombs evidence elaborate preparations for the next world, in which humans were promised continuing life and pharaohs were expected to become one with the gods. Mummification was used to preserve the body so that the deceased's eternal soul would be able to reanimate it in the afterlife. One must wonder, though, if the soul would need to rely on the name on the tomb to recognize its own body!
Though their entrances were well hidden, nearly all of the valley's known royal tombs were likely robbed before the end of the 20th dynasty—Egyptian records testify to robbers' trials and to the harsh punishments handed down. By the time the Greek writer Diodorus Siculus visited the valley's tombs (60 BC) he wrote, "We found nothing there except the results of pillage and destruction."
While some of these tombs have been open since antiquity, the majority were discovered in the 19th and early 20th centuries during the height of exploration in the valley. Tomb robbers, treasure hunters, and archaeologists have been combing the Valley of the Kings for centuries—yet it continues to yield surprises.
Most of the tombs are not open to the public (18 of the tombs can be opened, but rarely at the same time), and officials occasionally close some for restoration work.
Standard entry ticket provides for visit to any three tombs. The much talked about King Tut tomb (KV62), when discovered, was the first tomb to be found largely untouched by looters; however, everything from the tomb is now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which we would visit later this week. Per our guide, there is nothing much to see in that tomb anymore (separate ticket,) so we decided to skip it.
The tombs evidence elaborate preparations for the next world, in which humans were promised continuing life and pharaohs were expected to become one with the gods. Mummification was used to preserve the body so that the deceased's eternal soul would be able to reanimate it in the afterlife. One must wonder, though, if the soul would need to rely on the name on the tomb to recognize its own body!
The underground tombs were also well stocked with all the material goods a ruler might need in the next world. Treasures—like the golden masks found with King Tut—are dazzling, but they also contained the more mundane - like furniture, clothes (even underwear), and jewelry. Tombs were also well-provisioned with enough food and drink, including wine and beer, for royal feasting in the next world, as well as sacred objects meant to help the deceased achieve eternal life, even favored companions.
Though their entrances were well hidden, nearly all of the valley's known royal tombs were likely robbed before the end of the 20th dynasty—Egyptian records testify to robbers' trials and to the harsh punishments handed down. By the time the Greek writer Diodorus Siculus visited the valley's tombs (60 BC) he wrote, "We found nothing there except the results of pillage and destruction."
While some of these tombs have been open since antiquity, the majority were discovered in the 19th and early 20th centuries during the height of exploration in the valley. Tomb robbers, treasure hunters, and archaeologists have been combing the Valley of the Kings for centuries—yet it continues to yield surprises.
Most of the tombs are not open to the public (18 of the tombs can be opened, but rarely at the same time), and officials occasionally close some for restoration work.
Standard entry ticket provides for visit to any three tombs. The much talked about King Tut tomb (KV62), when discovered, was the first tomb to be found largely untouched by looters; however, everything from the tomb is now on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which we would visit later this week. Per our guide, there is nothing much to see in that tomb anymore (separate ticket,) so we decided to skip it.
Tour guides are no longer allowed to lecture inside the tombs, and visitors are expected to proceed quietly and in single file through the tombs. This is to minimize time in the tombs and prevent the crowds from damaging the surfaces of the decoration. We were there early so crowds were yet to arrive. Photography is not allowed inside the tombs.
Tomb guardians are placed at key location within the tombs to make sure that tourists follow the rules; however, sometimes they themselves shadow visitors into the tombs trying to be helpful and point things out to you, hoping for a tip.
Our guide recommended the following three based on the detail and variety available inside.
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| Layout of known Tombs |
Three white corridors descend to the sarcophagus chamber in this tomb. The chambers' ceilings depict the goddess Nut. The lid of the pink granite sarcophagus is decorated with Isis and Nephthys, which were meant to serve as guardians over the body. Their duties fell short, however, as the tomb was robbed in ancient times. Originally, the priests placed the sarcophagus in Amenhotep II's tomb in order to hide the body, which was a common practice.
Ramesses IX
Two sets of steps lead down to the tomb door that is decorated with the Pharaoh worshiping the solar disc. Isis and Nephthys stand behind him on either side. Three corridors lead into an antechamber that opens into a pillared hall. The passage beyond that leads to the sarcophagus chamber. The archaeological evidence and the quality of decoration it contains indicates that the tomb was not finished in time for Ramesses's death but was hastily rushed through to completion, many corners being cut, following his demise.
At the far end of this chamber, a ramp slows down to the actual burial chamber, where the pharaoh's sarcophagus was placed (the floor has a rectangular section carved out to accommodate it). The ceiling is vaulted, and is decorated with splendid pictures of the goddess Nut. The side walls show scenes from the Book of Caverns and the Book of the Earth. The far wall depicts Ramses on his barque, surrounded by a host of gods. The yellows, dark blues, and blacks used to decorate this chamber are visually striking and unusual among the tomb decorations in the Valley. While the sarcophagus itself has long since vanished, Ramesses IX's mummy was one of those found in the Deir el-Bahri cache (DB320) in 1881. This tomb has been open since antiquity, as can be seen by the graffiti left on its walls by Roman and Coptic visitors.
At the far end of this chamber, a ramp slows down to the actual burial chamber, where the pharaoh's sarcophagus was placed (the floor has a rectangular section carved out to accommodate it). The ceiling is vaulted, and is decorated with splendid pictures of the goddess Nut. The side walls show scenes from the Book of Caverns and the Book of the Earth. The far wall depicts Ramses on his barque, surrounded by a host of gods. The yellows, dark blues, and blacks used to decorate this chamber are visually striking and unusual among the tomb decorations in the Valley. While the sarcophagus itself has long since vanished, Ramesses IX's mummy was one of those found in the Deir el-Bahri cache (DB320) in 1881. This tomb has been open since antiquity, as can be seen by the graffiti left on its walls by Roman and Coptic visitors.
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