In the past, renowned Egyptologists, engineers and architects put forward many hypotheses about the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt. This article explains basic considerations and findings on pyramid construction from an Egyptological and technical point of view. Various findings are made on the construction and transport methods developed in the Old Kingdom for pyramid construction. These are based on the shortest possible construction time using transport ramps arranged tangentially on the structure. The construction methods and construction techniques have developed very quickly within 65 years from the beginning of the construction of the first pyramid of Snofru in Meidum to the Great Pyramid of Cheops due to the experience gained. The principle of the layered pyramid gave way to the principle of the pyramid with a core step structure. For structural reasons, the construction of the outer cladding of the pyramids, the placement of the pyramidion and the smoothing of the outer cladding from top to bottom could only have been carried out when used outside the platforms. The planning and construction work required constant measurements of the various levels and axes of the building. The tools archaeologically documented in the Old Kingdom were used. A new hypothesis on the development of the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom is presented. After that, the cladding masonry, backing stones and exterior cladding will be erected at the same time as the steps of the core structure. According to the height of the core steps, platforms for the construction of tangential ramps for transporting building materials are attached to the outer cladding (bosses), which has not yet been smoothed. Calculations of the construction times of the Red Pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of Mykerinos do not contradict the reigns of the kings: Snofru 35 years, Cheops 23 years and Mykerinos with recently 6 years Ad. The described proposal for the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom by means of tangentially arranged steep ramps and outer platforms was published in principle for the first time in 2008. In a monograph as well as in various publications, the hypothesis presented was further developed.
| Published in | History Research (Volume 11, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.history.20231101.14 |
| Page(s) | 22-30 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Construction of Pyramids, Measurement Technology in Pyramid Construction, Tools in Pyramid Construction, Building Technique for the Pyramids
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| [2] | Borchardt, L., Die Entstehung der Pyramide, an der Baugeschichte der Pyramide bei Mejdum nachgewiesen, Selbstverlag des Herausgebers, Kairo 1937, Tafel 3. |
| [3] | K. A. El-Sayed, M. A. Sakr, E. A. Awad, National Seismicity Network and Earthquake Activities in Egypt, in: R. Ayothiraman, H. Hemanta (Ed), Earthquake Hazards and Mitigation, New Delhi 2008. |
| [4] | Stadelmann, R., Die Ägyptischen Pyramiden, Verlag von Zabern, Edition 1997. |
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| [6] | Vyse, H., Operations carried out on the Pyramids of Gizeh, London 1840, Vol. I – III; Stadelmann, R. Die Ägyptischen Pyramiden, Verlag von Zabern, Edition 1997, S. 109. |
| [7] | Maragioglio, V. und Rinaldi C. A., L´Archittetura delle Piramidi Menfite, Vol. VI, 34ff. and Addenda, TAV. 4.2; Section S-N. |
| [8] | Müller-Römer, F. 2011. Der Bau der Pyramiden im Alten Ägypten, Utz Verlag, München 2011, S. 193. |
| [9] | Maragioglio, V. und Rinaldi C. A., L´Archittetura delle Piramidi Menfite, Band II–VII, Turin/Rapallo, 1963–1970, Vol. IV, digitale: https://gizamedia.rc.fas.harvard.edu/images/MFA-images/Giza/GizaImage/full/library/maragioglio_piramidi_4tav.pdf |
| [10] | Müller-Römer, F., Die Technik des Pyramidenbaus im Alten Ägypten, Münchner Studien zur Alten Welt, Utz Verlag, München 2008, S. 195. |
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| [12] | Petrie, W. M. F., The Pyramids and Temples of Gizeh, London 1883, Pl. VIII. |
| [13] | Kerres, B. 2018. Cheops - In der Mitte der Pyramide, edition esefeld und traub, Stuttgart 2018, S. 59. |
| [14] | Arnold, D., Building in Egypt, Oxford University Press, 1991, p. 251. |
| [15] | Stocks, D., A., Experiments in Egyptian Archaeology, Routledge London 2003. |
| [16] | Sass, J., Die Baugeschichte der Cheopspyramide, Books on Demand, Norderstedt, 2019. |
| [17] | Müller-Römer, F. 2011. Der Bau der Pyramiden im Alten Ägypten, Utz Verlag, München 2011, S. 90. |
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APA Style
Frank Müller-Römer. (2023). The Construction of Pyramids in the Old Kingdom. History Research, 11(1), 22-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20231101.14
ACS Style
Frank Müller-Römer. The Construction of Pyramids in the Old Kingdom. Hist. Res. 2023, 11(1), 22-30. doi: 10.11648/j.history.20231101.14
AMA Style
Frank Müller-Römer. The Construction of Pyramids in the Old Kingdom. Hist Res. 2023;11(1):22-30. doi: 10.11648/j.history.20231101.14
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Download@article{10.11648/j.history.20231101.14,
author = {Frank Müller-Römer},
title = {The Construction of Pyramids in the Old Kingdom},
journal = {History Research},
