It seems peculiar that pyramids were all built on the same side of the river Nile – along the west embankment. The pyramids had to face the Sun as it was believed that the Sun was the dead’s home. Another reason is that the Egyptian kings dreaded that they would be robbed after death, which is why they took their gold and valuables into their tombs. They believed the pyramids could protect and guard them in the afterlife as well.
As brilliant as their plans and complicated designs had seemed, they weren’t quite sufficient to prevent grave robbers. Even though the bodies were buried in chambers that could be reached only by those who knew their way around the secret passages, grave robbers still managed to locate their way to the lavish tombs.
A Structure Taller Than the Pyramid of Giza
The Pyramid of Giza held the title of the world’s tallest structure for a total of 3 871 years. In other words, it took humanity approximately 4,000 years to construct a new building taller than the pyramid. The next tallest structure that came close was the Lincoln Cathedral in England, which was built in 1311. What’s even more surprising is that the ancient Egyptians built the pyramids in 20 years, but building the English Cathedral took more than 200 years to build!
If we look at the Cathedral of Lincoln now, we wouldn’t consider it to be taller than the impressive Pyramid at Giza. Nonetheless, that’s because the Cathedral’s central spire collapsed in 1549, after which it was never reconstructed. This Cathedral was the world’s tallest building for a total of 238 years, but its importance lies in the record it broke!
The Last of the Seven Ancient Wonders
It is important to mention that the Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World. This is quite unbelievable because it was built between 2584 and 2561 BCE. There is no doubt that this ancient structure has managed to stand the test of time as inclement and oppressive weather conditions could not destroy it throughout the centuries.
The Statue of Zeus was ruined by an earthquake, just like the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Temple of Artemis was wrecked and ravaged by a Christian mob in 401 CE, while the Colossus of Rhodes was toppled down in 654 CE. In other words, none of these structures could compare to the pyramids in durability and strength.
Into the Afterlife
Ancient Egyptians devoutly clung to their beliefs in the afterlife. That is why Egyptians were buried with different objects and possessions supposed to help them in the afterlife. These objects included everything from gold to expensive jewelry to random everyday items, even food!
Another thing Egyptians attempted to bring along to their “afterlife” were little statues. Historians and archaeologists eventually discovered that it was believed that these miniature statues come to life in the next world to help and care for the pharaoh. When one tomb was found, archaeologists recovered over 400 statues inside.
A Kurdish Ruler and the Pyramids
Someone brave enough aspired to demolish the pyramids and ruin the Ancient Egyptian legacy in the 12th century. Al-Aziz, a Kurdish ruler, wanted to destroy the pyramids, so he went along and tried to execute his plan but he soon found that destroying the pyramids would be as expensive as it took to build them, and he gave up soon after.
Al-Aziz did manage to leave his mark on the Menkaure’s Pyramid. If you visit the pyramid today, you will see a massive slash on one side. That’s all that Al-Aziz managed to achieve during his intention to demolish one of the most stunning structures in the world. This score stands to establish just how unyielding and sturdy these structures genuinely are.