Egyptian Pyramids Built From Top Down

Why do the results of barsoum s research matter most today.

Egyptian pyramids built from top down. The enormous structure was built around 4 500 years ago made from enormous granite stones supposedly cut by wooden wedges. Tombs of early egyptian kings were bench shaped mounds called mastabas. Contrary to popular belief it wasn t slaves who built the pyramids. The bent pyramid was the second pyramid built by sneferu and the egyptian s first attempt at building a smooth sided pyramid.

It made sense that the egyptians who gave so much power and prestige to their rulers would build an elaborate structure to pay respect to them even after their death thus explaining why egyptians built pyramids. Around 2780 b c king djoser s architect imhotep built the first pyramid by placing six mastabas each smaller than the one beneath in a stack to form a pyramid rising in steps. Archaeologists believe that the shift in the angle near the top of the pyramid was due to signs of structural instability during its construction this angle change gives the pyramid a bent appearance. Built between 2345 and 2333 bc in the sixth dynasty teti was just the second of the egyptian pyramids to contain pyramid texts or magic spells written or carved into the walls of the tombs.

What confuses archaeologists is how ancient egyptians managed to haul. In fact in 1934 mummified remains of a foot were found in an egyptian pyramid. How the egyptians hoisted 70 ton granite slabs halfway up the great pyramid remains as mysterious as ever. I had the good fortune to work on the site in 2005.