volume = {11},
number = {1},
pages = {22-30},
doi = {10.11648/j.history.20231101.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20231101.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.history.20231101.14},
abstract = {In the past, renowned Egyptologists, engineers and architects put forward many hypotheses about the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt. This article explains basic considerations and findings on pyramid construction from an Egyptological and technical point of view. Various findings are made on the construction and transport methods developed in the Old Kingdom for pyramid construction. These are based on the shortest possible construction time using transport ramps arranged tangentially on the structure. The construction methods and construction techniques have developed very quickly within 65 years from the beginning of the construction of the first pyramid of Snofru in Meidum to the Great Pyramid of Cheops due to the experience gained. The principle of the layered pyramid gave way to the principle of the pyramid with a core step structure. For structural reasons, the construction of the outer cladding of the pyramids, the placement of the pyramidion and the smoothing of the outer cladding from top to bottom could only have been carried out when used outside the platforms. The planning and construction work required constant measurements of the various levels and axes of the building. The tools archaeologically documented in the Old Kingdom were used. A new hypothesis on the development of the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom is presented. After that, the cladding masonry, backing stones and exterior cladding will be erected at the same time as the steps of the core structure. According to the height of the core steps, platforms for the construction of tangential ramps for transporting building materials are attached to the outer cladding (bosses), which has not yet been smoothed. Calculations of the construction times of the Red Pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of Mykerinos do not contradict the reigns of the kings: Snofru 35 years, Cheops 23 years and Mykerinos with recently 6 years Ad. The described proposal for the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom by means of tangentially arranged steep ramps and outer platforms was published in principle for the first time in 2008. In a monograph as well as in various publications, the hypothesis presented was further developed.},
year = {2023}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Construction of Pyramids in the Old Kingdom AU - Frank Müller-Römer Y1 - 2023/06/05 PY - 2023 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20231101.14 DO - 10.11648/j.history.20231101.14 T2 - History Research JF - History Research JO - History Research SP - 22 EP - 30 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2376-6719 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20231101.14 AB - In the past, renowned Egyptologists, engineers and architects put forward many hypotheses about the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt. This article explains basic considerations and findings on pyramid construction from an Egyptological and technical point of view. Various findings are made on the construction and transport methods developed in the Old Kingdom for pyramid construction. These are based on the shortest possible construction time using transport ramps arranged tangentially on the structure. The construction methods and construction techniques have developed very quickly within 65 years from the beginning of the construction of the first pyramid of Snofru in Meidum to the Great Pyramid of Cheops due to the experience gained. The principle of the layered pyramid gave way to the principle of the pyramid with a core step structure. For structural reasons, the construction of the outer cladding of the pyramids, the placement of the pyramidion and the smoothing of the outer cladding from top to bottom could only have been carried out when used outside the platforms. The planning and construction work required constant measurements of the various levels and axes of the building. The tools archaeologically documented in the Old Kingdom were used. A new hypothesis on the development of the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom is presented. After that, the cladding masonry, backing stones and exterior cladding will be erected at the same time as the steps of the core structure. According to the height of the core steps, platforms for the construction of tangential ramps for transporting building materials are attached to the outer cladding (bosses), which has not yet been smoothed. Calculations of the construction times of the Red Pyramid, the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of Mykerinos do not contradict the reigns of the kings: Snofru 35 years, Cheops 23 years and Mykerinos with recently 6 years Ad. The described proposal for the construction of the pyramids in the Old Kingdom by means of tangentially arranged steep ramps and outer platforms was published in principle for the first time in 2008. In a monograph as well as in various publications, the hypothesis presented was further developed. VL - 11 IS - 1 ER -
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