The Ancient Egyptians are one of the most iconic and fascinating civilizations in history. The
empire’s rituals, artifacts, tombs and traditions have captivated researchers, explorers, and anyone
with even a passing interest in how human society formed. Ancient Egypt is perhaps most famous for
the building of the pyramids, though, even if these structures are also steeped in mystery.
This is Unveiled and today we’re answering the extraordinary question;
why was the Great Pyramid of Giza really built?
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Perhaps more so than with any other structure on Earth, the Great Pyramid of Giza has legendary
status. That fact was proved in the year 2000, when a poll was issued to determine
the New Seven Wonders of the World; a necessary step, since most of the original seven wonders
had deteriorated or disappeared altogether over time. The new list eventually included
entries ranging from the Great Wall of China to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Roman Colosseum,
and Chichen Itza in Mexico. These structures are globally recognized not only for their function
and design, but also for the determination and effort that went into building them. Many of them
rank among the longest construction projects in history. The Colosseum took ten years of labor;
the city of Chichen Itza may have taken up to four-hundred years to finish; and China’s Great
Wall was continually added onto for more than two thousand years before becoming what it is today.
And they’re all still here today. But ultimately, no other place can hold a candle to the Great
Pyramid in terms of outright longevity. The original Seven Wonders of the World
were determined centuries ago, and the Pyramid is the only one that’s still standing. The other
six entries – including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, and the Colossus
of Rhodes – have all fallen victim to time and ruin. By contrast, the Great Pyramid of Giza was
built around 2,500 years BCE, almost 4,600 years ago. In the time since, it has survived everything
thrown at it, including various conflicts and continuous weathering by the elements,
to become one of the longest standing monuments (of any kind) ever created. Somewhat miraculously,
then, while it did also take a long time to build, it wasn’t quite so lengthy a project as was needed
for some of the other wonders – requiring around twenty years “only” of continuous work to finish.
Upon completion, it stood as the tallest human-made structure in the world,
and it remained so for an incredible 3,800 years thereafter. In terms of scale and impact it was
simply unmatchable. In terms of method and reason, it has continually been debated.
Although there is only one “Great” pyramid – The pyramid of Khufu – there are others in the
Giza complex that are similar to it, but smaller – the Pyramids of Khafre and of Menkaure. Famously,
over recent decades there have been questions raised as to exactly how any of the pyramids
were made… although almost all conventional theories now support the idea of there being
a thousands-strong worker village nearby. It’s thought that this village was then organized to
extract, transport and process enormous stones from a nearby quarry, in the middle of the
desert. Further analysis has been undertaken as to precisely how these stones were shaped for use,
although some aspects of the build do remain somewhat unexplained.
But today, we’re more interested in the “why” of these things. Why were they built, and why did
they come to be so important? In many ways, it’s a simpler question to answer, as the Egyptians left
detailed records of their beliefs and practices, as well as seeming justifications for their
various, massive, pyramidic undertakings. Of course, the most widely accepted theory
as to the pyramids’ purpose is that they were tombs for the rich and powerful, and mainly for
the pharaohs. There’s no doubt that ideas on the afterlife informed so much of this civilization’s
wider, collective thinking and culture… inspiring such projects as the “Book of the Dead”,
an ancient text which contained enchantments and passages which readers were encouraged to perform
around (or write onto) coffins to ensure a dead person was well preserved for what came next.
It’s well known that those attending to the dead would also embalm the body and remove
certain organs to be placed in surrounding containers called Canopic Jars. The pyramids
were deemed special enough places for these rituals to take place, and for them to take
meaning. The Egyptian Pharaohs were something like demigods of their time, divine in nature…
with one belief being that, upon death, a pharaoh would become the next god of death, Osiris.
