Travel: A trip to the pyramids
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (Michael Keating)
Everyone has seen the photographs, the lithographs, the drawings. For many, the Pyramids strongly conjure images of elementary school history classes, and for that reason those structures seem both safe and familiar.
In person, however, the Pyramids are neither safe nor familiar. They are massive—massive beyond belief. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is made of an estimated 2.3 million blocks, each weighing more than two tons, for a total weight of 5.9 million tons. For four millennia, it was the world’s tallest building. Its area, it’s said, could contain St. Peter’s in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St. Paul’s in London. But despite its scale, it was built with an optician’s precision.
The Pyramids pictured in schoolbooks were smooth and precise—not the jumble presented to the visitor. Originally, in fact, the Great Pyramid was surfaced with dazzling casing stones of highly polished white limestone. A massive earthquake in the 14th century shook loose many of the stones, which were dragged to Cairo and incorporated into other architectural projects. That recycling continued to such an extent that now only a few casing stones remain at the bottom of the Great Pyramid.
- Why Did Senfru Build Four Pyramids?
Heritage Key (Owen Jarus) Hi Owen. I'm at a conference this week and unless things are spoon fed to me via email they won't be posted til next week - so thank you for the link! With photos and map. Nearly 4,600 years ago a third dynasty pharaoh...
- July 26 Marks Uncovering One Of Biggest Secrets Of Khufu Pyramid
Egypt State Information Service July 26 will mark the uncovering of one of the biggest secrets of the Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza, Secretary General of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities Zahi Hawwas said Saturday 16/5/2009. Addressing a symposium...
- Last Of The Ancient Wonders: The Great Pyramid
Al Ahram Weekly (Assam Deif) It has variously been claimed that the pyramids served as power plants, water pumps, astronomical observatories, sources of ill-defined pyramid- power energy vortices, guidance beacons for alien spacecraft sites for mystery...
- The Pyramids Of Giza
New York Post (Jasmin K Williams) Two page piece looking at the pyramids of Giza. Nothing new, but quite informative if you know little about the pyramids. We've been marveling at this ancient wonder for thousands of years. Here's a look at The...
- Visiting Dashur
http://tinyurl.com/ct8zz A travel article about the benefits of taking the time to visit Dashur: "Nothing can dispel the wonder of the majestic pyramids at Giza, outside of Cairo--but the KFC and Pizza Hut across the street come pretty close. Then there...