Mysterious pyramids of Giza. The first wonder of the world Egyptian pyramids The greatest architectural monuments

One of the most ancient and yet striking Wonders of the World are the Great Pyramids located in Giza (Egypt). The complex of Gisean buildings represents the greatest architectural monument ever created by man. In total, more than a hundred pyramidal structures were found in Egypt, but most of them did not stand the test of time.

Pyramids of Giza

The Pyramid of Cheops

The largest of the Gisean complex, the Pyramid of Cheops is the largest building structure in the world. Its base is a square with a side of as much as 227.5 meters. The original height of the structure is believed to have been 146 meters, but several of the top stones were destroyed, and today the pyramid is 9 meters lower.

Engineering studies have shown that the largest Gisea architectural monument consists of 2.3 million stone blocks, each of which weighs at least 2.5 tons. The total volume of the structure is 2.34 million cubic meters. The sides of the pyramid are turned to the cardinal directions, with the entrance to the inside being from the north.

A distinctive feature of the structure is that every single building block fits together so well that even now, after several thousand years, it is impossible to insert even the thinnest blade between them. In addition, the researchers discovered that the mortar used to hold the structural elements together was stronger than any modern material.

Purpose of the pyramids

There are no inscriptions, drawings or decorations in the Cheops pyramid. Inside the building there are three chambers, in the center of one of which there is a granite sarcophagus. At first it was assumed that the structure was a tomb. Many years of research have either confirmed or refuted this assumption.

But neither the remains of the pharaoh, nor any utensils or things that, according to the tradition of that time, were buried with the deceased, were found. True, there is a high probability that the pyramid was simply plundered. However, some details in the hypothesis about the purpose of the structure do not agree with the version about the tomb.

However, we will leave to historians and archaeologists questions about the origin and purpose of the construction of such an amazing complex of buildings, the entrance to which is protected by the Great Sphinx - the largest monolithic sculpture on the planet. For you and me, the Pyramids of Giza, with which many legends are associated, remain one of the most striking and unusual examples of the heights of engineering.

The only one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world that has survived to this day is the Great Pyramid of Giza - the Pyramid of Cheops. In the suburbs of Egypt's capital, Cairo, this ancient monument was designed and built as the tomb of the most famous pharaoh Cheops (Khufu) and is recognized as the tallest structure of its time. It’s hard to believe, but the height of this miracle of art is almost 147 meters (imagine five nine-story buildings stacked on top of each other). Initially, the pyramid occupied an area larger than seven football fields, and the length of one of the sides of its base was over 230 meters.

Construction Great Pyramid, according to the official version of Egyptologists, ended in 2540 BC. To create this truly extraordinary miracle, it took the joint efforts of 100 thousand people. According to archaeologists' calculations, the work lasted about 20 years.

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

It is generally accepted Hanging Gardens Semiramis, which, according to one of the many versions, was built around 600 BC by order of the Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, the Median princess Amytis. Later, the daughter of King Cyaxares began to be called after the Assyrian queen.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a four-story building, shaped like a pyramid, the tiers of which, supported by powerful columns, were both balconies and terraces. Hanging unique plants combined with fountains and ponds turned the Babylonian structure into a real oasis.

To supply the gardens with water, a special irrigation system was designed: hundreds of slaves turned wheels with buckets all day long. When Babylon fell into decay, there was no one to do the irrigation, and the unique flora of the hanging gardens died. Frequent earthquakes completed the job - finally destroying the palace. Babylon disappeared from the face of the earth, and with it the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the most beautiful monuments of antiquity, also disappeared into oblivion.

Zeus statue in Olympia

In the 5th century BC, a sports and religious center Ancient Greece There was Olympia, where the god Zeus was most revered. It was to him, the head of the ancient Greek Pantheon, that the Olympians unanimously decided to build majestic temple. To implement the plan, the Athenian sculptor Phidias, famous for his sculptures, was invited to Olympia. The master faced a difficult task: to create a structure that would surpass all his previous creations in its monumentality. Phidias gave the go-ahead. Work has begun.

It took the sculptor and his apprentices ten years for the Ancient World to see this wonder of the world. The temple was entirely made of marble. Columns made of limestone were installed along its perimeter. On the walls of the temple there were picturesque bas-reliefs depicting Zeus and the twelve labors of Hercules.

The thunder god himself, called “the embodiment of male beauty,” was made of ivory and reached a height of 13 meters. He sat majestically on a throne carved from ebony and covered with chased gold plates, and almost touched the ceiling of the temple.

