Egyptian Pyramids

When most people mention Ancient Egypt the first thing that


comes to mind is the Pyramids.   To construct such monuments required a


mastery of art, architecture and social organization that few cultures


would ever rival.   The pyramids are said to have built Egypt by being


the force that knit together the kingdom's economy.   Their creations


were so substantial, that the sight of these vast pyramids would take


your breath away.   Today, the valley of the Nile has an open air


museum so people can witness these grand monuments.


        Obsessed with the afterlife, Egypt's rulers of 4,500 years ago


glorified themselves in stone,   thereby laying the foundation of the


first great nation-state.   A Pyramid is an enormous machine that helps


the king go through the wall of the dead, achieve resurrection and


live forever in the happiness of the gods.   The start of the Old


Kingdom is said to be the building of the Djoser's monument.   The


construction of Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser began around 2630 B.C.


and was designed to awe the ancient Egyptians, to impress them with


their rule's godlike strength.   It was the world's first great


construction project; indeed, it was the world's largest building.


        Djoser, the second king of the 3rd dynasty, hired an architect


called Imhoptep who for the first time constructed a tomb completely


of stone.   Imhoptep is considered the preeminent genius of the Old


Kingdom.   He assembled one workforce to quarry limestone at the cliff


of Tura, across the Nile, another to haul the stone to the site where


master carvers shaped each block and put it in place.


        The Step Pyramid is a terraced structure rising in six unequal


stages to a height of 60 meters, its base measuring 120 meters by 108
...