Mystery of Ancient Pyramids | How were they really built? | Dhruv Rathee
Dhruv Rathee・2 minutes read
The Great Pyramid of Giza, built 4,500 years ago, stood at 147 meters tall and was commissioned by Pharaoh Khufu, serving as a tomb filled with food and treasures for the afterlife. Despite various theories and studies, the exact construction methods remain a mystery, with alignments to cardinal directions speculated through observing the Autumn Equinox and theories like the Orion Correlation Theory debunked by astronomers for human tendencies to seek patterns.
Insights
- The Great Pyramid of Giza, built around 4,500 years ago, stood as the world's tallest structure for over 4,000 years, showcasing the remarkable engineering and architectural prowess of ancient Egyptians.
- Despite ongoing research and theories, the exact construction methods of the pyramids, including the precise alignment and mortar composition, remain shrouded in mystery, emphasizing the need for continued scientific investigation and the caution against unsubstantiated claims, such as alien involvement, while recognizing the advanced astronomical knowledge of ancient civilizations.
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Recent questions
How old is the Great Pyramid of Giza?
The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 4,500 years ago in Egypt, making it one of the oldest structures in the world. It stands at 147 meters tall and weighs 6 million tonnes, showcasing the incredible engineering skills of ancient Egyptians.
Who commissioned the construction of the Great Pyramid?
Pharaoh Khufu, the second monarch of Egypt's fourth dynasty, is believed to have commissioned the construction of the Great Pyramid in 2560 BC. This massive structure was built as a tomb for the Pharaoh, filled with food, treasures, and belongings for the afterlife, in accordance with ancient Egyptian beliefs.
How were the stones for the pyramids transported?
The construction of the pyramids involved skilled laborers using copper tools to cut rocks, with granite broken using Dolerite. The stones were then moved using rafts on the river and sledges over wet ground, showcasing the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the ancient Egyptians in transporting massive stone blocks for construction.
What is the significance of the alignment of the pyramids?
The precise alignment of the pyramids to the cardinal directions was theorized to be achieved by observing the Autumn Equinox, ensuring minimal error in construction. This alignment also plays a role in pyramid calculations during the Autumn Equinox, reflecting the ancient Egyptians' astronomical knowledge and precision in architecture.
What is the Orion Correlation Theory?
The Orion Correlation Theory, proposed by Robert Bauval, suggests that the Giza pyramids mirror the three stars of Orion's Belt, indicating ancient Egyptian astronomical knowledge. However, astronomers have found misalignments due to stellar movement, cautioning against unfounded theories like alien pyramid construction and emphasizing the importance of scientific thinking and further research into the mysteries of the pyramids.
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Summary
00:00
Mystery of Ancient Pyramid Construction Techniques
- The Great Pyramid of Giza was built around 4,500 years ago in Egypt, standing at 147 meters tall and weighing 6 million tonnes.
- The pyramid remained the tallest structure globally for over 4,000 years, surpassing the Burj Khalifa, which weighs 500,000 tonnes.
- Pharaoh Khufu, the second monarch of Egypt's fourth dynasty, is believed to have commissioned the construction of the Great Pyramid in 2560 BC.
- The Pyramid of Giza is the tallest of three pyramids on the site, with the others being the Pyramid of Khafre and the Pyramid of Menkaure.
- The pyramids were built as tombs for the Pharaohs, filled with food, treasures, and belongings for the afterlife, reflecting ancient Egyptian beliefs.
- The construction involved 20,000-30,000 skilled laborers working 10-hour days, using 5.5 million tonnes of limestone, 8,000 tonnes of granite, and 500,000 tonnes of mortar.
- Copper tools were used to cut rocks, with granite broken using Dolerite, and stones moved using rafts on the river and sledges over wet ground.
- The stones were stacked using a system of ramps, wooden pillars, and ropes, with theories suggesting levers and a Shadoof-like mechanism were employed.
- The precise alignment of the pyramids to the cardinal directions was theorized to be achieved by observing the Autumn Equinox, ensuring minimal error.
- Despite various theories and studies, the exact methods and techniques used in the construction of the pyramids remain a mystery, with the mortar composition still unreproducible.
15:37
Ancient Egyptian Pyramids and Orion's Belt
- The shadow on the ground aligns East-West, aiding in pyramid calculations during Autumn Equinox; Robert Bauval's Orion Correlation Theory suggests the Giza pyramids mirror Orion's Belt stars, implying ancient Egyptian astronomical knowledge.
- Despite Bauval's theory, astronomers found misalignment between pyramids and Orion's Belt due to stellar movement; highlighting the human tendency to seek patterns even without concrete evidence, cautioning against unfounded theories like alien pyramid construction, emphasizing the importance of scientific thinking and acknowledging unknowns for future research.
