Egypt & the Pyramids Essay Example for Free

Egypt the Pyramids Essay Has it ever occurred to anyone who was the mastermind behind the great pyramids? Who could have built such a magnificent structure back then with such poor construction, transportation and organization. Well, I strongly advocate the concept of Egyptians building the Great Pyramids because there is plenty of evidence conveying this. Many journalists or Egyptologists may agree that it is a true fact that people built it with the aid of technology. Margaret Sears a journalist bases one of her articles specifically on Who built the Great Pyramid? (1990). She provides ample evidence supporting Egyptians being the builders and labourers of the Great Pyramids in Egypt. There are three main points that substantiate the production of the Great Egyptian Pyramids which are transportation, construction and organization. Since, the great pyramids have been built they have always been a controversial topic. Many people agree that the Egyptians were the ones who formed innumerable piles of bricks into the Great Pyramids. But, before building such a complex structure the Egyptians were quite intellectual and focussed on organization. The Egyptians were originally inspired to build the pyramids by religious conviction and were fully committed to take on the critical task. The Egyptians were able to determine the site of pyramids by religious beliefs. They decided to place the Pyramids on the west bank of the Nile because they asserted that the west was the dwelling place of the dead. This is where all the majestic and honourable people would be kept mainly pharaohs that accomplished major achievements. But, the most essential factor for building a marvellous structure was the authoritarian god-king. The article Who built the Great Pyramids elucidates that during the influential pharaoh, Khufus reign Egypt was rich, united and at peace which allowed the authoritarian god-king to focus all attention on the salient task. Which moves onto how the Egyptians were able to transport the heavy loads of material efficiently. One of the biggest absurd concerns about the Great Pyramids is how they were able to transport the massive amounts of stone blocks to long distances. In Margaret Sears article in 1990 she clearly states how did the Egyptian cut and moved the stone blocks? The evidence that has been provided to substantiate it is in the Cairo museum where there are many wooden rollers, rafts and sleds that are displayed. We also assume that they may have used ramps to speed the process. Evidence also shows that coniferous wood was imported from Phoenicia at the same time of Sneferu. Which distinctly portrays that wood was available when required because Khufus wooden funerary boat was found buried beside the pyramid, along with abundant quantities of rope. The article provides affirm proof of a picture from the later tomb of Djehutihotep showing 152 men moving a huge statue of the pharaoh on a wooden sled. The picture asserts that to lessen the friction of the 53.5 ton load, a liquid is poured along the route. The famous architecture from France Henri Chevier inquires and discerns that a man who would be harnessed to a rope can lift 1 ton blocks on a slippery and hazardous path of Nile mud. He distinguishes with team of workers, they could easily transport 2.2 tons of blocks that made up most of the pyramid. Also, using pulleys and ropes the labourers could drag the stone up the embankments of earth and once the project was terminated they could have simply removed the earth. Lastly, you must ponder how the Egyptians were able to build the marvellous pyramids with such intricacy and embellishment. Since, they were formerly able to envision the elegant and regal edifice all that was left was building. Which leads to the last essential component to creating the structure which is construction. We know that the Egyptians had sophisticated tools to enhance the complexity of the structure. Evidence shows that tools for cutting the stone included copper chisels, dolerite hammers and wooden wedges. All of these constructive tools were enough to carve beautiful and impressive lines and drawings considering we are able to see the final edifice ourselves in Egypt. Margaret Sears says that the feat was accomplished by trimming the blocks before they were hauled into places. All of this could not have been done by the ordinary labourer but, this is where the stonemasons come in. Since the stonemasons were experts, they cleaned up and smoothed the outer limestone surfaces. The Egyptians were also able to get plenty of limestone from the Gizeh Plateau south of the pyramid. In 1988 Leher and Zahi Sawass enclosed a series of galleries and excavations of some galleries revealed bits of flint blade, copper, sandstone rubbers which were used to polish stone and grinding pigments. There were many other excavations found such as bread and bear and grain which was the food for the labourers. All this evidence and support solidifies that Egyptians were the ones whom constructed the Great Pyramids. Now, that most of us agree that Egyptians were the builders of one of the most famous wonders of the world there is a weakness in this alternative. Many of the evidences provided in this article gives us a lot of knowledge about The Great Pyramids, but the author does not provide enough details to absolutely convince the reader that the pyramids did not drop from the sky. The alternative however, does sustain the topic but doesnt provide complete details which the audience would be curious about such as when excavations of transportations were discovered or when the Khufus funerary boat was buried beside the pyramids before or after. The author leaves these vague phrases and statements leaving the reader skeptical. But, the main motive why I choose this alternative was because it provided a basic sense that people used special ramps and transportation to create the pyramid themselves. I also think that logically only humans could have built the pyramids with sophisticated equipment and I highly doubt that the gods created them because of all the excavations located. I found this alternative to ultimately be the most convincing because of the basic evidence provided that ramps aided them to build the great pyramids. Therefore, plenty of evidence shows historians that the Egyptians built the Great Pyramids themselves. The three key elements which support the concept of Egyptians building the pyramids are organization, transportation and construction. In my opinion another point of view that can be brought up is if the pyramids were made by moulds which could be possible but, I dont agree because there is not much evidence to support it. Overall, Margaret Sears and Clifford Wilson are promoting the accurate message that the Egyptians built the Great Pyramids with teams of workers and technology.