Phidias' masterpiece did not go unnoticed. For many years, writers and philosophers admired him, classifying the statue of Olympian Zeus among the best creations of mankind. But in 476 there was a fire, during which this wonder of the world was lost.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The initiator and “sponsor” of the latest version of Artemision, the temple of Artemis of Ephesus, was. The construction of this wonder of the world, which began in 323 BC, from limestone and marble, continued for many years. The “highlight” of the temple, its main distinctive feature, there were 127 giant columns installed in nine rows. The interior decoration of Artemision was mesmerizing. There was everything here: marvelous statues made by the best architects of that time, and beautiful paintings by famous artists. And in the center of this splendor stood the statue of the goddess Artemis, the patroness of love relationships and the family hearth.

Artemision, rebuilt by Alexander, lasted six centuries. It was plundered and destroyed by the Goths, and was inundated by numerous floods. Today, the existence of this wonder of the world is evidenced by only one single column, restored from the rubble.

mausoleum in Halicarnassus

Ancient Halicarnassus, where the “father of history” Herodotus was born, was famous for its architectural beauty. White marble temples built in honor of Ares and Aphrodite, the Salmakin fountain, theaters and palaces attracted foreign guests to the city. But the real “pearl” of Halicarnassus, a wonder of the world, was the tomb of the despotic king, which he began to build during his lifetime.

Pytheas and Satyros, the best architects of that time, worked on the tomb, which consisted of three tiers and reached a height of 46 meters. Leochares and Skopas were entrusted with decorating the building - creating marble figures of gods, animals and horsemen.

And really, why Egyptian pyramids are considered the first of the 7 wonders of the world? To begin with, it is important to clarify that the list of 7 wonders of the world does not include all pyramids, but only one, the most majestic Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu). Researchers still cannot fully understand how in such ancient times people could build it. Even now there is an opinion that it was not built by human hands at all, but by some incomprehensible external force. But since these are just guesses, there is no point in writing much about it.

Why is the Cheops pyramid called a miracle?

There is no exact definition here, but there are many facts that force us to agree that it is simply impossible not to call this structure a miracle.

• The first is the size of the pyramid. For more than three thousand years in a row, the structure was the tallest on Earth. The size of the base was originally 227.5, height - 146 meters. Over time, the structure collapsed slightly, as a result of which the pyramid is now 9 meters lower.
• The second is the materials that were used for construction. In total, the pyramid took 2.3 million stone blocks. The weight of one such block is no less than two and a half tons. In addition, it is important to pay attention to the density of the pyramid. The stones fit together so well that even the thinnest blade cannot fit between them.
• Third - appearance. Initially, the pyramid was covered with a facing material such as white limestone. During the day, when the sun illuminated the pyramid, it shone with a bright peach color, which made it look like a real miracle, “to which, it seemed, the Sun God Ra himself gave his rays.” Unfortunately, now it is no longer possible to see this beauty, since after the Arab attack in 1168, local residents used the cladding to restore their houses.

Pyramids of Giza - consisting of the Great Pyramids (including the wonder of the world ancient world- the pyramid of Cheops), the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries and an ancient village are located in the desert on the Giza plateau near the capital of Egypt - Cairo.

The Giza Plateau is part of the virgin desert, hiding in its endless sands a real miracle: evidence of the greatness of culture Ancient Egypt. The Pyramids of Giza are a whole complex of ancient buildings, including several of the most important monuments of civilization. In addition to the Great Pyramids itself, it includes the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a village and building complex. It is fully included in the list of objects World Heritage UNESCO, and the Cheops Pyramid is the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.

Pyramids of Giza - view of the complex from above
Pyramids of Giza - Tomb of Seshemnefer IV

Pyramids of Giza - Ancient Wonder of the World

However, one should not assume that only the Pyramids of Giza, about which a lot of materials have already been said, filmed and written, are all that can surprise here. Yes, often tourist excursions cover only these unique structures, but there are a number of other, no less interesting objects on the plateau.

If you carefully look at the map of the complex, you can find sights here that are much more ancient. For example, mastabas, which appeared during the Early Kingdom, are “houses of eternity”, shaped like a truncated pyramid. These buildings with underground burial chambers were built already 3 thousand years BC.

In total, the Giza pyramid complex includes more than 30 objects, the value of which for Egypt and world history is extremely great. It is not for nothing that this particular site was chosen for the creation of the Great Egyptian Museum - an archaeological complex whose area will be 50 hectares. Undoubtedly, this point will become another must-see for tourists, despite the long construction and the postponement of the opening due to the difficult political situation

In the meantime, it is the Pyramids of Giza that primarily attract the attention of travelers. They are rightfully considered a symbol of the country - and not for the first thousand years. Already in antiquity, they were popularized by Greek and Roman poets, and Antipater of Sidon included them in his list of Wonders of the World.

