The Pyramids at Giza were built to endure an eternity—but how?

 

The Giza Pyramids were built to last forever, and they have succeeded. These massive tombs are remains from Egypt's Old Kingdom period and were constructed about 4,500 years ago. Egypt's pharaohs believed they would become gods after death. To prepare for the next world, they built temples for the gods and huge pyramid tombs for themselves. These tombs were filled with everything each ruler would need to guide and support himself in the afterlife. Each of the three large pyramids is part of a bigger complex that includes palaces, temples, boat pits, and other structures.

Pharaoh Khufu was the first Egyptian king to build a pyramid in Giza around 2550 B.C. His Great Pyramid is the largest in Giza and originally stood about 481 feet tall above the ground. Today it's shorter because its smooth outer stones are gone. The pyramid contains about 2.3 million stone blocks, each weighing between 2.5 to 15 tons. Khufu's son, Khafre, built the second pyramid around 2520 B.C. His burial area is famous because it also includes the Sphinx, a mysterious limestone statue with a lion's body and a pharaoh's head. The third pyramid is much smaller than the first two at about 218 feet tall. It was built by Khafre's son, Menkaure, around 2490 B.C.

The ancient building achievements at Giza were so amazing that even today scientists and engineers aren't sure exactly how the pyramids were constructed. However, they have learned much about the people who built them. The builders were skilled Egyptian workers who lived in a temporary city nearby that covered about 17 acres. Archaeological digs show they were well-fed and lived in a highly organized community with many resources. Workers from communities across Egypt contributed to this national project. Materials came from all over Egypt: granite from Aswan, copper tools from the Sinai Peninsula, and wood from Lebanon. Scientists believe the Egyptians moved massive stone blocks using ramps, water or wet clay for lubrication, and a system of sledges, ropes, rollers, and levers.

The pyramids help us explore ancient Egyptian civilization. Harvard University expert Peter Der Manuelian explains that the site is much more than just a cemetery. The decorated tombs show wonderful scenes of daily life in ancient Egypt, including farming, fishing, carpentry, religious ceremonies, and burial practices. Inscriptions and texts help researchers study Egyptian language and grammar. Almost any topic about ancient Egyptian civilization can be found on the tomb walls at Giza.

The pyramids still hold many secrets. The ScanPyramids project has been using modern technology since 2015 to look inside the pyramids without entering them. Using cosmic rays, they have discovered hidden empty spaces that were sealed for 4,500 years, including one void as large as the pyramid's Grand Gallery and another passage in Khufu's pyramid. Most experts believe these spaces were used during construction to distribute weight and stress, helping these amazing structures survive through time.                                                                                                                                                     

WORDS TO BE NOTED-                                                                                                                          

1. Pharaohs

   • Meaning: Ancient Egyptian kings who were considered divine rulers with absolute power

2. Afterlife

   • Meaning: The believed existence of life after death; the spiritual world following physical death

3. Archaeological

   • Meaning: Related to the scientific study of ancient human life through examination of physical remains and artifacts

4. Civilization

   • Meaning: An advanced stage of human social and cultural development with organized government, arts, and sciences

5. Lubrication

   • Meaning: The process of making surfaces slippery or smooth to reduce friction during movement

6. Sledges

   • Meaning: Heavy sleds or platforms used for transporting large, heavy objects across surfaces

7. Inscriptions

   • Meaning: Words, symbols, or designs carved, engraved, or written into stone, metal, or other permanent surfaces

8. Cosmic Rays

   • Meaning: High-energy particles from outer space that constantly bombard Earth's atmosphere

9. Distribute

   • Meaning: To spread, divide, or disperse something evenly across an area or among different parts

10. Limestone

• Meaning: A type of sedimentary rock formed from compressed marine organisms, commonly used in ancient construction

PARA SUMMARY-                                                                                                                                                                 

The Great Pyramids of Giza were built about 4,500 years ago in Egypt and are still standing today. Ancient Egyptian kings called pharaohs built these huge stone tombs because they believed they would become gods when they died. They wanted to take everything they needed into the next life. Three pharaohs built the main pyramids: Khufu built the biggest one, his son Khafre built the second one (which also has the famous Sphinx statue nearby), and Menkaure built the smallest one. Even today, scientists don't know exactly how ancient Egyptians moved such heavy stone blocks to build these pyramids. Thousands of skilled workers lived in a temporary city near the pyramids while building them. The pyramids teach us a lot about how ancient Egyptians lived, worked, and practiced their religion. Modern scientists are still finding new secret rooms and passages inside the pyramids using special technology, showing that these amazing structures still have many mysteries to solve.

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