The Story of Architecture: A Visual and Textual Version

Author: Eileen Chang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-10
Features: The mysterious Egyptian pyramids, known as the Giza Pyramids, were tombs for the pharaohs and queens of ancient Egypt. They are translated as "pyramids" because their shape resembles the Chinese character "" (jin). Amidst the vast desert, the pyramids exude an eternal, stable, simple, and solemn beauty. They have stood firmly in the desert for five thousand years, so there is a saying that time is invincible, but time fears the pyramids. The three major pyramids located 10 kilometers southwest of Giza, outside the capital city of Cairo, are the most famous pyramids in Egypt. They are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the largest pyramid still standing in Egypt, built during the reign of Khufu, the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. The four inclined faces of the pyramid face southeast, northwest, and the base is square. The entire pyramid is composed of 2.3 million massive stones. Originally, it stood at 146.59 meters tall, but after thousands of years of wind and erosion, it now stands at 138 meters. The Pyramid of Khafre is the tomb of Khufu's son and the second-largest pyramid in Egypt, standing at 143.5 meters tall. The world-famous Sphinx is located right next to the Pyramid of Khafre. In 1992, the Pyramid of Khafre suffered partial damage due to an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4. The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three major pyramids and the tomb of Khufu's great-grandson, Mycerinus. It has a base length of 108.5 meters and a height of 66.5 meters. So, why did the Egyptian pharaohs build pyramids? According to legend, before the Third Dynasty of ancient Egypt, or before the reign of Khufu, whether it was nobles, officials, or common people, they were all buried in rectangular tombs made of mud bricks, which the ancient Egyptians called "mastaba." Later, a young man named Imhotep invented a new construction method when designing a tomb for the Egyptian pharaoh. He built a staircase on the pharaoh's tomb and designed the interior to be extremely complex to ensure the pharaoh's peace after death. If an outsider wanted to explore the pharaoh's burial chamber, they would first have to find the entrance of the pyramid, then descend into the depths, break through various mechanisms, and navigate through layers of mazes to reach the destination. On the outside, he used square stones mined from the mountain to replace mud bricks, ultimately constructing a six-level stepped pyramid, which is the prototype of the modern pyramid. Due to his outstanding talent, the pharaoh appointed him as the prime minister of Egypt. After his death, the ancient Egyptians deified him and worshipped him eternally. It is said that the Egyptian pyramids, besides serving as tombs, also had other symbolic meanings. In the hearts of ancient Egyptians, the pyramids symbolized the rays of the sun, and they were also seen as steps that helped the pharaohs reach heaven. The ancient Egyptians firmly believed that the pharaohs were gods on earth, leading wars to victory and representing justice. Therefore, the slaves who built the pyramids for the pharaohs willingly toiled. They believed that if they built a staircase for the pharaohs to reach heaven, they would surely be protected by the pharaohs in the afterlife. As a result, the construction of the Egyptian pyramids was carried out in an orderly manner with tens of thousands of craftsmen for ten dynasties. Even today, the magnificent pyramids still attract curious gazes from people all over the world.