Pyramids of Giza - ancient miracle Sveta
Pyramids of Giza - entrance to the Pyramid of Cheops

The Pyramid of Cheops

Undoubtedly the most interesting object this place is the pyramid of Cheops. The largest ever created. It is worth noting that it was built “according to the standard” of construction laid down by Khufu’s father (the full name of Cheops is Khnum-Khufu), Snorfu. However, the son surpassed his father - the original height of the tomb was 146.7 m. And even with the lost top (9.4 m) until 1880, the pyramid was considered the most tall building in the world.

If these figures do not allow you to imagine how majestic the structure is, let’s give an example: the height of the 35-story Gazprom headquarters is 150.9 m. But this is the 103rd tallest building in Europe. And this is when total area ancient monument, which can accommodate 10 full-sized football fields.

Unfortunately, today we cannot fully appreciate the original greatness of the structure - in the Middle Ages, some of the blocks were lost, and the cladding made of Tura limestone was almost completely destroyed. Also, it is not the “original” entrance that is used - today you can get inside through a passage cut by robbers in ancient times. The sarcophagus was also damaged, the mortuary temple located nearby was destroyed, and the wall surrounding the pyramid was destroyed. Unfortunately, looters, wars and local residents who used the giant “tombstone” as a quarry deprived us of the opportunity to enjoy its pristine grandeur.

There are many mysteries associated with the Cheops pyramid, which have given rise to all sorts of theories about the connections of ancient civilizations and the unique level of scientific knowledge thousands of years BC. For example, the base area of ​​a majestic ancient building in Egypt completely coincides with the area mexican pyramid Moons in Teotihuacan. If you multiply the height to the top block by 2*, you get a figure equal to the perimeter of the base of the building. But “pi” had not yet been invented at that time... Basically, only assumptions help scientists explain the technologies used to transport and lift 2.2 million 2.5-ton blocks, between which not even a sheet of paper can fit.

Pyramid of Khafre

The second largest structure of the Giza pyramid complex is the pyramid of Khafre or Khafre. Initially, with a height of 143.9 m, it was only 3 m behind its “competitor,” but now it is less than a meter. However, due to the greater slope of the walls with a smaller base area, it appears taller. The location in the very high point complex.

The ruins of a mortuary temple were discovered nearby (destroyed local residents in the 18th century), a stone road to the Lower Temple, traces of a 3.4 m thick wall, builders’ homes and small pyramid, in which the pharaoh's wife was probably buried. Unfortunately, only the underground part of this building remains.

Pyramid of Mikerin

The lowest of the Great Pyramids is the Pyramid of Mikerinus, whose height is “only” 66 m (for comparison, 20-story residential buildings are about as high). Despite the fact that this structure appeared in an era of “decline,” a number of features speak of the amazing talents of the builders of that time. For example, when creating a funeral temple, a monolith weighing 200 tons was used - the largest on the plateau. The red granite that lined the top and about a third of the levels from the base gave the pyramid a special beauty. Unfortunately, the granite was removed by the Mamluks in the 16th century.

Interestingly, they tried to destroy this landmark back in the 12th century, when Sultan al-Malik al-Aziz decided to wipe out the pyramid of Giza from the face of the earth. However, after eight months of work, the destruction work was stopped - the financial costs required were too large.

Near the Great Pyramids there are a lot of smaller tombs - the wives of the Egyptian pharaohs were buried in them. The degree of their preservation varies, but for the most part they present, unfortunately, a very sad sight.

Pyramids of Giza - Great Sphinx of Giza
Pyramids of Giza - Sphinx

The Great Sphinx of Giza is the oldest sculpture in the world

Undoubtedly, the main decoration of the Giza pyramid complex is the “Father of Fear” - the Great Sphinx of Giza. This is the oldest monumental sculpture in Egypt, erected in 2558-2532. BC. It is considered the oldest sculpture in the world, as well as one of the largest (height 20 m and length 72 m). At the time of its appearance, the country was ruled by Khafre, whose face, according to historians, was given to the lion reclining in the sand (forensic experts do not agree with them, believing that the faces of Khafre and the Sphinx cannot belong to the same person).

By the way, one of the most common myths is associated with the Sphinx, according to which the nose of the statue was destroyed during the battle of the Turkish army and Napoleon’s troops near the pyramids. However, this is contradicted by historical records, according to which the nose (the width of this part was 1.5 m) did not exist already in 1737. More likely, this could have been done by the Mamluks, the British, or simply nature and time.

