7-Great+Pyramids

= Great PyramidsCori C. = __   Giza Pyramid s    __ The Great Pyramids at Giza are located 7 miles south of the center of Cairo, Egypt. The pyramids at Giza are one of the most marvelous and impressive structures of the ancient world. The Great Pyramids at Giza are the last Ancient Wonder standing. There are many reasons for this, including the care and time put into making it, and the materials used to make it. The Egyptian people did this because the pyramids served as a burial place for their pharaohs, who they thought of as being next to the gods. The Egyptians were very advanced for their time so when they built the pyramids they planned for many future complications. Some of these complications included: thieves, storms, and the passage of time. One of the ways they protected the pyramid from thieves was that they set up stone traps to spring out and seal the thieves in the chamber they were trying to rob. Although some thieves were trapped some were not. For example, when the Arabs needed white limestone to build mosques they just took the white limestone off of the Great Pyramids and were not punished. Many people have theories on how the pyramids were made. One theory includes the idea of using ramps. The Egyptians could have used ramps made out of mud and stones, to push the two-three ton blocks used to make the pyramid. If this theory is true it would show yet another reason why the Egyptians were an ingenious people. One of the most interesting reasons the Egyptians built this specific pyramid is as an observatory for the stars. The Pyramid’s four corners are exactly at the four cardinal points (north, east, south, and west). To make the sides exactly at the four cardinal points they would have had to build a circle on the flat ground where the pyramid would lie. Next they would need to put a man with a ‘bay’, a forked stick, inside. Then the man would face east and wait for a certain star. After that he would mark on the wall exactly where the star was, then when the star would sink down below the wall towards the west, the same procedure as before would be repeated. Finally using the two lines already made they would use a implement, to make right angles, to find where north and south would be located. The pyramids at Giza are one of the most marvelous and impressive structures of the ancient world. Is statement is supported by all of the evidence that scientists and archeologists have found about the pyramids. Ingeniousness of their design, the care with which they were built, and their ability to survive for thousands of years proves what a magnificent piece of engineering they truly are.