It is claimed that the very first pyramid in Egypt was built around 4,700 years ago, during the Third Dynasty, when ancient civilization hadn’t yet discovered the wheel! That means that they had assembled these gigantic structures seemingly without using wheels for transportation. Now that is impressive!
Because the pyramid was constructed using bulky granite and limestone blocks, there was no way they could’ve relocated them using wooden rails and ropes.
Who Built the Pyramids?
The only evidence scientists have from that period is that the Egyptians only had ropes and wooden ramps to build their structures and fortresses. According to calculations, in one day, they would have had to lay down a new block every two and a half minutes to finish the construction in 20 years!
There is no concrete evidence of how the Egyptians built something so incredibly big and extremely precise. Therefore many historians, archaeologists, and scientists believe that the pyramids were built by a civilization that was even more advanced.
To Build The Pyramids
The largest pyramid and the most massive structure in the world is the Great Pyramid, built around 2550 BC, during Pharaoh Khufu's reign. Scientific research says it was built by 20,000 people, and it took them 20 years to complete it.
When we look at it from our modern perspective, it seems highly unlikely that the ancient people managed to build such a magnificent project only using wood and ropes—no wonder it took so long!
The Pyramids Used to Look Much Different
The Great Pyramid appears to blend with the sand and dirt surrounding it, but these pyramids looked utterly different back in the day. The surface layer was covered with shiny, white polished limestone, which made the pyramids shine.
Sadly, there was a strong earthquake in 1303 AD that caused the limestone layer to loosen, so people had to take the surface stones off. Of course, these stones didn’t go to waste. They were reused for fortresses and other structures.
How Many Sides Does the Pyramid Have?
When you think of a pyramid, it's a geometrical shape with four sides. However, that's not exactly the case with the Great Pyramid. It may look like it has four sides when you look at it from the ground; the Great Pyramid actually has eight sides.
Some experts believe it was constructed this way to prevent the stones from shifting. Others believe that erosion from the wind caused the pyramid to split into eight sides. There is no evidence to prove either of these theories, but the sides seem so precise that it seems unlikely that wind could’ve made that happen.