West European Studies: The Pyramids of Egypt, Essay Example

The ancient Egyptians constricted the pyramids as tombs or burial places for their Pharaoh’s (Kings). They believed that the pyramids helped in making the Pharoes immortal and as such it was important to protect the bodies for the afterlife. The pyramids contained many passages, false entrances and traps with the body of the Pharaoh resting deep inside the pyramid. He was often accompanied with the treasures he obtained during his life in order that he may enjoy them in the afterlife. Most of the pyramids were constructed in nine centuries i.e. the third dynasty to the twelfth dynasty (2765 BC – 1759 BC). Of all the pyramids the greatest three are located at Giza and took 75 years to build in the reign of Khufu and his sons (2585-2510 BC). The great Pyramid was an amazing feat of architecture and contained 92 million cubic feet of stone in 2.7 million limestone blocks. It was 480 feet high and 755 feet wide in a near perfect square. Originally it was encased in a smooth rock casing but in the middle ages this was stripped away for mosque construction.

There were many other great pyramid constrictions and these included: (i) the step pyramid at Saqqara built in the time of King Djoser (2) The pyramid of Abu Sur considered to be one of the finest pieces of Egyptian architecture (3) The pyramid of Dahshur noted for the step style of architecture (4) The pyramid at el-lahun. This pyramid stood on the base of a limestone hill and is the only one that was built with a natural foundation. In later periods the Pharoes moved the funerary to the Valley of the Kings. The Pharoes used the construction of the pyramids for social political purposes and the need to gather the people with a specific purpose of recognition and honour of their Pharaoh a living god. The Pharaoh used this as a means to solve the unemployment problems. Each of the workers was well fed during the labours and they in turn felt that they were blessed by the living god and would equally be guaranteed a place in the afterlife by serving their Pharaoh. The pyramids also gave the masses a sense of purpose and stopped them from having time to ponder possible revolts or rebellions against the pharaoh.