Seats of The Sun God: Mystery of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
Published by Snofru’s “Bent Pyramid” at Dahshur was probably the first monument planned from the outset as a true pyramid, but his architects changed the gradient of its side part of the way up, probably because the original angle was found to be too unstable. In the end, the first true pyramid was to be Snofru, “Red Pyramid,” again at Dahshur. Every pyramid was topped with a small capstone, or pyramidion, that was often inscribed and gilded to reflect the sun’s dawn rays.
Seats of The Sun God: Mystery of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
By Mr Ghaz, November 28, 2011
Seats of The Sun God: Mystery of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
The primeval mound of creation, upon which the sun god came into being, was said to be represented by the structures that are without doubt ancient Egypt’s most familiar monuments; the pyramids. The three great pyramids at Giza are the most famous examples, but more than eighty pyramids of varying size were built between the Third and Twelfth dynasties, the best surviving ones dating from the Old Kingdom (Third to Fifth dynasties, 2675-2350BCE)-all of them sited within a 12-mile (20-km) radius of the ancient capital, Memphis. The earliest pyramid is the Third-dynasty “step pyramid” of Sakkara, so called because of its step-like structure, which evolved from the earlier rectangular tomb known, from its appearance, as a mastaba (Arabic, “bench”).
Constructed by the architect Imhotep as a tomb for his king, Djoser, or Zoser (ca.265BCE), the step pyramid began as a mastaba before being raised to a height of 200 feet (60m) by adding four further, and successively smaller, mastabas to produce its steppes profile.
The transition from the step pyramid to the true pyramid is attributed to King Sonfru (ca. 2625-2585BCE), the first ruler of the Fourth dynasty. The partial collapse of Snofru’s pyramid at Medium reveals how its original stepped sides were filled in to create a smooth outline. Snofru’s “Bent Pyramid” at Dahshur was probably the first monument planned from the outset as a true pyramid, but his architects changed the gradient of its side part of the way up, probably because the original angle was found to be too unstable. In the end, the first true pyramid was to be Snofru, “Red Pyramid,” again at Dahshur. Every pyramid was topped with a small capstone, or pyramidion, that was often inscribed and gilded to reflect the sun’s dawn rays.
Once the building technique had been perfected, it was duplicated at Giza by Snofru’s son Khufu (Cheops), who created the “Great Pyramid,” the largest of all. Nearby lies the pyramid of his son, Khafre (Chephren), which with its associated temple structures-including the Sphinx – from the most complete of all such funerary complexes. A smaller pyramid of Khafre’s son, Menkaure, completes the Giza monuments.
The Fifth-dynasty pyramids at Abusir and Sakkara are much smaller and, rather than being made of solid stone, consist of stone facings on a core of rubble. The pyramid of Unas (ca.2371-2350BCE) was the first to include any form of inscription. The interior walls of his pyramid, like those of his Sixth-dynasty successors, are inscribed with funerary writings known as the “Pyramid Texts.”
Following the decline of the Old Kingdoms, pyramid-building ceased. It began again at Dashur, Lahun, and Hawara as the Middle Kingdom pharaohs reestablished their power. These pyramids had mudbrick cores and, when their outer stone casings were later stripped away, they eroded to formless stumps.
The Guardian in the Sand
As the earliest monumental sculpture from dynastic Egypt, the Great Sphinx of Giza is the most famous of the country’s numerous sphinxes. It reclines at the necropolis on the Giza plateau before the pyramid of Khafre (ca. 2555-2532BCE), whose face it bears atop its leonine body. The Great Sphinx faces the rising sun-a silent witness to more than 1,660,000 sunrises during the course of the past four and a half millennia. By the New Kingdom, however, this magnificent monument had fallen into disrepair.
It was restored by Thutmose IV (ca. 1400-1390BCE) while he was still a prince. According to a stela that Thutmose erected between its paws after he ascended to the throne of Egypt, the Sphinx had appeared to the prince in a dream when he fell asleep in its shadow while out hunting. The monument, almost engulfed win sand at the time, had promised him the throne if he restored it to its former glory. Thutmose ordered that the task should be undertaken and some years later he did indeed become king.
Liked it
On March 2, 2011 at 2:26 am
Awesome share
On March 2, 2011 at 6:39 am
Egyptians and the Pyramids are really very fascinating! I like your share, I find it very interesting.
On March 2, 2011 at 6:42 am
I do not know why comment did not appear. It is so bad.
Found your article unique/well presented/informative. Ought to be in the hot list and I don’t understand why so many of your well deserved ones are not there.
On March 2, 2011 at 6:52 am
Thanks for sharing
On March 2, 2011 at 6:59 am
great work
On March 2, 2011 at 7:34 am
Nice share
On March 2, 2011 at 11:12 am
Many structures on Egypt are still remained myths and mysteries.
On March 2, 2011 at 11:52 am
Another great follow-up piece on Egypt.
On March 3, 2011 at 2:33 am
Wonderful information. Thnx for that.
On March 7, 2011 at 3:02 pm
What does “BCE” mean?
On March 7, 2011 at 3:22 pm
From Wiki 2011 being the current year in both notations and neither using a year zero.[3] Common Era is also known as Christian Era[4] and Current Era,[5] with all three expressions abbreviated as CE.[6] (Christian Era is, however, also abbreviated AD, for Anno Domini.[7]) Dates before the year 1 CE are indicated by the usage of BCE, short for “Before the Common Era”, “Before the Christian Era”, or “Before the Current Era”.[8] Both the BCE/CE and BC/AD notations are based on a sixth-century estimate for the year in which Jesus was conceived or born, with the common era designation originating among Christians in Europe at least as early as 1615 (at first in Latin)
On March 11, 2011 at 11:37 am
I’ve visited the Great Pyramids at Giza and they are indeed very impressive.