Already ancient Greek historians noted the special attitude of the Egyptians towards the pyramids of Giza, and the Sphinx (which the local peoples worshiped as a deity). In our time, the pyramids of Giza and the entire plateau surrounding them are a monument to a culture that, more than five thousand years ago, possessed complex writing, a coherent religious system, a well-functioning social system and unique skills in construction. Despite the fact that more than 200 generations have passed since the construction of the complex, the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians remains a mystery to this day. A secret that you can touch just 5 kilometers from the center of modern Cairo.

Pyramids of Giza opening hours and cost of visiting:

*Changes of opening hours during the month of Ramadan and prices - check on the official website
* approximate exchange rate 1$ = 18.2 LE

Opening hours:
daily from 8:00 to 17:00

Price:
Entrance to the Giza Pyramids area and access to the following monuments:
Temple of the Valley of Khafre, Pyramid of Hetepher, Pyramid of Meretti, Pyramid of Henut-sen, Tomb of Idu, Tomb of Kar, Tomb of Sheshemner, Tomb of Sennedem-Ib, Tomb of Pa-sen, Tomb of Ka-em-ankh, Tomb of Nen-seder-ka.

Egyptians: 2 LE
Foreign guests: 50 LE

*Tickets for the Pyramid of Khufu, Pyramid of Khafre and the sound and light show must be purchased separately.

Pyramid of Khufu:
Egyptians: 20 LE
Foreign guests: 100 LE

*Please note that the Pyramid of Khufu is closed from 11:00 to 13:00.
Only 150 tickets are sold in the morning and another 150 after 13:00

Pyramid of Khafre:
Egyptians: 2 LE
Foreign guests: 25 LE

Address: Al Haram, Nazlet El-Semman, Al Haram, Giza Governorate, Egypt

Pyramids of Giza They are among the oldest tourist attractions on our planet and symbols of ancient Egyptian civilization. The largest of them is the Great Pyramid, which consists of 2.3 million stone blocks.

Until now, no one knows for sure how exactly the multi-ton blocks were installed in their places, but it is known that it was the tallest structure in the world for more than 3,800 years, until it was built Cathedral at Lincoln (1300).

Also, the Great Pyramid is the only surviving Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is considered the most massive structure built in the entire history of mankind.

Great Pyramid

The largest of all the pyramids of Ancient Egypt is the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. In Greek, Khufu is translated as Cheops. He was the pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty and reigned for 23 years, from 2589 to 2566 BC. e. The Great Pyramid is striking in its size and mathematical precision, and represents the apogee of the construction of the famous monuments of Ancient Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Giza consists of 2.3 million stone blocks. The average weight of one block is 2.5 tons, and the maximum is 15 tons. Each block fit so tightly together that the entire monument was built without the use of any mortar. If we divide the construction time (20 years) by the number of blocks (2.3 million), we can come to the conclusion that a new block was installed every five minutes.

When construction was completed, the Great Pyramid of Giza looked very different than it does today. On the entire surface of the structure there were white polished slabs, which are no longer present. At the top stood a pyramidal stone, which is also no longer there. Having lost the cladding and stone, the height of the pyramid became 138.75 meters (was 146.5), and the length at the base was reduced to 225 meters (was 230.33).

In order to get to the center of Khufu's pyramid, you need to walk through a poorly lit, narrow corridor. Having crossed halfway, you will enter a gallery 8.5 m high and 47 m long. The gallery leads to the tomb of the pharaoh, in which only the sarcophagus of Cheops remains. The walls in the tomb are made of red granite, and the pharaoh's chamber was isolated from thieves using shifted granite blocks. But, nevertheless, this did not save her from plunder.

Near the pyramid of Khufu, archaeologists discovered two underground vaults in which solar boats were stored. According to legend, after death, the pharaoh on this solar boat must go on a journey along the celestial Nile together with the sun god Ra. Archaeologists discovered one Solar Boat, which consisted of 1224 separate parts. It took 14 years to reconstruct it, and now it stands in the Sun Boat Museum near the Great Pyramid itself. The size of the boat is impressive: length 43 meters and width 6 meters.

Pyramid of Khafre in Giza

Khafre was the son of Khufu and ruled for 27 years, from 2558 to 2532 BC. Khafre tried to make his funeral complex more magnificent than his father's. And in some ways it was successful. Despite the fact that his pyramid is 3 meters shorter and 15% smaller in volume, due to the fact that it is built on a high embankment, it looks significantly higher than his father's.