The pyramids were ultimately, then, seen as much more than just tombs. They were built to help
the god-like pharaohs they housed navigate a safe journey into the afterlife. To some degree, they
became a sort of bridge between here and there. The Great Pyramid of Giza, specifically,
was constructed for the pharaoh Khufu and was filled with immense wealth, elaborate furniture,
priceless offerings, and Khufu’s own preserved body, all so that he, too, would be welcomed
into the afterlife. The pharaoh’s most precious valuables were arranged around him because it
was thought that his belongings would also follow him into the next realm: a realm in the sky. And,
indeed, it’s believed the shape of the pyramids was favored with this in mind…
four, secure corners with flat sides that all end in a point at the top,
the dimensions were meant to act as a path to heaven for the souls of the dead inside.
To some degree, then, the taller the pyramid… the closer to heaven and greatness it took you.
We know the shape was significant thanks to written records detailing it; ancient inscriptions
onto stone that have since been compiled, and are today known as the “Pyramid Texts”. These
inscriptions inform so much of what we know about beliefs on the afterlife, including instructions
for how to get there. In fact, it’s only largely thanks to records and clues like these that we we
know that the Great Pyramid was built specifically for Khufu… because, unfortunately, the tomb itself
has seemingly been emptied over thousands of years, by tomb raiders and graverobbers. Although
there are also theories that the robbers never actually found the true burial room,
but were hoodwinked by fake rooms, instead. Nevertheless, conventional study is very sure
that the pyramids were tombs, first and foremost. Most historians and Egyptologists unite under this
conclusion. Although, famously, there have been other, alternative explanations put forward,
as well. Perhaps one of the most unexpected comes from alt theorist Matthew Sibson,
who claims that the pyramids may actually have been built to be something like Noah’s ark…
geometric vessels in which humanity and wildlife might shelter and hope to survive the Great Flood.
This idea broadly rests from a debated translation of the Dead Sea Scrolls regarding the specifics
of the ark, through which Sibson argues that the boat could be described as “pyramid”.
There have been further attempts made to put a Biblical spin on the pyramids, too,
including notoriously by the US politician, Ben Carson, who argued that the Great Pyramid may
have been built by Joseph to store grain. Back in the sixth century BCE, the historian Gregory
of Tours had argued a similar case, suggesting that the pointed top of a pyramid may have been
where the grain was poured in. Significantly, though, in Gregory of Tours’ day, it was assumed
that the pyramids were hollow… while, in the modern world, we know that they’re not.
Elsewhere, the “ancient alien” claims are infamous, and suitably controversial.
While versions vary, the general gist is that believers claim that Ancient Egypt just
can’t have had the technology, engineering, or know-how to pull off such massive structures as
the pyramids… so they must have had help. Help, apparently, from aliens. Conventional analysis
highlights a number of concerns with these ideas – not least an apparent underlying prejudice by the
predominantly western voices that preach them – but, still, the implications have invariably
added to the “pyramid myth”, over the years. Suggestions as to why an alien might’ve built
the Great Pyramid – or any pyramid – range from it being designed as a storehouse for advanced
tech and weaponry… to it serving as a beacon or transmitter in an ET communications system. Some
believe there’s evidence of an alien connection to be found in many a pyramid’s positioning on Earth.
The coordinates for the Great Pyramid of Giza, for example, are found to be somewhat close to
the value for the speed of light… which some speculate perhaps isn’t a coincidence.
Maybe it’s little surprise that there should be so many alternative theories regarding the pyramids'
construction and purpose. It’s certainly true that there’s nothing else like them out there.
These structures have proved more durable than almost anything else in the world, and the Great
Pyramid stands as the biggest, best and most complete example. Theories, ideas, and stories,
linking them to otherworldly origins aren’t likely to disappear, even if the conventional, mainstream
line continually pulls up evidence that they were tombs. But, even then, these things were truly
more than tombs. They offered a deep connection between the Egyptian people and their pharaoh, and
between the pharaoh and the afterlife. And that’s why the Great Pyramid of Giza was really built.
What do you think? Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments, check out these other
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