But inside the pyramid of Khafre is much simpler. Inside, two entrances connect: one goes slightly higher, and the other goes down below the base of the pyramid. A long corridor leads directly to the burial chamber, where there is nothing else except a sarcophagus made of black granite. The lower passage leads to another chamber, which may have been intended for the queen.

Not far from the Pyramid of Khafre there are two sanctuaries: the Welcoming Temple and the Mortuary Temple.

They are connected to each other by a laid embankment about 500 meters long. Both sanctuaries are built from megalithic blocks covered with red granite. The welcoming temple was preserved in good condition, but only ruins remained of the Funeral Church.

Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza

The remaining pyramids of Giza are much smaller in size. For example, the pyramid of Menkaure is 10 times smaller than the Khafre monument. High-quality granite and stone were used for its construction. This distinguishes it from other pyramids, which were built from poor quality limestone. At the end of the 12th century, Sultan Osman ibn Yusuf became convinced of the strength of the walls of this pyramid and tried to destroy the structure for 8 months, but eventually retreated.

The inside of the pyramid of Menkaure is rather uninteresting: if traces of decoration are still visible in the first chamber, then further down there are only stone walls. There is no sarcophagus in Menkaure's burial chamber. It sank along with the ship Beatrice carrying it in 1838 on its way to England.

After the death of Pharaoh Menkaure, the construction of the pyramids still continued, but on a smaller scale, and the center of construction moved from Giza to Abusir and Saqqara.

The Great Sphinx is depicted with the body of a lion and the head of a man. Measuring 73.5 m long, 6 m wide and 20.2 m high, it is the largest monolithic statue in the world.

The Sphinx is the most interesting monument ancient Egyptian civilization. First of all, because no one can say what the purpose of building such a huge sculpture was. The most likely theory states that the Sphinx served as protection for the two great pyramids of Cheops and Khafre.

Over time, the pharaohs began to view the Sphinx as a holder of royal power, so the rulers of Ancient Egypt constantly presented him with donations. It all started with Prince Thutmose IV, who dreamed that he would become a pharaoh if he cleared the Sphinx of sand. When this happened, he built a donation stele in front of the Sphinx.

Over the past few thousand years, the Sphinx has been covered with sand several times. In 1905, the statue was finally cleared of sand. Today, the monument is in constant need of repairs. The sandstone from which the Sphinx is carved is quite soft and is destroyed by time. Plus, it is rotting from the inside, most likely due to the rising groundwater level. There is a popular theory that the Sphinx’s nose was knocked off by Napoleon’s soldiers, but it is not true: it was lost long before the birth of the famous commander.

Plunder of the pyramids

Even at the design stage, Egyptian architects tried to protect the Giza pyramids from thieves. To achieve this, passages were blocked with large granite blocks, and false entrances and chambers were created. But the robbers turned out to be smarter and all the tombs were plundered.

Pyramids of Giza: useful information

• Almost every hotel in Giza offers the opportunity to purchase tickets for tours to the pyramids.
• To purchase tickets, there are two ticket offices near the pyramids: one next to the main entrance, and the second near the Sphinx.
• In order to enter the pyramids, you will need an additional ticket. Also, the number of visits inside the pyramids of Khafre and Cheops is limited to 300 tickets: 150 of them at 8:30 am and 150 after 13:00.
• Inside the pyramids it is very humid and hot, the corridors are dusty, and it is difficult to move. Therefore, it is not advisable for those who have problems with the lungs or heart to enter. Well, for those who are not afraid of such conditions, visiting the pyramids will be very educational and interesting.
• Photography is prohibited inside the pyramids.
• The most best time for visiting - in the morning at the time of opening. Later, crowds of tourists begin to arrive, and during the day it becomes very hot.
• The Pyramids of Giza attract not only millions of tourists, but also a large number of scammers. Even as you approach, people may come up to you and say that they won’t let you in without a guide (don’t worry, they will let you in), or that you need a camel or a horse, which you can’t do without (you can easily get by).
• Prices for a trip around the pyramid on a camel are very high; similar tours in other places in Egypt will cost you much less.
• Before you take a camel or horse ride, agree on a price, and don't pay in advance until you get what you agreed on. if you pay in advance, your horse will go lame after a few meters and you will be offered another one, but for a separate fee. Discuss all the details of the trip in detail. The arrogance of animal owners has no limits. For example, after a trip, you may be asked to pay extra for help getting off the camel.
• Cases of theft are also not uncommon. For example, if you give your camera to a stranger, there is a chance of losing it.
• Due to security reasons, it is currently officially prohibited to climb the Pyramids of Giza, but in some places, the guards turn a blind eye to this for tips.